Of the conferences eager for a fresh start and a new year, the Big 12 may head the list.
The 2006 season was generally one to forget. The league went 3-5 in bowl games and couldn’t land a team in the final top 10. In fact, only two Big 12 teams appeared in the final USA Today coaches poll and Associated Press media poll, with Oklahoma at No. 11 and Texas at No. 13.
There wasn’t an impressive win over a nonconference opponent to be had during the regular season. None over top 25 opponents, anyway. And all three bowl wins came against teams – Alabama, Iowa and Minnesota – that entered the postseason with a 6-6 record.
But hopes are high for a strong rebound. Offenses may carry the load for most teams, especially early. The league may be as deep and talented at the quarterback and receiver positions as it has ever been.
Here’s what to look for in 2007:
KEY GAMES
SEPT. 1
Oklahoma State at Georgia
An upset by the Cowboys would give the Big 12 a ton of respect.
SEPT. 8
Miami (Fla.) at Oklahoma
New Sooners QB Sam Bradford gets his first test.
SEPT. 15
Florida State at Colorado
Buffs win would be perceived as CU having turned the corner.
SEPT. 22
Texas Tech at Oklahoma State
For either team, it’s a difficult test for a conference opener.
SEPT. 29
Kansas State at Texas
Longhorns eager to avenge last fall’s 45-42 loss in Manhattan, Kan.
OCT. 6
Nebraska at Missouri
Midseason clash could ultimately decide the Big 12 North.
OCT. 13
Missouri at Oklahoma
Schedule makers weren’t kind to Tigers, with back-to-back toughies.
OCT. 20
Texas A&M at Nebraska
Chance for the Big 12 North to gain some prestige.
OCT. 27
Nebraska at Texas
Ditto.
NOV. 3
Missouri at Colorado
Buffs may need a win here to chase bowl dream.
NOV. 10
Texas A&M at Missouri
If Mizzou hasn’t had its usual late-season collapse, this will be big.
NOV. 17
Oklahoma at Texas Tech
Sooners defenders should expect 60 passes flung their way.
NOV. 23
Nebraska at Colorado
The nation gets to see how far Dan Hawkins’ program has progressed.
DEC. 1
Big 12 championship game, San Antonio
FIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH
QB Chase Daniel, Jr., Missouri
Stands just 6 feet tall, but perhaps as polished as any quarterback in nation.
WR Adarius Bowman, Sr., Oklahoma State
6-4, 220 pounds with speed; had ridiculous 300-yard receiving day vs. Kansas.
QB Colt McCoy, Soph., Texas
Fearless, as first name suggests he might have been a small-town gunslinger in another era.
DT Frank Okam, Sr., Texas
6-5, 320-pound run-stopper is on several preseason All-America lists.
CB Aquib Talib, Jr., Kansas
After nabbing six interceptions in 2006, pro scouts know all about him.
FIVE NEWCOMERS TO WATCH
QB Sam Keller, Sr., Nebraska
Arizona State transfer fell into Huskers’ lap at a perfect time.
CB Curtis Brown, Fr., Texas
Longhorns must replace three starters in the secondary.
WR Dez Bryant, Fr., Oklahoma State
Word is he will continue OSU’s recent trend of spectacular wideouts.
QB Cody Hawkins, redshirt Fr., Colorado
Out to prove that a 5-foot-11 quarterback can survive and thrive in the Big 12.
QB Keith Nichol, Fr., Oklahoma
Michigan native made late recruiting switch from Michigan State to OU.
10 STORY LINES
1 – Does any Big 12 team have enough on both sides of the ball to make a run at the national championship? Texas (No. 4 in preseason USA Today coaches poll) and Oklahoma (No. 8) appear to have the best chances, but both have issues. Oklahoma is unproven at quarterback, and Texas will have unproven youth on the offensive line and in its secondary. It remains to be seen whether the Sooners have any hangover from the NCAA investigation that uncovered improper benefits, although the program escaped receiving any sanctions regarding television or postseason play.
2 – Can Missouri finally finish strong? The Tigers, picked by the Big 12 media as the North Division preseason favorites, have gone a combined 3-6 in November during past three seasons.
3 – Who’s the Big 12 top receiver? Nobody could go wrong with Oklahoma State’s Adarius Bowman, Oklahoma’s Malcolm Kelly, Texas’ Limas Sweed or Nebraska’s Maurice Purify. And don’t forget about tight ends Martellus Bennett of Texas A&M and Missouri’s Martin Rucker and Chase Coffman. Pass catchers are the strength of this league.
4 – Oklahoma State ranked seventh nationally in scoring (35.2) in 2006, but is the defense good enough to compete with the big boys of the Big 12 South? OSU’s top two tacklers in 2006, safety Andre Sexton and linebacker Patrick Lavine, were freshmen. That’s usually not a sign of strength.
5 – Will Colorado become bowl eligible in Dan Hawkins’ second season? That’s the team’s minimum goal for this year, but on paper it’s difficult to find six wins among a schedule that includes nonconference games against Colorado State, Arizona State and Florida State.
6 – Was Texas A&M’s 12-7 win at Texas last year a fluke, or are the Aggies really ready to take the next step and make noise in the Big 12 South? A conference road schedule that includes Texas Tech, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Missouri will be demanding.
7 – Can Kansas finally finish in the upper half of the Big 12 North? The Jayhawks never have – with a conference best of just 3-5 since conference play began in 1996. KU must learn how to win close games, having lost six by an average of 5.4 points in 2006.
8 – Are Missouri’s Chase Daniel and Texas’ Colt McCoy really the best two quarterbacks in the Big 12? Or when the dust clears, will they be leapfrogged by Texas A&M’s Stephen McGee, Nebraska’s Sam Keller, Kansas State’s Josh Freeman or Texas Tech’s Graham Harrell? The league probably hasn’t received as much national buzz over its collection of quarterbacks as it deserves.
9 – Will redshirt freshman DeMarco Murray become the next great Oklahoma tailback? The 6-foot, 191-pounder from Las Vegas has a chance. He runs 4.43, with a flair for the spectacular.
10 – Will an overall lack of talent drive Gene Chizik crazy in Ames, Iowa? The new Iowa State leader, in his first season as a head coach at any level, was accustomed to working with a roster-full of blue-chippers at Texas and Auburn.
BY THE NUMBERS
1969 – The last time Big 12 North favorite Missouri won a conference championship (Big Eight).
222 – Number of consecutive games in which Colorado has scored, the NCAA’s fifth-longest active streak. The streak barely stayed alive in 2006, with the Buffaloes managing three points against Arizona State and Oklahoma.
1934 – The only other time a first-year Kansas State head coach (7-2-1 under Lynn “Pappy” Waldorf) won as many games as Ron Prince (7-6) did in 2006.
274 – The number of pounds carried by Texas A&M junior running back Jorvorskie Lane (above), who rushed for 725 yards and 19 touchdowns a year ago. He is not listed as a fullback.
11 – Consecutive seasons that Baylor has failed to finish with a winning record. The Bears went 7-4 in 1995 under Chuck Reedy.
33:35 – Texas A&M’s average time of possession in 2006. That led the nation.
2 – The number of NCAA teams that averaged more than 200 yards rushing and 200 yards passing per game in 2006. They would be Oklahoma State and Boise State.
1 – Rushing touchdown scored by Colorado starting tailback Hugh Charles in 2006.
1 – The number of 2006 starting offensive linemen (out of five) returning this season to protect Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell.
0 – Number of Big 12 victories in 2006 versus top 25 nonconference opponents during the regular season in nine tries.
