Big 12 As Wide Open as Ever

July 16, 2007 by Steve Hanway

Over the next few weeks we’ll spend a day previewing each of Nebraska’s 2007 opponents (and some other Big 12 teams). As you research the Big 12, something sort of striking jumps out at you. That is, the conference has never appeared more wide open. Sure there have been upsets in the regular season and the Big 12 championship game, but never have we gone into a season where so many teams appeared capable of capturing the Big 12 crown.

From 1996-1999 it was basically Nebraska and K-State in the North and Texas and A&M in the South. Then in 2000 OU ascended as A&M declined and in 2001 CU ascended as NU declined. As NU resurged and Missouri surged, CU and KSU regressed. So it never seemed like more than four teams had a shot to be conference champs.

Until now that is. Texas is an early favorite but after losses to K-State and A&M last year, there’s certainly room for doubt as to whether this team will even win its division. OU hasn’t won the conference in an odd year, but that’s bound to happen sometime. Why not now? No one doubts they’ll be sound defensively and run the ball well, but certainly the quarterback spot is a big question. A&M lost 3 conference games by a total of 6 points last year otherwise they would have been perfect. They also lost very little to graduation. But the mud-hole Cal stomped in them makes them seem far from invincible. While Texas Tech and Oklahoma State are mediocre to poor defensively, they can light up the scoreboard with anyone. Only Baylor has no chance to win the South. That’s three teams with legit aspirations to win the South and a couple of wild cards.

In the North, Nebraska is clearly a program on the rise in terms of the talent they’re getting but this year they’ll have to fill a lot of holes from graduation. Missouri looks to be potent offensively and gets the Huskers at home but their 2-5 finish (3 of them close losses) is certainly cause for doubt. Kansas State lost 6 games in 2006 all by two touchdowns or more, yet their upset of Texas (even without Colt McCoy) still makes you wonder about their potential to exceed expectations again in 2007. Colorado will be better offensively (and their defense was not bad). Their conference schedule helps the Buffs as they get their toughest opponents at home. While Kansas beat half the Big 12 North a year ago, it’s hard to see them getting by Nebraska and Missouri (not to mention A&M and Oklahoma State) to really contend for a North title. So you could see the North as a two team race as many national prognosticators do, or add in wildcards and widen the field. While ISU seems hopeless, even they have the most experienced Big 12 quarterback, a big and often productive receiver and a standout junior college running back joining the fold under a coach who could make their defense respectable.

The number of contenders in the North is probably in the eye of the beholder, but there are certainly no fewer than two contenders in the North and no fewer than three in the South. And five is more than we’ve seen in the past. It probably means no national championship for a Big 12 team this year, but it will mean a lot of interesting and exciting games. Big 12 fever…can you feel it?

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