ESPN College Football

Thanks for all your e-mails this week. Here's where you can reach me if you've got more to say.

Steve B. in West Virginia wrote: David. First of all, love the blog. Keep up the great work. As a WVU alum, I appreciate your coverage of WVU even in advance of our official "transfer" into the new conference. You may get this from a thousand different Mountaineer fans today, but here is one of the most lasting memories we have of Coach Stewart. After all the dust settled from Stew, this is what we remember most. Leave no doubt! Steve

David Ubben: Thanks for all the touching tributes you sent me this week, WVU fans. I never knew Coach Stew, but after this week, I feel like I do. You all were a big part of that. Not many schools or states are as proud of a guy as the WVU folk seemed to be of him. Just a shame he had to leave this Earth so soon.

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FRF in Austin, Texas: Ubbs - Here is some investigative work I think you could find out. Why hasn't UT/Austin ever tried for a Bowl game? 100,000+ capacity, great city, good access, great revenue for the city. Seems like win win to me!

DU: Now this is actually an intriguing idea. Austin really would be a perfect site in theory, but it doesn't quite work. Trying to crash the bowl picture probably means they'd be due for a low-level bowl and have trouble selling out the stadium for one, but historically, it's not too hard to see why it hasn't happened.

No other Big 12 school has a game on its campus, and the league already plays four bowl games in Texas. There's hardly a need for a fifth. Additionally, Austin's a great city, but do you want to count on fans making a second trip there in the same season? It would happen quite a bit, especially in the new configuration of the Big 12.

Maybe there are other reasons, but that makes sense to me. Great idea in theory. Difficult in practice.

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Dave in Annapolis, Md., wrote: I was reading your potential OOC upsets and has to respond to your comment on OSU playing the 3-3-5 for the first time. Good point, but you left one thing out; this will be year one for the 3-3-5 in Arizona. If you've ever followed a Casteel defensive installation, you'll find it is like RichRod's offense; meaning it takes 2+ years and the right people to install. When both coach together on the same cycle, watch out; but Year One? Doubt OSU has to worry.

DU: True, Dave. Nice name, by the way. The 3-3-5 won't exactly be clicking in the second weekend of the season, but it's still an odd formation, and I highly doubt true freshman Wes Lunt, the Cowboys' starting quarterback, has seen it before. He certainly hasn't seen it with a defense stocked full of Division I athletes. I mostly think it could be an interesting stop on his growth tour throughout 2012. I'm pretty excited about his career, but it's going to have its rough spots in 2012.

The defense won't be at its best, but like the 3-4 that he'll see, there will be some complex blitzes and coverages that he's not used to seeing. OSU had better get the scout team ready.

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Craig in Kansas: your higher on the snydercats than most? that is a load of bs. in almost every article that you have written that involves kstate, you enjoy mentioning how you think last year is a fluke. get over it, no one cares about your opinions anyways. people care about the topic your covering, not your personal opinion of the topic.

DU: Ouch, Craig. First off, I've never called last season a "fluke." But you're kidding yourself if you don't think K-State dodged a whole lot of bullets throughout the season. Even Bill Snyder himself admitted that K-State was fortunate to win 10 games last season.

However, is it not fair to say I'm higher on K-State than most if I have them ranked 10-12? That's where I slotted it. It's disingenuous to me to look back on K-State's 2011 team and not take a big, long look at that 8-1 record in games decided by a touchdown or less. They needed legitimate late-game heroics to beat Eastern Kentucky, Texas Tech, Miami and definitely Texas A&M, which might have been the most crazy comeback of them all.

I've never called it a fluke, but it's crazy to think K-State was among the best 10-win teams in the country last season. I'd say Oklahoma and Arkansas proved that pretty emphatically, no?

Now, could that change in 2012? Yup.

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MJ in Fort Worth, Texas, wrote: DU,Between BU, ISU, KSU, KU, OSU, OU, TCU, TTU, UT, and WVU, only UT is a playable word in Scrabble. Thoughts?

DU: This explains ... everything.

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Richard Kennedy in Stillwater, Okla., wrote: The continuing ESPN obsession with making OSU's Defense look worse than it actually was is incredible. Not only did OSU's Defense rank 1st in the Big XII in turnovers, it was 1st in Scoring, Pass Efficiency, and Red Zone Defense in conference play. Yes, ahead of Texas in Scoring Defense. Check out the Conference stats, Dave. The question I have is, do you continue to propagate the myth that OSU's Defense was worse than it actually was and omit Scoring Defense, Pass Efficiency Defense, and Red Zone Defense because you were ordered to forward ESPN's SEC agenda or do you do so because you actually bought into the bilge without ever checking the Conference stats for yourself?

DU: Hey now, I'd say I was among those who certainly sided with the school of thought that OSU's defense was pretty underrated last season. I've seen the stat you cited, and it's true. For all the accolades Texas' defense collected last season, OSU allowed fewer points in conference play. Consider also that the two best performances came against Texas Tech (6 points) and Oklahoma (10 points). The Red Raiders ranked 22nd in scoring last season, and Oklahoma ranked 10th. Both of those teams were really, really banged up when OSU played them, but still.

That's one reason I'm so excited for the defense in 2012. OSU's going to be really, really solid. Two of the best corners in the league and arguably the best set of linebackers in the conference. That's a solid base, even if there are lots of questions along the defensive line.

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Josh B. in Roanoke, Va., wrote: Ubbs! WVU fan here. Been reading up on your columns to familiarize myself more with the Big 12 landscape, and while doing this, a question came to mind. It's no secret that the Big 12 has some VERY fertile recruiting grounds, especially in the DFW area, my question is this. Given that Coach [Dana] Holgorsen knows Big 12 recruiting as well as he does, how long do you think it will take for the Mountaineers to start locking some of those higher ranked recruits up?

DU: I really don't think it'll happen at any point, if we're talking about competing consistently with Texas and OU for the top talents in Texas. The Mountaineers might grab one or two, but I don't see how, even if it wins a lot and consistently, the coaching staff can sell elite kids going all the way to West Virginia to play in the Big 12.

What WVU needs to do is position itself as the new Missouri, and lock in on all the best players Texas and Oklahoma say aren't good enough for them. Dig into Texas and learn how to scout and sign those underrated talents. Missouri got so, so good at that over time and it paid off. West Virginia still has to keep recruiting Pennsylvania and Florida, but Texas' depth, especially with offseason talent, will pay off over time. Just ask running back Dustin Garrison, wide receiver Jordan Thompson and quarterback Ford Childress.

There are a lot of players in Texas capable of playing big-time ball. Why would players go to Missouri and almost never play in Texas when they could get on a flight and take a drive -- the same way everyone got to Mizzou -- and play tons of games in Texas? The opportunity is there for WVU to poach a whole lot of players that traditionally would have been swooped up by Mizzou.

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Jesse in Palmer, Colo., wrote: Is expansion for the Big 12 inevitable? Will the Big 12 have a better choice of new teams later?

DU: Yes. No.

Just sayin'.

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Thanks for coming to this week's chat. Here's the full transcript.

Got more to say? Here's where you can reach me.

Justin (Stillwater, OK): Any Big 12 coaches on the hot seat heading into next season? What about any assistant coaches who are due a head coaching gig?

David Ubben: No, not really. Texas Tech's Tommy Tuberville is the closest thing, but Tech should be better, and he's not legitimately on the hot seat yet. As for assistants, both of Texas' coordinators could have some opportunities at season's end. Those are the two most likely guys to move up in the near future. Josh Heupel at OU could get some attention, too.

Nemo Cowbell (Pasture, TX): The chatter about FSU coming to the Big 12 certain has picked up a lot of momentum lately, do you think there is any merit to it or is it a bunch of smoke?

David Ubben: No official talks yet, but it's pretty clear there's at least some interest on both sides. Only a matter of time before they at least discuss the possibility. Absolutely idiotic for both not to at some point. Then see where it goes.

Ken (Elkhorn, NE): David, it has been a long time since I have asked you a question, due to Nebraska heading off to the Big Ten. I definitely miss Nebraska being included in the blog. Anyway, why does the best quarterback in the history of the Big 12 (Tommie Frazier, for those unfortunate enough not to know who I'm talking about) keep getting snubbed by the HOF? What gives?

David Ubben: No idea. It's stupid. Frazier was a stud, and with apologies to one Timothy Tebow, maybe the best option quarterback ever.

TCU Fan (Lubbock, TX): Why do you think FSU is responding so publicly to this potential conference realigment, instead of playing it close to the vest the way we have seen A&M, Mizzou, TCU, the SEC, and the BE do it?It is strange to see so many high level admins at FSU (Board of Regent, President, Head Coach) carry on this public debate about a rumor that started on a internet message board.

David Ubben: Good points, TCU fan. This saga's played out quite a bit differently than the others. Mizzou had some folks comment, but nothing to this scale, especially this early in the process. It may speak to the illegitimacy of the whole deal.

Poke (Columbia): How much do the OU suspensions hurt them. Given OU's success post-Broyles, that has to hurt pretty badly. I think the top of the league just got more even, no?

David Ubben: It's not a death blow, but yeah, it evens things up a lot. The new receivers heading to Norman have a lot of pressure now. Bob Stoops has to be pretty frustrated. Jaz Reynolds can't seem to stay out of trouble.

Ike (PA): If FSU goes to Big 12, how do you rate the expansion scorecard:WVU, FSU, TCU vs. Neb, Colorado, A&M, Mizzou. Pretty tight

David Ubben: On the field, it's pretty close, Ike. I'd probably give the edge to the Big 12. FSU would help with the tradition and large fan base area, but the Big 12 still probably lost out on that one. A&M and Nebraska have enormous followings.

Max (Jacksonville, Fl): Im an FSU guy that is frustrated with the ACC. Started with the lame conference schedule and biased (in my opinion) officiating. So now Im excited with the possibility of joining the Big 12. I hear Texas controls the shots in the Big12.....my question: Take money from the equation, is it any better in the Big12?

David Ubben: First off, chill with the officiating. Spoiler alert: Every conference thinks their officiating is the worst. And I don't know a ton about the ACC dynamics, but if you feel the ACC is too NC-centric, I doubt you'd find the Big 12 any less Texas-centric.

Mean Green (Denton): With all the controversies this off season and all the suspensions taking place, do you think TCU acted too quickly in immediately expelling the four players involved in the scandal from the team? Should they have followed the path as everyone else and indefinitely suspend them and give em shot later in the fall?

David Ubben: No. Everyone else doesn't matter. TCU had players on its team with lots of evidence supporting the notion that they were drug dealers. That can't be tolerated or given a second chance. Good bye. TCU did what it had to do.

Jesse (Americaaa!) [via mobile]: Is Bill Sny the Football Guy the best coach in Big12 history, if not the NCAA? Some will argue titles make the coach, but if he had half the talent these other perrenial powers had... well, you catch my drift. Your thoughts?

David Ubben: That case is to be made. If you put any of the coaches some consider to be better than Snyder in his situation at K-State, how many of them could do what he did? Any of them? One of them?

Steven (H ): Been saying it all along, Tuberville needed two years. heck, Leach needed two years also before he got relevant w/TTU. This is Tub's breakout season, no doubt in my mind, and when it happens, all hail will break loose to you Mr Ub's

David Ubben: Probably, but Texas Tech fans already let loose a whole bunch on me when I picked them to finish sixth in the Big 12 South in 2010. Then they finished fifth. Whoops.

Josh (San Antonio): Best coach in the history of the Big 12?

David Ubben: Gotta be Stoops or Snyder. Stoops revived a floundering national power and has sustained it for more than a decade. Snyder did the impossible. Two different tasks. Two amazing feats.

Kansas State linebacker Mark Simoneau has only been out of the NFL a couple years.

Now, he's headed into the National Football Foundation's College Football Hall of Fame.

Simoneau was one of 14 players and three coaches who will be inducted into the hall after an announcement on Tuesday.

Simoneau earned consensus first-team All-America status in 1999, and was a four-year starter and three-time captain under Bill Snyder in Manhattan. He won the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year award as a senior in 2009, too.

Simoneau was part of some of the best seasons in Kansas State history, including a Fiesta Bowl trip in 1997 and a No. 1 ranking in 1998, when the Wildcats played in the Big 12 title game for the first time in school history.

Simoneau ranks third in school history for career tackles, and has school records for single game and career unassisted tackles. He was the Wildcats' leading tackler in 1998 and 199 and led the team in sacks in 1999. He also is tired for third on the school's career fumble recovery list. He made 400 career tackles and had 46 tackles for loss.

He earned All-Big 12 first-team honors three times in four years in Manhattan.

Gary Spani is the only other Kansas State player in the College Football Hall of Fame.

Simeoneau was drafted in the third round of the 2000 NFL Draft and played for the Falcons, Eagles, Saints and Chiefs before retiring in 2010.

Puppies, y'all.

• Feel like you're behind on all this "Florida State to the Big 12?" talk? Coley Harvey of the Orlando Sentinel will get you caught up.
• Could Big 12 expansion be the key to ushering in four major conferences? Dennis Dodd of CBSSports.com examines the issue.
• How would the Seminoles fit in the new Big 12?
• The Big 12 needs to explore the idea of admitting Florida State and research their interest, writes the Austin American Statesman's Kirk Bohls. And where does Mack Brown rank among Big 12 coaches recently? Very low.
• The Red River Rivalry is locked into staying at the Cotton Bowl during the State Fair of Texas through 2020.
• After last week's receiver suspensions, OU fans should feel even better about having Landry Jones back, writes Jenni Carlson of The Oklahoman.
• Former Kansas Stater (and I use that term liberally) Bryce Brown credits Bill Snyder for helping him reach the NFL, but says he'd do nothing differently.
• New Kansas coach Charlie Weis wants to reverse the latest trend of Sunflower Showdown beatdowns, writes Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star.
• Former Baylor receiver Kendall Wright talks about the phenomenon of Baylor not having a playbook.
• Berry Tramel of The Oklahoman offers up a touching story of former Heisman winner Jason White and his relationship with his late mother.
• Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads can't help but get emotional talking about his mother's death after a battle with Alzheimer's.
• Here's another touching Mother's Day story about Baylor's other Robert Griffin, who played in the Alamo Bowl with a heavy heart few knew about.
• New Kansas quarterback Turner Baty liked what he saw on a visit to KU's spring game, writes Matt Tait of the Lawrence Journal-World.
• Oklahoma is dealing with its suspensions, but they won't be the end of the world, writes Mike Baldwin of The Oklahoman.
• There's a playoff on the way, but it won't fix everything, writes Stefan Stevenson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
• Oklahoma State's offensive line might be its best ever, writes Gina Mizell of The Oklahoman.
• A Kansas State assistant committed a minor NCAA violation, and will have his recruiting restricted.
• The Tulsa World's John Hoover is moving from OU beat writer to columnist for the paper. Congratulations to him, and check out his debut column.

Earlier this week, the Sporting News ranked the Big 12 coaches from top to bottom, but later on, it released its rankings of the nation's coaches from top to bottom.

How'd the Big 12 stack up?

Better than the rest of the competition.

Alabama's Nick Saban topped the list -- argue with that at your own risk and UMass' Charley Molnar brought up the bottom.

Where do the Big 12 boys rank?

• No. 5: Bob Stoops, Oklahoma
• No. 7: Gary Patterson, TCU
• No. 10: Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State
• No. 11: Bill Snyder, Kansas State
• No. 16: Mack Brown, Texas
• No. 40: Charlie Weis, Kansas
• No. 41: Art Briles, Baylor
• No. 44: Dana Holgorsen, West Virginia
• No. 48: Paul Rhoads, Iowa State
• No. 50: Tommy Tuberville, Texas Tech

That's everybody well above the top half of the line.

From the Sporting News:

• The Big 12 coaches have by far the best average ranking: 27.2, which crushes the second-best SEC’s average ranking of 43.3. Next in line: the Pac-12 (43.8), ACC (45.6) and Big Ten (46.8).
• In our top 25 are five coaches apiece from the SEC and Big 12, four apiece from the Big Ten and Pac-12, and two apiece from the ACC and Mountain West.

What do you think?

For me, Stoops is where he needs to be. I might bump Patterson down a few spots, and Snyder up a few, just outside the top five. If someone can explain to me exactly how Weis should be above Briles, I'm all ears.

Briles has built a legitimate program in a place where it looked impossible. Weis' history as a head coach is taking a place where it should be impossible to lose, and eventually declining it until he was fired. Briles should be near the top 25.

I'd definitely move Paul Rhoads up about 10 spots, too. You could probably move Mack Brown down a couple spots, based on the hiccup in Texas' run lately. It's still to early to get a great feel for where Holgorsen should be.

What would you change?

Sent from one of my four iPads? This guy sounds amazing.

• How do the Big 12 coaches rank by age? You might be surprised, writes Berry Tramel of The Oklahoman.
• According to tax documents, TCU coach Gary Patterson will enter the Big 12 making more than every coach but Mack Brown, Bob Stoops and Mike Gundy, reports Stefan Stevenson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
• A Texas receiver and a TCU offensive lineman make CBS Sports' Bruce Feldman's annual "Freaks" list.
• One awful fall made Darrin Moore's 2011 season take a turn for the worse. Don Williams of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal tracks the Texas Tech receiver's road back.
• Looking around the Big 12, West Virginia will enter in better condition than most programs, writes Mike Casazza of the Charleston Daily Mail.
• Heisman winner RG3 has decided to try and copyright "RG3," "RGIII" and the catchphrase from his Heisman speech, "Unbelievably Believable." He's also made his own company, Thr3escompany, LLC.
• Matt Tait of the Lawrence Journal-World breaks down the wholesale changes on KU's roster this offseason.
• West Virginia is officially looking into how to monetize its Tier 3 media rights, which the Big 12 allows.
• Oklahoma's welcoming a transfer from Fresno State.
• Will West Virginia AD Oliver Luck leave for Stanford? He's not officially saying no, writes Mitch Vingle of the Charleston Gazette.
• Kansas legislature is honoring K-State coach Bill Snyder today.
• Texas A&M AD Bill Byrne and president R. Bowen Loftin disagree on Byrne's role in A&M's decision to move from the Big 12 to the SEC.
• A panel at Athlon discusses the big question at Oklahoma State: Is a Big 12 title possible with a true freshman quarterback?
• Paul Myerberg of PreSnap Read explains how you should judge Year 1 of the Weis Era at Kansas.
• One of the nation's top receivers is likely to receive an offer from Texas this weekend.

2011 overall record: 10-3
2011 conference record: 7-2
Returning starters: Offense 9; defense 7; P/K (2)

Top returners:
QB Collin Klein, RB John Hubert, LB Arthur Brown, CB Nigel Malone, WR Tyler Lockett, LB Tre Walker, WR Chris Harper

Key losses:
CB David Garrett, LB Emmanuel Lamur, S Tysyn Hartman, DL Ray Kibble, DE Jordan Voelker

2011 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Collin Klein* (1,141 yards)
Passing: Collin Klein* (1,918 yards)
Receiving: Chris Harper* (547 yards)
Tackles: Arthur Brown* (101)
Sacks: Meshak Williams* (7)
Interceptions: Nigel Malone* (7)

Spring answers

1. Filling the void left behind by Garrett: David Garrett was one of the biggest playmakers for the K-State defense, but Allen Chapman seems to have locked down the assignment of replacing him in 2012. The California juco transfer broke up four passes last year and returned his only interception 60 yards for a touchdown. K-State's secondary should be solid. Kip Daily will also help out at corner.

2. Collin Klein can chuck it: You have to take into account that Klein did it against second-teamers and that the quarterbacks have put up big numbers in spring games, but his 47-of-56, 480-yard performance is encouraging. He won't do that during the fall, but it's a good sign that Klein's improvement was obvious in the one practice fans or media were allowed to see.

3. Lockett returns: Tyler Lockett was the most explosive talent on an offense mostly devoid of home run threats, but a lacerated kidney ended his 2011 season early. Lockett returned and practiced this spring, but reportedly had another minor injury before the spring game, depriving us of a chance to see him back in action. Still, it sounds like he'll be back in the fall.

Fall questions

1. Can Kansas State validate its surprising 2011? The Wildcats memorably won eight games in 2011 by a touchdown or less, ascending to a second-place finish in the Big 12 after being picked to finish eighth. Advanced college football statistics suggest K-State is due for a regression in 2012, but this is Bill Snyder we're talking about. His team will be better in 2012. Can its record improve, too? Klein must remain healthy after leading the Big 12 in carries last season.

2. Who's filling in for Tysyn Hartman? Hartman had loads of experience and was one of the most intelligent players on the team. The Wildcats don't have many question marks, but who replaces Hartman is one. They'll still have competition between Thomas Ferguson, Randall Evans and Jarard Milo this fall to win the job.

3. What will the offensive line look like? Kansas State was the Big 12's most physical team in 2011 because of their strong offensive line. K-State loses three starters, and there's no doubt that if there's one thing that derails K-State in the fall, it's the new faces on the line. B.J. Finney is a stud at center, and Nick Puetz is solid, but the other three spots on the line didn't sound like they were sewn up by the end of spring.

Everybody, the Kentucky Derby is tomorrow!

Sorry, I can't do it. I really can't stand horse racing. Alas, our boys on the Big Ten blog handicapped the league title race, and for those of you who do like horse racing, here's how I'd slot the Big 12 if all 10 teams were making the nervous walk to the track right now.

We'll take it from the top.

Oklahoma: 8-to-1 odds

As I've written before, this thing is wide open, and nobody's going to walk into the 2012 season feeling too confident about their chances. That said, Oklahoma has the closest thing to a truly complete team. The Sooners have an experienced quarterback with lots of weapons around him at the skill positions, along with a solid offensive line. OU's defense should be one of the league's best, and the Sooners have been in this position plenty of times. They are a narrow favorite in a loaded Big 12, but the Sooners have enough upside to sneak into the national title game, too.

Kansas State: 10-to-1

Deep down, I don't think I truly believe Kansas State is the Big 12's second-best team (WVU), but I do believe in Bill Snyder, and the Wildcats have very, very few variables. That's a far cry from the two new teams in the league, who both have huge questions on defense and bigger questions about their ability to handle a more difficult schedule. That considered, there's no doubt in my mind Kansas State has the second-best chance to take home the league title. Kansas State is the little engine that could -- that keeps on chugging, seemingly oblivious to the spread offenses all around it.

West Virginia: 12-to-1

Speaking of high-powered offenses, West Virginia might well have the best in the entire Big 12. It's loaded at receiver and running back, and Geno Smith might be the best quarterback in the league. He'll get a chance to prove it this fall. In the meantime, WVU's got to make sure its defense is ready to give its offense a chance to outscore folks across the Big 12.

TCU: 15-to-1

TCU has plenty of question marks on a depleted defense without projected starters, but its offense will be as good as any in the Big 12. The Horned Frogs still can't answer their biggest question -- How will they handle the jump from non-AQ to a major conference? -- until they actually do it. TCU's floor seems pretty high, but can it actually win the Big 12 in its first season?

Texas: 15-to-1

Texas has the most upside of any team in the Big 12, but 2012 seems more likely as a set up for a title run in 2013. It's hard to see Texas running the table or going 11-1, but if the top of the league gets muddled and 9-3 is good enough to win the league? These Longhorns will be physical mudders. Pray for losses raining down on everybody, UT fans. There's nobody in the Big 12 Texas can't beat, but does it have enough offense to beat them all?

Oklahoma State: 20-to-1

Oklahoma State's defense, an underrated unit in 2011, will be much better, and its running backs will be some of the best in the league. Emerging weapons like Josh Stewart, Blake Jackson and Charlie Moore will make names for themselves in 2012, but how far can OSU really get with a true freshman at quarterback? Look out for OSU and Texas in 2013, though.

Baylor: 45-to-1

Aaaaand here's your big drop-off from the legitimate Big 12 title contenders. Baylor's a good team. It might even be a borderline top 25 team. But the Big 12 is so, so stacked at the top. You don't win 10 games, lose a Heisman winner, the Big 12's leading rusher and receiver, and then go win the Big 12. I'd be pretty surprised if Baylor didn't make a bowl game, though.

Texas Tech: 55-to-1

Tech wants to prove it's back, but find me a spot where Tech is better than Baylor. The quarterbacks are close, and Seth Doege's been better when he's played, but Nick Florence is due for a big year at Baylor. Tech's focus for now needs to be staying healthy and getting back into bowl games, not fighting for a Big 12 title.

Iowa State: 75-to-1

Iowa State might sneak into a bowl game again, too. They're good enough. This is still a team that's come pretty close to maxing out its talent the past few seasons and won seven games twice. That's legitimately impressive, but not anything close to Big 12 title contention. This season's team should be solid, though. The battle between Baylor, Tech and Iowa State to grab the last bowl bid or two is going to be really heated.

Kansas: 125-to-1

Charlie Weis has made some nice moves to get KU moving in the right direction, but if the Jayhawks go from 2-10 to Big 12 champs, I'll get a three-foot tattoo of a Jayhawk on my chest. That's a promise.

Miss K-State's spring game? We've got you covered.

What happened:

• Quarterback Collin Klein completed 47 of 56 passes for 480 yards and six touchdowns, but was intercepted on the final drive in a 42-42 game. Granted, the score was flipped at halftime, so technically, Klein's Purple team won, 77-7. They racked up 38 first downs to the White team's three.
• Angelo Pease and Robert Rose ran for 173 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries.
• Tramaine Thompson led all receivers with nine catches for 147 yards.
• Vai Lutui had four tackles for loss, a fumble recovery and 6.5 tackles. He had three sacks for the Purple team.

What we learned:

• Sadly, not much. There's some encouragement from seeing Klein complete the high percentage of passes he did and rack up that kind of yardage, but I'd encourage you to take a look back at the 2009 and 2010 spring games at Kansas State. Carson Coffman threw for 334 yards and 440 yards in those games. To me, Klein's already a better passer, but you can't expect him to do that in the fall. Big 12 defenses aren't great, but they're better than K-State's backups.
• Whenever spring games are played like this -- first teams versus second teams -- it's hard to take away much. You can really only get a sense for young players who'll fit into the rotation, and K-State brings back a ton of starters. Few of the backups stood out on Saturday. The White team's leading rusher had 13 yards. The leading tackler, Jonathan Truman, had 10.5 tackles and one tackle for loss. K-State's got to be encouraged by performances from Travis Tannahill and Curry Sexton who could contribute next year, but again ... these teams were stacked. We'll see come fall. That's just what Bill Snyder wants.

They said it:

"He is throwing the ball well. He can throw it down the field, but he is throwing the short passes. You saw a lot of that today and he has been doing it reasonably well."

-- Bill Snyder on Klein

"No matter how it plays out, and this is in the position that I am in; if you are on the offensive side of the ball you might be able to say some positive things about the defense on the defensive side. If you are on the defensive side, you can say something good about the offense. I am in the middle. If the offense scores, I am mad at the defense. If the defense holds them, I am mad at the offense. It is kind of a no-win situation and I need to remove myself from it as much as possible. Our No. 1 offense played well, which would allow you to say that they played well except for the two beginning drives in the third quarter, which they were three and out and had not been kept out of the end zone in the first half. They played very well in the first half and I think they took a little something for granted going into the second half. It is something to learn from and I certainly believe they will."

-- Bill Snyder

You'll see this everywhere, but it's worth it. Preezy...of the United Steezy.

• Football isn't the only sport in which A&M is leaving the Big 12 with a whimper, writes Kirk Bohls of the Austin American-Statesman.
• What does it mean to get "Gronked?" The Big 12 may find out soon, but Austin Meek of the Topeka Capital-Journal explains.
• Bill Haisten of the Tulsa World says true freshman Wes Lunt is his pick to win the OSU QB job.
• Texas is missing receiver Miles Onyegbule through August with a torn pectoral muscle.
• Bill Snyder opened up about who stood out in Saturday's scrimmage at K-State, writes Kellis Robinett of the Kansas City Star.
• KU coach Charlie Weis wants to do things right now. That's easier than going back and fixing them later, writes Jayson Jenks of the Topeka Capital-Journal. The Journal's Kevin Haskin has a few spare spring football thoughts, too.
• Former OSU receiver Justin Blackmon bowled a 300 on Wii bowling. I'm far too impressed with this accomplishment.
• Kansas will be playing a home-and-home with Ohio in coming seasons.
• What BCS changes are on the table for college football's postseason? Ralph D. Russo of the Associated Press explains.
• What do the NFL Draft gurus think of Justin Blackmon?
• Newcomer Matt Moro is pushing for playing time in the secondary at WVU. Bob Hertzel of the Times West Virginian introduces you.
• What do Big 12 coaches think of West Virginia?
• Texas Tech's receivers are going to spice up the running game, writes Don Williams of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
• Weis talks about his days at Notre Dame with Joe Montana.

Bill Snyder built his program at Kansas State on his legendary 16 goals, and right in the middle is the one that fans see most often: improve.

Get better every day, and good things will happen. For Kansas State, that's nothing new this spring. Snyder brings back a 10-win team with 18 starters, second-most in the Big 12 (Texas Tech) and eighth-most in college football. That's cause for concern for the rest of the Big 12.

"It all centers around trying to get improvement made and what kind of progress we could make and what kind of depth we could develop along the defensive line and then collectively the depth of our defense," Snyder told reporters about his spring this week. "You really try to develop two starting units on each side of the ball. I think in all those cases, we have not gotten to where we need to be and want to be."

Few, if any teams, are at that point, but K-State still has plenty of talent to go around. Its biggest, Collin Klein, will take his spot as playcaller on Saturday. Snyder gives his quarterbacks the right to call plays in spring games.

"It is great. It is just fun. I look forward to doing it, and hopefully I can do it more in a road game situation," Klein said. "Last year, during the end of the season, there was more flexibility to check things that we saw, or was in the game plan. It is a part of growing. What I am doing is feeling more comfortable with that, pulling the trigger and going after it right away. Working with the coaches is what has been helping me grow in that role, and the trust and communication between us, through that, 'Hey, this is what I was seeing,' 'this is why I did what I did,' 'this is why this was not good.' We will work through that. Hopefully the next time it comes along I do not make the same mistake twice, or the same good decision twice."

Thanks for all the questions in today's chat. It was one of the most fun in awhile. Here's the full transcript.

Got more to say? Reach me here.

Time for some highlights from today's chat.

Nick (Ames): Heard anything on the QB situation here? Steele Jantz looked real good in the spring game but Barnett lead the Cyclones down the stretch last year. High expectations here for this season!

David Ubben: Yeah, I still think Barnett is the guy for ISU. The difference is negligible, but the Cyclones need to keep building for the future. The 2012 team won't be all that different either way, but if you play Barnett, the 2013 team gets a whole lot better, without a doubt. That has to be taken into consideration. My expectations aren't too high, but ISU's going to be a good team. That said, it seems to me like the Big 12's depth is going to make it really difficult for the Cyclones to crack a bowl game.

Justin (Stillwater, OK): 41 wins in 4 years for an OSU program that has never experienced that much success. Give us your 3 keys to sustain that success over the next several years. Record wise, what would you consider to be a successful season next year for the Cowboys?

David Ubben: 1) Above all, make sure you have a QB and at least one more (preferably two) preparing to take over. 2) Keep instilling the idea that OSU can't do this without developing players and working. They're never going to bring in top 10 recruiting classes annually. 3) Give Mike Gundy everything he wants. As for this year, success would be probably nine wins.

W (Anaheim): D - What are the odds K-State repeats as the State of Texas football champs?

David Ubben: Not great. But here's hoping the Cats make "Back to Back Texas State Champs" shirts if they repeat.

David (Somewhere in Sooner Nation): I know it's highly unlikely, but let's say that OU runs the table in the Big 12, USC runs the table in the Pac 12, someone runs the table in the Big 10, and ditto on the SEC. Other than being a perfect argument for a 4 team playoff, who gets left out?

David Ubben: Ouch, that's tough. USC and the SEC team would probably play, for the simple reason that they started higher in the polls. It would depend on what each team's strength of schedule shook out to, but if it was close, the preseason polls would hold. Sad, but true.

Miles (Austin, TX): Do you think Texas can win the Big 12 with its new offensive identity? How about the SEC as it is more in the power run style that the horns are running now?

David Ubben: Yes. Its defense is going to be absolutely nasty. If they run it as well as they think they'll be able to by next year or so, Texas should be very, very scary.

Jason (Tyler): Are Coach Brown and Coach Stoops still by far the top 2 coaches in the Big 12 or are Coach Gundy and Coach Snyder catching up?

David Ubben: You could easily make the case Snyder is better than all of them. Gundy is knocking on the door of the nation's elite for sure. Big 12 lost a really good one in Pinkel, too. He was just behind Gundy in my book.

State43 (Iowa State): Have you been to a Big 12 game at your Father's Alma Mater yet in your capacity as Big12 Blogger? We would love to have you and will treat you like family.

David Ubben: Ha, I haven't as Big 12 blogger, but I've been to games there twice. Would have loved to have seen the field stormings last year vs. Iowa and Oklahoma State. Keep winning, Clones. I'll be there soon.

Curtis (Dallas): Percentage that everything can fall right and Texas can will the Big 12 this year? Percentage for 2013?

David Ubben: Eight percent. 37 percent.

Coty (WV): Best Football/Basketball school in Big12?

David Ubben: I mean, there's no question it has to be Baylor in 2011-12, right? It's not really even close.

Tony (Richmond, CA): Geno Smith is receiving most of the preseason love for 1st team All Big XII. Do you think the offseason work Landry Jones has put in with George Whitfield is enough to tighten up his footwork, leading him to a monster senior year, and first team honors?

David Ubben: That race will be really, really interesting. I'll have to do a lot of thinking on my ballot. I probably lean Geno for now, but man, I could see that vote getting split and them sharing first-team honors.

John (Tulsa, OK): Ubbernator. Does Lunt win the starting job in Stillwater? He seems to have the most long-term upside.

David Ubben: I don't know what to think anymore. I've talked myself into all three guys. For now, I'm sticking with my pick of Walsh.

Next Monday, start the countdown.

Big 12 commissioner Chuck Neinas will have two months left as the boss of a league that's seen plenty of tumultuous times over the past two years.

"We were kind of saved by the bell by Chuck Neinas. He kept it going in terms of getting us on the right track and getting everybody involved, all the teams in the conference," Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville said during the Big 12 coaches teleconference this week. "We had lost two teams each of the last two years, which has been devastating to this league, but with Chuck’s leadership, it’s come on pretty good."

TCU and West Virginia replaced Texas A&M and Missouri to bring the Big 12 back to 10 members, but now it's Neinas who must be replaced.

He agreed to stay on in an interim role through June 30, but his replacement could be named before then. What do the league's coaches want to see?

"The answer is very obvious. You’d like to have a good person. You’d like to have a very honest, forthright person, with a balance in how he operates the conference itself, with the idea that everybody is treated equally and what he would do would be in the very, very best interest of the 10-12 teams that would make up the conference itself," Kansas State coach Bill Snyder said. "Somebody that’s highly respected across the country and well-known across the country as well, has a reputation that would be very, very prominent as it relates to conference commissioners across the country."

For Tuberville, the new guy needs experience.

"Hopefully we get a strong-personality guy that can work with everybody, put their touch on it, somebody with experience, somebody that has maybe been a commissioner or a deputy commissioner for one of the other leagues," Tuberville said. "I think experience is going to be key for us, somebody that’s been there, done that, seen all the problems. It’s no different than coaching a football team in that experience usually pays off for you."

He added: "We’ve obviously had some setbacks the past few years, if we can get somebody who understands our league, maybe somebody from another conference looking from the outside in, understanding what’s going on and bringing their philosophy in would really help us."

For Texas coach Mack Brown, it's simple: He wants someone who can maintain stability, and unity is the first way to help establish it.

"We’ve been through so much turmoil over the past two years in the Big 12. I think what I would like to see is stability. I’d like to see someone come with confidence and new ideas and making sure that it sounds like our league is really stable at 10. I know some are looking at the possibility of 12," he said. "I’d like to see somebody who can really lead the group and get everybody on the same page, because it’s a wonderful conference. I love the additions that we’ve made, and I think it can be again, one of the top conferences in the country because the teams are all winning. But you gotta have a boss."

The BCS brass -- aka conference commissioners -- are set to meet again this week to discuss the future of college football's postseason. On Monday, several Big 12 coaches took a swipe with their input on what, if any, changes should be ushered into the game.

Last year's SEC rematch in the BCS Championship Game -- and Oklahoma State's snubbing -- rubbed plenty of folks the wrong way, and Texas coach Mack Brown was the most adamant about bringing change. He's not sure what he wants, he just wants something else.

"I'm hoping it's something different than what we've got now. I'm not really sure what I think would be best," Brown said on Monday's Big 12 coaches teleconference.

For now, it looks like all eight- and 16-team playoff options are off the table, but the BCS as it currently stands had Brown fired up.

"I don't like our current system. I don't like the fact that last year two teams played twice. I do not feel like the BCS really gives credence to, really, strength of schedule," he said. "We've had some teams play in the BCS that played some poorer teams and still had an opportunity to play. I don't like the fact that we compete between BCS and non-BCS, as far as who plays. I understand that that's the money cycle, but I'd rather see the best teams play at the end."

TCU, who will join the Big 12 in 2012, went undefeated in 2010 and beat Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl but was denied a chance at playing fellow undefeated Auburn, which took home the national title.

"I'd rather have different means to evaluate the best teams in the end," Brown said. "I think the best teams should play at the end. That's more fair to the coaches, that's more fair to the players and that's more fair to the fans."

One problem for some in the process? Nobody can seem to agree on what to call a new postseason, even if it's four teams playing for the right to be called champion.

"I'm not for a playoff, because it would ruin the bowl system, and I don't believe it would be good for student-athletes," Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said.

However, later on, he expressed his preference for the plus-one, which could just as easily be referred to as a playoff.

"I'd like to see the plus-one," he said. "If they do so, I'd like to see the four teams that qualify as the per se 'playoff teams' participate in two of the BCS bowls and then rotate it every two years, which bowls are hosting the playoff teams and which ones aren't, and then the plus-one after it."

Stoops often looks back fondly on his bowl week experiences as a defensive back at Iowa and doesn't want to rob future players of a week in the sun during winter with light practices, red-carpet treatment and a week spent solely with teammates.

"Anything that eliminates the bowls would in the long run not be positive for college football," Stoops said.

As for the elder statesman of the Big 12 coaches, Bill Snyder? He's staying out of the argument.

"I don’t have any startling estimations in regards to what will happen and don’t really have any major preference as far as playoff versus the system," Snyder said. "I can’t imagine it’s getting into an eight or 16-team playoff."

Thanks for all the mail this week. Here's where you can reach me.

On to your mail ...

Aaron in Plain City, Ohio, writes: In my mind I see Oklahoma as the clear favorite for the Big 12. But is there really a clear second place team in the Big 12? For that matter, is there really a favorite? I was just curious about your thoughts for the Big 12 this season. Thanks

David Ubben: I definitely think Oklahoma's the clear favorite, but by "clear" I only mean it's clear Oklahoma's the best team to start the season. Last year, it looked like the gap between the Sooners and A&M/Oklahoma State was pretty wide. Injuries and OSU being better than most everyone thought (and I thought they were a 10-win team) changed that up.

OU's the favorite, but not by much. Nobody in the Big 12 is going undefeated next year, but there's definitely no clear second-place team.

West Virginia is probably the second-best team on paper, but will they handle the transition? There are many variables to the transition with no way to figure out the values until the season starts in the fall. The same is true for the Horned Frogs, who I think will have a tougher time with the transition in the immediate future, and also aren't quite as good as WVU on paper. Those defensive losses, mostly Tanner Brock and Devin Johnson, are huge. You need lots of depth and lots of playmakers on defense to win in the Big 12.

As for Kansas State? You saw it last year. They get it done, but they don't do it in impressive fashion. I've mentioned it a couple times, but will K-State get better and still win games when they're close? Part of me says no.

The other half says this is a Bill Snyder-coached team we're talking about and one that returns just about everybody from last year's 10-win team. Pressure me for a guess? I think K-State could be a better team than last year and still only win nine games in a Big 12 that's absolutely loaded in the top half, with some pretty good teams in the bottom half too, like Baylor, Texas Tech and Iowa State.

So yeah, Oklahoma's the best team in the league. That doesn't mean they'll win it, and the race for No. 2 heading into the season could go one of three ways.

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Curtis in Boone, Iowa, writes: I tweeted you, but i figured id take another approach as well. Do you agree with me that Brandon Weeden is the No. 3 QB in the draft, NOT tannehill? and what are the chances that Cleveland takes both Justin Blackmon AND Weeden with the 4th and 22nd picks, respectively. Colt Mccoy isn't the answer in cleveland, and Weeden could step right in and produce, especially with a top talent like Blackmon.

DU: I do, but I also understand why a) Tannehill has surged and b) teams are unwilling to spend first-round money on Weeden.

For the record, I think they're both early second-rounders. Tannehill is a big risk, and you're asking for trouble if you're a struggling team with a top 5-10 pick that needs a lot of other things to be successful. Tannehill could be good in the league, but I don't think I buy him as an immediate franchise guy you can build around.

Weeden will be more successful in the immediate future, but I also understand that he's an 8-10-year guy vs. a 14-16-year guy like most normal rookies. That's a whole lot of games. Putting Blackmon and Weeden on the same team? Oh man, that would be all kinds of fun.

It'd also be pretty humorous to see Oklahoma's best QB ever throwing to Oklahoma State's best receiver ever out in St. Louis.

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Cyclones in Ames writes: Hey Ubben, just thought that I would bring it up to your attention but of the 10 coaches next year in the big 12 there will be 4 coaches with connections to the state of Iowa. Mack Brown was an OC at ISU, Dana Holgorsen was born and raised in Iowa along with Paul Rhoads, and Bob Stoops played football at the University of Iowa. A lot of connections to the state of Iowa in the conference.

DU: You're right about that, Mr. Cyclones, but those are far from the only ones. What about the man some consider the greatest coach of them all: Bill Snyder? He spent almost a decade as the offensive coordinator under Hayden Fry at Iowa.

For what it's worth, two different Iowa State coaches served as defensive coordinator under Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville. Gene Chizik (sorry for the mention, Iowa State) and Paul Rhoads both got valuable experience under Tuberville at Auburn before moving to Ames.

Iowa doesn't have the greatest reputation when it comes to football culture, but that's a staggering amount of connections for a state with just two major programs within its borders.

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Jason in Charleston, W. Va., writes: Dave, I just have to ask... what were your expectations before coming to WV versus what you actually found when you got here?

DU: Honestly, it was pretty much exactly what I expected. The actual stuff in the town was a little more expansive than I thought it would be, in terms of restaurants and nightlife, etc. In terms of having a fun weekend, Morgantown will be right in the middle in the Big 12. Folks will enjoy the trip out, and it'll be a new experience for everyone.

The scenery and rolling hills basically looked the exact same as they do in photos, but it was kind of hard to get around. I like hitting open roads with the windows down, and that's pretty tough to do in West Virginia because of all the hills and winding roads. Alas, you could find a much stiffer criticism of a city.

I like Morgantown a lot.