Big 12 Countdown: Ranking the Academic Progress of Last Season's Bowl Contenders

Eight teams from the Big 12 competed for a bowl last season, and those squads were made up of more than just future NFL prospects. They are student-athletes first and foremost.

The NCAA stresses academic success with all of its athletes, and it has become necessary to score these schools. They use a value called the APR (academic progress rate) and it can be used in favor of and against schools. Those producing a score lower than 925 out of 1,000 are likely to be penalized in the form of scholarship loss.

Here is a look at how the Big 12 bowl-eligible schools rank with regards to APR. In the case of a tie, the graduation rate will be used to break it. All information comes from the 2011 edition of an annual study from the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport (TIDES) at the University of Central Florida. Read on for more.

8. Iowa State

Finishing last on this list is Iowa State, boasting a not-so-impressive 932 APR.

Although schools like Southern Mississippi, Louisville, and North Carolina State have much lower scores, the Cyclones have a score that is almost 20 points below the bowl average.

While they have the second-highest graduation rate among white football players and athletes in general, African-American football athletes rank last in graduation rate on this list.

Academic Progress Rate: 932

Football graduation rate: 63 percent

-among Caucasian athletes: 91 percent

-among African-American athletes: 40 percent

Student-athlete graduation rate: 79 percent

7. Texas A&M

The Aggies leave the Big 12 with a 6-6 record in football and a second-to-last finish in our list among bowl qualifying teams. Their scores do not stand out in general; however, they do have the highest graduation rate among Caucasian football players in the conference.

If you are curious about how A&M ranks in the SEC, you will be disappointed to learn that their second-to-last finish remains the same. More upsetting for some fans is that the schools ranked higher have better APR rankings than the Big 12.

The top school on this list is not even fifth on their list.

Academic Progress Rate: 940

Football graduation rate: 59 percent

-among Caucasian athletes: 92 percent

-among African-American athletes: 45 percent

Student-athlete graduation rate: 73 percent

6. Kansas State

Kansas State is No. 6 on our list and their stats are pretty average as well.

Their white athlete graduation rate is second to last on this list but the other categories are right in the middle.

Academic Progress Rate: 940

Football graduation rate: 62 percent

-among Caucasian athletes: 66 percent

-among African-American athletes: 58 percent

Student-athlete graduation rate: 78 percent

5. Texas

Texas, a program that prides itself on the academic quality of its athletes, is stuck right in the middle of this list.

Their APR of 941 does not separate them from the bottom three but every other category puts them right in the middle.

Academic Progress Rate: 941

Football graduation rate: 57 percent

-among Caucasian athletes: 73 percent

-among African-American athletes: 47 percent

Student-athlete graduation rate: 74 percent

4. Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State is another school that is creeping up in the rankings, both athletically and academically.

Their 2007 ranking was below the 925 threshold by one point, but they have slowly but surely turned things around.

Academic Progress Rate: 942

Football graduation rate: 65 percent

-among Caucasian athletes: 72 percent

-among African-American athletes: 61 percent

Student-athlete graduation rate: 77 percent

3. Baylor

First-round draft pick and Heisman winner Robert Griffin III is still studying for a Masters degree, so you know this school has to be high on this list.

It comes in at third on this list while boasting a share of first place in the graduation rate of African-American football players.

Academic Progress Rate: 951

Football graduation rate: 62 percent

-among Caucasian athletes: 68 percent

-among African-American athletes: 62 percent

Student-athlete graduation rate: 79 percent

2. Oklahoma

Despite having the lowest overall graduation rate for football players (including the lowest rates for Caucasian and African-American players) and the lowest student-athlete graduation rate in the Big 12, Oklahoma boasts the second-highest APR in the conference.

Down from 962 in 2010, Bob Stoops and company have come a long way from their horrendous 928 showing in 2006.

Academic Progress Rate: 960

Football graduation rate: 48 percent

-among Caucasian athletes: 57 percent

-among African-American athletes: 44 percent

Student-athlete graduation rate: 71 percent

1. Missouri

Missouri was an absolutely dominant force in the classroom during their tenure, and their final inclusion in Big 12 discussions leaves them on top.

They led the Big 12 in every graduation-rate category and their smallest margin of victory was 10 percent over Oklahoma in the overall student athlete graduation rate. However, their move to the SEC puts them out of the top five in their new conference.

Academic Progress Rate: 967

Football graduation rate: 66 percent

-among Caucasian athletes: 78 percent

-among African-American athletes: 62 percent

Student-athlete graduation rate: 81 percent