We now turn our focus to the great plains, the middle of the country, where the football features massive offensive lineman and high scoring offenses.  This conference holds just about as much history as the Big 10 but more so probably because the areas these football teams are in don’t have much else to do there.  I have always felt these schools are overrated, simply because they all run the spread offense and score loads of point, then they usually end up losing their out of conference bowl games (except Vince Young and his heroic championship comeback).  I believe Bob Stoops has made his way to 5 championship games that he was overmatched in since winning it back in the 90’s.  Yet this conference keep getting loads of national respect.  I still think they have to earn it.

Where they stood

This conference has been filling up the stat sheets for years.  Every game is an exciting high scoring affair that usually features Heisman candidate quarterbacks.  However, these teams haven’t faired very well out of conference.  Oklahoma hasn’t won a BCS bowl game in years.  Texas has sqeaked by some teams they should have beaten badly (Ohio State last year), but has won the conferences lone national title this decade against a true powerhouse in USC.  Overall, this conference has some proving to do.  Being such a “powerhouse” they claim to be doesn’t show up on a 4-3 bowl game record last year.

Where they stand

Oklahoma’s showing against UF in the championship game last year was a very impressive outing.  Considering UF had been rolling all year, and to be honest, based on Oklahoma’s track record in BCS games, I didn’t expect them to come within 10 points of Florida.  However, they made it competitive and I believe that was a sign of change for this conference.  I still believe they will be overrated as usual this year, but they will show better out of conference than they have been.  The frontrunners will be the usual suspects: Oklahoma and Texas.  Then there are some outside chance contenders followed by a load of mop up duty.  This conference is very top heavy.

Team by Team Breakdown

Baylor – This team has been making strides as of late and after an OK season by freshman quarterback Robert Griffin (2,000+ passing yards and 15 TDs) expect them to build of that.  They will still only be knocking on the door of mediocrity but that’s better than the cellar dwellar label they’re used to.  Expect more progress this year.  Prediction: 4-6 wins.

Colorado – This team has made progress under head coach Dan Hawkins, but still needs to win more games if he is going to stick around.  Colorado has endured some tough times and it seems there is light at the end of the tunnel.  They have young talent on offense and defense, but still lack that game changing player.  Scotty McKnight has the field stretching ability, it will just take him some time to get there.

Iowa State – This team has some major steps to take before it can even consider itself a consistent winner.  Head Coach Paul Rhoads needs to get some talent there from Iowa’s back yard.  Also, that offense needs to develop. Austen Arnaud threw for nearly 3,000 yards last season, but didn’t throw enough touchdowns (only 15).  Also, the defense needs to learn to stop people.  There is just too many problems right now for this team to make any vertical moves up the standings.  Expect more misery for the Cyclones.  Prediction: 1-3 wins.

Kansas – This basketball school has really impressed me with their football talent.  A BCS bowl win two years ago really put Kansas football on the map.  Todd Reesing is only going to become a better passer, and the defense should fix the gaps it had last year.  This team isn’t elite status, but they are certainly close to it.  Expect a better record this year, just no conference title.  Prediction: 7-9 wins.

Kansas State – With a new coach coming in and the early departure of QB Josh Freeman, look for a rebuilding year for Kansas state.  The defense lost some talent as well, and they just don’t have the firepower to hang with the rest of the conference.  Look for a sub-par year for the Wildcats.  Prediction: 4-5 wins.

Missouri – This team has been another team (like Kansas) that has emerged as a threat to juggernautts Oklahoma and Texas.  However, the loss of all-over-the-field threat Jeremy Maclin and the departure of senior QB Chase Daniel will make it a down year for the Tigers.  The offense should still score points, it will just take some time to regroup, this is a retooling year.  Prediction: 6-8 wins.

Nebraska – This team has been begging for success after they were knocked into irrelevance by Miami in the 2002 Rose Bowl.  New coach Bo Pelini seemed to gain some rhythm last year and expect more success this year.  A good yardstick game will be September 19 at Virginia Tech.  Hear we will know whether this team is coming back into the national picture.  Having to replace a veteran QB in Joe Ganz will be noticeable, but the defense should hold up enough to make the transition to whoever wins the QB competition (they have like 6 QB’s on the roster, insane).  I still think Nebraska has a legitimate shot at winning the North division this year.  Prediction: 7-9 wins.

Oklahoma – This team is perplexing to me.  All the talent in the world, breaking all sorts of passing records every year, and averaging like 60+ points a game.  But when they get to the BCS bowl game, its like they can’t do anything.  LSU, Southern Cal, Boise State, West Virginia, and now Florida (the last one should have been expected).  Bob Stoops just can’t get over the hump and win a BCS game this decade.  This team returns all-universe QB Sam Bradford, and a great core of receivers and running backs, so they should be front runners to win the conference as usual, but if they end up in a BCS bowl game, I don’t see them winning.  Prediction: 9-11 wins.

Oklahoma State – “I’m a Man!!! I’m 40!!!” Still music to my ears.  I love it when a coach goes on a tirade agaist the media.  They deserved it.  Some times people will print absurd lies to meet their deadline (but not me, I would never do that, I would never say something irrational or untrue).  Anyways, this team is good, and they have talent on both sides of the football.  The best player they lose on offense is TE Brandon Pettigrew.  The problem is this team is stuck on the wrong half of the conference.  If they were in the North, they would win hands down, but they have to go through Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Texas. Expect another “almost there” year.  Prediction: 8-9 wins.

Texas – Mack Brown’s squad definitely has some hollering to do.  I definitely believe they should have been in the national championship game instead of Oklahoma, but barely getting past Ohio State hurts your cause.  This team will be loaded as usual, and will contest with Oklahoma for the South title and pretty much the conference championship.  Colt McCoy is a great candidate to win the Heisman this year and look for Texas to win the conference and win the all important Red River Rivalry (10/17/2009).  Prediction: 10-12 wins.

Texas A&M – Mike Sherman still has some work to do.  This team struggled last year and I don’t expect it to be any different this year.  It also hurts a lot that they have to play Oklahoma, Texas, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma State.  That’s four Ls right there.  Look for more struggling in 2009.  Prediciton – 3-4 wins.

Texas Tech – The Epitomy of a “system” or “spread” is at Texas Tech.  Graham Harrell throws for 5,000 yards and doesn’t even get as much of a highlight reel request from NFL scouts.  Mike Leach can make an offense put points on the board that’s for sure.  However, this defense has some problems.  The loss of Crabtree and Harrell doesn’t hurt too much because all players in that kind of a system are interchangeable.  This team will take a step back this year though, because there will be growing pains for all the new faces.  Prediction: 8-9 wins.

This conference is loaded with high powered passing attacks and will be exciting as usual but the same schools will be on top.  This year we will welcome Nebraska back to national prominence as it wins the Big 12 North and loses to Big 12 South champ Texas  in the conference championship game.  Texas will get the conference respect in the BCS bowl game they go to.

Conference Standings:

North Division (1st to Last): Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Colorado, Kansas State, Iowa State

South Division (1st to Last): Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Baylor, Texas A&M

Big 12 Championship Game Prediction: Texas beats Nebraska

Related posts:

1. College Football Preview: Pac Ten
2. College Football Preview: ACC
3. College Football Preview: Big Ten
4. College Football Preview: Big East
5. College Football Preview: SEC