College Football 2011: Predicting How the Big 12 Will Finish

So the 2010 college football season is over.

What's next?

Predictions for the 2011 season of course.

Let's focus on the Big 12 for this piece. With Nebraska and Colorado on the way out, how will things shake out in 2011?

Can the Texas Longhorns recover from an awful 2010 or will Oklahoma win the title again?

10. Kansas

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KANSAS CITY, MO - NOVEMBER 27: Head coach Turner Gill of the Kansas Jayhawks coaches from the sidelines during the game against the Missouri Tigers on November 27, 2010 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

They beat Colorado in 2010.

But they're gone now...

9. Kansas State

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NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 30: Carson Coffman #14 of the Kansas State Wildcats gets out of the tackle of Doug Hogue #32 of the Syracuse Orange during the New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on December 30, 2010 in New York, New York. (Photo by Chris M

After a strong start to 2010, Kansas State faded fast.

They will fade even faster in 2011 without star running back Daniel Thomas.

8. Iowa State

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BOULDER, CO - NOVEMBER 13: Alexander Robinson #33 of the Iowa State Cyclones celebrates his eight yard touchdown run in the second quarter with his teammates against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field on November 13, 2010 in Boulder, Colorado. Colora

When you try to find an image for Iowa State, you have to sort through nine pages of Iowa images before finding one that actually depicts an Iowa State player.

OK, that shouldn't be a reason a team will not do well in 2011, but it's kind of telling, isn't it?

Iowa State ended 2010 on a three-game losing streak in the Big 12 and failed to make a bowl game. 

7. Baylor

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AUSTIN, TX - NOVEMBER 8: Quarterback Robert Griffin #10 of the Baylor Bears passes the bal downfield during the game against the Texas Longhorns on November 8, 2008 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. Texas won 45-21. (Photo by B

Robert Griffin is explosive and gives this team a reason to have high hopes. 

In fact, Baylor even found themselves ranked in 2010 for the first time in forever.

But, they ended the season on a four-game slide as they face Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas A & M and Illinois.

Good teams will beat team, and if they slip up to some decent teams, they will slide in the Big 12. 

6. Texas Tech

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LUBBOCK, TX - SEPTEMBER 18: Quarterback Taylor Potts #12 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders against the Texas Longhorns at Jones AT&T Stadium on September 18, 2010 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Both Taylor Potts and Steven Sheffield graduated in 2010.

It never seems to matter who is at quarterback for Texas Tech though, they always seem to have a good offense.

It's their defense that is problematic.

Texas Tech is going to be a middle of the road team yet again.

5. Texas

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AUSTIN, TX - NOVEMBER 25: University of Texas quarterback Garrett Gilbert #8 rushes during the first half against Texas A&M at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 25, 2010 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Darren Carroll/Getty Images)

Texas absolutely fell apart in 2010.

Somehow, they still ranked sixth in the nation in defense, but they will be unlikely to repeat that feat with defensive coordinator Will Muschamp taking the Florida job.

Garret Gilbert needs to improve dramatically for the Longhorns to be competitive in 2011. 

4. Missouri

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TEMPE, AZ - DECEMBER 28: Quarterback Blaine Gabbert #11 of the Missouri Tigers drops back to pass during the Insight Bowl against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Sun Devil Stadium on December 28, 2010 in Tempe, Arizona. The Hawkeyes defeated the Tigers 27-24. (P

Missouri lost their star quarterback, Blaine Gabbert, to the draft.

Will his little brother Tyler fill his shoes?

They also lost defensive end Aldon Smith to the draft. 

Missouri has a decent squad, but I'd be surprised to see them finish much better than fourth. If anything, I think they will finish worse—not better. 

3. Texas A & M

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ARLINGTON, TX - JANUARY 07: Quarterback Ryan Tannehill #17 of the Texas A&M Aggies throws against the LSU Tigers during the AT&T Cotton Bowl at Cowboys Stadium on January 7, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Last year, the Aggies ended their Big 12 play on a six-game winning streak after being invigorated by junior quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

Tannehill will return for 2011 and look to build on his success with an Aggies team that got progressively better as the season went on.

2. Oklahoma State

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STILLWATER, OK - NOVEMBER 27: Quarterback Brandon Weeden #3 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys looks for an open receiver against the Oklahoma Sooners at Boone Pickens Stadium on November 27, 2010 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Image

One of the nation's most prolific offenses returns its quarterback and star receiver.

If Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon can terrorize Big 12 defenses like they did last year, then they should finish second.

An improvement in their defense could make them a BCS contender. 

1. Oklahoma

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 01: Landry Jones #12 of the Oklahoma Sooners looks to throw the ball against the Connecticut Huskies during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at the Universtity of Phoenix Stadium on January 1, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Ronald M

The Oklahoma Sooners won the Big 12 in the 2010, and they will again in 2011.

They return three of the biggest stars in Landry Jones, Ryan Broyles and Travis Lewis but lose DeMarco Murray.

There is no reason to believe they will be worse than last year. On the contrary, it looks like they will be better. 

This team could be a national championship contender if they get past FSU and Oklahoma State.