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Keenan Robinson, Emmanuel Acho and Kheeston Randall were the only Longhorns selected in the NFL draft.

Max Olson writes: Being picked in the late rounds means Texas draft picks Keenan Robinson, Emmanuel Acho and Kheeston Randall will have to rely on their versatility to make their mark.

Texas takes on Cal on Wednesday night in the Holiday Bowl. We previewed the game earlier, now it's time for a look at three keys for Texas to get the win.

1. Work hard in bowl practices. So yeah, this one's technically already happened, but we won't see the results until tonight. Texas' offense was young and banged up, but had a ton of room for improvement, mostly with the offensive line, receivers and running backs. The Longhorns didn't get to participate in the valuable workouts after last year's 5-7 season, so here's guessing they took those pretty seriously. Young offensive talent like Jaxon Shipley, Mike Davis, Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron are loaded with potential, and the late-season minicamp can be a showcase for it to shift to production.

2. Shut down Keenan Allen. Texas is missing safety Christian Scott, but the Longhorns' corners are two of the best in the league. Carrington Byndom and true freshman Quandre Diggs are capable of shutting down Allen and letting the front seven go to work on rushing Zach Maynard and stuffing Isi Sofele, a 1,200-yard rusher. Texas' defense was the Big 12's best this season, and was by far the league's best at preventing big plays, despite facing high-powered offenses every week. Texas isn't going to let Cal run all over it, and if it quiets Allen, it wins.

3. Win the game by not losing it. Counterintuitive perhaps, but Texas did exactly this against Texas A&M and needs to do it again. Think Nebraska in 2009, to a lesser degree on both sides of the ball. It doesn't have an offense that can run with a lot of teams such as Cal and others across the Big 12. Texas' worst losses this year came to the Big 12's best offenses: Oklahoma State, Baylor and Oklahoma. Cal's not on that level, but Texas can't make mistakes like it made in those games to help Cal's offense. Texas' offense needs to stay conservative, take what the defense gives it and punt it as many times as necessary. Don't turn the ball over and don't allow big plays. Texas will get blown out if it does that.

Here's what I'm looking for in Saturday's first full slate of conference games.

1. Not what I'm eating. I suggest you do the same. Goodness. I love this weekend so, so much. I'll be at the fair on Friday and again on Saturday, and I will be consuming a whole lot of fried foods. It's all a part of one of the best weekends in college football, featuring two great teams and fans split at the 50-yard line cheering for either side. The Big 12 at its absolute best.

2. Texas' secondary vs. Oklahoma's passing game. Oklahoma will be chugging along at full strength with Landry Jones, Ryan Broyles, Kenny Stills, James Hanna, Trey Franks & Co. Texas' inexperienced corners will be charged with stopping them, and try to do it without safety Christian Scott, too. Can what may be the game's biggest underdogs make an impact?

3. The Aggies ... after halftime. Good grief, A&M. You know the story by now. Texas A&M lost 17- and 18-point leads to Oklahoma State and Arkansas, respectively. All of a sudden, a possible top-5 ranking has turned into hanging onto a spot in the top 25. Texas A&M is better than Texas Tech. Can it prove it for 60 minutes?

4. Texas Tech ... before halftime. Tech, meanwhile, can't crack the top 25 despite being undefeated. The biggest reason has been unimpressive starts against Texas State and Kansas, in which the Jayhawks led 20-0 in the first quarter and Texas State led 10-9 at half. The Red Raiders also needed a clutch late drive to beat Nevada, 35-34. Any questions about the Red Raiders' legitimacy would be gone if they knock off A&M.

5. Some fight from Kansas. Nobody thinks the Jayhawks, 32-point underdogs at Oklahoma State, have a shot in this one. It's the largest gap facing a major-college underdog this weekend, and Kansas is taking on one of college football's best offenses with arguably the worst defense. But KU's offense is vastly underrated with a solid running game and an improving Jordan Webb at quarterback. Can it make things interesting?

6. Collin Klein's health. The big man is getting beat up lately. Can the Kansas State quarterback keep rolling through defenses? Klein has carried the ball 91 times this season, more than any ballcarrier in the Big 12.

7. Missouri's balance. Tigers quarterback James Franklin has carried the ball 72 times, a hefty number itself. Do the Tigers try to test Kansas State's much-improved front seven or look to pick apart the secondary and/or stretch the field? The easy answer is whichever is most effective, but which will that be?

8. Bounceback Bears. Baylor's offense was less than impressive late against Kansas State, but we'll see if the Bears get back to their blazing ways after being shut out in the fourth quarter of the loss.

9. Iowa State's decison-making. Steele Jantz has thrown seven interceptions, more than any quarterback in the Big 12. The Cyclones are last nationally in turnover margin. They can't continue to win putting up numbers like that. Ask Texas' 2010 team.

10. Darrin Moore? Texas A&M's secondary has given up 948 passing yards in two weeks, helping two schools break school records. That probably ends this week, but Texas Tech's big target may return after injuring his knee and ankle earlier this season. He was on an unbelievable pace before going down, and if he's back and effective, Tech's chances of springing the upset get a huge boost.

Texas is easily the wildest card in the Big 12 deck this season, but how do you see the Longhorns faring in 2010?

The defense returns six starters, and is the strength of the team, despite losing Chykie Brown, Curtis Brown and Aaron Williams to the NFL. The team's safeties, Kenny Vaccaro, Christian Scott and Blake Gideon are solid, though Scott will be sidelined the first three games because of a suspension.

The front seven is loaded with potential, and the Longhorns have two of the best linebackers in the league, Keenan Robinson and Emmanuel Acho. Alex Okafor and Jackson Jeffcoat are exciting defensive ends offsetting Kheeston Randall, one of the league's best overall linemen.

Offensively, well, the Longhorns have a lot to prove. They're the only Big 12 team left that doesn't know its starting quarterback for the opening weekend. Eight starters from last year's offense return, but some of the team's biggest hype is coming from players new to campus.

Running back Malcolm Brown and receiver Jaxon Shipley showed up to campus this summer, but quarterback David Ash impressed coaches after enrolling early this spring.

The offensive line will have to be better, especially if any of those three will have success. Shipley should add some solid playmaking ability to a receiving corps depleted with the losses of Marquise Goodwin (Olympic track qualifying) and Malcolm Williams (personal issues), who won't be with the team this year. Mike Davis will likely be the team's go-to receiver, at least to start the season.

So how do the Longhorns stack up?

Lots of action across the Big 12 while we took a couple days off before the season. Here's a rundown to get you caught up:

Bears add former blue-chip recruit

Life didn't go as planned for Lache Seastrunk at Oregon. He was buried on the depth chart and became the hinge of a controversy between the program and Willie Lyles.

The Temple, Texas native has transferred and is getting a fresh start at Baylor, 40 miles from his hometown.

"I think Lache is back where he needs to be," Baylor coach Art Briles said, “on Texas soil at Baylor University where he will have the opportunity to get a quality education and play football at the highest level. We’re looking forward to him being a great teammate."

Seastrunk, a 5-foot-9, 188-pound shifty speedster, was ranked as the nation's No. 40 overall prospect in the 2010 class and the No. 6 running back.

Baylor's wide-open, zone-read system is somewhat similar to Oregon's (relatively speaking, on the scale of college football), but we'll see if the new start breeds big results for Seastrunk.

Rumors of Seastrunk's move swirled over the weekend, as did rumors that he would seek immediate eligibility from the NCAA. A Baylor spokesman could not confirm that Seastrunk was seeking clearance from the NCAA to play in 2011.

"I think I have strong, valid reasons why I'm coming home," Seastrunk told 1660 ESPN Radio in Central Texas on Tuesday, citing his need to be there for his grandmother and grandfather, who is battling emphysema.

Asked about his relationship with Will Lyles, Seastrunk said, "He didn't steer me to go to Oregon. It was all the decision on me and my family. We made the decision. I felt comfortable with it. He just gave me insight on a lot of schools and where to go. He didn't tell me where to go. ... I told him my top, he gave me all the goods and the bad about them and we deciphered through them."

New Cy-Hawk trophy gets trashed

The new Cy-Hawk trophy was unveiled at the Iowa State Fair on Friday.

Most everyone, yours truly included, hated it.

Tuesday, officials announced the trophy wouldn't make it to its official debut at the Iowa-Iowa State game on Sept. 10.

"The overwhelming feedback has been negative," Craig Floss, the CEO of the corn growers group, said. "Because we've listened ... people want something different than what was proposed last week. And we as Iowa corn growers and the farmers we represent, we want people to be happy."

An interim trophy will be used for this year's game before a new one is made for the 2012 game.

Fans will be able to suggest a design for its replacement. Good move, but ... an interim trophy? What's so bad about bringing back the original (a bad trophy, no doubt, but not awful) for one last go-around?

Texas Tech formally names Doege starter

It's been obvious for awhile, but Texas Tech officially handed the keys to the offense to junior quarterback Seth Doege. He distanced himself from Jacob Karam during the spring and solidified his spot during the fall.

"Seth Doege, right now, is going to be our starter,” Tuberville told reporters. "Everybody pretty much knows that. That could change, depending on how he practices.

"We pretty much figured he’d be the guy that gets the reins early. But I want to keep the pressure on him and give the other guys a chance to throw their hat in the ring."

Longhorns safety suspended three games

Texas starting safety Christian Scott has been suspended for the first three games of 2011 after being arrested on a misdemeanor assault charge earlier this month.

"We're disappointed any time one of our players makes a poor decision, and Christian understands he made a mistake," Texas coach Mack Brown said in a release. "He has taken responsibility, is accepting the consequences of his actions and has returned to the team. He will be working with the scout team until he is eligible to play."

Scott's suspension could hurt the Longhorns already inexperienced secondary early. BYU comes to Austin in Week 2.

Fiesta Bowl moving to earlier in the year

The Big 12 champion, barring a national title appearance, heads to the Fiesta Bowl each year.

This year, it'll be a bit earlier than previously planned. The Fiesta Bowl is moving from Jan. 5 to Jan. 2.

The Cotton Bowl will remain in its late, primetime spot on Jan. 6.

Top target for Cyclones suffers broken toe

Darius Reynolds turned heads this spring in hopes that his potential was finally becoming production. He might have to hold off a bit.

The 6-foot-2, 208-pound senior suffered a broken toe, and his status for the season opener against Northern Iowa is in doubt.

From the Ames Tribune:

"I should be running around by then,” Reynolds said. "If I am, I hope I’ll be playing."

Reynolds said he’ll be in a boot for about the next two weeks. If that time frame holds, the boot would come off days before the season opener.

Rhoads said they'll test what he can do in conditioning when the boot is off, but the Cyclones will need Reynolds badly for Week 2, when they host in-state rival Iowa.

Reynolds has the most potential in a receivings corps lacking a top talent. Reynolds caught 25 passes for 283 yards and two touchdowns last season, but the Cyclones were led by tight end Collin Franklin, who graduated after last season.

I ranked Iowa State's receivers ninth in the conference, but if they're going to climb up that list, they'll need Reynolds to be more than healthy. He'll need to be effective, too.

Kansas QB won't be practicing this fall

The legal issues surrounding Brock Berglund will keep him off the practice field this fall. Berglund is facing an assault charge back in his home state of Colorado.

"He will remain enrolled as a KU student, and plans to resume all team activities in the spring semester," coach Turner Gill announced on Tuesday.

Kansas announced that Jordan Webb will be the team's starting quarterback for the season opener, but Berglund was one of the top signees in the 2011 class. Berglund enrolled at KU in January, but returned home before the team began spring practice.

Sophomore running back DeShaun Sands was also removed from the team for a violation of team policies.

Sands was arrested on Saturday for failure to appear in court in June regarding a misdemeanor disturbing the peace charge in April.

The Pony Express Award is starting up this year, honoring the top on-field tandems in college football.

The award is named for the famed SMU backfield duo of Eric Dickerson and Craig James, now an ESPN analyst, and the award staff has released its watch list for the inaugural season.

Here's who cracked the list:

Oklahoma: CB Jamell Fleming, LB Travis Lewis, S Tony Jefferson

Baylor: QB Robert Griffin III, WR Josh Gordon, WR Kendall Wright

Oklahoma: QB Landry Jones, WR Ryan Broyles, WR Kenny Stills

Oklahoma State: QB Brandon Weeden, WR Justin Blackmon

Texas: LB Keenan Robinson, LB Emmanuel Acho, DT Kheeston Randall

Texas: S Christian Scott, S Blake Gideon

Texas A&M: QB Ryan Tannehill, RB Cyrus Gray, WR Jeff Fuller

I heard a rumor that A&M is scheduled to play an SEC West team in Dallas next season and for the next seven seasons. Contract signed. Big 12 notified ... in 2008! (Dramatic music)

• Mike Baldwin of The Oklahoman has a little more analysis on what the Travis Lewis loss means for Oklahoma. If you missed on the blog yesterday, here are both of my takes.
• Colleague Pat Forde has a look at quarterback battles, including the one at Texas. The key component: open communication.
• Brent Zwerneman of the Houston Chronicle has a notebook from Day 1 of fall camp in College Station, including a report that Texas A&M and other Big 12 administrators are "tired of Texas."
• I went on for a lengthy podcast with the guys at The Solid Verbal, where we went over my thoughts on about every team in the Big 12, and plenty more.
• Oklahoma offensive tackle Jarvis Jones is expected to return before the Red River Rivalry.
• Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill knows its an "extreme luxury" to have the kind of talent around him that he does, writes Jimmy Burch of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
• Andrew Wagaman of the Columbia Missourian looks into the decision of Missouri's quarterback mentor.
• Colleague Brian Bennett has a report from the NCAA's presidential retreat. It's more interesting than it sounds.
• Texas offensive lineman David Snow has figured out this fall that it's a lot easier to practice when you don't have mono.
• Life is a little easier for Texas Tech's out of state linemen, thanks to their living arrangements, writes Don Williams of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
• Oklahoma State has 48 uniform combinations, but who decides who wears what combo and when? Well, that's a complicated question, writes John Rohde of The Oklahoman.
• Baylor has put three walk-ons on scholarship, including Bryan Swindoll, whose photo I can guarantee will be the best thing you see today.
• Texas safety Christian Scott's arrest stemmed from a physical altercation with a female repossessor, reports Mark Rosner of the Austin American-Statesman.
• Texas' offensive line is trying to silence the critics, writes Randy Riggs of the Austin American-Stateman.
• The goal for Kansas is simple, at least in the short term: more speed, writes J. Brady McCollough of the Kansas City Star.
• Oklahoma two-time national champion quarterback Jimmy Harris has died. He was 76.
• What will Missouri do behind James Franklin at quarterback? They're trying to figure it out, writes Vahe Gregorian of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
• Another position change is in order for Kansas' running back turned defensive end turned outside linebacker, Toben Opurum.

Watch the Throne? Gross, guys.

• Kirk Bohls of the Austin American-Statesman says despite offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin's desire not to, Texas should play two quarterbacks for September and not a day longer.
• Here's your first in depth look at the new jerseys for Texas Tech. What do you think?
• Is Texas A&M's defense an elite unit? They think so, writes Jimmy Burch of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
• Mike Baldwin of The Oklahoman looks at Lane Johnson's unbelievable transition from QB to offensive tackle.
• Colleague Jeff Dooley takes a look at the possible landmines for top 25 teams Missouri and Texas.
• Texas senior safety Christian Scott has been suspended after an arrest on assault charges.
• Kansas running back Darrian Miller is looking pretty fantastic during fall camp for the Jayhawks. I'm excited to see this guy on the field.
• Texas A&M launched a new website. It looks pretty slick. I bet the SEC hooked them up with it. The Aggies' first practice of fall camp is tonight, and it's open to fans as usual under Mike Sherman.
• Former Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert is missing out on the customary rookie hazing in Jacksonville.
• Bob Stoops offered some insight about little-known names fans should watch out for in 2011.
• Missouri's offensive line is making sure to have some fun during a scorching fall camp, writes Harry Plumer of the Columbia Missourian.
• Texas has a former transfer back on the roster, linebacker Tariq Allen.
• A familiar name has shown up on the roster at Oklahoma State, writes John Helsley of The Oklahoman.
• Justin Tuggle is still holding out hope he can be Kansas State's starting quarterback, writes Kellis Robinett of the Kansas City Star.
• Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon knows who he's watching in 2011: His fellow receiver Hubert Anyiam.
• Kansas State's Emmanuel Lamur is enjoying his move from safety to linebacker, a move that defensive coordinator Chris Cosh hopes gets more speed closer to the line of scrimmage, writes Joel Jellison of the Manhattan Mercury.

We'll move on to the safeties today in our position rankings across the Big 12.

Here's what we've covered so far:

• Quarterbacks
• Running backs
• Receivers/tight ends
• Linebackers

The group of safeties across the Big 12 isn't fantastic, without any truly elite groups, but it's decent. There aren't any teams that look really hopeless at the position in the immediate future.

I haven't given it real close examination so far on the positions we haven't covered yet, but this is by far the closest gap between 1-10 of any position so far.

Here's how I ranked them. (Remember, I lumped in nickel backs with linebackers, so Ahmad Dixon and Tony Jefferson won't be found anywhere in this post.)

1. Oklahoma State -- The Cowboys have Markelle Martin, the Big 12's best overall safety who's a big talent but a much better hitter than he is a cover man. Johnny Thomas is solid and both safeties got a lot better as the 2010 season progressed. OSU's depth lands them here, though. Daytawion Lowe could start for a few Big 12 teams and is slightly better than A&M and Texas' reserves, the other two teams with the deepest group of safeties.

2. Texas -- Blake Gideon takes his share of criticism, a good deal of it fair, but there's a reason he's starting for Texas for a fourth season this fall. He knows what he's doing. Kenny Vaccaro will challenge OSU's Martin, among others, for the title of the Big 12's biggest hitter and Nolan Brewster and Christian Scott are strong reserves at the position. The Longhorns lose a lot at corner, but all the safeties are back from a defense that allowed just over 170 yards a game through the air in conference play last season.

3. Texas A&M -- The Aggies' Steven Terrell and Trent Hunter are solid, and Hunter is a big playmaker who made 62 stops and picked off two passes last year. Toney Hurd Jr. is the backup and was one of the most impressive freshmen in fall camp last year, joined by Steven Campbell in the rotation.

4. Kansas State -- Tysyn Hartman has loads of experience and is one of the Wildcats that Bill Snyder loves to rave about. Ty Zimmerman was one of the Big 12's best freshman last year, and picked off three passes. They should be solid again next year, and for as much criticism as K-State's defense faced last year, they were fifth in the Big 12 in pass defense. Logan Dold should be in the rotation, too.

5. Oklahoma -- Reserve Sam Proctor has starting experience, but Javon Harris and Aaron Colvin enter fall camp as starters. That says plenty about how Bob Stoops and Brent Venables feel about them. In a word: confident. Colvin has the most potential in the group, but the two starters will have to learn on the go. Proctor, a senior, should be able to help. James Haynes will also be in the rotation.

6. Missouri -- Jasper Simmons is gone, but Missouri's safeties might be a bit underrated in this spot. Kenji Jackson has loads of experience and should be solid, and Tavon Bolden and Matt White are a pair of promising sophomores who should compete at free safety. Kenronte Walker should be in the rotation, too.

7. Texas Tech -- Injuries were a problem last year for the Tech secondary, but Cody Davis and D.J. Johnson will hold down the traditional safety spots away from the line of scrimmage in new coordinator Chad Glasgow's 4-2-5. The unit gave up lots of big plays in 2010 (151 over 10 yards, 46 over 20, and 25 over 30, all the most in the Big 12), but I'd expect that number to drop under Glasgow if the secondary stays healthy. Davis is the team's leading returning tackler, with 87 stops. Brett Dewhurst and Giorgio Durham should be in the rotation.

8. Kansas -- Keeston Terry and Bradley McDougald give Kansas a lot of speed and athletic ability at the position, but both of the team's safeties from 2010 graduated and Terry and McDougald are short on experience. Lubbock Smith should add some solid depth to the position.

9. Iowa State -- Iowa State loses their top playmaker at the position, David Sims, but returns starter Ter'Ran Benton. He'll be helped out by some combination of Jacques Washington, Earl Brooks and Deon Broomfield once the season starts. Iowa State's biggest weakness is on the defensive line, so it's hard to get a good read on how good the safeties really are with such a poor pass rush up front.

10. Baylor -- This group might move up the list during the year under Phil Bennett, but the two best raw athletes (Ahmad Dixon, Prince Kent) at the position moved to nickel back and linebacker, respectively. The team's leading tackler, Byron Landor, graduated, and that left Mike Hicks as the other starter. He'll be helped out at safety by Sam Holl, Josh Wilson and K.J. Morton. Last year, the Bears ranked last in the Big 12 in pass defense in conference play, giving up over 300 yards a game. That'll have to change or Baylor won't get past seven wins.

Craig James and Eric Dickerson have created the Pony Express Award in hopes of honoring college football's best two- and three-man tandems "whose work ethic, desire, on- and off-field leadership and playmaking ability best fuel their team."

"Eric and I were able to complement each other on the field in such a way that together we formed a much more potent weapon than even our individual talents would have suggested," James said in a release. "We have remained life-long friends, and each season we have always had fun talking about the great tandems that were making an imprint on the game that season. We decided someone should recognize these great combinations, and that really became the genesis of the Pony Express Award."

Both offensive and defensive teammates can win the award. Alabama and Florida State, for example, have nominees on both sides of the ball.

Forty-eight tandems made the watch list, which included seven from the Big 12.

Here's who made it:

• Baylor: QB Robert Griffin III, WR Kendall Wright, WR Josh Gordon
• Oklahoma: QB Landry Jones, WR Ryan Broyles, WR Kenny Stills
• Oklahoma: LB Travis Lewis, LB Tom Wort, S Tony Jefferson
• Oklahoma State: QB Brandon Weeden, WR Justin Blackmon
• Texas: LB Keenan Robinson, LB Emmanuel Acho, DT Kheeston Randall
• Texas: S Christian Scott, S Blake Gideon
• Texas A&M: QB Ryan Tannehill, WR Jeff Fuller, RB Cyrus Gray

A few notes and thoughts:

• Texas was one of just two teams with two sets of nominees on the same side of the ball. North Carolina had two sets of defenders make the list.
• It's a pretty encompassing list in terms of the Big 12. The only addition I might have made would have been WR T.J. Moe and TE Michael Egnew at Missouri. Those two kept Missouri's offense humming last year.

You can size up Big 12 defenses any way you want, but here's how the Big 12 ranks in terms of experienced tacklers coming back in 2011.

1. Kansas State: The Wildcats bring back all five of their top tacklers, led by senior cornerback David Garrett, who made 92 tackles last year. Cornerback Terrance Sweeney is the only loss for the defense, which struggled last year, but will return eight of its top nine tacklers.

2. Texas: Five of the Longhorns six top tacklers return, led by a pair of linebackers among the best in the Big 12. Keenan Robinson and Emmanuel Acho combined for 187 tackles last year and should be the leaders of a Longhorns defense that lost defensive lineman Sam Acho, who turned in an All-American-caliber season as a senior in 2010. Blake Gideon, Kenny Vaccaro and Christian Scott give the Longhorns good experience at safety, too.

3. Iowa State: Linebacker Jake Knott is the Big 12's leading returning tackler after making 131 stops a year ago. The Cyclones return four of their top five tacklers, including junior linebacker A.J. Klein, who made 111 tackles of his own. Middle linebacker Matt Tau'fo'ou missed the second half of the season with a broken leg, but he'll be back on the field this year. Safety David Sims will be tough to replace.

4. Texas A&M: The Aggies return eight of 11 starters on defense, but two of the three losses (linebackers Michael Hodges and Von Miller) were among the top four tacklers. The other two starting linebackers, Garrick Willams and Sean Porter, will be counted on as more experienced backers this year.

5. Missouri: The Tigers lose two of their top three tacklers, but speedy linebacker Zaviar Gooden, who tied Andrew Gachkar for the team lead with 84 tackles, is back for a Missouri defense that should be one of the Big 12's best next year. Experienced safety Kenji Jackson, a senior who will enter his fourth year on the field as a major contributor, should be one of the team's leaders next year.

6. Oklahoma State: The Cowboys lose two of their three top tacklers, but bring back a pair of solid safeties in Markelle Martin and Johnny Thomas. Leading tackler Orie Lemon made 133 stops last year, and replacing his leadership might be harder than replacing his production on the field. Sophomore Shaun Lewis is the Big 12's reigning co-Defensive Freshman of the Year and looks poised for a huge encore at the Cowboys' "star" linebacker spot.

7. Oklahoma: Three of Oklahoma's top five tacklers, including both starting safeties, are gone. It could have been worse, but linebacker Travis Lewis decided to stick around for his senior season and chase a national title. All-Big 12 corner Jamell Fleming was fourth on the team in tackles, and currently isn't enrolled. Coach Bob Stoops has been cryptic about Fleming's status in the future, and it's hard to tell if he'll be back or not after a reported academic misconduct incident.

8. Texas Tech: Injuries forced that Red Raiders to play a lot of young talent too early last year, but three of their top six tacklers won't be back in 2011. Linebackers Bront Bird (106 tackles) and Brian Duncan are the most notable absences, along with defensive tackle Colby Whitlock. Sam Fehoko and Blake Dees should anchor the middle of the defense this year, and the secondary has lots of quality young talent returning. Cody Davis, Tre Porter, D.J. Johnson and Jarvis Phillips are all back.

9. Kansas: Steven Johnson, the team's leading tackler last season, returns after making 95 stops last year, but Kansas loses all four of its next top tacklers. That includes linebacker Justin Springer, but my guess? Huldon Tharp, who missed all of last season with a foot injury, will lead the Jayhawks in stops this year.

10. Baylor: The Bears take the biggest hit in the Big 12 when it comes to returning tacklers. The team's top five in stops last season were all seniors. Six of the top seven are gone, and senior linebacker Elliot Coffey is the leading returner. He made 61 tackles last year, and missed three games with a sprained ankle.

ESPN the Magazine had a fascinating feature looking back at the past 25 No. 1 high school recruits, where they are now and what the ranking meant to them. With apologies to Vince Young, there aren't a ton of Big 12 talents on the list, but there have been plenty of great recruits to come through the Big 12. We took a look on Thursday at how the All-Big 12 team stacked up as recruits, and you saw quite a mixed bag.

Well, it's the same for the recruits who came to campus with high rankings and high profiles. Going back to 2006, here's how every Big 12 commit from the ESPNU 150 turned out. We'll eventually get to 2010 and the current class, 2011, around signing day, but here's how the 2007 class breaks down.

• Big 12 commits in the 2006 ESPNU 150

2007

No. 21: Tray Allen, OT, Texas. Forced to redshirt 2010 season after breaking a bone in his foot. Appeared in 31 games over first three seasons. Should be healthy for senior season in 2011.

No. 24: Christian Scott, S, Texas. Became a starter in 2010, starting eight games and playing in nine for the Longhorns. Made 54 tackles and had an interception. Forced to sit out 2009 season due to academic eligibility issues

No. 29: Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State. Caught 147 passes for 2,425 yards and 29 touchdowns in just over two seasons. Named All-American in 2008. Sat out final nine games of 2009 season because of NCAA suspension. Taken No. 24 overall in the 2010 NFL draft by the Dallas Cowboys.

No. 39: Austin Box, LB, Oklahoma. Battled knee and back injuries, but has been a periodic starter and consistent contributor for the Sooners. Has 106 tackles in three seasons.

No. 41: John Chiles, WR, Texas. Played quarterback in 2007 and 2008 before switching to receiver. Finished career with 65 catches for 752 yards and four touchdowns.

No. 42: Richetti Jones, DE, Oklahoma State. Emerged as one of the Cowboys' top reserves in 2010, when he notched 34 tackles, seven tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. Will be a senior in 2010.

No. 65: Keenan Robinson, LB, Texas. Started 24 games at outside linebacker in the last two seasons. Should be one of the Longhorns' defensive leaders in 2011 after making 194 tackles (110 solo), 4.5 sacks and 15 tackles for loss in his career. Earned All-Big 12 honorable mention in 2009.

No. 71: Ryan Miller, OT, Colorado. Became a starter at tackle as a freshman, and became one of the Big 12's best offensive guards in 2009 and 2010 after missing most of the 2008 season with a broken fibula and being granted a medical hardship. He switched from tackle to guard after the injury and has twice earned All-Big 12 honorable mention.

No. 79: Ben Wells, CB, Texas. Had 12 tackles and a sack in 24 games before transferring from Texas last April.

No. 91: Derrick Stephens, LB, Texas A&M. Redshirted in 2007, but doctors forced him to quit football because of multiple concussions.

No. 97: Curtis Brown, CB, Texas. Became a starter late in 2008, finishing his career with 28 starts. Earned All-Big 12 honors in 2009 and 2010. Finished his career with 120 tackles, 32 passes broken up and a pair of interceptions.

No. 102: Malcolm Williams, S, Texas. Moved to receiver. Has 78 receptions for 1,118 yards and six scores in three seasons and 38 games.

No. 104: Conrad Obi, DE, Colorado. Moved to defensive tackle as a sophomore in 2009. Has four career tackles and played just 23 snaps in 2009, but blocked a field goal against Oklahoma State.

No. 109: Michael Keck, DE, Missouri. Quit team after one game in September of 2008, eventually transferring to Missouri State.

No. 114: Sam Acho, DE, Texas. Won Academic Heisman in 2010. Two-time All-Big 12 performer after becoming starter in 2009 and was an All-American selection in 2010. In 50 career games, finished with 148 tackles, 23.5 sacks (10th on UT's career list) and 37 tackles for loss. Projects as middle round pick in 2011 NFL draft.

No. 123: Bradley Stephens, RB, Texas A&M. Aggies reserve running back. Has 328 yards and a touchdown on 74 carries in three seasons.

No. 125: Michael Huey, OG, Texas. Started 20 games over four seasons, missed the final four games of 2010 with a knee injury. Earned All-Big 12 honorable mention in 2009.

No. 126: Kyle Hix, OT, Texas. Moved to left tackle as a senior, but started 39 games in his four-year career, earning All-Big 12 honorable mention in 2009.

No. 136: Cody Johnson, RB, Texas. Featured as a goal-line back with 30 career touchdowns. Will enter his senior season in 2011 with 1,265 career yards on 297 carries.

No. 142: Michael Ebbitt, DE, Texas A&M. Redshirted in 2007, but has seen very little playing time in three seasons.

Ryan Broyles hadn't had a chance to scan the résumés of his competition on Saturday. Three Texas defensive backs made the preseason watch list for the Thorpe Award, and all three should have futures in the NFL.

"Hopefully, one day I’ll be playing on Sunday, too," said the Oklahoma receiver, a member of the Biletnikoff Award watch list himself, with a laugh. "I’m looking forward to this challenge and so is this team."

Want to watch a high-stakes matchup in Saturday's Red River Rivalry? Keep an eye on Broyles as he navigates the Texas secondary, featuring three award listers at corner in Aaron Williams, Curtis Brown and Chykie Brown, alongside safeties Christian Scott and Blake Gideon.

"Our coach calls plays and you’ve got to make plays, it doesn’t matter who you’re going against or our team’s going against," Broyles said. "You’ve just got to go out there and compete."

They'll be plenty of competition there against a Texas secondary hungry to make big plays. After intercepting a national high of 25 passes a year ago, it has just three through four games this season. Texas coach Mack Brown chalks that up, in part, to not playing any teams with the explicit goal of throwing against the Longhorns. The one team that tried, Texas Tech, left with 158 yards on 36 attempts with two interceptions. For their lack of interceptions, the Longhorns have given up just three passing touchdowns. Only 10 teams in college football have allowed fewer.

"They’ve done really well," Brown said. "We still have to get our hands on the ball more."

Texas may get plenty of chances on Saturday against Oklahoma, who has thrown the ball at least 36 times in every outing this season. Rest assured, plenty of those will come Broyles' way. He's got at least nine catches in every game this season and he leads the nation in receptions with 41.

"He does such a great job after he catches the ball. He can get open, he’ll catch it, but he’s a guy that can beat you when he gets the ball in his hands," Brown said. "All you can do is try to keep the ball out of his hands because when he gets it, he’s real good."

How to do that is something few have figured out. Broyles has topped 100 yards in each of his past seven games.

"You try to change it up, obviously. But if I knew [how] on Monday, I wouldn’t tell you," Brown said.

Meanwhile, Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops is busy making sure limiting Broyles doesn't mean beating Oklahoma. Broyles played Texas last year two weeks after suffering a hairline fracture in his shoulder blade and wasn't 100 percent. He still managed to catch a short pass, make a defender miss and race into the end zone for a go-ahead touchdown in the second half of Oklahoma's 16-13 loss.

He'll be at full strength this week, but quarterback Landry Jones obviously won't be looking his way every play.

"It isn’t just Ryan. You’re not going to get it done with one guy," Stoops said, complimenting the early play of his other receivers, Cameron Kenney and freshman Kenny Stills, among others. "If each of them makes 2-3 plays, it’s harder to focus on just one guy and we plan to spread it around and use them all."

Let's be clear about this: Would I bet on any of these things? Maybe some of them. Definitely not all of them.

But there are limbs that need to be stepped out onto. I'm here to oblige. Let's swing for the fences on some predictions for 2010, and maybe have some fun on the way out of the ballpark. (Metaphors!)

1. Oklahoma and Texas will play in another BCS bowl. Nebraska will be relegated to the Cotton Bowl. Whoever doesn't win the South will still have at least 10 wins and be ranked in the top 10. Nebraska won't be able to reach a BCS bowl without beating Oklahoma or Texas in Dallas. The second-place South team will slide in over the Big 12 runner-up Huskers.

2. Texas will throw the ball 35 times against Oklahoma. The Longhorns' commitment to the running game may make it past Texas Tech. It should make it past UCLA. It won't make it past the first quarter against Oklahoma's stout front seven. Texas may recommit to the downhill game in the weeks that follow, but running the ball 35 times at 2.5 yards per carry is a recipe for a Red River loss.

3. Baylor will make -- and win -- a bowl game. The schedule sets up nicely for the Bears to reach a bowl game without needing a massive upset. A 3-1 record in nonconference is very possible, but they'll have to beat Kansas and Colorado to set up a make-or-break game against Kansas State on Oct. 23. Lose that, and they'll need a win in Stillwater or a home upset against Texas A&M to notch their sixth win. Bears fans will flock to the Dallas Football Classic at the Cotton Bowl, where Michigan's Rich Rodriguez offers Robert Griffin a spot on his team after the Bears knock off the Wolverines. Griffin declines.

4. Missouri's Aldon Smith will lead the league in sacks. The scariest part? He'll keep getting better into 2011.

5. Daniel Thomas will win his second Big 12 rushing title in two years. Alexander Robinson has to face four teams with fearsome front fours. Roy Helu Jr. will split carries with Rex Burkhead. The same at Texas A&M. Kendall Hunter will be busy catching balls as much as he's carrying them. And I'll believe DeMarco Murray can handle a 275-carry load when I see it.

6. Kansas will finish as the Big 12's most improved team in November. They won't win either game, but they'll put a major, major scare into Nebraska or Missouri in one of the season's last three weeks.

7. Texas will lead the league in scoring defense, outdoing Oklahoma and Nebraska. They'll need big years out of defensive tackle Kheeston Randall and safety Christian Scott to do it. Both will deliver.

8. Brandon Weeden will lead the league in completion percentage. He'll be comfortable enough after three warmup games in Stillwater to start the season as the league's second-leading passer behind Jerrod Johnson through three weeks. His yardage and touchdowns will slip a bit as conference play hits, but he'll make smart decisions and give his receivers plenty of YAC opportunities.

9. Iowa State will be better than Kansas and Colorado. They will have a worse record overall and in conference. The schedule will get the best of the Cyclones in 2010. Jerome Tiller should be ready to fill in after Austen Arnaud in 2011, and with Paul Rhoads, the future looks bright in Ames.

10. Texas Tech will be in the top third of the league in turnover differential. They will be in the bottom third in scoring defense. How will that manifest itself in the win column? I have no idea. That's why we play the games, folks.

Look for a separate post this afternoon rounding up the Ames, Iowa flood coverage.

• The Denver Post's Tom Kensler pegs a few freshmen Buffaloes who have caught his eye during camp.
• Dave Matter of the Columbia Tribune makes a bold prediction: T.J. Moe will lead Missouri in receptions, despite logging just two as a freshman in 2009.
• Texas defensive end Sam Acho shared a letter to Longhorns fans on Texas' website after his experience with President Barack Obama on Monday in Austin.
• Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables says Ronnell Lewis is the most violent hitter he's ever coached at Oklahoma, reports Jeff Latzke of the Associated Press.
• ESPN Dallas has video of Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville's appearance on the Scott Van Pelt Show from Wednesday.
• Colorado's unorthodox treatment of players with minor injuries is back, reports Kyle Ringo of the Boulder Daily Camera. No sheds involved, though.
• Open practice back up to the media and public, Tommy Tuberville, writes Courtney Linehan of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
• The shift to catching more passes has been an easy one for Oklahoma State running back Kendall Hunter in the Cowboys new offense, reports John Helsley of The Oklahoman.
• Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds says Texas spent more money on facilities, therefore they should get more conference revenue, reports John Henderson of the Denver Post.
• Bryce Brown plans on reporting to classes at Kansas State on Aug. 23, whether or not he has his release from Tennessee, but the NCAA also wants to talk to him about Lane Kiffin, reports colleague Joe Schad.
• Texas safety Christian Scott, a possible new starter, made a little noise early in Texas' open practice on Wednesday night, reports Randy Riggs of the Austin American-Statesman.
• Turner Gill is trying to clear up the running back logjam on his depth chart, writes Matt Tait of the Lawrence Journal-World.
• Baylor is emphasizing the pass rush this year, writes John Werner of the Waco Tribune-Herald.