ESPN College Football

The next in our series looking at 20 teams who could win it all in 2012 examines TCU.

Colleague Ryan McGee tackled the Frogs (always a treacherous task) and tried to determine their chances.

The biggest reason TCU could win it all? An elite passing game and running game.

[Casey] Pachall returns along with his three top receivers from one year ago -- Josh Boyce, Skye Dawson and Brandon Carter. They are battle-scarred from a season that included more than a few offensive track meets. In other words, this passing game has a chance to be scary good. And they won't get gassed during Big 12 shootouts. ...

If for some reason throwing the ball gets bogged down, then the Frogs' running attack should be more than capable of shouldering the load. TCU is the only team in the nation to return three backs who rushed for 700 yards in 2011.

The biggest reason TCU won't win it all? The defensive backfield and a welcome to the Big 12.

Five of the nation's seven most prolific passing attacks from 2011 are on the Horned Frogs' schedule in 2012, including four in consecutive weeks from October 13 through November 3 (at Baylor, versus Texas Tech, at Oklahoma State, at West Virginia). TCU's pass D better be much improved, or have an offense capable of winning every shootout, if it hopes to survive that stretch.

Want more on the Frogs? Check out the piece. You'll also see a stat projection from Football Outsiders' Brian Fremeau, including the most likely result and the projection window for the best- and worst-case scenario.

Heisman Pundit is exactly that. Chris Huston knows his stuff about the Heisman, and famously penned The 10 Heismandments, which outline what has to happen for players to earn the greatest individual honor in sports.

He looked at his top 10 candidates from the Big 12, ranking them from top to bottom.

Topping the list?

West Virginia's Geno Smith. Huston pegged Oklahoma's Landry Jones as the No. 3 candidate, but had a moderate surprise at No. 2 with Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein on his list of "Contenders"

"Klein was probably the toughest player in college football last year, pound for pound," wrote Huston. "I can’t remember the last time I saw a player improve as much as Klein did between his sophomore and junior seasons."

No arguments here. The guy carried the ball 317 times, 67 more times than anybody else in the Big 12 and third-most in the nation. He took a beating every week and kept improving, kept running and kept growing as a passer.

I might have Jones ahead of both Klein and Smith, but it's definitely close. Klein needs wins and production to gain some more name recognition, but he's everything to Kansas State's offense.

I liked Huston's picks as the three dark horses, too.

TCU quarterback Casey Pachall topped that list, ahead of running back Joseph Randle at Oklahoma State and receiver Tavon Austin from West Virginia.

I think it'll be tough for Austin to legitimately win as a receiver, but if OSU and TCU start racking up wins by the bushelful, Randle will make an appearance on the short list, as will Pachall, who has three outstanding targets in Josh Boyce, Skye Dawson and Brandon Carter.

Check out Huston's blog for his list of longshots, which includes four boys in burnt orange from Texas.

Another spring camp is opening, and it's time to take a closer look. Today, the TCU Horned Frogs get started.

Schedule: Practice opens Friday at 5 p.m. ET and will conclude on April 5. Various practices may be open, but the plan has not been officially announced. TCU does not host a formal spring game.

What's new: The task ahead, mainly. You'll see a renewed sense of purpose this spring at TCU. The Horned Frogs know they have to be better to compete for a Big 12 title. In the Big 12, you put it on the line every week, and everybody can beat everybody. Ask Baylor and Kansas about that one. Or Iowa State and Oklahoma State. One win can't make a season, and 1-2 games don't decide a conference title like they do in the Mountain West.

New faces: TCU is welcoming four new faces to campus this spring as early enrolling freshmen: Quarterback Tyler Matthews, running back B.J. Catalon, transfer cornerback Keivon Gamble, and receiver Kolby Listenbee, who also made our 2012 Recruiting All-Name team.

Rekindling old flames: Former safeties coach Chad Glasgow returned to his post in Fort Worth after a season as the defensive coordinator at Texas Tech. He helped TCU lead the nation in total defense in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Those days are over for the Horned Frogs in the offense-heavy Big 12, but TCU fell to 15th last season in the Mountain West. Finishing there in the Big 12 in 2012 would be huge.

Big shoes to fill: Linebacker Deryck Gildon. Tank Carder (and his armbands) wrapped up their eligibility last year, but hopes are high that the 6-foot-2, 235-pound Gildon can be the man to hold TCU's defense together at the linebacker spot. His importance is amplified by the exit of Tanner Brock, who is among four players "separated" from the team while the legal process plays out following their drug sting arrests.

Breaking out: Receiver Brandon Carter. You probably already know about Josh Boyce and maybe Skye Dawson. But Carter, a freshman, could join them for a pretty dangerous third weapon in TCU's passing game for quarterback Casey Pachall. Among Carter's biggest catches last year was the game winner against Boise State, but this could be a big spring for him. And to think, Oklahoma only wanted him as a cornerback.

All eyes on: Player conduct. Four players were arrested in a drug sting by local police and reports indicated that five players tested positive for marijuana while 11 others showed trace amounts in a surprise Feb. 1 drug test administered by the team. However, comments from players to undercover police in police affidavits suggest that usage was much higher. Either way, the microscope is firmly on what's otherwise been a spotless program before these recent troubles.

We'll cap our moving week by introducing a new team to the big stage: TCU, welcome to the Big 12.

Our former Southwest Conference teams surely remember the Horned Frogs, but it's time to get everyone acquainted. To help me out, we've got College Nation blogger Andrea Adelson.

David Ubben: Andrea, you've been around this program the last year or so. Most fans won't have to travel far when they make it to the newly renovated Amon G. Carter Stadium, but what can they expect for a game-day experience?

Andrea Adelson: TCU might not have a stadium as big as Texas or Oklahoma, but fans sure get loud and provide a really good home-field advantage. The Horned Frogs have won 26 of their last 27 home games, and coach Gary Patterson has lost only seven times there in his 11 seasons as head coach. The newly renovated stadium should provide even more of a home-field advantage as the student section has now been reconfigured to run goal line to goal line behind the opponent bench. Students typically get dressed up all in purple and there is one spirit organization known as the HyperFrogs that leads chants throughout the game to get everybody fired up. Word is that playing a full slate of Big 12 competition is going to spur even more excitement at games and lead to many more sellouts.

DU: I'm excited to see it. I've done baseball and basketball at TCU, but I've never been to a football game. I'll have to end that this year. I'm definitely buying the idea that TCU's attendance issues have been accentuated by some less-than-stellar opponents. I'm not impressed by the home record, though.

The Horned Frogs already have their hand signal ready, a signature of Texas teams from that old Southwest Conference, but what's this move, getting reacquainted with some old friends, mean to TCU?

AA: It means everything, David. TCU was so desperate to get into an automatic qualifying conference, it agreed back in 2010 to join the Big East and then tried to tell everybody that geography did not matter and making the move was the perfect fit. The truth is, TCU always had designs on the Big 12, but the league had no interest in the Horned Frogs. Maybe that is because they were viewed as the pesky little brother that needed to be kept locked in his room. But the shifting sands of realignment made it increasingly obvious that TCU was the no-brainer choice to join the Big 12. It is no wonder TCU jumped ship for a conference closer to home without ever having played a down of football in the Big East. The Horned Frogs have finally achieved the goal set when the Southwest Conference broke up -- and it took only three (and a half) league homes to get there.

DU: Yeah, people want to knock TCU for conference jumping, but how can you not when the non-AQ leagues are shifting as much as they have in the past couple of decades. There's no doubt about it: TCU is home. I was at the news conference when they announced the move, and I've never seen so many people in suits wearing enormous smiles.

Big 12 fans may know TCU's combo of quarterback Casey Pachall and receiver Josh Boyce, but who are a few names Big 12 fans should keep an eye out for in 2012?

AA: TCU has a three-headed running back trio in Ed Wesley, Matthew Tucker and Waymon James, and all three return for this season. The three nearly split their carries evenly in 2011 -- each getting over 100 -- and combined for 2,337 yards and 24 touchdown runs. On the defensive side of the ball, watch for DE Stansly Maponga, a first-team Mountain West selection who really blossomed in his sophomore season. Maponga had nine sacks, 13.5 tackles for loss and five forced fumbles and will be expected to anchor what should be a solid defensive line. I am also going to be intrigued to see how receiver Brandon Carter does in his sophomore season. He did play as a true freshman and had 352 yards and three touchdowns, but bigger things will be expected. He was one of the big gets in the 2011 recruiting class, a four-star prospect out of Euless, Texas.

DU: OU fans may remember Brandon Carter. He was almost a Sooner, but they wanted him to play corner. Safe to say he's feeling good about his decision now.

Time to put you on the spot, AA: Forecast the Horned Frogs' first year in the Big 12. Win total, conference record, bowl game and Big 12 finish.

AA: Without knowing the actual schedule, as in home games and away games, I am going to say at least eight wins and a finish in the top four. So that would project out to Alamo or Insight, and of course that depends on who else is eligible to be selected.

DU: Yeah, the Big 12 isn't really making this one easy on us.

I like what TCU's got coming back. This is a team that could run the table outside of the Big 12, but they may hit a few speed bumps in the transition. I'll say TCU wins nine games, finishes fourth in the Big 12 and heads to the Insight Bowl. Not a bad debut for a program that could see its success sky-rocket in years to come.

With the season over, it's time to take a look at the Big 12 in 2012. For now, that means assuming a few things. And we all know what assuming does.

It makes us all look like geniuses.

So, for the purpose of this, I'll assume a few predictions. First, I'll assume Robert Griffin III is heading for the NFL. I'll also assume Mike Stoops lands back at Oklahoma.

That said, it's time to project what this league looks like in 2012.

And, before we start, let me make this clear: The Big 12 from 1-6 is absolutely wide open. Last year, the league only had three legitimate title contenders: Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Oklahoma State. This year, every one of the top six teams (and maybe seven, if RG3 returns) can win the Big 12 in a realistic scenario. The difference between Nos. 2 and 6 is minuscule and could change a ton by the end of spring practice.

And for the curious: I would have Missouri behind Kansas State on this list, and I'd have Texas A&M right behind Texas.

1. Oklahoma: The Sooners moved into the familiar role of favorite after Landry Jones announced he'd return in 2012, but not nearly as heavy a favorite as they were in 2011. Injuries hurt Oklahoma late this season, and replacing Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Frank Alexander, along with linebacker Travis Lewis and corner Jamell Fleming won't be easy. Receivers Kenny Stills and Jaz Reynolds have to play big for the Sooners to get the win.

2. Kansas State: The big question mark for this team is can it take care of business and not get stuck in close games in 2012? The Wildcats were 8-1 in games decided by a touchdown or less this season. They can't count on duplicating that in 2012. They should be better, and return most of the big pieces from this season's 10-win team, most importantly quarterback Collin Klein and linebacker Arthur Brown. Next season is the time to prove it.

3. West Virginia: Who else is excited to see Geno Smith, Dana Holgorsen and the Mountaineer Express show up in Big 12 country next season? Like I wrote last week, giving up 33 points and still winning by five touchdowns is the Big 12 way of life. The Mountaineers broke Baylor's week-old bowl scoring record with 70 points, and bring back most of a good Big East champion team in 2012. The transition won't be easy, but they've got a chance to make a big splash in their inaugural year. The Big 12 and West Virginia are both convinced that the Mountaineers will join the Big 12 in 2012 and are planning as if it will happen, though pending lawsuits with the Big East mean it's still unofficial.

4. TCU: The transition will be more difficult for TCU, methinks. Depth could be an issue. There aren't any weeks off in the Big 12. Not even Kansas. Ask Baylor about that one. New Mexico's staying behind in the Mountain West. Eventually, I think TCU has a chance to be on par with Texas and Oklahoma on the recruiting trail and on the field. Being the only team in the metroplex is a huge deal. And it'll bring back a great team with lots of offense, headlined by QB Casey Pachall and receivers Josh Boyce and Skye Dawson, along with Brandon Carter. It'll be fun to watch.

5. Oklahoma State: The Cowboys should sustain success from this year, even though they lose Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon. They don't have to worry about a losing season, but with a first-year starter at quarterback, the odds are against them winning the Big 12. First-year starters have only won the Big 12 twice. Look out for Joseph Randle to have a huge year in 2012. I'm also betting on Clint Chelf to grab the starting QB job, but keep an eye on early enrollee Wes Lunt.

6. Texas: The Longhorns should be better and have lots of upside, but it's looking more and more like this team will only go as far as David Ash will take it. We'll learn just how far that is during spring and summer. This offseason is paramount for Ash's development. He's got to show something big next fall. The defense should be stingy, the offensive line improved and the backfield loaded. It's up to him.

7. Baylor: Sounds like 2012 may be the Nick Florence Show in Waco. Baylor will take a step back without RG3, but we'll see just how much he had around him, which is to say, a lot. Kendall Wright and Terrance Ganaway will be gone, but Terrance Williams and Tevin Reese will get a chance to shine. Oregon transfer Lache Seastrunk will get plenty of preseason attention, too. The Bears look like a fringe bowl team with some upside without RG3.

8. Texas Tech: Tech and Oklahoma State probably have the most upside of any team in these power rankings. The Red Raiders were better than 5-7 this season, but will have to prove it in 2012, and have to stay healthy. Seth Doege, Eric Stephens and Darrin Moore could be a dynamic set of triplets in 2012, and don't rule out a top-three finish for the Red Raiders in 2012.

9. Iowa State: The Cyclones may have a bit of a quarterback controversy in the spring after Steele Jantz reclaimed the quarterback job in the second half of the Pinstripe Bowl. Paul Rhoads joked about it after the game, but he's not joking when it comes to needing one of those guys to push the other. Jared Barnett has more upside, and the Cyclones could certainly grab a third bowl bid in four years if he plays well in 2012. ISU's a good team, but it's stuck in an absurdly deep conference that could have as many as seven (six, most likely, depending on RG3) Top-25 teams to start the season.

10. Kansas: There's a new flavor at KU, and the variables will be unpredictable for this team through spring and fall. The season should be fun. Can Charlie Weis redeem himself? What about Dayne Crist? Was Notre Dame just not the right fit for either? The opportunity to do something special at Kansas is here, and the bar is very, very low after a miserable two years. The defense can't be worse, and the Jayhawks have solid, maturing running backs.

Time for our weekly checkup with the league's new members. We'll kick off the next West Virginia update later today. But first, keeping up with the Horned Frogs so you don't have to.

Yet, anyway.

Record: 8-2 (5-0 Mountain West)

National rank: No. 19 in both the USA Today and Associated Press polls.

Last result: Beat No. 5 Boise State 36-35 in Boise

What to know: TCU has a message for you: "You're welcome, America." Stanford went down later in the night, and Oklahoma State and LSU were the nation's only undefeated teams left in the national title race. A loss for either could have meant the polarizing Broncos in the title game. Not anymore. TCU freshman (and former OU verbal commit, as a cornerback) Brandon Carter hauled in a 25-yard touchdown pass over a defender and scored what looked like a game-tying score. That is, until Gary Patterson elected to go for the win with 1:05 remaining. They got it, and Boise went down with a shocking miss once again when freshman Dan Goodale shanked a 39-yard kick from the center of the field.

It was one of the games of the weekend, and TCU quarterback Casey Pachall took home Walter Camp National Player of the Week Award for his efforts. He threw for 473 yards and five touchdowns on 24-of-37 passing. Losses to Baylor and SMU will likely keep TCU from getting back to a huge bowl game, but like last year against Wisconsin, TCU proved it could be giant killers, and avenged a Fiesta Bowl loss to the Broncos back at the end of the 2009 season. It also ended Boise State's 47-game home winning streak in conference play, dating back to 1999.

You've done the Big 12 proud, Frogs.

Up next: vs. Colorado State (3-6)

Thanks for all the questions. Enjoy the Fourth of July weekend.

Cary in Japan asked: Can you see a scenario where Gilbert doesn't start again for Texas this year at quarterback? And have any of the other QBs made enough noise thus far to give Gilbert a short leash?

David Ubben: Yeah, it could happen. I don't think it will happen, but it might. I think he'll end up the starter on opening day, but he'll have a way, way shorter leash. He has to. None of the other guys got a real shot last year, and if he struggles early this season, you absolutely have to put Connor Wood or Case McCoy out there before conference play. You can't just leave him out there making mistakes and hope it clicks at some point. We've seen enough of him, and he didn't have a ton of plays last year that really showed flashes of him turning it around in games.

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DeMarshawn in Southlake, Texas, asked: Ubbenator - Have you been inside all of the Big 12 locker rooms? If so, which teams have the nicest/fanciest set-ups? If you were a prospective player and were deciding which school to play for based solely on the locker rooms, which team would you choose?

DU: I've been in a pretty big percentage of them on various campus visits, but on game weekends, they're usually closed. I haven't been to all of them, but the two that stick out are Oklahoma State and Texas. Crazy, crazy nice. I'm sure that's no surprise with the recent renovations at the OSU facilities and Texas' general aura of cash.

The thing that puts Texas' over the top, though? All the players' towels are crafted from actual $100 bills.

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Baylorfan in San Antonio asked: david, in your opinion, is baylor closer to a 10 win breakout season or an 8 loss letdown season?

DU: Interesting question. It's very, very close, I'd say. The tougher schedule and additional conference game make me lean toward eight losses, though.

If the defense steps up, I could see the Bears winning 10 games, but they still have to play TCU and now get Missouri on the schedule, which they didn't have last year. Baylor hasn't proven it can consistently beat the South teams enough, and if you look back at the games it did win last year, the Colorado, K-State and Texas games all could have gone the other way. Meanwhile, the only loss it didn't get outright outplayed in, and could have gone the other way was Texas Tech. I definitely think the Bears fall somewhere in the middle, but the chances of an eight-loss season are a bit better than a 10-win season.

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Larry in Columbia, Mo., asked: David,It's official: Former Mizzou QB Tyler Gabbert is transferring to Louisville. I wish him well, but I have to think he's making a mistake. At Mizzou, he was within a hair of winning the starting job and could have easily ended up playing a lot this season. At Louisville, he will need to sit out a year and then compete with star recruit Teddy Bridgewater who maybe have already established himself as the starter by then. Seems like he loses a year of eligibility to go to a worse situation. Your take? Love the blog! Larry

DU: That might be true, but it fits his personality. On some level, I agree with you, and though I don't know Tyler well, I've talked to his coaches about him a bit, and everything I've heard about him is he's by far the most competitive quarterback Missouri had.

That obviously carried over to his decision to transfer. It won't be easy there, but Gabbert believes he can win the job, or else he wouldn't have gone. I definitely think he's capable of starting at the BCS level. Is that at Louisville?

We'll see.

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Blaine in Fort Worth, Texas, asked: Ubbs,I saw the great comment about "Tank Carder and his gratuitous arm bands", and I'll admit that I did laugh out loud. It makes me think about players over the last few years that overindulged on equipment/eyeblack/get ups. One that comes to mind is Tech's Brandon Carter. Can you give us a list of your favorites?

DU: Glad you enjoyed it. Carder is a heck of a player, but those things crack me up every time I see them. There aren't a ton of equipment quirks in the Big 12 that jump out, but Markelle Martin's tights always make him stick out on the field.

Obviously it has a pretty clear purpose, but Robert Griffin III's knee brace when he came back last year gives him a bit of a robotic look. You don't see QBs with that much protection too often.

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Evan in Missouri asked: You posted a poll today who the readers thought was the 2nd best team. While I don't disagree that those 2 teams have the potential to be very good. But what about Mizzou? Yes, I'm a homer, but I honestly believe the Tigers have the potential as well. You know, as long as James Franklin is at least decent.

DU: At the end of the season, sure. No question that could happen. But the poll is asking about the beginning of the season. And there's no way Missouri is ranked higher than either OSU or Texas A&M. I'm higher on Mizzou heading into this year than most (I had them 16th on my post-spring poll, but I'll probably bump them down a few spots in the preseason poll), but they're going to have a lot to prove during the season before people take them seriously as a Big 12 contender.

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Scott in Lilbourn, Mo., asked: Hello Mr. Ubben. I have been a regular visitor to your blog ever since Mizzou beat OU last season. I have a question for you. Lets say that James Franklin has a breakout first season and plays great from start to finish, where will Missouri end up if this were to happen? Thanks.

DU: I'd say 11-1 and in a BCS bowl. Franklin's a first-year starter. No matter how good he is, he's going to have some games that drive fans crazy. Look out for a 12-of-30, 175-yard, TD, two-INT night at some point. Maybe a couple of those. The good news is, Missouri is good enough everywhere else to pick him up when he does inevitably struggle at some point and it might not lose those games. It can lean on the running game and the defensive improvements will help make sure the Tigers don't need to hang 40 every time out to win a game.

Franklin's got the capability to have plenty of big nights, too, a 26-34, 310-yard, 3 TD kind of outing, and he'll have the capability to carry the team on some nights, but like any first-year guy, it won't be every night.

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Jon in Davis, Calif., asked: Ubben,I am surprised this TCU v. Baylor game isn't picked as an upset special of the week. All of the markers are there for it: Home game for the Bears. Lots of offensive talent returning for the Bears. TCU loses most of its offensive team from last year, including its senior, experience rich QB.I mean really, do we all underestimate the value of Dalton that much? We saw what happened to UT once Colt left..that vaunted UT defense played admirably, but was crippled by that offense. I could see the same thing playing out here, with the obvious exception that BU doesn't have the talent on defense that UT does. But I digress...

DU: I'd say it's pretty close to being an upset, but you basically pegged all the reasons it should be a great game. TCU's got to feel good about Casey Pachall, but you'd have been hard-pressed to find a Texas fan not feeling even better about Garrett Gilbert a year ago. Look back at Oklahoma in 2009, too. They were replacing offensive line starters just like TCU, too. The thing has upset written all over it, but Baylor has to make it happen. TCU is still probably a better team, but it might take it awhile to get its sea legs underneath it with so many new faces.

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Jason in Ames writes: With Danny Wuerffel being in the top 20 on the Simply Saturday list and having beaten Troy Davis by less the 200 points in the 1996 Heisman voting and having finished 5th the previous year on top of being the first guy to rush for 2,000 yards in consecutive years do you feel he should have represented the cyclones on the list? I logged on every day almost expecting him to be on it, haha. He was a great college player on a terrible team and put up so many yards even though every person in the stadium knew he was getting the ball. He is an Iowa State legend, not that it means much in the landscape of college football, but it would have been nice as a cyclone faithful to see him recognized.

DU: Yeah, he probably deserved a spot, but it was a tough, tough group. Look at the Big 12 player lowest on the list, Jason White. He threw for over 8,000 yards, won a Heisman and carried his team to the national championship twice. And he barely made it. Davis' yardage is impressive, and I'm sure you wouldn't have heard many complaints if he'd made it, but in any exercise like this, guys have to get left out.

Yo, who's the grillmaster, dog?

• Vahe Gregorian of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch takes you behind the scenes of the training facility in Phoenix that's preparing Missouri's Blaine Gabbert and Aldon Smith for the NFL draft. Other prospects at the facility include Nebraska's Prince Amukamara and Texas' Aaron Williams, as well as Julio Jones, Christian Ponder and A.J. Green.
• Oklahoma State added a new transfer, Tulsa native and safety Shamiel Gary.
• Has Nebraska found what it wants to do offensively? Perhaps, reports Tom Shatel of the Omaha World-Herald. More like Oregon. Less like "the Big Ten."
• Texas A&M running back Bradley Stephens is forgoing his senior season as an Aggie to go pro ... in something other than sports, reports Brent Zwerneman in the Houston Chronicle.
• William Wilkerson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram has a list of winners and losers from the weeks following the bowls. Among the winners: Texas, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. Baylor tops the list of losers.
• This could throw a wrench into Oklahoma State's search for a new OC: Cowboys receivers coach Gunter Brewer is leaving to be the receivers coach and passing-game coordinator under Houston Nutt at Ole Miss
• Sorry, K-State fans: Rumored new defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt has joined the San Francisco 49ers staff as a linebackers coach under Jim Harbaugh.
• Why did new Oklahoma quarterback Kendal Thompson choose OU? To finish his father's unfinished business, writes John Hoover of the Tulsa World.
• Oklahoma announced its spring practice start time and spring game date.
• The Sooners also lost a commitment to TCU. Brandon Carter is heading to TCU for a chance to play receiver, reports Travis L. Brown of ESPNDallas.com.
• Colorado added its fourth commitment in five days.
• File this under Holy Cow!: UConn may lose $2.5 million by going to the Fiesta Bowl.
• Former Kansas running back Jake Sharp is still chasing his NFL dreams, writes Candace Buckner of the Kansas City Star.

"You work in a business. Businesspeople need beepers."

"No, they need cellphones."

"Yeah, right now, but the beeper's gonna be making a comeback. Technology's cyclical."

• Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit agree: Oklahoma and Nebraska will play for the Big 12 title.
• Missouri's defense wants 35 turnovers in 2010, reports Dieter Kurtenbach of the Columbia Missourian. It forced 23 last year.
• Texas Tech players don't miss the sand pit outside the practice field some of them got to know well, writes Don Williams of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
• Texas isn't messing around with its upcoming schedules. The Longhorns announced a home-and-home agreement with BYU in 2013 and 2014, in addition to a game next season in Austin. The Longhorns also added Notre Dame to their future schedule recently.
• The Longhorns can run the ball all they want, but the hope for 2010 rests with Garrett Gilbert, writes the Statesman's Cedric Golden.
• Former Red Raiders lineman Brandon Carter has a new look for the NFL, but the face paint is still a part of him. He still wants to be a pro wrestler, writes Jordan Godwin of the Houston Chronicle.
• Tom Shatel of the Omaha World-Herald learned some lessons with the recent media fiasco. He shares them in his blog.
• Life as a football player is pretty difficult if you're allergic to milk and you don't know it. Ask Iowa State's Jake McDonough. The Des Moines Register's Randy Peterson did.
• Landry Jones wasn't happy with his performance in Oklahoma's scrimmage on Thursday.
• The highlight of Colorado's scrimmage on Thursday? The running game, reports the Denver Post's Tom Kensler.
• Without Jeron Mastrud, there's a battle at tight end at Kansas State, reports Brady Bauman of the Manhattan Mercury.
• Oklahoma State's Victor Johnson and Jamie Blatnick have become close with a pair of Stairmasters, writes John Helsley of The Oklahoman.
• Tom Keegan of the Lawrence Journal-World explains why moving Toben Opurum to linebacker is a gamble.
• Texas A&M free safety Steven Terrell's camp is off to a good start, reports Robert Cessna of the Bryan-College Station Eagle.

Here, we'll take a look at a couple of key players going, staying and coming for each team in the Big 12.

Going:

Brandon Sharpe, DE

The Red Raiders will miss Sharpe's playmaking off the edge, and must replace a first-team All-Big 12 team member. The senior racked up a single-season school record 15 sacks to rank second in the Big 12 and had four in Texas Tech's 31-10 win over Nebraska. Even more impressive was his numbers coming in his only season as starter after transferring to Texas Tech from Fresno City (Calif.) College.

Brandon Carter, OL

A three-year starter, Carter earned All-Big 12 honors in each season. As a senior, he finished on the first team. Although perhaps best known for his face paint, Carter was one of the league's best linemen for the majority of his career.

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Staying:

Taylor Potts/Steven Sheffield, QBs

Probably the league's most interesting quarterback battle, Sticks vs. Potts will be back again this fall with a new coach and a sped-up offense. The pair's spring battle only lasted a couple weeks after Sheffield broke the same foot from last season and Potts suffered a deep cut on his throwing hand. Both required surgery. Sheffield outperformed Potts near the end of the season and in the final spring scrimmage before the injury, but with so much time off, anything could happen in the fall. The fans want Sheffield. We won't find out who coach Tommy Tuberville wants until the fall.

Baron Batch, RB

Batch's consistency has given Texas Tech a reliable option at running back for the past two seasons, topping 750 yards in both and averaging almost 6 yards per carry during that span. In an offense that will run the ball more than the Red Raiders are used to, he has a great chance to top 1,000 yards as a senior. He earned All-Big 12 honorable mention last season, and if he hits the quadruple digits, he'll move way up in that line.

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Coming:

Jackson Richards, DE

Richards might not be able to fill Sharpe's hole right away, but he could be a contributor for Texas Tech at the end spot. The Red Raiders snatched the 6-foot-4, 235-pounder over LSU, Kansas State and Colorado. The Southlake (Tex.) Carroll alum was ranked as the No. 34 defensive end prospect in the country.

Shawn Corker, WR

Texas Tech has a lot of depth at receiver, but in the Air Raid offense, there's always room for one more. If Corker proves he can handle it, he'll get on the field. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., native has solid speed with a 4.45 40 time and chose the Red Raiders over Miami and Florida, among others. ESPNU ranked him as the No. 47 receiver in the 2010 class.


More Revolving Door:

• Baylor
• Colorado
• Iowa State
• Kansas
• Kansas State
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• Oklahoma
• Oklahoma State
• Texas
• Texas A&M
  

Nine players from the Big 12 were drafted in the first round, but not everybody can make millions. Here's where a few notable Big 12ers ended up after going undrafted:

Baylor

• LB Joe Pawelek - Seattle

Four-time All-Big 12er will try to fit in with new coach Pete Carroll.

• S Jordan Lake - unsigned

Everyone respects Lake as a hitter, but a lack of speed will likely keep the Thorpe Award candidate from succeeding at the pro level.

Kansas

• QB Todd Reesing - unsigned

Might end up in Canada after struggling to show scouts he could compensate for his lack of height.

Kansas State

• TE Jeron Mastrud - Tampa Bay
• WR/KR Brandon Banks - unsigned

Banks ran a 4.43 at the combine, the fifth-fastest time recorded by a receiver, but his size will keep him from playing receiver at the next level. Some team will give him a shot as a return man eventually. What he does with it is up to him.

Missouri

• WR Danario Alexander - unsigned

NFL teams are waiting on Alexander to pass a physical after undergoing his fourth knee surgery in just over a year. The nation's receiving leader can't seem to catch a break.

• OL Kurtis Gregory - Carolina
• DT Jaron Baston - Denver

Baston and Gregory were second-team All-Big 12ers and Carolina began contacting Gregory during the sixth round, expressing its interest in signing him.

Nebraska

• DE Barry Turner - Chicago
• S Matt O'Hanlon - Carolina

Turner and O'Hanlon make five Blackshirts who ended up on NFL rosters after leaving Nebraska. DT Ndamukong Suh, S Larry Asante and LB Phillip Dillard were drafted.

Oklahoma

• DE Auston English - Cleveland

An ankle injury ended English's season early and any chance the defensive end, who was named to the All-Big 12 first team as a freshman, had of being drafted.

• DT DeMarcus Granger - Seattle

Former blue-chip recruit never recovered from offseason back surgery before last season and didn't play until the bowl game.

• RB Chris Brown - Denver

Solid runner led the Sooners in rushing the past two seasons. Might be able to slip into Josh McDaniels' uncertain situation at running back. Lesser accomplished backs have done it in Denver in the past, but that was under Mike Shanahan, who's now in Washington.

Oklahoma State

• RB Keith Toston - St. Louis

Toston stepped in after Kendall Hunter was injured and ran for over 1,000 yards.

• OL Andrew Lewis - Kansas City
• OL Brady Bond - San Diego

Lewis began the season on the cover of SI, and Bond came to Oklahoma State after playing eight-man football. Both are now on current NFL rosters.

Texas

• K Hunter Lawrence - Tampa Bay

The most accurate kicker in Texas history, Lawrence doesn't seem likely to beat out the solid Connor Barth, who took over the job midseason last year, for the starting job. But impress during minicamp, or stay on the roster through training camp, and other teams could take notice.

• OL Adam Ulatoski - Houston
• OL Charlie Tanner - New York Jets

Ulatoski has the size (6-foot-6, 310 pounds) to succeed in the NFL, he just has to prove it with the Texans. Tanner and Ulatoski have a handful of All-Big 12 honors heading into the next level.

Texas A&M

• TE/FB Jamie McCoy - St. Louis

McCoy caught 35 passes for 367 yards and two scores and made the All-Big 12 second team.

Texas Tech

• DE Brandon Sharpe - New Orleans

Sharpe finished second in the Big 12 with 15 sacks.

• OL Brandon Carter - New Orleans

Carter, most known for his hair and makeup, turned an All-Big 12 first-team effort in 2009 into a free-agent deal with the world champs.

Here, we’ll take a look at one area where each team in the Big 12 can expect to succeed, and another that needs improvement. This edition happened to correspond with my visit to Lubbock, but there will be plenty more on the Red Raiders next week.

Weak: Offensive line

Texas Tech loses three starters from an offensive line that tied for 8th in the Big 12 in sacks given up (31), but was one sack away from the 11th spot. If the more mobile Steven Sheffield wins the starting quarterback spot permanently, that number could drop, but Texas Tech is replacing three starters for the second consecutive season.

LaAdrian Waddle, a 6-foot-6, 350-pounder, could compete for a starting spot.

Mickey Okafor and Deveric Gallington should compete to replace departed right guard Brandon Carter.

Junior Justin Keown could also start.

The unit could be at an advantage after their position coach, Matt Moore, was the only coach retained from Mike Leach's staff.

Strong: Quarterback(s)

Whether Sheffield or Taylor Potts ends up being the starter, the bottom line is this: both are experienced, and both have shown they can thrive if given the opportunity. There's no reason to believe Texas Tech should have problems at quarterback. Both say they already feel comfortable in the new but similar system, and both put up Texas Tech-like numbers as juniors. They should both be much improved in 2010.

Potts engineered wins over Oklahoma and Michigan State, completing over 65 percent of his passes in the two games for four touchdowns and an average of 380 yards.

Sheffield was responsible for decisive wins over Nebraska and Kansas State, and threw for 490 yards and seven touchdowns against the Wildcats. The Red Raiders scored more points (31) against Nebraska, the nation's No. 1 scoring defense, than any other Huskers opponent.

Every coach in the Big 12 probably envies Tommy Tuberville, who has two senior quarterbacks with plenty of meaningful game experience.

Runner-up: Running backs, where starter Baron Batch has two experienced sophomores, Eric Stephens and Harrison Jeffers, backing him up.

More Weak & Strong:

• Baylor
• Colorado
• Iowa State
• Kansas
• Kansas State
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• Oklahoma
• Oklahoma State
• Texas
• Texas A&M
  

I hope you didn't think we were done after I posted my predictions for the North earlier today. Here's how I think the South will look after next season.

1. Texas

Texas and Oklahoma are in similar situations entering 2010. Both lose franchise quarterbacks, even if Oklahoma's watched most of the 2009 season from the sideline. Both lose a handful of defensive stars with promising young players ready to step into the spotlight. But Texas has the advantage over Oklahoma. Even though the winner of the Red River Rivalry hasn’t advanced to the title game in two of the past four years, the winner always gets the inside track. Texas has dominated Oklahoma at the State Fair, winning four of the past five. Can’t pick Oklahoma to win the South until Bob Stoops’ teams get back some of the swagger they had in five straight defeats of Texas from 2000 to 2004.

2. Oklahoma

The Sooners will be ready to erase the memory of a frustrating 2009 when about everything went wrong, even though they still managed an eight-win season. Landry Jones and Ryan Broyles were a reliable connection in 2009, and there’s not much reason to think that won’t be the case again this season. Broyles caught 89 passes for 1,120 yards and a Big 12-most 15 touchdowns. And that’s even after Broyles fractured his shoulder blade on the opening drive against Miami and missed the rest of that loss as well as a win over Baylor, the only game Sam Bradford finished all season. The Sooners' success is tied closely with what Broyles can do in his junior season.

Still a concern is a shuffling offensive line that could be filled with young players once again in the fall.

3. Texas A&M

Everyone’s dark horse to win the South could benefit from a season in which Oklahoma and Texas aren’t virtual guarantees to compete for the national championship. Jerrod Johnson will sling it like he did 497 times last season, and heralded running back recruit Christine Michael returns for his second season.

For the Aggies to climb into the Big 12 South’s top two spots, new defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter’s defense will need to improve from 2009, when the Aggies were last in the Big 12 in scoring defense.

4. Oklahoma State

Dana Holgorsen brings his spread offense to Stillwater with 26-year-old quarterback Brandon Weeden expected to run it. Running back Kendall Hunter darted around defenders for 1,555 yards rushing in 2008, but was hampered by an ankle injury in 2009 and failed to reach 400 yards as a junior. Hunter missed five games last season, and failed to rush for 100 yards even once. He’ll want to finish his career with a flourish, but the Cowboys could be swallowed up in the always-deep Big 12 South.

5. Baylor

Robert Griffin returns, but as an athlete, the concern is his torn ACL could reduce him to a player unequal to the freshman Robert Griffin that made headlines in 2008. Will his quickness and shiftiness still be there? Additionally, will he still be as apt to scramble after the injury? He says he will, but no one will know for sure until he makes his return to the field next fall. If the Bears want to leave their usual post in the Big 12 South cellar, Griffin will have to carry them on his back with a reconstructed knee.

6. Texas Tech

The Tuberville experiment in Lubbock will begin this spring, but for all the changes in personnel within the program, the Red Raiders will be without a few other stars. Hard-hitting defensive back Jamar Wall is gone and so are three starting offensive linemen, including (ex) Twitterer/face-painter/offensive lineman Brandon Carter.

Tuberville and the Red Raiders making a bowl game wouldn't surprise me , but they also have the highest potential for disaster of any team in the Big 12.

The NFL has released its final list of late additions to its annual pre-draft player combine, which will take place in Indianapolis from Feb. 24 to March 2.

The Big 12 is well represented on the list of invited players, with every team but Iowa State and Texas A&M having at least one representative.

Here's the final list. The late invitations, typically from underclassmen who declared for the draft, are listed in bold.

BAYLOR (2)

WR David Gettis

C J.D. Walton

COLORADO (1)

TE Riar Geer

KANSAS (3)

WR Dezmon Briscoe

WR Kerry Meier

S Darrell Stuckey

KANSAS STATE (3)

WR Brandon Banks

TE Jeron Mastrud

CB Joshua Moore

MISSOURI (4)

WR Danario Alexander

G Kurtis Gregory

WR Jared Perry

LB Sean Weatherspoon

NEBRASKA (4)

S Larry Asante

LB Phillip Dillard

C Jacob Hickman

DT Ndamukong Suh

OKLAHOMA (9)

QB Sam Bradford

RB Chris Brown

OLB Keenan Clayton

TE Brody Eldridge

CB Dominique Franks

TE Jermaine Gresham

CB Brian Jackson

DT Gerald McCoy

T Trent Williams

OKLAHOMA STATE (6)

S Lucien Antoine

WR Dez Bryant

CB Perrish Cox

T Russell Okung

QB Zac Robinson

RB Keith Toston

TEXAS (7)

DT Lamarr Houston

DE Sergio Kindle

QB Colt McCoy

LB Roddrick Muckelroy

WR Jordan Shipley

S Earl Thomas

T Adam Ulatoski

TEXAS TECH (2)

G Brandon Carter

CB Jamar Wall

As we all pore over the recruiting ratings of each school for the next few days, it's wise to take all of these rankings and ratings with a healthy grain of salt.

Recruiting is, always has been and always will be an inexact science. For every can't miss product, there are others who emerge out of nowhere to become standout players.

This trend was shown after I analyzed the first- and second-team All-Big 12 teams from the 2009 season and went back to check their original ESPNU grades. On some, the service hit. But on many others, it missed like Sean Weatherspoon and Danario Alexander.

Both had scores of 40 when they came out in their recruiting class. Weatherspoon weighed 195 pounds. Alexander was projected as a safety. And both put aside their dubious recruiting marks to develop into two of the best players in the country at their position over the course of their college career. I thought it was interesting to go back and look at the best players in the conference and see where they were ranked coming into college.

The ESPNU ratings database goes back only to 2006. That does not allow us to get ratings for players who took a redshirt year during their college careers. But it gives a pretty accurate picture about the crap shoot that college recruiting really is.

Here's a look at the Big 12's coaches' first and second teams for 2009. The positional rankings, typically listed second for most players, are national rankings.

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE

QB: Colt McCoy, Texas: Class of 2005, no information available.

RB: Daniel Thomas, Kansas State: Junior college class of 2009.

RB: Keith Toston, Oklahoma State: 77 rating; ranked 44th among all safeties; ranked 73rd in state.

FB: Bryant Ward, Oklahoma State: Walk-on.

WR: Jordan Shipley, Texas: Class of 2004, no information available.

WR: Danario Alexander, Missouri: 40 rating (as safety), ranked 229th in state.

WR: Dezmon Briscoe, Kansas: 40 rating, ranked 363rd in state.

TE: Jeron Mastrud, Kansas State: 40 rating, ranked 13th in state.

OL: Russell Okung, Oklahoma State: 73 rating, ranked 61st among all tackles, 138th in state.

OL: Trent Williams, Oklahoma: 76 rating, ranked 22nd among all guards, 78th in state.

OL: Nick Stringer, Kansas State: Class of 2005, no information available.

OL: Brandon Carter, Texas Tech: Class of 2005, no information available.

OL: Nate Solder, Colorado: 40 rating (as tight end), ranked 48th in state.

PK: Grant Ressel, Missouri: Walk-on.

KR/PR: Brandon Banks, Kansas State: Junior college class of 2008.

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FIRST TEAM DEFENSE

DL: Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska: Class of 2005, no information available.

DL: Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma: 89 rating, ranked 2nd among all defensive tackle, ranked first in state, ranked 21st in nation.

DL:Von Miller, Texas A&M: 77 rating, ranked 37th among all defensive ends, ranked 52nd in state.

DL: Brandon Sharpe, Texas Tech: Junior-college class of 2007.

DL: Jared Crick, Nebraska: 73 rating, ranked 86th among all defensive ends, ranked seventh in state.

LB: Jesse Smith, Iowa State: Class of 2005, no information available.

LB: Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri: 40 rating, ranked 294th in state.

LB: Travis Lewis, Oklahoma: 75 rating, ranked 86th among all running backs, ranked 96th in state.

DB: Earl Thomas, Texas: 71 rating, ranked 75th among all cornerbacks, ranked 170th in state.

DB: Perrish Cox, Oklahoma State: 77 rating, ranked 25th among all cornerbacks, ranked 57th in state.

DB: Dominique Franks, Oklahoma: 74 rating, ranked 53rd among all cornerbacks, ranked 15th in state.

DB: Prince Amukamara, Nebraska: 78 rating, ranked 31st among all running backs, ranked fifth in state.

DB: Larry Asante, Nebraska: Junior college class of 2007.

P: Derek Epperson, Baylor: 76 rating, ranked 15th among all kickers, ranked 87th in state.

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SECOND TEAM OFFENSE

QB: Jerrod Johnson, Texas A&M: 79 rating, ranked first among all athletes, ranked 29th in state.

RB Roy Helu Jr., Nebraska: 73 rating, ranked 113th among all running backs, ranked 97th in state.

RB: DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma: 92 rating, ranked first among all running backs, ranked first in state, ranked sixth in nation.

FB: Jamie McCoy, Texas A&M: Class of 2005, no information available.

WR: Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma: 77 rating, ranked 58th among all wide receivers, ranked fourth in state.

WR: Kerry Meier, Kansas: Class of 2005 , no information available.

WR: Brandon Banks, Kansas State: Junior college class of 2008.

TE: Riar Geer, Colorado: Class of 2005, no information available.

OL: J.D. Walton, Baylor: Class of 2005, no information available (transfer from Arizona State).

OL: Chris Hall, Texas: Class of 2005, no information available.

OL: Kurtis Gregory, Missouri: Class of 2005, no information available.

OL: Adam Ulatoski, Texas: Class of 2005, no information available.

OL: Brody Eldridge, Oklahoma: Class of 2005, no information available.

OL: Lee Grimes, Texas A&M: Class of 2005, no information available.

PK: Alex Henery, Nebraska: Walk-on.

KR/PR: Perrish Cox, Oklahoma State: 77 rating, ranked 25th among all cornerbacks, ranked 57th in state.

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SECOND TEAM DEFENSE

DL: Sergio Kindle, Texas: 92 rating, ranked first among all outside linebackers, ranked second in state, ranked seventh in nation.

DL: Lamarr Houston, Texas: 78 rating, ranked seventh among all fullbacks, ranked fourth in state.

DL: Jeremy Beal, Oklahoma: 80 rating, ranked 11th among all defensive ends, ranked 17th in state, ranked 137th nationally.

DL: Jaron Baston, Missouri: Class of 2005, no information available.

DL: Daniel Howard, Texas Tech: Junior college class of 2007

LB: Joe Pawelek, Baylor: Class of 2005, no information available.

LB: Roddrick Muckelroy, Texas: Class of 2005, no information available.

LB: Phillip Dillard, Nebraska: Class of 2005, no information available.

DB: Jamar Wall, Texas Tech: 72 rating, ranked 79th among all safeties, ranked 142nd in state.

DB: Quinton Carter, Oklahoma: 77 rating, ranked 39th among all safeties, ranked third in state.

DB: Brian Jackson, Oklahoma: Class of 2005, no information available.

DB: Jordan Lake, Baylor: Class of 2005, no information available.

DB: Cha’pelle Brown, Colorado: 40 rating, ranked 287th in state.

DB: Trent Hunter, Texas A&M: 68 rating, ranked 90th among all cornerbacks, ranked 250th in state.

P: Tress Way, Oklahoma: 78 rating, ranked sixth among all kickers, ranked sixth in state.

It's interesting to note that only four members of the two teams were ESPNU top 150 selections: Oklahoma's Gerald McCoy, DeMarco Murray and Jeremy Beal and Texas' Sergio Kindle.