Big 12 Football: Top 10 Non-Conference Games for 2011
The top preseason story lines for the 2011 edition of the Big 12 Conference could include obvious items such as “Colorado Packs Its Chuck Wagon and Heads Westward Ho” and “Cornhuskers Replant Their Volatile Crop in the Midwest.”
But beyond the story of the two former Big 12 members actually leaving the Longhorn dominated fold, what effects do these exits have on scheduling?
With each Big 12 team facing one another once per year (the division format is now history), each member team has been forced to eliminate one non-conference game for 2011.
Basically, each will play nine conference games (as opposed to eight under the previous arrangement), leaving only three slots for non-conference opponents.
The Big 12 has never been known for scheduling the toughest non-conference foes, and eliminating one of these can’t do anything but set the bar even lower (as is the trend throughout the FBS).
Regardless, the games must still be scheduled and played, and the following slideshow attempts to pick the top 10 Big 12 non-conference games for 2011.
Though the scheduling process is not complete or set in stone, these games—if they remain on the 2011 slate—give all of college football something to look forward to.
10. Texas Tech vs. Nevada
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The Red Raiders had what was arguably the most intriguing non-conference matchup in the Big 12 for 2011 in their matchup with TCU, originally slated for September 10.
Unfortunately, this game was recently (just this week) canceled by Tech, purportedly due to the scheduling woes created by the new Big 12 format (or was it because they didn’t want to play the Horned Frogs?).
Regardless, that game is off and Tech’s most venerable non-conference opponent is now the Nevada Wolf Pack (September 24 in Lubbock).
Nevada finished 2010 at 13-1, ranked No. 15 in the nation and capped off its season with a win over Boston College in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl.
Provocatively, it will be a Nevada offense that finished No. 8 overall in scoring offense squaring off with a Texas Tech team that ranked No. 93 overall in scoring defense.
The Red Raiders better get their defensive house back in order before the Wolf Pack visits during Week 4.
At any rate, this match-up will provide a real measure of how improved Tech’s defense is in its second season under the defensive-minded Tommy Tuberville.
Texas Tech is 1-0 all time vs. Nevada; The only meeting between the two was in 2008, when Tech won 35-19.
9. Kansas at Georgia Tech
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Kansas visits Georgia Tech in Week 3 of 2011 to fulfill part two of its home/away series with the Yellow Jackets.
The two clashed in Week 2 of 2010 with the Jayhawks shocking then-No. 15 Georgia Tech with a 28-25 victory in Lawrence. For Kansas, this is one of the bright spots in what was otherwise a bleak 3-9 campaign.
Georgia Tech was supposed to be a frontrunner in the ACC in 2010. But the loss to the Jayhawks proved foreshadowing to a wild up-and-down season, resulting in a 6-7 mark, including a loss to Air Force in the Independence Bowl.
In 2011, it will be a Kansas team that allowed over 200 yards of rushing facing a Georgia Tech squad that led the nation in running with over 320 yards per game.
If nothing else, the game will be a good indicator of whether the Jayhawks have begun the process of improvement expected under second-year head coach Turner Gill.
Kansas is 1-1 all time vs. Georgia Tech; before the 2010 meeting the two had met only once when the Yellow Jackets bested the Jayhawks 20-14 in the 1948 Orange Bowl.
8. Iowa State at Connecticut
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When considering Iowa State’s 5-7 mark in 2010, it is only fair to remember that the Cyclones played one of the toughest schedules in the nation (ranked No. 1 by Phil Steele).
With the exception of losses to Kansas State and Colorado, Iowa State’s other five losses were all to teams that were ranked in the top 15 at game time (four were in the top 10).
We will know more about the continually improving Cyclones under Paul Rhoads after their Week 2 clash with in-state rival Iowa, but the road trip to UConn on September 17 will prove intriguing on an entirely different level.
It’s the BCS reaching Huskies (who won an underwhelming Big East title) under new coach Paul Pasqualoni vs. the (at least on paper) over-matched Cyclones hardened by a ruthless 2010 schedule.
Iowa State is 0-1 all time vs. Connecticut; the only other meeting was in 2002 when the Huskies beat the Cyclones 37-20.
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7. Missouri at Arizona State
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After the season opener in Columbia vs. Miami (OH), the Blaine Gabbert-less Tigers will travel to Tempe to face the Arizona State Sun Devils (September 10).
This game will begin to answer the burning question as to just how much Missouri will miss Gabbert in 2011.
The Tigers ranked No. 33 in the nation in 2010 in passing yards, while they only ranked No. 57 in rushing yards. So the question for 2011 might just be how far their No. 6-ranked scoring defense can carry them with their offensive leader fleeing for the NFL.
Arizona State shouldn’t be overlooked as an outmatched Pac-10 opponent. The Sun Devils' 6-6 season may be seen as underwhelming, but with close losses to Wisconsin (one point), Oregon State (three points), USC (one point) and Stanford (four points), this is no hapless, hopeless team.
But Arizona State was less than successful defending the pass in 2010 (allowing over 245 yards per game through the air), which may give Gabbert’s replacement at least a sign of hope.
It’s Pac-10 (12) vs. Big 12 (10). Any way you slice it; it’s far more provocative than the Sun Belt vs. the Big 12.
Missouri is 3-2 all time vs. Arizona State; the series began in 1972 and the two last met in 1990 when the Tigers beat the Sun Devils 30-9.
6. Baylor vs. TCU
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You can say a lot of things about the Baylor Bears, but you have to give them credit for not shying away from their home/away series with streaking TCU.
Baylor’s 7-6 record in 2010, their four conference wins and their appearance vs. Illinois in the Texas Bowl were all landmark events for a program that has suffered through more than a decade of disappointments.
Yes, the Bears will have a healthy Robert Griffin III under center for the home opener versus the defending Rose Bowl champion Horned Frogs in Waco, but Baylor will also have a far greater commodity: confidence.
This is a Baylor program on the rise, with a fan base hungry for more. This will be a great in-state matchup pitting a team that knows they are good against a team that knows they can be.
This contest might not attract much attention on nationally (other than “Who is TCU playing this week?”) but mark your calendars—it will be one of the best Week 1 games in the nation.
Baylor is 49-50-7 all time vs. TCU; the series began in 1899 and the two last met in 2010 when TCU beat the Bears 45-10. Baylor was last victorious over TCU in 1995.
5. Kansas State at Miami (FL)
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Bill Snyder’s second coming at Kansas State has produced the Wildcats second football revival.
Snyder retook the reins in Manhattan after two 5-8 seasons under Ron Prince and led the Wildcats to a 6-6 mark in 2009 followed by a 7-6 mark in 2010.
The Wildcats capped off the 2010 season with an appearance (and two-point loss) to Syracuse in the Pinstripe Bowl, which marked their first bowl berth since 2006.
So, how much better will the 2011 Wildcats be than their 2010 predecessors, and how will the Miami Hurricanes look under new head coach Al Golden?
This Week 4 (September 24) clash is well placed in both teams' schedules. Kansas State will face Eastern Kentucky, have a week off and then play Kent State (both games at home), while Miami will be directly off a home game versus Ohio State.
On the one hand, Kansas State will be ready to prove themselves, while the Hurricanes will have a better idea of what they are all about (and very well may be coming off an emotional win or loss against the Buckeyes).
Kansas State and Miami (FL) have never met in football.
4. Texas Vs. BYU
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The suddenly hapless Longhorns really have two intriguing games on their non-conference schedule for 2011: UCLA and BYU.
UCLA seems less attractive with last seasons’ “shocking” Bruins over Longhorns upset, leaving the now-independent BYU Cougars' September 10 visit to Austin as the earlier, more interesting matchup.
So, how bad is Texas, or, how good is Texas? How much was 2010 an anomaly and how will the coaching shake-up effect what is still a very talented and blazingly fast group of Longhorn athletes?
Week 2’s meeting with BYU should begin to answer many of these questions.
The Cougars finished 2010 (a year that was supposed to be a “rebuilding year” in Provo) a respectable 7-6, including a 52-24 drubbing of UTEP in the New Mexico Bowl.
BYU should be much improved in 2011 and their visit to Austin should be downright fascinating.
Texas is 0-2 all time vs. BYU; the Longhorns dropped both games to the Cougars in a 1987-1988 home/away series.
3. Oklahoma State vs. Arizona
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Other than the ugly fall of the Texas Longhorns, the Oklahoma State Cowboys were the big surprise of the 2010 season in the Big 12.
A team that was predicted to finish No. 5 in the Big 12 South finished tied for first with an 11-2 record and a No. 14 national ranking.
The Cowboy’s questions at offense were answered by the ageless QB Brandon Weeden and the now-departed OC Dana Holgorsen.
So, how will the Cowboys perform now that everyone expects them to perform well?
A Week 2 (September 10) test in Stillwater vs. Arizona will go a long way in answering that burning question.
The 2010 Arizona Wildcats started the season in a very promising fashion (they were 8-1 by the end of October) but dropped their last four games in a row.
Ironically, these two finished 2010 facing each other in the Alamo Bowl, with the Cowboys winning 36-10.
Mike Stoops and Mike Gundy will both have their squads ready for this one. It will be worth watching.
Oklahoma State is 4-3 all time vs. Arizona; prior to the 2010 Alamo Bowl the two had not met since 1942.
2. Texas A&M vs. Arkansas
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The Aggies' thrilling six-game winning streak to close out the 2010 regular season was followed by a disappointing 41-24 rout at the hands of LSU in the Cotton Bowl.
Regardless, after starting the 2010 campaign an unsatisfactory 3-3, the Aggies finished strong and are as hopeful as they have been in recent memory coming into a new season.
The second loss of the Aggies three-game losing skid in 2010 came at the hand of the Arkansas Razorbacks, who won by a seven-point margin, sending the Aggies away from Cowboy Stadium wondering how the remainder of the year would play out.
2011 will be different as the Razorbacks will be without Ryan Mallett, while A&M will have Ryan Tannehill firmly under center.
The Aggies will no doubt be considered the favorite in this one, but with A&M’s track record versus the SEC, nothing is a sure thing. (The Aggies are 0-6 vs. the SEC since 2000 and last beat an SEC foe in 1995 when they upended LSU 33-17).
This Week 5 matchup (October 1) will be played again at Jerry Jones’ tribute to cold hard cash, Cowboy Stadium.
The Aggies are 24-40-3 vs. Arkansas; the series began in 1903 and A&M last beat the Razorbacks in 1991 by a score of 13-3.
1. Oklahoma at Florida State
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The September 17 rematch between the Sooners and Seminoles is a game worth making plans for. This is a meeting that will more than likely have an impact on the BCS and Heisman equations.
Part one of the home/away series between Oklahoma vs. Florida State took place last September in Norman when the Sooners dismantled the Seminoles 47-17.
Part two shines even brighter with Jimbo Fisher having one season under his belt, Landry Jones ready to make a run at everything, and both teams among the best in the nation. It is always interesting to watch the Sooners take on a good team at a non-Norman locale.
This game transcends the top Big 12 non-conference list and belongs at the top of the top non-conference college football games of 2011.
Clean your fork and get a new bottle of A-1—here is one to feast on!
Oklahoma is 5-1 all time vs. Florida State; the series began in 1965 and four of the six meetings have been in bowl games (three Orange Bowls and one Gator Bowl). Prior to last year’s game, the two last met in the 2001 Orange Bowl with Oklahoma winning 13-2; the Seminoles' only win against the Sooners came in the 1965 Gator Bowl by a score of 36-19.
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