KTUL.com - Tulsa's Channel 8 - News, Weather & SportsHarris Poll Voters Kept OSU Out of Title Game

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The human element. It's what makes the BCS what it is. But a look at the ballots for the Harris Poll show it's also what kept Oklahoma State out of the national championship game.

The complete ballots for the Harris Interactive College Football Poll, which is comprised of former players, coaches and administrators as well as current and former media members, were released today.

Three voters -- Derrick Mayes, Bob Wagner and George Wine -- said they thought Oklahoma State was the sixth best team in the country. Mayes -- a former Notre Dame player -- and Wagner -- former University of Hawaii coach -- each had the same top six -- 1) LSU, 2) Alabama, 3) Stanford, 4) Boise State, 5) Oregon and 6) Oklahoma State.

Wine's ballot was even more dumbfounding. The former Iowa sports information director had LSU, 'Bama, Stanford and Boise, but then had Houston, which was blown out at home in its conference championship game, fifth, one spot ahead of the Cowboys.

In all, sixteen voters had OSU fourth or lower on their ballot. That amounted to a loss of 26 possible points had those voters put Oklahoma State at least third in their poll. It doesn't sound like a lot until you do the math.

Add those 26 points on to Oklahoma State's Harris Poll and add that to the BCS and you have .9423 -- which would have put Oklahoma State second. If you want to point fingers. That's where you begin.

To view the full Harris Poll ballots, click here.