Big 12 Season Promises to Be Full of Surprises

Ryan Rigdon, staff writer

The time you have been waiting for is here. 

The Big 12 started conference play on Oct. 1, and everybody is getting ready to watch their team make a run at the title. 

This year, there are some new names that might appear on that coveted trophy.  Which teams are in the running?  There may be a few surprises so don’t be caught off guard.  With the most balanced field in memory, the Big 12 seems wide open for any team that is ready to take that next step and find themselves playing in a Bowl Championship Series game.  To the winner of the conference goes an automatic bid in one of the four most elite bowl games, and possibly the Rose Bowl.  Yes, the Rose Bowl, for all the glory.  Will one of the teams from the Big 12 be competing for a national championship?

The answer to that question may be a bit cloudy right now, but let me reassure you, the Big 12 is still a power conference that is a force to be reckoned with.  One team alone has enough clout to ensure that the conference isn’t laughed at, but other teams are on the verge of greatness. This year could take them over the top. 

This year, like many others previously, the Big 12 South division seems to have a slight edge on the North division.  Teams such as Texas and Oklahoma are always powerhouses, but OU finds itself caught in a whirling eddy of doubt, as the Sooners have started the season off  with losses to both Texas Christian University and The University of California at Los Angeles.  Have no fear though Sooner fans, the Big 12 does have winnable games, even for teams with as many holes as yours.  Two teams stand out in the south as potential upstarts.  Texas Tech and Texas A&M are both very tough teams, and both can hurt you in different ways.   Look out Texas!  These teams will be ready. 

Texas comes into the season and conference play as the clear favorite to win the South, but don’t be surprised if the team playing in the Big 12 Championship representing the South is not wearing burnt orange.  Texas relies heavily on the play of quarterback Vince Young, and without him they are a completely different team.  Young is a potential Heisman candidate, but against tough opponents, look for him to take some vicious hits.  If he gets knocked around, Texas could not only lose him, but their entire offense.  The Longhorns are still the heavy favorites to win the Big 12, but some things don’t always go as planned.  That’s the reasons the games aren’t played out on paper.   

The Texas A&M Aggies will be out to prove something this season.  Their coach, Dennis Francione, hopes to bring the program back into the forefront of the national scene this year by making a legitimate attempt at capturing the Big 12 title.  After another disappointing season last year, this year’s team will try to turn things around.  Without a doubt, they will be exciting to watch, and may have enough talent this year to accomplish their goals.  Quarterback Reggie McNeal is going to have a huge year as long as he stays healthy.  His overall athletic ability, especially his legs, will win the Aggies more than just a few games. 

Texas Tech University will be a major factor this season, more than any season yet on record in the Big 12.  The Red Raiders have amazing talent, and a near unstoppable offense.  Their non-conference schedule is not impressive, but they will have a solid team coming into conference play.  With new quarterback Cody Hodges at the helm, the Raider’s offense looks more potent than ever. They also have a very talented running back, Taurean Henderson, who has been a key part of the offense for a few years and holds the school record for rushing and receiving touchdowns after breaking the previous mark of 52.  The Red Raiders have a high-powered passing attack, but they will have to work hard to shut down their opponents on the defensive side of the ball.  If they can limit their opposition on defense, Texas Tech should be one of the top contenders for a monumental and very shocking Big 12 title.

The other teams in the South shouldn’t be contenders for a BCS bowl bid, but could wreak havoc on anybody else’s chances.  Oklahoma, the usual front-runner for a Big 12 South title, has too many question marks on both sides of the ball.  Rhett Bomar will be a good quarterback, but he isn’t experienced enough to win right now, and their secondary has looked weak in their first few games.  Much to the dismay of Sooner fans and coach Bob Stoops, the Sooners will have to take a back seat this year. 

Oklahoma State is in a rebuilding mode, and doesn’t pose a serious threat to throw a wrench into the plans of title-contending teams, despite winning their first three games, give them a few more years and they will be back. but just like with Oklahoma, their team is too young and the talent there has not fully developed yet. 

The Baylor Bears have one thing going for them this year, maybe.  They have new uniforms.  Other than that, expect the Bears to continue to hibernate in the cellar of the Big 12 South.

The Big 12 North is a very interesting and tough-to-predict division.  With no real dominant force to count on, it will depend on who shows up to play week in week out.   With all of the big-name schools with long and glorious traditions such as Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas State, you would think that at least one could step it up and take control in a time of turmoil.  The Big 12 South has dominated in recent years, but this year could change everything.  OK, I’m just kidding.  Seriously though, there are some good teams in the North division, and one of them will play in the Big 12 Championship.  An early favorite is Iowa St., which defeated rival Iowa handily 23-3 in week two.  The Cyclones are hoping to blow away the competition and continue their rise to power. 

Iowa State has a balanced attack both in the air and on the ground.  Quarterback Bret Meyer has been consistent, and running back Stevie Hicks will look to pound it out on the ground when possible.  Against Iowa, however, it wasn’t the offense, but the defense that continued to cause trouble for the Hawkeyes.  The Cyclones forced five turnovers in the game and returned one interception for a touchdown.  This defense may be one of the better units in the conference, so opponents beware.

If there is one thing to know about the Kansas State Wildcats, it is that they can run the football.  Running back Thomas Clayton managed 152 yards on 26 carries with one touchdown against a tough Marshall defense.  Kansas State only won the game by two points, 21-19, but Marshall is one of the tougher non-conference opponents on any team’s schedule in the Big 12, especially on the road in Huntington, W.Va.  The Wildcats have a lot of young talent and are always a tough team to beat at home in Manhattan. This makes them one of the top three teams in the North.

The University of Colorado has a great track record since the inception of the Big 12.  In three out of the past four years they have finished first in the North and played in the Big 12 Championship game, twice losing to Oklahoma and defeating the Texas Longhorns in 2001.  The Buffaloes may get another chance this year, but they will need strong play from senior quarterback Joel Klatt.  They will also have to solidify their running attack and tighten their defense to be a true contender. 

All of the teams in the Big 12 North have a chance of pulling off a few upsets, but Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska all seem to be missing some important pieces to the puzzle.  Nebraska is still rebuilding, not reloading.  They may be good next year, but the Cornhuskers are experiencing a few growing pains with coach Bill Callahan.

 Missouri has no trouble scoring points, especially with their star quarterback Brad Smith, but their defense has to get better.  They allowed New Mexico to score 45 points against them and lost to the Lobos, even with home field advantage.  Kansas is a team with some upside, but they will run into trouble when playing opponents that will make them have to throw the ball.  Their ground game could be big, but if they get behind early, they don’t have the personnel to keep up with high-octane offenses.

Everyone expects predictions to be made, so here they are: 

Representing the North will be Iowa State.  The Cyclones have shown a lot of promise early in the year with a solid win over Iowa.  This was their first win over a top 10 team since 1992 against Nebraska. 

The most surprising team of the year will be Texas Tech.  The Red Raiders are ready to take the program to the next level, and potentially all the way to a national championship game.  Tech’s favorable schedule early in the year may help them stave off fatigue towards the end of a grueling conference schedule, but only time will tell.  Texas Tech will represent the South for the Big 12 Championship, and will earn the right to be crowned Big 12 champs for the first time.  The Raider’s schedule couldn’t shape up any better than it does this year, so it will be important for them to take advantage of a golden opportunity.

The Big 12 has a good foundation of solid teams, but lacks that one team that everyone thinks is going to win it all.  Texas may be an easy pick, but does anyone really think they can take their undefeated record wire to wire? 

There are tough challenges on all schedules within a conference such as the Big 12.  Only one team can win, and the others will be fighting for positions in other bowl games come late November and December.  This year is full of exciting match-ups and will be emotionally charged right down to the conference championship.  No matter who wins, enjoy this season as a fan of the game, and best of luck to your favorite teams.