ESPN College Football

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

DALLAS -- Tomorrow amongst the ferris wheels and corn dogs, we'll celebrate the kind of coaching rivalry that used to mark college football.

In the Big Ten, the legendary "Ten-Year War" involved Woody Hayes vs. Bo Schembechler. Barry Switzer vs. Tom Osborne was almost as big as the Big Eight Conference itself. The SEC had Bear Bryant against Shug Jordan. And the Southwest Conference celebrated the annual grudge game between good friends Darrell Royal and Frank Broyles.

But after surveying the landscape of college football today, those matchups look about as quaint as dollar-a-gallon gasoline. We likely won't see many like those again.

That's what makes tomorrow's game at the Cotton Bowl so special and intriguing.

Mack Brown and Bob Stoops are that rare breed today of rock stars with coaching whistles, arguably bigger than their respective programs. Both have won national championships and are headed towards induction one day in the College Football Hall of Fame.

And their yearly battles in the Red River Rivalry will one day be remembered as one of the greatest coaching rivalries in college football history.

Saturday's game will be the 10th time that Stoops and Brown have hooked up. Stoops holds a 6-3 edge, including a five-game winning streak from 2000-04. But Brown has claimed two of the last three games between the two South Division rivals.

When each arrived at their respective schools, both programs were perceived to be downtrodden dinosaurs that had seen better days. Just look back to the coaching tenures of John Blake and John Mackovic and remember how far both schools have risen since their swoons a decade ago.

After their arrivals, Brown and Stoops elevated the stature of both programs, turning them into two of a handful of national powers who are national championship threats almost every season in the new millennium.

Since Stoops arrived in 1999, either Oklahoma or Texas has won the Big 12 South Division championship every year. The Sooners have accounted for five Big 12 titles and the Longhorns one during the nine-year period. During that same period, every Big 12 North team has claimed at least a share of the title.

Brown realizes how the Big 12 has changed the dynamics of their rivalry.

"I remember when we got here, everybody said the luster was gone," Brown said. "This game wasn't important anymore and nobody really cared about it and it wasn't even a national TV game and it was so sad that the Texas-OU game was unimportant.

"It was important to the players, it was important to the coaches, but it's back now to where it has national implications, and that's been fun."

The Stoops-Brown rivalry might not be as bitter as some of those other coaching matchups. But that doesn't mean that either coach doesn't want to beat the pants off his coaching rival tomorrow afternoon.

Stoops said he might run into Brown three or four times a year -- including their 3 ½-hour yearly shindig at the Cotton Bowl.

Brown has always spoken reverently about his respect for Stoops.

"What I've gotten is a great respect for Bob and what he's done over the last 10 years," he said. "He'll be remembered like Barry Switzer and (former Oklahoma coach Bud) Wilkinson. He's done exactly for them what they've asked him to do.

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

There's a palpable excitement that buzzes through Dallas this weekend every year. The annual Texas-Oklahoma rivalry raises college football to its preeminent slot in the Midwest for the second Saturday in October. It's an exciting time and I'm glad to get a chance to experience it.

But there are a bunch of other newsworthy items across the Big 12. Here are a few links of the stories that people are writing and talking about.

• Gary Pinkel would be at the top of Washington's list if an opening would materialize there, but legendary former Husky coach Don James told the St. Louis Post-Disptach that his former protégé likely wouldn't want to return. Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp and Missouri offensive coordinator Dave Christensen likely might be different stories, however.
• Despite its recent struggles, Kansas State is in the unlikely role as a favorite Saturday at Texas A&M.
• The Kansas City Star's Big 12 beat reporter Blair Kerkhoff analyzes the differences in style between the Big 12 and the Southeastern conferences. He also picks a winner in six dream matchups between each conference's top six schools -- all of whom are ranked among the top 20 nationally.
• Veteran Texas offensive coordinator Greg Davis has become the forgotten assistant on Mack Brown's staff with the arrival of Will Muschamp. Austin American-Statesman columnist Kirk Bohls writes that Davis might be doing one of his best jobs of his career with the current Texas attack.
• The Wall Street Journal's Darren Everson writes about the attributes of Oklahoma's no-huddle offense -- an attack so meticulously precise that players aren't supposed to high-five teammates after big plays because it would waste too much time.
• Even though he spends half his practice time working at practice as a backup quarterback, Kansas wide receiver Kerry Meier is on pace to break the school's single-season records for receptions and receiving yards this season.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

I'll have a full hour this afternoon for a chat with the people at SportsNation. I'll be on for an hour, beginning at 4 p.m. ET.

Please join in with questions related to the Big 12 or college football at large. I'll jump in after I arrive in Dallas later this afternoon and be glad to answer all of them.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

Here are some trends I'll be watching for across the Big 12 on Saturday:

1. How Texas and Oklahoma handle the emotional cauldron that is the Red River Rivalry. Saturday's game appears to be one of the most intriguing matchups in the storied series in years. Quarterbacks Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford are legitimate Heisman Trophy candidates. The battle between Texas' defensive front and Oklahoma's collection of hugely talented offensive linemen is dotted with future NFL standouts on both sides. Bob Stoops and Mack Brown are both headed for the College Football Hall of Fame one day. But I'm most interested in watching how these two teams -- both potential national title contenders -- overcome the challenges presented by their biggest rival on the Big 12's biggest annual stage. And the fried Twinkies and Fletcher's Corny Dogs are a bonus.

2. The battle of offenses at Faurot Field. Missouri and Oklahoma State both rank among the nation's top three offenses in scoring. Both teams have enough defensive questions to make it entirely possible that we might see them combine for more than 100 points and more than 1,000 yards when the two teams hook up Saturday night. It might resemble an Arena Football League game, but it should be fun watching it.

3. Kansas State's struggling rush defense against against Texas A&M's running attack. The Wildcats have been gashed for more than 300 yards twice in the last three weeks. Even Texas Tech looked good running the ball against KSU. The Wildcats will be tested to keep Mike Goodson, Brad Stephens, Cyrus Gray and even Jorvorskie Lane in check behind an improving Aggie offensive line that showed some flashes of life last week against Oklahoma State.

4. The Austen Arnaud/Robert Griffin battle. Sure, there are bigger games across the Big 12 this week but the matchup between Baylor and Iowa State will feature two of college football's most underrated quarterbacks. Arnaud has pumped some life into the Cyclones offense, nearly sparking an upset over Kansas and UNLV in the last two games. Griffin is the shining hope for better days in the Baylor program, along with being the nation's only quarterback with more than 100 pass attempts this season with no interceptions.

5. Colorado's makeshift offensive line. The Buffaloes are down to taking reinforcements from the defense after defensive tackle Eugene Goree was moved to guard this week. They must get some kind of running game going to reduce some of the pressure facing beleaguered quarterback Cody Hawkins. Kansas will present some challenges, but not nearly those that were seen last week against Texas. This might provide Colorado a chance to run the ball - as it has done when it's been most successful this season.

6. What gives in the battle of losing streaks at Waco? Somebody's futility has to end Saturday at Floyd Casey Stadium. Baylor comes in with a 13-game conference losing streak that is the second longest among FBS schools behind only Idaho's 15-game conference losing streak. And the Cyclones' 13-game losing streak is for the nation's second-longest (with SMU) behind UAB's 17-game road losing streak.

7. Jake Sharp. After being relegated to the bench as what coach Mark Mangino considered a situational player, Sharp flourished in the second half last week against Iowa State. His continued use came when he was able to play long enough to gain rhythm with the Kansas offense. The result was an offensive eruption that enabled the Jayhawks to overcome a 20-0 halftime deficit and escape with a comeback win. Will that performance enable him to get more carries and prolonged use Saturday against Colorado?

8. Can Texas protect Colt McCoy? The Longhorns are counting on McCoy not only for his passing, but also to be their primary rushing threat. He'll have to do that against a ferocious Oklahoma defense that has knocked out a rival starting quarterback for at least a series in every game but one this season. Will McCoy be able to withstand the pounding in the pocket, but also as a ball carrier against a Sooner defense honing for kill shots when it gets an opportunity?

9. Nebraska's response to its embarrassing home loss against Missouri last week. The Cornhuskers were humbled by a trip to the woodshed against the Tigers, leading coach Bo Pelini to apologize to practically the entire state of Nebraska after the loss. A similarly talented team in Texas Tech is upcoming. On the Cornhuskers' last trip to Lubbock, they allowed 70 points. This Red Raider is much better than that 2004 squad. And the jury is still out about this Nebraska team and particularly its offense. So, it could get ugly at Jones AT&T Stadium.

10. Will Missouri overlook Oklahoma State with the huge game against Texas looming next week? After an emotional victory last week at Nebraska and an even bigger one at Texas approaching, it might be understandable if Missouri was looking past its game against the Cowboys. But that attitude isn't one that a national title contender can afford. And I don't think that Chase Daniel will let his team play that way, either.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

The timing of Iowa State backup quarterback Phillip Bates' decision to quit the Cyclones' team was surprising, but the decision itself likely wasn't.

As soon as ISU coach Gene Chizik made his decision to go exclusively with Austen Arnaud in the Kansas game last week, it was only a matter of time before Bates would leave. As Chizik gave Arnaud more playing time in the last two games -- and as the Cyclones progressed offensively -- it made Bates' decision almost a certainty.

Chizik didn't make a decision before Arnaud and Bates in the spring and allowed both to play in the Cyclones' first four games. Bates threw touchdown passes in each of ISU's first two games and even rushed for a team-high 83 yards in the Cyclones' victory over Kent State.

But Arnaud turned the tide and firmly grasped the starting job after nearly leading a comeback against UNLV. Arnaud directed three drives of 80 yards or more in that game, including a drive in the final minutes of regulation that forced overtime in a game the Cyclones eventually lost, 34-31.

Bates' departure will put big responsibility in protecting Arnaud during the rest of the season. The Cyclones have two freshmen quarterbacks on their roster -- Brett Bueker and Jerome Tiller. Chizik had hoped to be able to redshirt the 6-foot-4, 179-pound Tiller to build him up physically for next season, making Bueker the likely backup for the Cyclones' game Saturday at Baylor.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

Texas Tech coach Mike Leach started calling Eric Morris "The Elf" a couple of years ago because of some character traits he had seen in his receiver.

It turns out that Leach doesn't necessarily think that elves are always waiting in trees to bake cookies.

"He calls me the evil elf because he has all these different things: elves are small, they're generally pretty mean and they corner well," Morris told the Tech student newspaper the Daily Torreador. "They're good with a dagger -- he goes on and on about how elves have different traits, and he thinks that I fit the traits of an elf. He thinks that I do well with the football in my hands and calls the football my dagger."

Whatever. The 5-foot-9, 177-pound Morris has turned into a productive receiver who has developed into a solid receiving option behind Michael Crabtree in the Red Raiders' explosive passing game.

And, I think he also has the coolest nickname in the Big 12.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

It remains one of the most memorable football games in the Big 12's short history.

Back in 1998, the facility in St. Louis still was known as the The Trans World Airlines Dome. And the conference's championship game there was as good as any I have ever seen.

Kansas State was playing for a shot at the national championship game. And that became a tangible goal when Miami upset UCLA midway through the game, opening that opportunity for the Wildcats.

With players like Michael Bishop, Mark Simoneau, Darren Howard, David Allen and Travis Ochs, that KSU team was loaded. But somebody forgot to tell the underdog Texas A&M Aggies and particularly backup quarterback Branndon Stewart.

The Aggies stormed back to claim victory in overtime when Sirr Parker scored on a game-winning 32-yard touchdown pass from Stewart. I still think I can hear A&M play-by-play announcer Dave South's call ringing in my ears from that play.

But what a difference nearly 10 years makes. The matchup Saturday at Kyle Field between the Aggies and Wildcats might be between the two worst teams in the Big 12. Brent Zwerneman of the San Antonio Express-News does a nice job of tracking down some former A&M players for their recollections of the title game.

There are a couple of reasons why both schools have fallen on hard times. The departure of legendary KSU coach Bill Snyder has been the major explanation of why the Wildcats haven't been able to consistently continue success in recent seasons. KSU won a Big 12 title with Snyder in 2003, but have been to only one bowl game under Ron Prince. And it might be a stretch for them to make another bowl trip this season.

And A&M's slide can be best explained by the emergence of national-caliber programs at both Texas and Oklahoma in the years since then. And in retrospect, the firing of R.C. Slocum might have been a tad hasty. Slocum remains the only A&M coach to lead his team to a Big 12 football championship -- or a title game for that matter.  

Here are some other links that should make your lunch tastier.

• Austin American-Statesman columnist Kirk Bohls explains why Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp is known as "Coach Rewind."
• Baylor coach Art Briles would like to see Baylor's offense a little more balanced with less use of quarterback Robert Griffin as a running threat.
• The father of Kansas linebacker Mike Rivera said his son's recent slump was because he was playing hurt with an undisclosed injury. Rivera produced seven tackles to key the Jayhawks' comeback victory over Iowa State last week.
• Despite ranking second nationally in rushing, sixth in total offense and allowing only two sacks this season, Oklahoma State offensive linemen haven't been impressed with their early performance.
• How bad is it for Colorado's patchwork offensive line? Converted redshirt freshman defensive tackle Eugene Goree could get a look at guard Saturday for the Buffaloes against Kansas, despite no previous experience on offense.
• Omaha World-Herald columnist Tom Shatel breaks down the sizable mystique of Texas Tech coach Mike Leach.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

Kansas officials are making a concerted effort to stamp out a profane pre-kickoff chant that has become a recent tradition at Memorial Stadium.

Kansas students have recently stolen a page from the 1998 Adam Sandler comedy "The Waterboy" with the organized cheer. Fans chant "Rip his [expletive] head off" before Kansas kickoffs, referring to the opposing kick returner,

Kansas coach Mark Mangino's personal plea was made in a video e-mail sent to every student, the Kansas City Star reported. The video will also be replayed on the giant scoreboard inside the stadium before the Jayhawks meet Colorado.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

Most freshmen would have been caught up by the magnitude of the game, much less the immense importance the entire state of Oklahoma puts on the contest. After all, they used to dismiss school on the following Monday when the Sooners beat Texas.

	Getty Images
	Sam Bradford is second nationally in passing efficiency and tied for third in touchdown passes.

"Growing up in Oklahoma, it's very clear at a young age which side you're on and what it means to be a Sooner," Bradford said.

Bradford swallowed that emotion and directed the Sooners to a gutsy 28-21 victory over the Longhorns last season, directing a fourth-quarter game-winning drive in which he converted three straight third downs, including a 35-yard touchdown pass to Malcolm Kelly. And he's back again this season, leading the No. 1 Sooners against their biggest rivals Saturday in the Cotton Bowl.

Since he was a little shaver, Bradford had been coming to Texas-OU games with his dad, Kent, a former Oklahoma offensive lineman during the 1970s. That association forged an appreciation for the game and its magnitude.

"I thought it would be a dream to play in a game like this," he said. "To go out and actually do it, I really can't even begin to explain the excitement and fulfillment of doing it. It was kind of surreal."

A bigger, stronger Bradford is back for more this season. And he's a more forceful leader directing one of the nation's most explosive offenses.

"I feel like I'm in a lot more control and more calm this year," said Bradford, who led the nation in pass efficiency last season. "I don't get rattled as much as I did last year. I feel like that's something that I have improved on since last year."

His early start has been amazing. After only 19 games, he's already second on Oklahoma's career touchdown pass list with 54. The Sooners have averaged 39.2 points during those games, eclipsing 50 points on eight occasions. And he broke his career passing record in three-straight games earlier this season before settling for "only" 372 yards against Baylor last week.

"I feel like my arm is a little stronger and I can get a little more zip on the ball," Bradford said. "I'm also more emotionally steady. I'm willing to hang in the pocket and take hits a little more. I might have gone out of the pocket in the past, but now I'm willing to hang in there and do what I need to do."

Bradford is second nationally in passing efficiency, tied for third in touchdown passes and third in yards per passing attempt. Most early Heisman polls have him among the top contenders. A win Saturday would likely boost him into heavy contention.

Despite the fast start, Bradford says he's not concerned with the Heisman talk already bubbling around him.

"You really can't worry about it. You worry about going out and playing within the system and playing your own game and just helping the team win," Bradford said. "I don't think you worry about any individual awards. It's all about the team."

Bradford has also emerged as a more polished and forceful leader this season. It was his decision to ask the Oklahoma coaches to leave for several minutes for an impromptu team meeting before the Washington game earlier this year to reinforce the importance of team goals.

"You can just tell he's more comfortable and a better leader," Oklahoma tackle Trent Williams said. "Little things like his command in the huddle, how he called that meeting for us. Guys respect him and want to go out and play for him."

That development hasn't surprised Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, who thought that Bradford could be a top quarterback from his earliest association with him.

"We always expected him to do well," Stoops said. "We had him in our camps and saw him up close and we loved how he threw the ball. But to the degree he's done things so far, I don't know if I could have projected that. His poised demeanor and athletic ability to do what he's done so far is pretty amazing."

Texas defensive tackle Lamarr Houston compares Bradford to another consistent winner.

"He's smart and intelligent and reminds me of Tom Brady," Houston said. "He's mobile, but he's smart and makes good decision. He knows where to put the ball and he has great chemistry with his teammates. He knows that offense inside and out."

Against Texas, he likely will face more pressure -- both physical and mental -- than in any previous game this season. The Longhorns lead the nation with an average of 3.8 sacks per game. They produced three sacks, 11 hits on the quarterback and 14 pressures against Colorado last week.

That challenge doesn't overwhelm Bradford as much as stoke him for his opportunity to play amid the excitement at Fair Park again -- even if he has to go to school two days later, unlike most previous Texas conquerors. 

"There's probably more emotion and you get more amped than most times. But you do your best to just get into your rhythm and do what you usually do," Bradford said. "You just take this game like any other one."

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

Oklahoma 31, Texas 24 -- I'm expecting one of the best Red River Rivalry matchups in a long time. Both 5-0 teams could win Saturday with the right breaks. Texas needs to dominate in the trenches, particularly with their defensive front against Oklahoma's star-studded offensive line. If they can get to Sam Bradford consistently, they'll keep a young, untested secondary from being hung out to dry. The Sooners also have been susceptible to big plays on special teams, another area where the Longhorns appear to have an edge. Colt McCoy is playing like one of the best players in the country, but Oklahoma simply has too many weapons for the Longhorns. Look for the Sooners to win this one late, maybe on another dramatic Bradford-led fourth-quarter drive, perhaps? Anybody for a Corny Dog on the midway later?

Texas Tech 52, Nebraska 20 -- The Cornhuskers are finally playing a road game and this one isn't coming at a good time. Coming off their worst home loss in more than 50 seasons, they have to face a sizzling offense that hung 70 points on them during the last trip to Lubbock four seasons ago. It won't be that one-sided this season, but things could get out of hand early. Nebraska must play more disciplined and try to pressure Graham Harrell for any hope of winning. Tech's huge offensive line will make that difficult to happen.

Kansas 42, Colorado 27 -- Todd Reesing and Co. were lucky to escape Ames last week with a victory, but I bet they learned their lesson. The running game showed some resiliency after Jake Sharp was inserted into the lineup. And the defense showed some fire after going into a blitzing frenzy in the second half. The Jayhawks should have a favorable matchup against a makeshift Colorado line that will be called to protect struggling Buffaloes quarterback Cody Hawkins. Look for the Jayhawks to claim their 13th straight home victory, pushing them into a big game at Oklahoma next week.

Missouri 51, Oklahoma State 38 -- Two interesting offensive philosophies will clash here. Oklahoma State prefers controlling the ball while Missouri's quick-strike, no-huddle attack ranks next-to-last nationally in time of possession. Oklahoma State has to find some kind of pass rush to keep Chase Daniel honest. The Cowboys have notched only five sacks this season, so it could be a difficult proposition. The difference in this one will be defense, as Missouri safety William Moore will be rounding into shape and ready to provide a couple of key plays. And Oklahoma State's defense doesn't have enough playmakers to keep up with Missouri's array of offensive weapons.

Texas A&M 27, Kansas State 24 -- What a difference 10 years has made. In 1998, this game was for the Big 12 championship and produced one of the greatest games in conference history. Now, it won't even be televised. The Aggies should have enough offense to pull a mild home upset, taking advantage of a rushing game that showed flashes last week. Kansas State's run defense still is struggling and the Aggies won't be a good team for them to play. Mike Goodson and Jorvorskie Lane will mean the difference, although Josh Freeman and Brandon Banks will have their moments against a sputtering A&M secondary.

Baylor 31, Iowa State 28 -- Despite the expected last-place finishes for both teams, the matchup between Baylor's Robert Griffin and Iowa State's Austen Arnaud should be an entertaining battle of play-making quarterbacks. The Cyclones have been making a habit of forcing turnovers, even as they struggle to match up with most opponents. It could be even worse if starting free safety James Smith isn't ready to play. Look for Baylor's running game, keyed by Griffin and Jay Finley, to batter an Iowa State defense that ranks 93rd nationally against the run.

My predictions last week -- 6-0 (100 percent)

My predictions for the season -- 50-4 (92.6 percent)

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

Conventional football philosophy usually ascribes that the most successful teams are the ones that control the ball by keeping it away from their opponents.

But Missouri's productive offense is making a mockery of that line of thinking. The Tigers rank second nationally in scoring and third nationally in passing and total offense. And they are doing it although they rank next-to-last nationally in time of possession with an average of 26 minutes, 7 seconds per game.

It's typically very rare for a team to rank low in time of possession and have success. Of the 10 bottom teams last season in time of possession in the NCAA's final statistics, only Hawaii had a winning record.

But Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said the statistic might be overrated in terms of determining success, especially with a squad like his having the proficiency it has exhibited in running the no-huddle offense.

"If you're going to have the offense we run -- up-tempo, fast, attacking -- we're going to throw the ball a lot downfield," Pinkel said. "You can't be concerned about time of possession."

The Tigers showed they can control the ball when they need to, eating up 8 1/2 minutes during one second-half drive last week against Nebraska.

"I didn't want to score any more points going into the 4th quarter, so I'm thinking we've got to change what we're doing," Pinkel said. "We had about an 8-minute drive there which is really good. Our offense is like that."

The Tigers will be matched against a team with a different philosophy Saturday. Oklahoma State leads the Big 12 and ranks 10th nationally with an average time of possession of 32:47 per game.

"Bottom line, when you get the opportunity, you have to score," Pinkel said. "What they (Oklahoma State) like to do is control the clock, they're efficient and they score. It certainly puts a lot of pressure not only on our defense, but on your offense, that when you get the opportunity, you have to take advantage of it."

The NCAA has recorded time of possession as a statistic for only three seasons. During that period, only two teams that ranked in the bottom five during those years made bowl trips -- 2006 Central Michigan and 2006 Troy.

But that trend may be less important this season. Maryland and North Carolina both rank among the bottom five in time of possession this season with Missouri. All have winning records.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops had an interesting story he told at his press conference Tuesday about the greeting his team receives when it arrives at Fair Park in Dallas, several hours before playing its annual game at the Cotton Bowl.

"I know they treated us better in 1999 and then in 2000 and it hasn't been real cordial after that," Stoops said, chuckling. "But that's OK. It's fans being fans, and it's quite humorous, actually."

Stoops lost his first game to the Longhorns in 1999 before running off a five-game winning streak that started in 2000 with a 63-14 victory that helped spark the Sooners to the national championship that season. He is 6-3 against Texas and Mack Brown in his career.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

The good folks at CoachesHotSeat.com do more than merely collect the top continuous grouping of story clips each day. They also maintain a hot seat list that judges the relative job prospects of all 120 FBS coaches.

It's not surprising that a Big 12 coach has cracked the top five. But it might surprise you who tops this week's list from the Big 12.

Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman is listed in fifth place on the most recent poll of those coaches with the hottest seats. Sherman is topped, in order, by Ty Willingham of Washington, Kirk Ferentz of Iowa, Greg Robinson of Syracuse and Joe Glenn of Wyoming.

Sherman has struggled during the Aggies' 2-3 start. But I would be surprised if he's the Big 12 coach with the most tenuous job security.

That might be Kansas State coach Ron Prince, who is ranked 34th on the list after his 3-2 start. I guess CoachesHotSeat.com is factoring in Prince's contract extension he received  before the season, although those can be broken -- just ask former Nebraska coach Bill Callahan.

It sets up a delicious matchup Saturday in College Station between the two coaches with the shakiest job status, according to the Web site. It will be interesting to check the site next week to see how things have changed after the KSU-A&M game. 

Here's a list of Big 12 coaches and their ranking on Coaches Hot Seat.com's list.

Mike Sherman, Texas A&M          5

Gene Chizik, Iowa State             25

Ron Prince, Kansas State           34

Dan Hawkins, Colorado              55

Bo Pelini, Nebraska                   61

Art Briles, Baylor                       81

Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State     94

Mark Mangino, Kansas              98       

Mike Leach, Texas Tech           114

Mack Brown, Texas                  115

Bob Stoops, Oklahoma            117

Gary Pinkel, Missouri               119

Sherman and Chizik are both judged by the Web site to be on the hot seat. Prince is considered on the edge of the hot seat. The rest of the Big 12 coaches are considered safe.  

Interestingly, Pinkel is perceived to have the second-most secure job of any coaches in the country, other than defending national champion Les Miles at LSU.

I don't know how accurate this list really is, but it is an interesting conversation piece.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

Nice column on SI.com by moonlighting Kansas City Star columnist Joe Posnanski about the Chase Daniel phenomenon at Missouri.

There are a lot of interesting historical nuggets in the column but my favorite is toward the end of the piece. Daniel talks about how excited he was to attend the Heisman Trophy presentation last season as a finalist.

But he's also determined to come back again later in his career.

"I hope to come back to New York again," Daniel told Posnanski after Florida's Tim Tebow got the statue.

"To win?" someone asked him.

Daniel had a quick answer with the cocksure bravado that has helped turn Missouri into a national title contender.

"Well," Daniel told Posnanski, "yeah."

I wouldn't bet against him making that trip to New York City in early December. It's where Daniel has said he can't wait to have another piece of "Real New York City" cheesecake as one of his perks for making his trip.

And if the award was being given today, he's probably taking a trophy back home with him, too.

Oklahoma running back Chris Brown talks about the upcoming showdown with Texas.