FIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Vince Young, QB, Texas
The smooth, elusive Young is a big reason many expect Texas to exorcise its Oklahoma demons this season.
Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma
As a freshman in 2004, Peterson was arguably the most dominant running back in the country (1,925 yards, 15 TDs). Now, with a new quarterback and a shuffled offensive line, Peterson’s legs will determine how far Oklahoma goes.
Zac Taylor, QB, Nebraska
In a wide-open Big 12 North race, talent-rich Nebraska can take a huge step up – maybe even to contending for a division title – if Taylor plays efficient football. He has the physical tools. Can he run coach Bill Callahan’s complex West Coast offense?
Mason Crosby, PK, Colorado
Four of Colorado’s eight wins last season came by fewer than seven points. The Buffs figure to play several more close games this year, and will need Crosby’s foot to get them through the tight spots. Crosby has made 5-of-7 field goals from 50 yards or longer in his career.
Reggie McNeal, QB, Texas A&M
The Aggies are the popular sleeper pick in the Big 12. But Texas A&M goes nowhere without stellar efforts from McNeal, who has Michael Vick-like skills. McNeal may be the Big 12’s best quarterback.
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
Big 12 North/Big 12 South
Iowa State/Oklahoma
Colorado/Texas
Nebraska/Texas A&M
Missouri/Texas Tech
Kansas/State Oklahoma State
FIVE GAMES TO WATCH
Texas at Ohio State, Sept. 10
An early-season contest will serve as an indicator of just how good Texas is. A victory would be a huge confidence boost for the Longhorns, who want to validate their national title-contending status.
Oklahoma vs. Texas, Oct. 8
The Red River Shootout is always entertaining, but not always close. This year might finally be a breakthrough for the talent-rich Longhorns. The winner of this game is likely headed to the Big 12 championship.
Colorado at Texas, Oct. 15
This has been a Texas rout many times, but this time it might be a possible Big 12 championship preview. In 2001, CU won the Big 12 title game after Texas won in a rout in Austin during the regular season.
Oklahoma at Nebraska, Oct. 29
The last game before the sun sets on this old-school rivalry for two more seasons. Oklahoma hammered the Huskers in 2004. Can a revamped Nebraska return the favor at home?
Colorado at Iowa State, Nov. 12
It’s not every year (or hardly any year) that this game has implications, but this could decide who wins the Big 12 North.
THE TEAMS
North
IOWA STATE
Coach: Dan McCarney, 11th year, 45-72
2004: 7-5, 4-4 Big 12, Independence Bowl win over Miami of Ohio
What’s new: Expectations. With 17 returning starters and three of the Big 12’s best skill position players – QB Bret Meyer, RB Stevie Hicks and WR Todd Blythe – the Cyclones should be able to score points in bunches. Eight returnees on one of the league’s better defenses is a bonus.
What to look for: Composure. Expectations to win in Ames are rare, and if Iowa State can thrive under the pressure, a Big 12 title game berth could be theirs. With similar expectations, the 2002 Cyclones started fast, then lost six of their last seven games and finished 7-7.
Prediction: 8-3 overall, 6-2 Big 12
KANSAS
Coach: Mark Mangino, fourth year, 12-24
2004: 4-7, 2-6
What’s new: A scary D. Led by cornerback Charles Gordon’s seven interceptions, Kansas’s defense tied Colorado by forcing a league-high 27 turnovers in 2004. Nineteen of the takeaways came via interception, and the Jayhawks return three of their four defensive backs from a year ago.
What to look for: Kansas’ will to win. The Jayhawks could have had a much better season, but five of their seven losses were by fewer than seven points, including four of their six losses in Big 12 play. If Kansas is able to turn some of those results in its favor this season, it can get earn a bowl berth. But don’t bet on it.
Prediction: 4-7, 1-7
KANSAS STATE
Coach: Bill Snyder, 17th year, 131-62-1
2004: 4-7, 2-6
What’s new: Uncertainty. Questions are swirling in Manhattan about whether Snyder has the ability to get Kansas State back to its 10-win form of previous seasons, about who will start at quarterback, about where the overall talent has gone, and whether running back Darren Sproles can be replaced.
What to look for: Inspired play. Kansas State players were genuinely hurt by missing postseason play in 2004 after 11 consecutive bowl appearances. The Wildcats will turn up the intensity, but average talent will likely be Kansas State’s undoing more than desire.
Prediction: 5-6, 3-5
MISSOURI
Coach: Gary Pinkel, fifth year, 22-25 (Missouri), 95-62-3 (overall)
2004: 5-6, 3-5
What’s new: A sense of harmony. Bickering, blaming, finger-pointing and closed ears doomed the Tigers a year ago when they were favored to win the North. Team talks and player-coach meetings are said to have restored sanity in Columbia. How long that sanity remains will be seen when Mizzou hits its first spot of adversity.
What to look for: An explosive offense. With all that has been said about Texas quarterback Vince Young in this preseason, remember, Missouri QB Brad Smith was in his shoes a year ago. He was a dual threat Heisman candidate. Smith, a senior, is just as dangerous, and now, with a healthier relationship with Pinkel, feels he’s more a part of the team. WR Sean Coffey is one of the Big 12’s best. He hauled in 10 touchdowns last season.
Prediction: 6-5, 3-5
NEBRASKA
Coach: Bill Callahan, second year, 5-6
2004: 5-6, 3-5
What’s new: A quarterback who can throw and make good decisions. Junior college transfer Zac Taylor appears to have everything Callahan wants in a quarterback. He’s efficient, has a strong arm and doesn’t turn the ball over. Much. In practice.
What to look for: How Taylor fares against Big 12 competition. Joe Dailey – remember him? – gave Husker Nation a reason to hope in spring ball a year ago, only to implode during the season. If Taylor can keep it together, Nebraska could be a surprise player in the race for the North crown.
Prediction: 7-4, 4-4
South
BAYLOR BEARS
Coach: Guy Morriss, third year, 6-17 (Baylor), 15-31 (overall)
2004: 3-8, 1-7
What’s new: Talent and attitude. Better players make for more confident players, which should make Baylor more competitive. The schedule, however, will overpower the Bears once again. Last season, Baylor upset Texas A&M in an overtime thriller. Not this year.
What to look for: A 1-4 start. Or 2-3. Four of Baylor’s first five games are on the road. That’s not good for a team looking for a breakthrough season. At least only two of the five games are against above-average competition – Texas A&M and Iowa State.
Prediction: 2-9, 0-8
OKLAHOMA SOONERS
Coach: Bob Stoops, seventh year, 67-12
2004: 12-1, 8-0, Orange Bowl loss to Southern Cal for the national title
What’s new: Uneasiness. Well, as much as there can be in Norman. Super-soph running back Adrian Peterson is back, but inexperience at quarterback and offensive line must be addressed if Oklahoma is to remain in the national championship picture.
What to look for: Ugly wins. The Sooners might not look great early in the season, but they will still get their wins. Whether the Sooners can keep their vise grip on the OU-Texas series remains to be seen, but the psychological edge certainly goes to the Sooners.
Prediction: 10-1, 7-1
OKLAHOMA STATE
Coach: Mike Gundy, first year
2004: 7-5, 4-4, Alamo Bowl loss to Ohio State
What’s new: Discipline. It isn’t that Oklahoma State didn’t have discipline under former coach Les Miles, but Gundy has taken it to a new level. Since being hired earlier this year, he has dismissed seven players for team rules violations. Gundy said he would hold the players to a high moral standard, and he’s following through on that promise.
What to look for: An improved passing attack. Sophomore quarterback Donovan Woods has improved in his decision-making, but if he is not able to get the job done through the air, Gundy will turn to sophomore Bobby Reid, the projected starter before getting hurt a year ago. The competition for the starting QB spot has been fierce. Making it easier for the winner is the return of Woods’ brother, D’Juan, who led Oklahoma State in receptions (29), yards (650) and touchdowns (6) in 2004.
Prediction: 5-6, 2-6
TEXAS
Coach: Mack Brown, eighth year, 70-19 (Texas); 156-93-1 (overall)
2004: 11-1, 7-1, Rose Bowl win over Michigan
What’s new: Renewed faith. The emergence of quarterback Vince Young and some key player losses at Oklahoma have Texas faithful clamoring that this is the year the Longhorns get past the Sooners and into the Big 12 championship game. Whether the players truly believe it can happen won’t be known until Oct. 8.
What to look for: A heavy dose of Young. Texas’ running game is unsettled, and if it proves not to be potent enough Texas will lean on Young that much more to make plays. Brown raved about all aspects of Young’s game to anyone who would listen during Big 12 football media days in July. Young, who has been an erratic passer, will have to back those claims up to keep his team in national title contention.
Prediction: 9-2, 7-1
TEXAS A&M
Coach: Dennis Franchione, third year, 11-13 (A&M), 166-86-2 (overall)
2004: 7-5, 5-3, Cotton Bowl loss to Tennessee
What’s new: Vanished feelings of emptiness. Texas A&M turned a corner last season in Franchione’s second season but stumbled at the end, losing four of its last five games. Unlike the cautious predictions in 2004, Texas A&M is going in this year as a legitimate threat to Texas and Oklahoma for the Big 12 South crown.
What to look for: Perhaps the Big 12’s most potent offense. Quarterback Reggie McNeal headlines nine starters who return from the second-ranked passing offense in the Big 12. And McNeal keeps the mistakes to a minimum. He had just four interceptions in 344 pass attempts in 2004.
Prediction: 8-3, 5-3
TEXAS TECH
Coach: Mike Leach, sixth year, 39-25
2004: 8-4, 5-3, Holiday Bowl win over California
What’s new: A running game. Just kidding. Tech will toss it all around the yard, just as it always has under Leach. RB Taurean Henderson, however, is one of the Big 12’s better backs (840 yards, 16 TDs in 2004) and will keep defenses off balance.
What to look for: Near misses in big games. This isn’t necessarily new for the Red Raiders. Tech will make it interesting in games against Texas, Oklahoma and Texas A&M, but its inability to break through in those games is what keeps it in fourth place in the South. Should Tech make a breakthrough, a major shake-up in the South could ensue.
Prediction: 7-4, 5-3
