Big 12 Preview: 100 Words or Less on Each Big 12 Team
Since it's inaugural season back in 1996, the Big 12 conference has been recognized and respected as one of the nation's best college football leagues in all the land.
2010 doesn't look to be anything different for a league that finds three teams ranked in the top nine of the preseason USA Today Coaches poll.
However, in 2010, the Big 12 doesn't stop at just three teams who can contend for the Big 12 title. There are some other teams that could create a stir in the conference this year and maybe even pull a shocker and walk away with the Big 12 crown.
Baylor Bears
1 of 13
Robert Griffin's back.
Joe Pawelek and Jordan Lake are not.
Can Baylor get a bowl bid in 2010 is the real story. Not since 1994 have the Bears been bowling. In 2010, that skid could change...as long as Griffin can remain healthy.
Art Briles has upgraded the talent at BU since 2008. Will the added depth create more Big 12 conference victories? Not likely.
At least not in 2010. The Bears will be more competitive, but they still have a long ways to go in truly competing on a week in and week out basis with their Big 12 brethren.
Oklahoma State Cowboys
2 of 13
Kendall Hunter is back.
Russell Okung, Dez Bryant, Zac Robinson and Keith Toston are not.
Hubert Anyiam is a star on the rise, and Brandon Weeden will be given every chance to succeed in the new pass-happier OSU offense.
Booker, Levine, Sexton, and Cox are lost from the defense. Overall, the 'Pokes bring back a total of eight starters.
It'll be tough to see another nine-win season or more. A dive to the basement of the Big 12 South is a definite possibility.
However, they'll beat somebody of note along the way. Simply put, it's a rebuilding year in Stillwater.
Texas Tech Red Raiders
3 of 13
Enter Tommy Tuberville.
One thing we'll be assured of under Tuberville, is that the Red Raiders will pay much more attention to detail and play much closer to the vest than the free-loading Leach days.
Tuberville isn't inheriting a talent-deficient team either.
Potts and Sheffield are both quality options at QB, and Baron Batch is a great RB that nobody has really heard about.
Defense is the Texas Tech calling card in 2010. They improved greatly in 2009. Expect that to continue in 2010 with the Red Raiders being a bigger contender in the South than many think is possible.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Texas A&M Aggies
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Jerrod Johnson is a beast.
Christine Michael is a growing beast. Jeff Fuller and Uzoma Nwachukwu are other beasts on what may be the most explosive offense in all of college football in the 2010 season.
Nobody doubts the Aggies ability to score in 2010.
Can they play defense, and can the Wrecking Crew mentality return?
Von Miller can get to the QB. Can anybody else on the Aggie defense make a play?
Can a move to a 3-4 defense pay dividends? This is the scariest team in the conference if they can play a lick of defense in 2010.
Texas Longhorns
5 of 13
Rebuild, or reload?
Texas is amongst a handful of programs that can simply reload.
McCoy, Shipley, Muckleroy, Thomas, Kindle, and Houston are all gone.
No worries for Horn faithful. Reload the gun with Gilbert, Newton, Acho, Robinson, Brown, and Williams.
The 'Horns will run the football more than they have since the Ricky Williams days.
Gilbert showed a lot of talent in last year's National Title game and will be the next in the lineage of great Texas QB's.
Texas will contend for the Big 12 and maybe even the National Title in 2010.
Oklahoma Sooners
6 of 13
8-5? Including a Sun Bowl victory over Stanford?
Needless to say, 2009 didn't turn out well for OU.
Jones got a solid amount of experience in the high-octane Sooner offense last year.
Murray and Broyles return on offense along with Beal and man-child Quinton Carter on defense.
Will OU be the most improved team in the country in 2010?
Offense won't be a problem. Will the defense be as good as 2009?
A reduction in TO's will likely mean a return to the top perch in the South, and an invite to the 2010 National Title game is extremely possible.
Iowa State Cyclones
7 of 13
Arnaud and Robinson return.
The OL also returns four solid starters who paved the way for Robinson to enjoy a 1,000 yard rushing season last year.
Problem?
Schedule.
Northern Illinois, @ Iowa, Kansas State (Kansas City), Northern Iowa, Texas Tech, Utah @ Oklahoma, @ Texas , Kansas, Nebraska, @ Colorado, and Missouri.
Not sure that any Iowa State fan can guarantee a victory all season, and that includes an in-state Northern Iowa team that has been quite pesky with FBS schools in the past.
Can ISU win more than three games this year is the real question. Feel sorry for Paul Rhoads.
Kansas Jayhawks
8 of 13
Take away 2007, and Kansas has been less than competitive in the Big 12 since its inception.
That won't change in 2010 even with the "positive" coaching of Turner Gill.
While KU has some talent, it is an adjustment period for a team that is in need of structure that Gill is bringing to the program.
The best news is that the entire OL is back. That should help new QB starter Kale Pick. But from there...
With Georgia Tech and Southern Miss on the non-conference schedule; KU to a bowl game would be solid first year for Gill.
Kansas State Wildcats
9 of 13
With nothing more than Daniel Thomas in 2009, Bill Snyder almost took his Wildcats to the Big 12 Championship game.
As much of a negative as is Iowa State's schedule, Kansas State's is positive.
In their first nine games, they have seven at home including their toughest contests against UCLA, Nebraska, and Texas. The only road games that K-State has before November are Kansas and Baylor.
Look for K-State to not only be bowl bound in 2010, but a serious sleeper that can actually contend for a Big 12 Championship invite if things fall into place.
Colorado Buffaloes
10 of 13
The offense has to score more than 22.3 points per game and the defense can't give up 28.8 points per game in return.
There is too much talent on this roster to have only won 16 games over the last four seasons.
With California and Georgia on the non-conference schedule, the Buffs will fall on their face before the Big 12 season really starts once again.
The Hawk will be job hunting before November. and the Buffaloes will be fighting to keep out of the Big 12 North basement yet again.
Missouri Tigers
11 of 13
The Tigers have 16 starters returning, the most in the Big 12.
Blaine Gabbert is one of the most talented QB's in the entire nation. The Tigers have a reasonable Offensive Line returning, and the WR's and RB's are well above average.
So why the dislike?
Maybe the 2008 over hype? The No. 6 preseason ranking may still be burning people after serious beatdowns from Oklahoma (twice) and Texas from that season?
Hard to say, but Mizzou in 2010 is no joke. And with an almost guaranteed 4-0 start to the season, these Tigers will be tough to handle come October and November.
Nebraska Cornhuskers
12 of 13
Ndamukong Suh is gone. Along with Dillard, Asante, and O'Hanlon.
The offense was atrocious last year.
How can the Huskers be favorites in the North and Top 10 worthy?
Good question.
Nobody doubts that the defense will be solid, but can the offense scare anybody in 2010?
If the QB situation and OL don't improve, the Huskers could be on the bad end of some ugly games this year.
The schedule is manageable, but are they good enough to take the next step and take everybody's best shot?
Big 12 TItle Game
13 of 13
A fitting end to the Big 12 as we know it?
'Nebraska vs. Oklahoma?
Very likely, and my prediction before the season begins.
In the end, I'll take Oklahoma as this year's Big 12 Champs.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
