1. Oklahoma (20/23 division, 3/2 conference) 2009 was a year to forget for the Sooners as multiple injuries derailed a chance at a BCS Championship, most notably to Heisman trophy winning QB Sam Bradford and All-American tight end Jermaine Gresham. They still finished 8-5 and beat Stanford in the Sun Bowl. Last year’s experience will help redshirt sophomore QB Landry Jones improve as he was very inconsistent last year. The schedule is brutal though, with a non-conference slate that includes home games against Florida St and pesky Air Force, and a road game at Cincinnati. In conference, they travel to Texas A&M, Oklahoma St and Missouri. But as always the most important game on the schedule is the Red River showdown game against Texas in Dallas. The winner of that game should have the inside track to the Big 12 conference title game where a possible showdown against Nebraska looms.
2. Texas (3/2 division, 2/1 conference) The Longhorns came up one victory short of winning the National title last year. It was a question of what if for the Horns as QB Colt McCoy was injured on the first series against Alabama and the Crimson Tide rolled to a convincing victory. Garrett Gilbert did play most of that game against Alabama, but now takes over the job full time from McCoy. Coach Mack Brown has simplified the offense and expects to lean on a power running game. The Longhorns are pretty much even with The Sooners and it would not be a surprise if either won the division. The out of conference schedule is very favorable as it includes Rice, Wyoming, UCLA, and Florida Atlantic. In conference they travel to Texas Tech, Kansas St, and a showdown with Nebraska in Lincoln, along with the neutral site game against Oklahoma.
3. Texas A&M (7/1 division, 16/1 conference) The Aggies are a noticeable step below Oklahoma and Texas, but will still compete for a bowl bid. The offense is led by Jerrod Johnson and the defense is led by linebacker Von Miller. The schedule is reasonable, as they get Oklahoma and Nebraska at home and play a neutral site game in Dallas against Arkansas. They finish the season in Austin against archrival Texas on Thanksgiving night.
4. Texas Tech (8/1 division, 18/1 conference) The Mike Leach era is over in Lubbock and former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville takes over. Senior QB Taylor Potts takes over from Graham Harrell. The defense is led by linebacker Brian Duncan. The Red Raiders can’t compete with Oklahoma, Texas, or maybe even Texas A&M, but a bowl did isn’t out of the question. The schedule isn’t too bad, as they play SMU, Houston, Weber St, Texas, and Oklahoma St at home and travel to Oklahoma, Texas A&M and New Mexico.
5. Oklahoma St (12/1 division, 40/1 conference) The offense for the Cowboys won’t be a problem as it is still explosive. The problem will be on defense as it is expected to struggle. That isn’t a good thing when you are playing teams like Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech on a weekly basis. The nonconference schedule is pretty easy though as they play Washington St, Troy, Tulsa, and Louisiana Lafayette. In conference they play Oklahoma, Nebraska and Texas A&M at home and travel to Texas tech and Texas.
6. Baylor (16/1 division, 60/1 conference) The Bears will struggle mightily and will only go as far as QB Robert Griffin can take them. Griffin is recovering from ACL surgery, so it could be a long season for the Bears. The Bears will be heavy underdogs in every game they play, so the schedule really doesn’t matter. But they do travel to Rice, TCU, Texas, and Oklahoma St, while Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Texas A&M come to Waco.
While the South division in the Big 12 is a toss-up between Oklahoma and Texas, there is a clear favorite in the North Division. The Nebraska Cornhuskers would like nothing better than to collect one more Big 12 title before leaving for the Big 10 next year. Nebraska’s rival Colorado is also leaving the conference next year for the Pac 10. Don’t try to make sense of the fact that the Big 12 will have 10 teams and the Big 10 will have 12 teams. It will make your head spin! Anyway here is an in depth look at the teams in the Big 12 North division.
1. Nebraska (division 2/5 conference 2/1) The Huskers returned to prominence last year and nearly upset undefeated Texas in the Big 12 championship game. They do have to replace all-world defensive end Ndomakung Suh who plays for the Detroit Lions now, but the defense will still be dominant. Quarterback Zac Lee returns behind a bolstered offensive line. The offense is the only think keeping this team from being one of the elite teams in the nation, but they should cruise to a division title in a weakened North Division. Missouri is the only serious threat. The non conference schedule includes a trip to Washington to take on a tough up-and-coming Husky team. The conference schedule includes road games at Oklahoma St and Texas A&M, but tough home games against Missouri and a showdown against Texas.
2. Missouri (division 4/1 conference 12/1) Last year was a rebuilding year for the Tigers, but they still went to the Texas Bowl where they lost to Navy. They expect to be much better this year. Junior Quarterback Blake Gabbert returns to run the offense. Gabbert is arguably the best QB in the Big 12, so the offense should put up big numbers. The defense isn’t terrible but not great either. The non-conference schedule isn’t too bad as they start off against Illinois in St. Louis, but the character of the team will be tested once conference play starts with a 4 game stretch that includes games at Texas A&M, Nebraska, and Texas Tech sandwiched around a home game against Oklahoma.
3. Kansas (division 7/1 conference 40/1) Turner Gill takes over as head coach from Mark Mangino. There is a battle at quarterback to replace Todd Reesing between Kale Pick and Jordan Webb. Gill wants to turn Kansas more into a running team than the passing juggernaut they were last year. I think Gill will eventually have some success, but installing a whole new system will take some time to adjust. They might steal a bowl did, but competing with Nebraska and Missouri will be a tall order. The schedule includes home games against Georgia Tech, archrivals Kansas St, Missouri, and Texas A&M, and tough road games at Southern Miss, Iowa St, and Nebraska.
4. Kansas St (division 27/4 conference 20/1) The Wildcats had a chance of winning the North Division last year but lost to Nebraska, and even ended up missing a bowl game all together. Senior QB Carson Coffman will most likely run the offense but was locked in a three-way battle for the job. The Wildcats could sneak into a bowl game, but I wouldn’t look for anything more than that. The schedule includes home games against UCLA, Iowa St, Oklahoma St, Nebraska, and Texas, and road games at Kansas and Missouri.
5. Colorado (division 29/4 conference 50/1) Many people including myself are surprised that Coach Dan Hawkins still has a job with the Buffaloes. They were awful last year only going 3-9 including an embarrassing defeat to equally woeful in-state rival Colorado St. The Buffs return 15 starters but do have questions at quarterback. Quarterbacks junior Tyler Hansen and senior Cody Hawkins, the coach’s son will once again compete for the starting job. The Buffs will be better but the schedule does them no favors. It includes the season opener in Denver against Colorado St, home games against Georgia, Texas Tech, Iowa St and Kansas St, and road games at Cal, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska.
6. Iowa St (division 15/1 conference 80/1) The Cyclones upset Nebraska last year and went to the Insight Bowl and beat Minnesota 14-13. Senior QB Austen Arnaud returns, but the strength of the offense is the running game. The defense isn’t bad, and can keep the Cyclones in some games. The schedule is pretty brutal including road games at rival Iowa, Oklahoma, Texas, and Colorado, and home games against Utah, Nebraska, Missouri, and Kansas.
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