That flag could be flying high again after the 2009 Red River Rivalry. Of course, you'll have to read below to find out if it's flying after the Big 12 Championship
The Big 12 Conference is one of the most intriguing conferences in college. The conference has a ton… scratch that… a megaton of talent on the offensive side of the ball. And while the defenses as a whole are often noted as pushovers and flat out bad, there is no doubting the fact that there are some talented individuals who will make a difference on Sundays after the whole Saturday thing goes away. This year’s class of players is no exception either, with big name players on every side of the ball. Don’t be surprised if the Big-12 spits out the best players for the draft.
It is no common idea to think that the South won’t produce the three or four best teams in the conference, including the Texas team that most think should have played for the title, the Oklahoma Sooners that might be the most complete team West of the Mississippi, and the Oklahoma State team which smells like an even scarier team on offense that Texas Tech was last year.
NORTH
6.) Kansas State
On Offense:
Bill Snyder’s Wildcats might be in for a long season this year as the team only returns four players on offense. The team may have been in for an improved season had Josh Freeman returned to the school for another year. The team does have some bright spots however, as the left side of the line has two capable seniors to play. One of the most underrated players in college too is Brandon Banks, a 5’7, 150 pound receiver who might be a late round steal of a slot player in the 2010 draft.
On Defense:
480. That’s how many yards per game the defense surrendered last year per game last year. That is good for 4th worst in the NCAA, and worst in the Big-12. This might actually be a good thing, since the team can’t get much worse than it was. There are three major points of hope on the defense this season. First is that there are a duo of defensive coordinators that have been brought in from Maryland and Clemson, and a new 4-2-5 defense might be activated (as it was in Clemson). Second is the fact that seven starters will be back, and the gained experience will help the team. Third is sophomore LE Brandon Harold who was the best defensive player on the team last year.
5.) Colorado
On Offense:
The team as a whole might be in for a long year, or a great year. This might be an interesting year for Dan Hawkins, as the team has the tools to make it to a decent bowl. The offense has seven starters back on offense, and is led by quarterback Cody Hawkins. A majority of the returners are on the line, but have been pushed well by younger talent. Overall the team has a lot of young talent that might be more ready to strike next year rather than this. The team as a whole has only 13 seniors on the team this year. If the team can stay healthier than they did last year, and if they can figure out a scheme to play in well, this team could be a major contender in the North next year.
On Defense:
One of the best things about the team last year was the defense. The defense as a whole might not be producing a ton of players for the next level, but as a whole might be the best defense in college. However that was last year when the team had 11 starters. This year only three players are back on the starting lines, and the team may be in for a long year. Either way the Buffaloes might be able to have the best defense in the Big-12, but it will likely have to do so by holding back a pretty tough non-conference schedule, and games at Texas and Oklahoma State. One notable player is freshman linebacker Doug Rippy who should start for the team.
4.) Iowa State
On Offense:
Last year the Cyclones won their first two games on the way to losing the final ten. The Cyclones are entering a big year in 2009 hoping to win on the road for the first time since 2005. The offense could end up the best in the North, and should destroy some defenses for more wins. Iowa State could easily get to a bowl game this year, but will have to ride the offense for the wins. The team will be led by Junior QB Austen Arnaud who should become a household name when the South loses their big name QB’s after the season. Arnaud should take the helm and be able to lead the team to some big wins this season.
On Defense:
Enough hyping the team because of the offense because the reason they lose games in the defense. The defense was one of the ten worst in the NCAA last year, and like Kansas State can’t get much worse. The team has a ton of juniors and seniors that should be better from experience, but the team needs to start recruiting defense soon if they want to take the next step back into the North’s shoes.
3.) Missouri
On Offense:
The team that had a top-10 offense last year is likely going to face quite a few troubles on offense this season. It just isn’t easy to lose players like Chase Daniel, Chase Coffman, and Jeremy Maclin. One bright spot for the offense is RB Derrick Washington. Washington dropped almost 20-TD’s on the field last year, and may become an elite talent if the pass game doesn’t come through. The key to the season will likely be sophomore QB Blaine Gabbert, who has less than 15 passes on his career.
On Defense:
Just like the rest of the Big-12, the Tigers did not statistically have a great defense last year. They did however have one of the better ones in the conference, and will be led by linebacker Sean Weatherspoon. Weatherspoon is a beast of a player and will have to step up big time if he wants his team to succeed.
2.) Nebraska
On Offense:
Oh the Cornhuskers… It is hard to preview the team because it seems like they are either the obvious choice for best in the North, or the obvious choice for underachievers. This year will be no exception this year. The offense returns only four players, but is lucky enough to have a very solid left side with experience to help any skill player. While there are no proven skill players on the team, there is a ton of talent that is ready to strike.
On Defense:
There is one guarantee for the season this year, and it’s that Ndamukong Suh will be the best player on the team. He was a first round DT last year, and might be the best playmaking NT in the game. Last year Suh tallied 250 sacks, 31 interceptions, and actually learned how to fly. Well actually he didn’t do any of those things, but some people hype his skills as if he had. The team should be good on the line, and in the backfield, but will need the young group of LB’s to step up this year if the Huskers want to make it to the championship game. Either way, the team needs to play cleaner football as it had a -11 turnover margin last year.
1.) Kansas
On Offense:
Kansas returns one of the deepest team in the North, including 15 total starters. The biggest name on the team is QB Todd Reesing who has already become one of the best passers in Kansas history. Reesing will never be the sexiest player in the world, but he will win games, and will drop a ton of stats on the field as well. One of the most underrated players in the country is WR Dezmon Briscoe who is getting Jeremy Maclin/Michael Crabtree type numbers in a lesser overall offense.
On Defense:
The defense is one of the better ones in the conference, and returns eight of the starters to the team. The line looks stacked to do some things this year, and the DB’s also look primed for a good year as well, led by safety Darrell Stuckey. The LB core looks depleted though, and will need to prove itself if the team wants to get the North’s ticket to the championship.
SOUTH
6.) Texas A&M
On Offense:
That’s right; Texas A&M still is a football team. Possibly the quietest team in the South, the Aggies are likely primed for either an interesting season. The team, led by QB Jerrod Johnson will have a ton of athletic and speedy offensive players. The team is a few players away from becoming the Oregon of the South. Backup QB Ryan Tannehill is also a great athletic wide out that can make some plays.
On Defense:
Turn off your music, your TV, and any other noise source in the room. That’s how loud the defense was last year. The defense was possibly the worst in the conference, and has lost seven starters. It is likely to suffer again, but what team below the curve in the South wouldn’t have troubles? Should the offense step up and become an explosive force, the defense will likely give up about the same 40 ppg that it did last year.
5.) Baylor
On Offense:
Baylor is just about the best bad team in college. If you look at Baylor’s stats, you will see that they should have won four more games in 2008. The Bears led by coach Art Briles look to end their bowl drought but have one of the toughest schedules in the NCAA. The only major weak point on the offense last year was a below average pass game, especially for Big-12 standards. But Robert Griffin the now sophomore QB will improve from his year last year, and the Bears will likely become a top-30 offense.
On Defense:
The defense might be the best in the conference, and will be returning seven starters on the side of the ball to continue the flow. The Bears are one of the few teams in the conference who might be able to stop players on both sides of the ball. The most experienced player on the team is LB Joe Pawelek who is looking to improve on his top-10 rankings in tackles and interceptions from last year. Also keep your ears open for DT Phil Taylor, a Penn State transfer who should easily one of the five DT’s in the Big-12. Either way, the Bears have the talent to win eight games, but they had similar talent last year and won only four games.
The one stat I love the most is the +16 turnover ratio that was good for 4th best in college.
4.) Texas Tech
On offense:
Some people have a problem in letting go of Texas Tech’s success. I have even heard a few people believe that the team will finish better than the overachieving 11-2 season they had last year. That’s right, over achieving year! The team barely beat Texas (if it wasn’t for bad coverage on Michael Crabtree), and seemed lost after beating Texas and Oklahoma State. The team returns only four players on offense, but there is no replacing Michael Crabtree and Graham Harrell. The team will still be able to do good things on offense, but nothing close to the top-4 offense they had statistically last year.
On Defense:
The defense looked good last year. The team however has lost Darcel McBath, Brandon Williams, and Daniel Charbonnet who had a combined 13 sacks and 14 ints. The other stud on the team, McKinner Dixon has been suspended from the team by coach Mike Leach. Overall, the team returns 7 other starters to the team, and could shake up the South. Should Dixon be returned to the team, an additional nine sacks of talent attributed last year would be added to the team to do some damage.
This is where the Big 12 takes a scary turn when it comes to preview and rankings. The three best teams in the conference happen to be in the south, and will all likely be ranked in the top 12 in the preseason polls. The Longhorns and the Sooners don’t think that the Cowboys are worthy, but the men of Stillwater have something else to say!
3.) Oklahoma State
On Offense:
What isn’t there to say about the offense? Hunter has a man crush on the team. He won’t stop sending love letters to Kendall Hunter, just so he can change his name to Hunter Hunter. But Kendall Hunter isn’t the only part of the team to be worried about. The team features a tri-force of attack from QB Zac Robinson, RB Kendall Hunter, and WR Dez Bryant. The team itself had a top 10 offense last year, and will likely pull off an even scarier offense. Hell, the offense will likely be one of the best in college, and might even outpace Oklahoma in stats. Oh… and did I mention Russell Okung?
On Defense:
While the defense has been thin in depth the last few years, the team will be looking to strike harder this year. They will never win a stats award, but no team in the conference will do that. The team is looking primed and ready to be able to hold its own in the conference. The defense needs to play hard, led by a trio of senior linebackers if they are going to try to compete as a top 10 team in the league. It’s not going to be easy, but if a team can move the ball like the Cowboys can, then the defense will have less pressure to hold teams to close games.
2.) Oklahoma
On Offense:
The Sooners offense has already proven quite a bit. Other than having the best scoring offense, and a top 20 offense in about every other category, the offense holds last year’s Heisman winner in Sam Bradford. There is no doubt that the team will be good with Bradford, DeMarco Murray, and Chris Brown playing on the team, but the team will have some items to overcome. The team did lose the majority of the starting line, excluding Trent Williams who could (and I mean could Sooner fans) have a harder time on the left side than most think. He could also become the best LT in college. The team also will have to replace the receiving core. Either way, the offense looks primed and ready to get back to the same things that they got done last year.
On Defense:
While the team is nowhere close to an elite defense, the team is possibly the best in the conference. The team returns eight starters on defense, including the best DT tandem in college. Gerald McCoy is regarded as one of the best DT’s to come around in years, and DeMarcus Granger could more than easily be a first round player taken in the 2010 draft. The defense must stay as consistent as it was last year (OK had the best turnover ratio in college), and they must stay strong against the Texas and OK State offenses.
1.) Texas
Texas fans will be the first to state that the Longhorns finished with the best record in the conference. They also will throw out the “unfair” card against Oklahoma who went to the big game, despite a 10-point loss against Texas. Guess what Texas? That was last year, and it’s time to get over it!
On Offense:
The Texas offense looks good, and ready to go for the 2009 season. The Longhorns return seven players on both sides of the ball, and should be fine from their losses. The team lost only one man on the line (RG), two starting Wide outs (out of 4), and their RB. A team can play without the RG, still have their most dangerous player on the line in Jordan Shipley, and have proven that they can cycle RB’s well over the years. The reason that I say there are 4 starting WR spots are that the TE spot will be rare and thin this year. That’s a pretty good offense so far, but this offense has Colt McCoy. Colt will be gunning for a Heisman award, and might steal one like Bradford did last year.
On Defense:
Texas has a good defense on its backs, but will have to replace Brian Orakpo to succeed. Sergio Kindle looked like the man who could do it, but of course is going to face possible trouble for leaving a car wreck scene. Should Kindle be able to play a good amount of the year, the team should be awesome. Should he not, then there is another question needing to be answered. The defensive backs, led by Safety Earl Thomas should be awesome as well. Either way, look for the Longhorns to try to get into the big game in the Big-12. Texas also has a fairly good chance to go to the BCS Championship game as well.
OPOY
Colt McCoy- This is a close loss to Sam Bradford, but the losses that Bradford took on offense was the difference maker
DPOY
Ndamukong Suh- The man had an amazing last year, and could have an even better one this year. Names like Gerald McCoy and Joe Pawelek could also make a huge splash here
Newcomers
Phil Taylor- Taylor is a DT transfer from Penn State. Instead of playing with Joe Pa, he will be playing with Joe Paw(elek) and could be great.
Austen Arnaud- Ok, so he isn’t a newcomer, but his name could become a big-name one if the team can strike some wins.
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