Five Big 12 Games Crucial to Missouri's National Championship Hopes

Missouri still has national championship hopes, as I have said. There are a few things that have to happen, and a few games have to go their way. This list is assuming Missouri can beat teams they are supposed to, like Colorado, Iowa State, and Baylor.  The games will be put in order in which they are being played, not in order of importance.



(1) Missouri at Texas, Oct. 18

This game is Missouri's toughest challenge of the regular season, and if they learned the lessons they should have after last week's loss, it should be a good one. If Missouri can knock off number one, this will raise their ranking in the BCS poll that comes out the week after the game.

(2) Oklahoma State at Texas, Oct. 25

Baring a Baylor upset of OSU, the Cowboys will still be ranked in the top 10 and possibly in front of Missouri. This game especially has implications in the Big 12 South rankings, and the national rankings as well.

(3) Texas at Texas Tech, Nov. 1

There's a good chance Texas Tech will be going into this game undefeated unless they slip up. A Longhorn victory can push Missouri ahead of Texas Tech if they are not already by this point in time.

(4) Oklahoma at Oklahoma State, Nov. 29

It's the Bedlam Game, and this big in-state rivalry will be even bigger this year.  If Oklahoma wins, they should be playing for the Big 12 championship, if Texas endures at least one loss to OSU, Texas Tech, or Missouri. If they lose, it is a real toss-up to see who represents the Big 12 South.

This game will be the decider of the opponent Missouri will have if they can win the North Division. If OU is ranked one or two at this point in time and we beat them, we should move up to a good position to play in the National Championship.

(5) Kansas at Missouri, Nov. 29

The last game of Missouri's regular season is against their biggest rivals at Arrowhead Stadium. If Kansas happens to beat all their Big 12 opponents this year, they would be highly ranked and would have the lead in the Big 12 North like last year.

If Missouri can beat the Jayhawks, they would be going to the Big 12 Championship and would be playing for more than their first conference title.



These games are just conference games to watch, and it doesn't count all the SEC teams that need to lose and teams like BYU, Ohio State, USC, and Penn State that need to collapse. It is good, though, to start with a small perspective in conference, and it is going to be a wild one this year.

The Big 12 is very talented, and if Missouri sweeps the rest of the regular season and other conference teams falter, they will be in the running for the National Championship. This is just one aspect of it though, and it will be a long, tough battle to make it to the Big 12 championship, let alone the National Championship.