Halfway through the Big 12 schedule, it’s time to take a pulse of the conference. Here is what the heartbeat reveals:
Baylor?!
The classic 2003 headline in The Denver Post after CU’s untimely loss to the Bears in Waco would hardly fit anymore. The bad news is over for these Bears – at least so far. At 3-1 in the conference, Baylor is tied for second in the South Division with Texas A&M and has four shots to prove it is for real.
Baylor is 3-0 against the Big 12 North (Kansas State, Colorado, Kansas), 0-1 against the South (Texas) and must win two of its remaining games (Texas A&M, at Texas Tech, at Oklahoma State, Oklahoma) to become bowl-eligible and shake its doormat label. The Bears expect to win, and that is huge.
McCoy is the real deal
The rise of Texas quarterback Colt McCoy make him the Big 12 player of the year, and, next to Baylor’s resurgence, his is easily the best story so far.
The redshirt freshman is in the Big 12’s top 10 in passing, total offense and pass efficiency, and he is doing it under arguably the harshest spotlight in the nation, replacing Vince Young. Before the season, the question was whether McCoy or true freshman Jevan Sneed was going to quarterback the Longhorns in the post-Young era. There was talk of a two-quarterback rotation. It appears the job is McCoy’s for as long as he wants it.
Not quite there yet
It’s obvious coach Bill Calla- han has put the Nebraska program on an upwardly mobile path. The Huskers are better, but there is room for the expected improvement. Losses to USC (on the road) and Texas (at home) are games an elite Nebraska team will win when it’s properly equipped and ready.
The Huskers should be more concerned about Missouri in the Big 12 North title race. The two meet in what should be a North title-deciding game Nov. 4 in Lincoln.
Aggies underappreciated
There are Texas A&M fans – lots of them – who are waiting for the downfall. And if it happens, they will be back on the “fire Dennis Franchione” warpath. Those fans have had to tone it down thus far, as the Aggies (7-1, 3-1 Big 12) have battled into contention for the Big 12 South title.
Quarterback Stephen McGee is one of the league’s best unknown players, and running back Jorvorskie Lane leads the conference with 16 touchdowns. But before A&M can think about Texas on Nov. 24, it must deal with upstart Baylor, Oklahoma and Nebraska in the next three weeks.
Bobby Reid makes move
In one year, Oklahoma State’s Bobby Reid turned from an unsure freshman into a big-time sophomore. Reid toils in near obscurity in Stillwater but leads the Big 12 in passing efficiency and is in the top 10 in passing average and total offense. He is one of several quarterbacks who will make certain the Big 12’s future at that position is bright.
Footnote
The Nov. 4 Kansas State at Colorado game will kick off at 1:30 p.m. and will be televised by FSN.
Staff writer Chris Dempsey can be reached at 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com.
