ESPN College Football

Time for a collection of fun facts, courtesy of the Big 12 Conference heading into eight Big 12 bowl games this postseason.

• The Big 12 has five Heisman winners since its inception in 1996, the most of any conference over that span.
• Every Big 12 team has gone to a bowl since 2008.
• Since that year, seven Big 12 teams have won bowl games.
• The Big 12 and SEC are the only conferences with 10 or more teams in which every team's played in a bowl game over the last four seasons.
• In 2012, the Big 12 will have three conference champions and seven teams ranked in the final regular season BCS rankings.
• A Big 12 player has won the Lou Groza Award as the nation's top kicker in the past two consecutive seasons. (Randy Bullock, Texas A&M; Dan Bailey, Oklahoma State)
• The Big 12 set an attendance record with an average of over 63,000 fans for each home game.
• Every Big 12 team leads its series against its bowl opponent this year, if the teams had previously met.
• Baylor leads its series against Washington, 3-1.
• Oklahoma leads its series against Iowa, 1-0.
• Kansas State leads its series against Arkansas, 3-1.
• Missouri leads its series against North Carolina, 2-0.
• Texas leads its series against Cal, 4-0.
• Iowa State and Rutgers have never met. This year will be Iowa State's 11th bowl game in school history. It's gone to the postseason twice in three years under Paul Rhoads.
• Northwestern and Texas A&M have never met.
• Oklahoma State and Stanford have never met.
• Baylor is 7-8 all-time in bowl games.
• When holding teams under 24 points, Iowa State is 15-1.
• Kansas State took home Newcomer of the Year (Arthur Brown), Coach of the Year (Bill Snyder) and Offensive Freshman of the Year (Tyler Lockett). The three awards are the most in school history.
• Missouri has 2,835 yards rushing and 2,834 yards passing. The Tigers are one of only two teams in the country to average at least 235 yards per game both through the air and on the ground.
• Oklahoma and Iowa have one common opponent: Iowa State. The Sooners won, 26-6, in Norman. Iowa lost in triple overtime in Ames, 44-41.
• Texas has played in 49 bowl games, which ranks second in the FBS.

Thanks for all the questions during the week of media days. It was a busy one, helped by you guys. Short day today, so have a great weekend.

Robert in Salt Lake City: With Scott being aggressive, and implying there is future expansion, on the horizon for the PAC-12, any chance that A&M takes our disgruntled selves and goes there instead of the SEC? Could the original PAC-16 notion from last summer come to pass without Texas?

David Ubben: It's possible, I suppose. Obviously, the SEC is a good fit, and on their end, I'm sure would love to have the Aggies as an addition. However, Mike Slive has kept pretty quiet and you never know what they'll do. If not, I could see the Pac-16 being an option. That said, I still feel pretty confident that this latest dustup in the Big 12 is mostly just a speed bump and once it's settled, the Big 12 will remain at 10 teams for quite awhile, well through the next TV contract. Fans aside, I think each school's decision-makers did their due diligence last summer to really decide what conference suited its university's needs best. The 10 teams all came to the conclusion that it was the Big 12. Not that much has changed.

And, for the 500th time on this blog, my mailbag tells me I need to reiterate that my employment is not contingent on the existence of the Big 12.

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Connor in Beaumont, Texas, asked: Ok, here's the dealio. Of course everyone knows about the Longhorn fiasco from last season. I figured i would ask an unbiased expert about a possible theory I have created. Could their offensive lack of production be attributed fully on the offensive line? After the failure of the "Power run-game offense for which they spent most of the pre-season and spring preparing, they seemed to abandon that and revisit the spread which did not function either. Is this a plausible or even a likely cause?

DU: Well, that's hardly a stretch for a theory. Honestly, I think it's the biggest reason. Texas doesn't have skill position guys that make you say "Wow!", but the Longhorns have some athletes. When Garrett Gilbert has had time, he's looked OK. The running backs aren't great, but they got no help last season. I really do believe the O-line was the biggest problem for the offense last year, with Gilbert's decision-making a very close second.

So, to your theory, I'm buying. It's amazing how much better an offense can look behind a good offensive line. If Stacy Searels gets those guys going this year, guys like Gilbert, Fozzy Whittaker and Mike Davis are going to look a whole lot better.

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William in De La Playa, Calif., asked: Hi David, One of the most impressive things about DeMarco Murray was his ability to catch swing passes in the flats, and gain tough inside yardage behind an offensive line whose ability to drive block was mediocre. From what you've seen, is there anyone among OU's new crop of backs that has good enough hands to keep the swing pass option viable for next season?

DU: We haven't gotten a chance to see a lot of the young backs at Oklahoma, but my understanding is the best guy in OU's backfield for that part of the job was Brennan Clay. His injury last seaon against Florida State happened on a swing pass. If I'm guessing, I bet Clay leads the team in receptions among running backs.

With Oklahoma though, get ready to see that Diamond, or "Backs" formation plenty next season. The same is true at Oklahoma State. They have so many running backs that can contribute, you've got to find a way to get them on the field. That's a great way to handle them along with fullback Trey Millard. Stoops loves Millard and he should become a quiet star in this league, if only because of the position he plays. He was one of the league's most impressive freshmen last season.

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Brandon in Austin, Texas asked: I'm hoping to see Jackson Jeffcoat make the top 25 players list. Doesn't necessarily have the stats to compare to some of the other DL players that will make it (only a sophomore and the ankle injury last season), but his freak athleticism and superior technique made him a powerful weapon last season. Despite Okafor's dominating performance in the spring game, I think Jeffcoat improves on his early season performance from last year and becomes the next big sack machine for Texas.

DU: Well, I'll go ahead and burst your bubble on this one. Jeffcoat's not making it. That said, he may have a great shot at making the postseason list. I loved what he did early in the 2010 season, especially against Texas Tech, but you can't put him on the list when you look at his entire freshman year.

That said, he's got some of the best raw skills of any pass rusher in the league. I wouldn't be surprised at all if he competed with Brad Madison for the league lead in sacks, and even cracked the All-Big 12 first-team by the season's end. I'm not really sold on Ronnell Lewis as a reliable defensive end on that team, and there's really not a lot of great pass rushers in the Big 12 this season.

The door's wide open for Jeffcoat to become a star opposite Alex Okafor for the Longhorns. He's got it all. Great size, great speed, great technique, he's smart and every indication from their staff is he's extremely coachable. It helps having a dad like Jim Jeffcoat, a 15-year pro with Dallas and San Francisco who now coaches the defensive line at San Jose State.

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Nicholas in Houston asked: Why wasn't Dan Bailey on your March postseason Big 12's best 25 list?

DU: Don't let a Nebraska fan hear you. When Alex Henery wasn't being awesome at punting and kicking 80-yard field goals, he was saving the lives of countless small children across the world.

The uproar about Bailey winning the Groza Award over all-everything Henery aside, my policy is I don't put special teams players on my top 25. I understand their profound impact on games, but I simply don't believe they're on the field for enough plays to be designated as one of the top 25 players in the league. Sorry. Not all of us bloggers agree, but nobody's changing my mind on that.

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Husker Nation in Everywhere asked: Dave, is it too early to say we told you so?

DU: Yes.

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Zachary Krider in Leonard, Texas, asked: What teams do you see getting upset early on and what games?

DU: All the top teams in the Big 12 better show up in these games against good teams very capable of beating them. Obviously, the Oklahoma-Florida State game will get a lot of attention, but a bad outing for Oklahoma State against Arizona could quickly turn into a loss.

The same is true for Texas A&M against SMU in its opener. And Missouri surely grasps the difficulty of its trip to Tempe to play Arizona State in a Friday night game. Every single one of those games could be an upset and derail big seasons before they even get rolling into October.

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James C in College Station asked: Better nickname, C-Mike the Motorbike or Cyrus the Virus?

DU: I gotta go with C-Mike, if only for its versatility. You've got C-Mike the Motorbike, but want the long version? Well, obviously, there's C-Michael the Motorcycle. Can't beat that. Best backs in Beebe's Dozen, right?

It's a different year this time around. Most of the guys on this list would already be signed to a team -- albeit with brief contracts -- and ready to work toward a future in the NFL.

But this year, if you're not already aware, NFL teams had to turn out the lights after the draft reached its completion on Saturday evening. Players drafted can't have contact with their new teams, and teams aren't allowed to make offseason moves.

That means no signing of undrafted rookies, creating uncertain futures for these guys. Undrafted guys have plenty of value -- for example, last year's leading rusher among rookies, LeGarrette Blount of Oregon, went undrafted -- and here are a few guys looking for their shot in the future once the lockout ends. (It'll end eventually, right?)

Here are the Big 12 players that were productive in college and would be in camps, but thanks to the lockout, now have their futures on hold.

Tim Barnes, C, Missouri

Barnes was the first-team All-Big 12 center in 2010, but extended a streak of four consecutive Missouri centers to earn that honor and go undrafted. Barnes had more athleticism than his predecessors, but it wasn't enough to get drafted. You won't find a much more knowledgeable center, but a lot of that knowledge might not transfer well to the next level.

Kevin Rutland, CB, Missouri

Rutland was one of the Tigers' team captains last season, but his overall position skills weren't on the level of the cornerbacks drafted ahead of him.

David Sims, S, Iowa State

Sims has great speed at 204 pounds, but his 5-foot-9 frame isn't ideal for a safety. His past didn't help him, either. He enrolled at Oklahoma originally, but didn't qualify and went to junior college. After winning Big 12 Newcomer of the Year in 2009, he was suspended for the season opener in 2010 and stripped of team captain status after racking up charges on a Des Moines woman's debit card.

Orie Lemon, LB, Oklahoma State

Lemon was what you'd want in a linebacker mentally and physically when he was healthy, but his torn ACL last season hurt his draft stock. He's a big hitter, too, but at 242 pounds, NFL teams didn't love his speed.

Dan Bailey, K, Oklahoma State

Simply put, kickers don't get drafted too often. Bailey, who won the Lou Groza Award last season as the nation's best kicker, should get his shot at some point.

Colby Whitlock, DT, Texas Tech

Whitlock has great size at more than 300 pounds, but his lack of speed concerned NFL teams, who also weren't in love with his pass-rushing ability or overall athletic ability. I've been a fan of Whitlock's technique during his time in Lubbock, but measurables are more apt to get you selected.

Jerrod Johnson, QB, Texas A&M

Not a snub, per se, as it was pretty obvious that Johnson struggled in the events leading up to the draft, especially at the Senior Bowl. But Johnson likely would find a shot somewhere, and it's still shocking to see a player with Johnson's resume go undrafted. Coach Mike Sherman knows the kind of football mind Johnson has, though, and can sell his NFL connections on it. There's no question he'll end up in a camp once the option is available.

Author's note: This is post No. 7,000 on the Big 12 blog. Thanks to all of you who helped make the first 6,999 happen.

The Oklahoma state Senate honored Oklahoma State's national award winners on Tuesday.

Coach Mike Gundy won a pair of national coaching awards, Justin Blackmon was the Biletnikoff Award winner as the nation's best receiver and Dan Bailey won the Lou Groza Award, given to the nation's best kicker.

Together, they helped Oklahoma State finish 11-2, the most wins in school history.

The senate also approved three resolutions to honor the Cowboys on their accomplishments.

"We’re very proud of everything this team accomplished on the field this season,” Sen. Jim Halligan, R-Stillwater, said in a release. "More importantly, we’re grateful for the way they admirably represented their state and University. We’re honored to welcome Coach Gundy and these two exceptional student-athletes to the Senate Chamber."

Blackmon also won the Big 12 Offensive player of the year and his 111 receptions, 1,782 yards and 20 touchdowns were all school records. Dan Bailey's 27 field goals were also a school record.

"These guys have gained national recognition, but they are good people and what they have accomplished both on and off the field is very neat," Gundy said in a statement. "We’re very excited about Oklahoma State football and it was a privilege for us to be (at the State House). We’re proud to be at Oklahoma State and we’re proud to be Oklahomans."

He later added: "I want to congratulate them on their well-deserved postseason honors. I’m particularly pleased Justin Blackmon has chosen to return to OSU next year to further his education and lead the Cowboys to another great season."

Here's what you missed over the weekend:

Sooners down another DB

Oklahoma announced safety Marcus Trice would be transferring, which usually wouldn't cause much of a ripple considering Trice played primarily special teams and didn't crack the depth chart last season, eventually being moved to receiver.

But as a freshman, Trice worked as a backup safety and looked ready to become a major contributor again as a sophomore. He didn't, and rumors swirled that he turned in defensive backs coach Willie Martinez for asking in a voicemail for an explanation of why Trice missed a voluntary workout, which is a secondary violation of NCAA rules. The violation forced Oklahoma to sit out a week during this offseason.

Reached by the Tulsa World, however, Trice denied the rumors.

"It wasn't me," Trice told the paper, "but I don't and won't throw anyone else under the bus."

He cited a desire for playing time, something that didn't look like it was coming any time soon at Oklahoma, a school Trice said he grew up dreaming of playing for.

A source at Oklahoma also told the paper that Trice wasn't in bad graces with the coaches. Oklahoma won't be hurt much by his departure, with Javon Harris, Sam Proctor or perhaps nickel back Tony Jefferson looking well prepared to take over for the Sooners' departed safeties, Quinton Carter and Jonathan Nelson. But it's certainly an interesting case, more so than a routine transfer.

The Sooners did get some good news, however.

Receiver Dejuan Miller's career picked up steam with strong outings in wins over Cincinnati (3 rec., 66 yards) and Texas (5 rec., 61 yards) before a knee injury ended his season. He's been cleared for action this spring, but won't compete in contact drills or play full speed.

Oklahoma's receiving corps already has two outstanding options in Biletnikoff Award finalist Ryan Broyles and sophomore Kenny Stills, who broke Broyles' freshman receiving record with 786 yards last year. Trey Franks came on late, as did tight end James Hanna and the Sooners signed a top receiver in Trey Metoyer in their 2011 class, but Miller returning to form could make them even deeper.

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Two Cyclones arrested

Iowa State defensive end Jacob Lattimer and reserve tight end Ricky Howard were arrested over the weekend and suspended indefinitely.

Lattimer, 22, faces charges of assault on a peace officer and interference with official acts. Howard, 20, is suspected of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

Lattimer moved from linebacker to defensive end last season and appeared in all 12 games, making 6.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. He also forced two fumbles.

Howard did not play last season.

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Cowboys get punter back

Oklahoma State had to play without Ray Guy semifinalist and All-Big 12 punter Quinn Sharp in the Alamo Bowl. The game carried on without incident thanks to a solid performance from Lou Groza Award winner Dan Bailey's fill-in duties as kickoff specialist and punter, but the Cowboys won't have to worry about any hiccups in 2011.

The academic issues surrounding Sharp have been cleared up, and he's been reinstated to the team, taking part in offseason conditioning and preparing for spring practice, which begins today in Stillwater.

Barring any further changes, he should be ready to go for the season this fall. That's great news for a team with legitimate Big 12 title aspirations. You never miss specialists like Sharp until something goes horribly wrong. The Cowboys won't have to worry about that moving forward. Sharp will also compete this spring to replace his replacement in the bowl game, Bailey, as the Cowboys' placekicker.

The NFL Scouting Combine kicks off Wednesday, and when it concludes next week, draft boards from media and NFL teams alike could look very different.

Physical tests won't begin until Thursday, but the first round of players will arrive Wednesday and take part in various preparatory tests before the real sizing up begins.

A week from now, stocks will be up. Others will be down.

Here are the players from the Big 12 slated to take part, in case you missed it the first time around:

Oklahoma State -- 5

• Dan Bailey, K
• Ugo Chinasa, DE
• Kendall Hunter, RB
• Orie Lemon, LB
• Andrew McGee, CB

Texas -- 5

• Sam Acho, DE
• Chykie Brown, CB
• Curtis Brown, CB
• Kyle Hix, OL
• Aaron Williams, CB

Oklahoma -- 4

• Jeremy Beal, DE
• Quinton Carter, S
• DeMarco Murray, RB
• Adrian Taylor, DT

Missouri -- 3

• Blaine Gabbert, QB
• Kevin Rutland, CB
• Aldon Smith, DE

Baylor -- 2

• Phil Taylor, DT
• Danny Watkins, OT

Texas A&M -- 2

• Jerrod Johnson, QB
• Von Miller, LB

Iowa State -- 1

• David Sims, S

Kansas State -- 1

• Daniel Thomas, RB

Texas Tech -- 1

• Colby Whitlock, DT

Springtime is almost here. And here's a look at what to expect across the Big 12 when it gets into full swing here in the next couple weeks.

BAYLOR BEARS

Spring practice starts: February 28

Spring game: April 2

What to watch:

• Big changes on defense. Baylor brought in Phil Bennett as its new defensive coordinator, and he says his scheme will be multiple, built to fit the Bears' personnel. Considering the Bears' recent recruiting successes in the secondary, look for a 4-2-5 type of look.
• Recruiting stars: time to shine. Both safeties, Tim Atchison and Byron Landor, are gone. Baylor, though, has two former ESPNU 150 recruits at safety who would be well served to start filling their potential. Prince Kent was a reserve last season and at one time, the nation's No. 51 overall recruit who originally signed with Miami. Ahmad Dixon, meanwhile, was the No. 15 overall prospect in the 2010 class. The opportunity is there. Baylor needs big talent at the position. Briles has recruited it. Can they develop into players who make Baylor a contender?
• Running back competition. Jay Finley topped 1,200 yards in 2010, but he's gone. Who steps into his void? Terrance Ganaway is a bowling ball at 5-foot-11, 235 pounds, but the shifty Jarred Salubi could get a good amount of carries, too. They could begin to share carries this spring.

IOWA STATE CYCLONES

Spring practice starts: March 22

Spring game: April 16

What to watch:

• Quarterback competition. It should be a good one in Ames this spring. Jerome Tiller is the name most recognize after getting lots of meaningful time and starts because of injuries to Austen Arnaud over the past two seasons. But juco transfer Steele Jantz sounds confident he can win the job. Rising sophomore James Capello and redshirt freshman Jared Barnett will compete, too.
• Paging Cyclone receivers. Iowa State had one of the most underwhelming receiving corps in the league during the past season, and three of its top five pass-catchers won't return in 2011. Of those three, however, one is a tight end (Collin Franklin) and another is a running back (Alexander Robinson). The new quarterback will need some help, and Darius Darks and Darius Reynolds will need to provide it as seniors.
• Shontrelle's time or not? Freshman Shontrelle Johnson looked like the running back with the most pop behind Robinson for most of 2010, but two other freshmen running backs jockeyed for carries, too. Paul Rhoads is hardly handing the job over to Johnson, but spring could be the time when he really separates himself from the pack.

KANSAS JAYHAWKS

Spring practice starts: April 1

Spring game: April 30

What to watch:

• What are they doing behind center? Kansas never got much consistent play out of the quarterback position last year, but freshman Brock Berglund is one of the 2011 class' top recruits, and enrolled early to compete in the spring with Jordan Webb and Quinn Mecham. With a building program like Kansas, there's perhaps some value in handing the program to a younger player like Webb or Berglund, but they'll have to earn it. Doing so will start in the spring, but don't expect the Jayhawks to have a set-in-stone starter by spring's end.
• Top linebacker back on the field. Huldon Tharp missed all of 2010 with a foot injury, but he says he's 100 percent and ready to get back on the field. As a freshman in 2009, he was fifth on the team in tackles, with 59, and looked like one of the league's possible budding stars. Now, he'll get his chance to join fellow linebacker Steven Johnson as one of the team's top tacklers, and he'll do it as a sophomore after redshirting in 2010.
• Toben rising? Turner Gill raised plenty of eyebrows when he moved his team's leading rusher in 2009, Toben Opurum, to linebacker in fall camp, and eventually slid him up to defensive end. But toward the end of 2010, Opurum started showing some major signs of growth at the position. We'll get a better idea this spring if he's one of the league's most unlikely new stars at defensive end.

KANSAS STATE WILDCATS

Spring practice starts: April 6

Spring game: April 30

What to watch:

• Prodigal Kansan sons come home. There's no doubt that the Wichita native Brown brothers are the main attraction at Kansas State this spring, a season after transferring back home. Bryce Brown, the running back, was the nation's No. 8 prospect in the 2009 class. Arthur Brown, the linebacker, was the nation's No. 6 prospect in the 2008 class. Bryce transferred from Tennessee and Arthur from Miami. The Wildcats are pinning much of their hopes on the duo, and we'll get a good sense of what they can provide soon.
• Quarterback competition. Carson Coffman is gone, and two new faces will challenge for the job: juco transfer Justin Tuggle and Daniel Sams. Sammuel Lamur is also up for the gig. Collin Klein may or may not be; Bill Snyder hasn't explicitly confirmed a past comment from Sams saying Klein had moved to receiver. Don't expect a starter to be named by spring's end, but a general order could start to form.
• Can the defense show improvement? Kansas State had the Big 12's worst overall defense last year, and the worst rushing defense in college football, giving up 3,008 yards on the ground. Coordinator Chris Cosh looks like he'll still be around in 2011, and defensive backs David Garrett and Tysyn Hartman are solid pieces to try and build around. But this young maturing defense must get better to make a bowl game again with so many questions on offense. That starts in the spring.

MISSOURI TIGERS

Spring practice starts: March 8

Spring game: April 16

What to watch:

• Franklin comes alive! Blaine Gabbert bolted to the NFL early, and Missouri has a gaping hole a quarterback. The position, however, is surrounded by a lot of quality talent that likely makes the Tigers a Top 25 team. There's no understating the importance of the position for the Tigers, and that will begin to be decided in the spring. James Franklin, a rising sophomore, saw spot duty in 2010 as more of a runner, and may have the inside track on the job, but Tyler Gabbert, Blaine's younger brother, and Ashton Glaser should make it an interesting competition in the spring. If neither of them impress early, don't count out incoming freshman Corbin Berkstresser.
• Here is the new secondary. Same as the old secondary? After years of pass defense being one of the Tigers' biggest weaknesses, it became a strength in 2010 behind the leadership of senior corners Kevin Rutland and Carl Gettis. But the Tigers lose them and safety Jarrell Harrison. Rutland emerged as one of the team's most impressive players last spring, but was Missouri's success in the secondary a one-time thing or the beginning of a welcome trend?
• Time to dominate the trenches? Missouri played without likely first-round pick Aldon Smith for much of the previous season, but the defensive and offensive lines for the Tigers were as good as ever in 2010. How will they look in 2011? Impact juco transfer Sheldon Richardson won't be enrolled by the spring, but the four returning starters on the offensive line should get some solid work against Brad Madison, Jacquies Smith and Terrell Resonno.

OKLAHOMA SOONERS

Spring practice starts: March 21

Spring game: April 16

What to watch:

• Freshmen on display. Coach Bob Stoops hasn't been shy about saying his 2010 recruiting class was his best ever, but it could look even better after this spring. Two of his best emerging recruits, Justin McCay and Geneo Grissom, didn't even play in 2010, and could start to make an impact. The same goes for Corey Nelson, who will try to earn some more time somewhere backing up star Travis Lewis.
• Is there a golden boot in Norman? Jimmy Stevens was much more accurate in 2010, finishing 19-for-23, but his attempts outside 45 yards were sparse. The good news is he missed none of his 53 extra points. Field goals have been a bit of an adventure for the past couple years, but continuing in the spring what he started last year would be a good sign for Oklahoma. The Sooners are strong everywhere and need good special teams play to reach their lofty title goals.
• Are the Sooners' backs back? Roy Finch missed the Fiesta Bowl with a stress fracture, and his durability is certainly questionable entering 2011. When he's healthy, he looks like the next star in the Sooners' backfield, but they'll need some depth behind the 5-foot-8, 173-pounder. Jermie Calhoun, Jonathan Miller and Brennan Clay have all looked good at times, but there should be some good competition from newcomers Brandon Wegher, an Iowa transfer who'll be in camp this spring and eligible next season, and blue-chip recruit Brandon Williams, who enrolled early.

OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS

Spring practice starts: March 7

Spring game: April 16

What to watch:

• Every piece of the offense. The spring in Stillwater is all about keeping or improving upon the status quo. Had it kept Dana Holgorsen, there'd be little doubt that would happen, but Oklahoma State must make the most of its five returning offensive linemen, quarterback Brandon Weeden and receiver Justin Blackmon. The opportunity for a historic season is there, but they'll have to pick up the nuances of the new offense quickly in the spring like they did last year.
• What about the kicker? Dan Bailey won the Lou Groza Award as the nation's top kicker in 2010, but he's gone. Oklahoma State needs to fill that role quickly, and we'll likely know who will get the nod after the spring.
• Who steps up on the defensive line? The Cowboys lose three starters up front on defense, including All-Big 12 performer Ugo Chinasa and tackles Chris Donaldson and Shane Jarka. Can senior Richetti Jones become a star in the Big 12? We'll have a good idea if he, or any of the Cowboys' other defensive linemen, can by the end of April.

TEXAS LONGHORNS

Spring practice starts: February 24

Spring game: April 3

What to watch:

• New coaches and their students/players. Texas has five new coaches. Although it's hard to get a good read early on, how they relate with the players on the field, in the film room and around the facilities will have a big impact on how the 2011 season plays out in Austin. The young-blooded coordinators could serve themselves well by relating to players and the players will need to spend plenty of extra time learning new schemes and plays.
• Quarterback competition ... or not? Mack Brown says the gig is open and it is, for now. Garrett Gilbert can close it with a strong spring. If Garrett struggles on the field or has difficulty grasping the new system, the door will be wide open for Connor Wood or Case McCoy to step in and close it. Gilbert didn't get much help, but he did very little in 2010 to inspire a lot of breathing room with McCoy and Wood clamoring for playing time.
• And you've got to defend the pass, too. Texas loses its top three cornerbacks to the NFL, and only Carrington Byndom and A.J. White got much meaningful playing time last season. Younger players can earn some rare early playing time with a strong spring. Will anyone step up?

TEXAS A&M AGGIES

Spring practice starts: March 22

Spring game: April 16

What to watch:

• New linebackers in the running. Spring isn't so scary when you bring back nine defensive starters, but the two Texas A&M lost were the heart of its defense. Linebackers Michael Hodges and Von Miller are gone. Kyle Mangan didn't look fantastic when forced into action during the Cotton Bowl, but the time is now for Damontre Moore and Dominique Patterson, a pair of sophomores, to make their impact.
• Tannehill's tuning things up. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill played about as well as anyone could have hoped late last season, but he'll need it to continue his performance with a solid spring nailing down the timing with his receivers, who all return. He's already got a leg up on last year's quarterback, Jerrod Johnson, who was held out of team drills last spring after shoulder surgery that eventually derailed his senior season.
• Christine's back. Christine Michael missed the second half of the season with a broken leg, giving way to Cyrus Gray's rise among Big 12 backs. It should make Texas A&M's depth at the position even more impressive, but we'll see how Michael looks coming back from the injury.

TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS

Spring practice starts: February 19

Spring game: March 26

What to watch:

• Past defending that pass defense. Texas Tech had the Big 12's worst pass defense last season, but has a pair of big potential players at cornerback in rising sophomores Tre Porter and Jarvis Phillips. Starters LaRon Moore and Franklin Mitchem are gone, but if returning starters Cody Davis and Will Ford can continue to mature, the defense should improve in the area most important for success in the Big 12.
• And they're off! There's a four-man quarterback derby set in Lubbock this spring between Seth Doege, Jacob Karam, Michael Brewer and Scotty Young. I don't expect it to be settled until midway through fall camp, similar to last season, but there should be a solid front-runner and more clarity after spring. Coach Tommy Tuberville was extremely impressed with Doege and Karam last spring after Taylor Potts and Steven Sheffield went down with injuries.
• Time to find new stars. Most of the big names on Texas Tech's defense are gone. Colby Whitlock, Bront Bird, Brian Duncan will all continue their careers elsewhere. The leaders on the defense will have to begin to emerge in the spring. Is it Scott Smith? Cody Davis? A younger, unexpected player? We'll find out. Sometimes these types of situations aren't as easy to predict as they might seem, like Missouri's strength in 2010 emerging in the secondary.

The NFL released its list of invitations to the scouting combine late this month, and plenty of Big 12 players should be taking part.

Here's who got invitations:

• Sam Acho, DE, Texas
• Pierre Allen, DE, Nebraska
• Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
• Dan Bailey, K, Oklahoma State
• Jeremy Beal, DE, Oklahoma
• Chykie Brown, CB, Texas
• Curtis Brown, CB, Texas
• Jalil Brown, CB, Colorado (I hadn't realized it until just now. Were there really three NFL-caliber players in the Big 12 with the same last name at the same position in 2010? Seems so. And none of them are related. Odds, anyone?)
• Quinton Carter, S, Oklahoma
• Ugo Chinasa, DE, Oklahoma State
• Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
• DeJon Gomes, DB, Nebraska
• Eric Hagg, DB, Nebraska
• Roy Helu Jr., RB, Nebraska
• Alex Henery, K, Nebraska
• Ricky Henry, OL, Nebraska
• Kyle Hix, OL, Texas
• Kendall Hunter, RB, Oklahoma State
• Jerrod Johnson, QB, Texas A&M
• Orie Lemon, LB, Oklahoma State
• Andrew McGee, CB, Oklahoma State
• Von Miller, LB, Texas A&M
• DeMarco Murray, RB, Oklahoma
• Niles Paul, WR, Nebraska
• Kevin Rutland, CB, Missouri
• David Sims, S, Iowa State
• Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado
• Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri
• Nate Solder, OT, Colorado
• Adrian Taylor, DT, Oklahoma
• Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor
• Daniel Thomas, RB, Kansas State
• Danny Watkins, OT, Baylor
• Colby Whitlock, DT, Texas Tech
• Aaron Williams, CB, Texas
• Keith Williams, OL, Nebraska

That's a pretty solid (and lengthy) list. Add it up, and it's 36 players from 11 of 12 Big 12 schools, excluding Kansas. It's a little surprising that Missouri center Tim Barnes wasn't on the list. It's possible it was a mistake, but the first-team All-Big 12er and Rimington Trophy watch lister was named as one of the top centers in the draft last spring by Mel Kiper. Barnes had also earned some favorable reviews at the NFLPA Bowl this week.

It was good to see Aggies quarterback Jerrod Johnson get a shot to show scouts if he's regained any more strength in his arm, too.

Here's how it ranks by team, as well.

1. Nebraska - 9
2. Oklahoma State - 5
2. Texas - 5
4. Oklahoma - 4
5. Colorado - 3
5. Missouri - 3
7. Baylor - 2
7. Texas A&M - 2
9. Iowa State - 1
9. Kansas State - 1
9. Texas Tech - 1

We saw plenty of talents rise up and become stars in 2010, so here's a nod to the ones who made the most improvement. The criteria: Players must have played in some capacity during the 2009 season, and ones returning from injury (Sorry, Kendall Hunter and Robert Griffin III) weren't eligible.

1. Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State. Blackmon caught 20 passes as a freshman in 2009, but with a new offense and a new guy to run it in 2010, the sophomore saw an opportunity. He ramped up his training, and finished the season with 111 receptions for 1,782 yards and 20 touchdowns. He was also the first player in college football history with 100 yards and a touchdown in 12 consecutive games.

2. Seriously, Blackmon deserves a gap between himself and the rest of the league. He went from a guy almost nobody outside Stillwater had ever heard of to the best player in the league in one season. The list of guys who have done that is extremely short.

3. T.J. Moe, WR, Missouri. Moe played through a broken foot as a freshman in 2009, but caught just two passes -- both against Furman -- for eight yards. In 2010, he became one of the toughest covers in the nation, racking up 92 receptions for 1,045 yards and six scores.

4. Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska. Dennard only became a starter late in the 2009 season, but throughout 2010, became the Big 12's next-best shutdown corner, right behind his teammate, Prince Amukamara. He finished with four interceptions and 11 passes defended, and was my pick for the second All-Big 12 first-team corner.

5. Cyrus Gray, RB, Texas A&M. Gray made perhaps his biggest leap midway through the season, but he had a strong case as the conference's best running back in conference play after teammate Christine Michael went down with a broken leg. He finished the year with seven 100-yard games and had 938 yards in that stretch alone, more than his 757 yards in 2009 and his 195 yards in the season's first six games.

6. Byron Landor, S, Baylor. Landor started just three games in 2009, and made 46 tackles, but became one of the league's best safeties as a senior. He earned a reputation as perhaps the hardest hitter in the league and made 127 tackles, fourth-most in the Big 12.

Honorable mention: Jamell Fleming, CB, Oklahoma; Michael Egnew, TE, Missouri; Dan Bailey, K, Oklahoma State; Kevin Rutland, CB, Missouri; Ryan Swope, WR, Texas A&M

We ran down the most bizarre plays of the year earlier this week. We've already tabbed the best in-game atmospheres, the best moments and best games of the year.

But what about the individual plays that shaped the Big 12 season in 2010? Some of these plays are on here because they were simply unbelievable. Others were great plays in big spots, lending it greater significance within a season. They're all very different, but with one thing in common: We won't forget them any time soon, especially the outstanding top few.

1. Brodrick Brown to Shaun Lewis. This one will go down in college football history. Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones thought he'd lobbed a ball safely out of bounds on the right sideline against Oklahoma State. Brown skied for the discarded football, tapped it back inbounds to a waiting teammate, linebacker Shaun Lewis, who returned his second interception of the game 15 yards into Oklahoma territory.

2. Landry Jones' two long TDs in Bedlam. There's no point in separating the two passes. Each was equally big and equally needed for the Sooners. Both came with two-point leads. The Sooners were backed up into a 3rd-and-12 at their own 14-yard line with a rabid Boone Pickens Stadium crowd feeling good about the game's momentum and their chances at a South title. But Jones connected with Cameron Kenney over the middle, who slipped behind the defense for an 86-yard touchdown. Oklahoma State returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown, but Jones countered with another 76-yard touchdown over the top, down the left sideline to James Hanna to all but ice the game with under three minutes to play and give the Sooners a division title.

3. The Moe Miracle. Missouri's season looked headed for an early disaster, trailing San Diego State 24-20 with under a minute to play and 68 yards to go for a win. Tigers receiver T.J. Moe caught a short pass, made two Aztec defenders comically collide, and raced the rest of the way into the end zone for a season-saving touchdown that helped propel the Tigers to a 7-0 start.

4. Aggies build a wall on the goal line. The Sooners got inside Texas A&M's 5-yard line three times -- twice to the 1-yard line and twice in the fourth quarter -- and left without points. Considering the Aggies won by 14, there's no understating the importance of each stop. Really, this is 12 plays, but they were 12 that changed the season and validated the Aggies second-half surge with the first of two top 10 wins. Kyle Field was rocking, and the defense left the field to "Wrecking Crew" chants for the first time in a long while.

5. Gahn McGaffie turns Faurot Field into a madhouse. Columbia, Mo., was buzzing for one of the biggest games of the Gary Pinkel era. No. 1 Oklahoma was in town, it was homecoming, and a record crowd of 18,000 showed up to ESPN's pregame show, "College GameDay." A sold-out crowd showed up to Memorial Stadium and perhaps believed it could beat Oklahoma for the first time under Gary Pinkel, but a little help would be nice to let the fans really believe. The first time the ball was in play, McGaffie provided that help. McGaffie returned the opening kick 86 yards for a touchdown, helping turn the crowd into one of the best of the year, and spurring the Tigers to a 36-27 win over Oklahoma on a night the city of Columbia won't forget any time soon.

Honorable mention: Oklahoma State kicker Dan Bailey boots a 40-yard field goal to beat Texas A&M at the buzzer; Eric Hagg returns a pooch punt 95 yards for a touchdown in the final minutes against Texas; Josh Gordon catches a short pass and takes it 94 yards for a touchdown against Kansas; DeMarco Murray tiptoes along the sideline before front-flipping into the end zone for a 20-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown against Texas.

We saw plenty of great moments and great games across the Big 12 in 2010.

We also saw a lot of weird moments.

So with a nod to the guys at Monday Night Football, here are the five biggest plays of 2010 that made everybody give a hearty, "C'mon, man!"

1. Needed: Onside kick practice. Texas Tech's players were standing and staring, which is rarely a good idea on the football field, but usually acceptable in kick coverage. Not this time. The Red Raiders tried an onside kick, but it didn't travel the necessary 10 yards for a Texas Tech recovery. So, while three Red Raiders hovered over the ball, Baylor's Terrance Ganaway picked it up and outran the Red Raiders for a 38-yard touchdown. That was bad (and rare) enough, but Texas Tech gave up a touchdown on a desperation onside kick against Iowa State a week earlier, too. Jeremy Reeves caught it and returned it 42 yards to ice the 52-38 win. Here's hoping Tech puts in a few more onside kick reps this spring, and a YouTube video titled "Texas Tech onside kick goes horribly wrong" doesn't rack up almost 4.5 million views again in 2011.

2. Victory formation isn't supposed to go like that. Oklahoma State looked ready to trot off the field as 41-38 winners over Troy in their second game of the year. Cowboys quarterback Brandon Weeden lined up in the victory formation, but fumbled the snap, unbelievably giving the ball back to Troy on their 34-yard line with just under a minute to play. Lucky for Weeden, his teammate, Justin Gent, sacked quarterback Corey Robinson on the next play, and Orie Lemon recovered Robinson's fumble to end any notion of what could have been one of the most embarrassing losses in recent history. In Weeden's defense, he was playing with a ruptured tendon in his thumb, which meant pain during any snap under center, but it'd be tough to find a worse time to fumble a snap than in that situation.

3. Creative losing will key a coaching search. Listen, I respect my man Herm Edwards when he rather emphatically states that coaches and players should "Play to win the game." But when you're up 45-17 in the fourth quarter and you've got a running back in Rodney Stewart who ended up with 175 yards on the day, there's no other way to put it: Run. The. Ball. Dan Hawkins' puzzling refusal kept the clock stopped more than it should have been, and the Buffaloes did plenty more turning it over late in the game than moving the ball. Somehow, Colorado turned that 28-point lead into a seven-point deficit with less than a minute to play. "We just didn't want to be one-dimensional," Hawkins said. What? His explanation didn't cut it, and because of the meltdown, Hawkins never coached another game for the Buffs.

4. Throw it to Mom in the stands, man. Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert shredded a soft Iowa zone defense for 434 yards in the Insight Bowl, and the Tigers looked in complete control with a 24-20 lead and a drive that had reached Iowa territory. With less than six minutes to play, Gabbert was flushed to his left and tried to throw across his body to receiver Wes Kemp. Iowa's Micah Hyde picked off the ill-advised pass, reversed field and returned it 72 yards for a game-winning pick six. Gabbert admitted after the game that he got "greedy," but the probable first-round pick would probably throw that ball away 90-plus times out of 100 if he had it to do over again.

5. Filling up the stat sheet: Not always good. Texas A&M quarterback Jerrod Johnson rallied his team from a 35-21 fourth-quarter deficit on the road against Oklahoma State, and got the ball back on his own 29-yard line for a possible game-winning drive with just more than a minute to play. He'd already thrown three interceptions -- along with 400 yards and five touchdowns -- but his fourth pick of the game cost the Aggies. He overthrew a well-covered receiver, and Cowboys linebacker Shaun Lewis made an easy interception, returning the ball 28 yards back to the Aggies' 40-yard line. Oklahoma State won the game shortly after on a 40-yard field goal from Dan Bailey. If Texas A&M wins that game, they also win the Big 12 South outright.

Honorable mention: Iowa State reserve punter Daniel Kuehl's attempted pass against Nebraska on the Cyclones' fake extra point in overtime for the win.

To those six, I think we can all say: C'mon, man.

The season's over, but our wrap-up isn't. We'll take a look back at some of the memorable moments, best plays and best games of the 2010 season, among other things, so we'll kick this off with the best games of 2010.

1. Sept. 30: Oklahoma State 38, Texas A&M 35. This Thursday nighter was the Big 12's only game-winning field goal of the year in conference play, and had a much bigger impact on the Big 12 South race than perhaps anyone thought when it was over. Both teams ended up tying for the Big 12 South title alongside Oklahoma, but the Aggies could have won it outright if they'd pulled the upset in Stillwater. The Aggies dominated the first half, leading 21-7, but the Cowboys' offense rallied behind Kendall Hunter in the second half for the comeback win. Jerrod Johnson filled up the stat sheet with 409 yards on 40-of-62 passing. He had five touchdowns passes and four memorable interceptions. The final one sailed over his target into Shaun Lewis' hands to set up Dan Bailey's game-winner.

2. Nov. 20: Texas A&M 9, Nebraska 6. An awful roughing the passer penalty on a Courtney Osborne hit on Ryan Tannehill that extended the eventual game-winning drive left a bad taste in Huskers fans' mouths, but A&M fans will likely choose to remember it for a dominant defensive performance and a workhorse night for Cyrus Gray to give the Aggies a second signature win of the season after beating Oklahoma two weeks earlier. Taylor Martinez left early with an injury, returning a call to his concerned father from the locker room, and Bo Pelini's accosting of his freshman quarterback when he returned was one of the lasting images from a game that didn't feature a touchdown. The penalty discrepancy (16-2 in favor of Texas A&M) got plenty of attention, but that doesn't tell the whole story.

3. Nov. 27: Oklahoma 47, Oklahoma State 41. No. 2 on the list didn't have a touchdown? This one had four in a 92-second span in the game's final five minutes. No other fourth quarter could compete with this game, which decided the Big 12 South. It also featured my pick for the play of the year, which, shockingly for this track meet, was a defensive play. Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones threw three first-half interceptions, including one returned for a score, but bounced back for a career-high 468 yards that helped the Sooners win their eighth South title since 2000.

4. Nov. 6: Nebraska 31, Iowa State 30 (OT). Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads tried his hand at the call of the year, but his fake extra point in overtime failed when punter Daniel Kuehl's pass floated in the wind and was intercepted by Nebraska's Eric Hagg. The win kept Nebraska on track for a Big 12 North title, and it did it without Martinez, who missed the game with an ankle injury. Iowa State rallied from a 24-10 deficit entering the fourth quarter, but the gutsy call in overtime didn't pay off for the Cyclones, who would have gone bowling if they'd won the game.

5. Dec. 4: Oklahoma 23, Nebraska 20. The nostalgia faded early. Nebraska was the early aggressor and looked ready to bury Oklahoma. The Huskers sprinted to a 17-0 lead and the task of climbing out of that hole away from home against the best secondary in college football was a gigantic one. Jones and the Sooners answered the call. The sophomore quarterback racked up an astonishing 342 passing yards and helped Oklahoma win its seventh Big 12 title in the last decade.

Honorable mention: Kansas 52, Colorado 45; Colorado 44, Kansas State 36; Oklahoma 28, Texas 20; Texas Tech 45, Baylor 38.

We've spent the week wrapping up the bowls, and now that it's Friday, here's our Big 12 bowl team comprised of players who got it done individually in their bowl games.

Plenty of guys got snubbed, particularly at receiver (Sorry, Lyle Leong, Cameron Kenney and Kendall Wright!), but without further ado, here it is.

OFFENSE

QB: Landry Jones, Oklahoma

Jones shook off an early pick-six and threw for three touchdowns and 429 yards on 34-of-49 passing in Oklahoma's 48-20 win over Connecticut in the Fiesta Bowl. It was his second consecutive 400-yard passing game in a bowl.

RB: Daniel Thomas, Kansas State

Thomas scored three touchdowns against Syracuse, and finished with 90 yards on 22 carries in the Wildcats 36-34 loss to the Orange in the Pinstripe Bowl.

RB: Eric Stephens, Texas Tech

Stephens ran for a season-high 126 yards on 14 carries and caught five passes. His 86-yard touchdown run helped push Texas Tech to a 45-38 win over Northwestern in the TicketCity Bowl.

WR: Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma

Broyles caught 13 passes for 170 yards--his second consecutive bowl game with 13 receptions--and had a highlight-reel catch for his lone touchdown on his final catch of the night.

WR: Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State

Blackmon opened the game with a 71-yard touchdown catch on the Cowboys opening drive, and finished with nine catches for 117 yards and a second touchdown in OSU's 36-10 win over Arizona in the Alamo Bowl.

WR: T.J. Moe, Missouri

Moe helped quarterback Blaine Gabbert top 400 yards against a porous Iowa zone defense, finishing with a 15 catches for 152 yards, both career highs.

OL: Zach Kendall, Kansas State

Kendall helped pave the way for Kansas State's offense, which threw for 258 yards and ran for 121 more against Syracuse.

OL: Tim Barnes, Missouri

Barnes was solid as usual, getting Gabbert in rhythm with solid snaps and giving the quarterback plenty of time to throw for a season-high 434 yards.

OL: Eric Mensik, Oklahoma

Oklahoma rolled up 524 yards of offense in the Fiesta Bowl, and Mensik was one of the big guys up front who helped it happen.

OL: Lonnie Edwards, Texas Tech

Texas Tech ran the ball with uncharacteristic effectiveness, especially late in the game with a lead, and Edwards gets the nod for helping the Red Raiders run for 183 yards and throw for 369 more.

OL: Elvis Fisher, Missouri

Fisher completely eliminated Iowa defensive end Adrian Clayborn from the game, and because of it, the Tigers offense rolled for 512 yards against the Hawkeyes.

DEFENSE

DL: Phil Taylor, Baylor

Taylor made 10 tackles in the middle of Baylor's defense responsible for slowing down Illinois' rushing offense.

DL: Jeremy Beal, Oklahoma

Beal plugged up holes for Connecticut's Jordan Todman, who averaged under a yard per carry at halftime, and finished with six tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass breakup.

DL: Jared Crick, Nebraska

Crick made seven tackles--all solo--for the Huskers in their 19-7 loss to Washington in the Holiday Bowl.

DL: Richetti Jones, Oklahoma State

Jones made five tackles, including 1.5 sacks and two tackles for loss, against Arizona's Air Raid passing attack.

LB: Von Miller, Texas A&M

Miller made nine tackles, a sack and three tackles for loss against LSU in the Aggies' 41-24 loss in the Cotton Bowl.

LB: Travis Lewis, Oklahoma

Lewis was responsible for slowing Todman, and finished with 10 tackles--all solo--and a pair of pass breakups to lead the team.

LB: Orie Lemon, Oklahoma State

Lemon led the Cowboys with 14 tackles against Arizona.

CB: Jamell Fleming, Oklahoma

Fleming made seven tackles and had a tackle for loss, but made a huge play when he intercepted a pass and returned it 55 yards for a score against the Huskies in the Fiesta Bowl.

CB: Kevin Rutland, Missouri

Rutland helped slow Iowa's passing attack led by Ricky Stanzi, making seven tackles, breaking up a pair of passes and returning an interception 25 yards.

S: Byron Landor, Baylor

Landor led the Bears with 12 tackles, and had a sack and another assist on a tackle for loss.

S: Markelle Martin, Oklahoma State

Martin made just four stops, but swung the game on his 62-yard interception for a score, and broke up a pair of passes in the win over Arizona.

SPECIALISTS

P: Matt Grabner, Missouri

Grabner helped Missouri win the field position battle with a pair of punts inside the 20-yard line, a 55-yard punt and a Big 12 bowl-best average of 42 yards on his four punts.

K: Dan Bailey, Oklahoma State

Bailey made three field goals longer than 40 yards, and was flawless on his five punts after being forced into duty by a suspension.

KR: Coryell Judie, Texas A&M

Judie broke the Big 12's longest kick return on the opening kickoff of the Cotton Bowl, breaking a 69-yarder to set up a game-oepning touchdown and finished with 197 yards on seven returns.

PR: Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma

Broyles returned five punts for 92 yards, and had the longest return of the Big 12 bowl season, a 57-yarder against the Huskies.

The Big 12 bowl season is over, and we weighed in on what was an overall disappointment on Wednesday. There were plenty of good moments to come with the bad, though.

Here's the best and worst of the Big 12 bowls after the 2010 season:

Best player: Ryan Broyles, WR, Oklahoma. Broyles caught 13 passes for the second consecutive bowl game, racked up 170 yards and scored a touchdown in Oklahoma's 48-20 win over Connecticut in the Fiesta Bowl.

Best team performance: Oklahoma. The Sooners shut down Connecticut running back Jordan Todman early in the game and poured it on with plenty of offense late in the game. With their win over Connecticut, the Sooners also ended a five-game BCS bowl game skid.

Best offensive play: Broyles. Up 34-20 and on Connecticut's six-yard line midway through the fourth quarter, Broyle's caught a high pass from Landry Jones on the right side of the end zone. He jumped out of bounds to make the catch, but unbelievably reached a foot back and tapped the red paint in Oklahoma's end zone for the score on his final catch of the night.

Best defensive play: Coryell Judie, DB, Texas A&M. On LSU's opening drive, Tigers quarterback Jordan Jefferson tried to loft a ball down the right sideline for a score, but Judie flew up from a zone underneath the receiver and snagged an interception with one hand to keep the Tigers off the board early.

Worst play: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri. The Tigers looked in complete control late in the fourth quarter, driving deep in Iowa territory with a 24-20 lead. Gabbert rolled to his left, and tried to loft a pass across his body to receiver Wes Kemp. He under threw it, Iowa's Micah Hyde intercepted it and returned the pick 72 yards for the final score, 27-24.

Worst team performance: Nebraska. Few gave Washington a chance after Taylor Martinez and the Huskers stomped the Huskies in Seattle 56-21 in September. The Huskies entered as two-touchdown underdogs, and outdid the Huskers in about every way possible, running the ball well and throwing the ball efficiently with Jake Locker.

Most harmless salute: Adrian Hilburn, WR, Kansas State. With his team trailing by eight in the final minutes of the Pinstripe Bowl, Hilburn caught a short pass and took it 30 yards into the end zone, setting up a possible game-tying two-point conversion. But after the score, he flashed a salute to some Kansas State fans in the stands. An official told Hilburn "Wrong choice, buddy." and tossed a flag that cost the Wildcats 15 yards. Carson Coffman's long pass for the conversion fell incomplete and K-State lost.

Second-most harmless salute: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State. Blackmon gave one to Philadelphia Eagles' receiver/punt returner DeSean Jackson. After toasting an Arizona defender for an easy 71-yard score, Blackmon cut across the goal line, delaying his touchdown that opened the game's scoring. He wasn't flagged, but he did catch a cheap shot from a Wildcats defender later in the game, presumably for the premature celebration.

Best unsung hero: Dan Bailey, K/P, Oklahoma State. Bailey was forced into punting duty because Quinn Sharp was academically ineligible. All five of his punts were solid, and he pinned one inside the 20-yard line. He also hit all three of his field goals, two of which came from beyond 40 yards and another that was from 50.

Best out-of-nowhere performance: Hilburn. The senior receiver had a career-high 84 yards with his 30-yard score. His five catches were the most receptions he's had in a game in all but one match during his two-year stint as a Wildcat. His salute got plenty of attention, but it overshadowed a game in which he was K-State's leading receiver and made one of the biggest plays of their season.

Biggest fade into Bolivian: Lavonte David, LB, Nebraska. David finished the Big 12 season with four double-digit tackle performances in five games to lead the league by 19 stops. But against a Washington team bent on running the ball, he made just seven stops, and one for a loss. Those seven tackles were the fewest David made since he notched five against Washington earlier this season.

Worst break: Michael Hodges, LB, Texas A&M. The Aggies senior linebacker, leader and leading tackler was playing his last game after earning his spot the previous year as a former walk-on. But with a 10-0 lead, Hodges sprained an ACL and couldn't return. After his injury, A&M was outscored 41-14.

Best atmosphere: Cotton Bowl. Two of the country's best fan bases made themselves known, packing Cowboys Stadium and staying loud for most of the game. Texas A&M and LSU sold out the game just days after the matchup was announced, and brought their excitement to JerryWorld.

If you get rich off of this stuff, take care of my family. I don’t want my kids to have to go to college.

• Iowa State fans surely have mixed feeling about tonight's national championship, but Sean Keeler of the Des Moines Register says it's time to let former coach Gene Chizik's forgettable tenure in Ames go.
• Chuck Carlton of the Dallas Morning News gives a behind the scenes look at Texas' pair of coordinator hires last week.
• Nebraska should be prepared to battle for Bo Pelini. It could happen in the coming days or weeks, writes Steve Sipple of the Lincoln Journal Star.
• The uncertainty at Texas hasn't affected the Longhorns' 2011 recruiting class, writes Cedric Golden of the Austin American-Statesman.
• Texas A&M and LSU's matchup in the Cotton Bowl was FOX's most-watched Friday night program in over a year.
• Oklahoma State kicker Dan Bailey closed his Lou Groza Award-winning season in a big way, writes Brandon Chatmon of The Oklahoman.
• Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops says he has an idea about who'll fill his open assistant spot, reports Jake Trotter of The Oklahoman.
• Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot at a Tucson supermarket over the weekend, has a brother who used to be a kicker for Iowa State, and beat Iowa with a last-second field goal in 1980, reports Emily Price of KCCI in Des Moines.
• The return of Ryan Broyles and Travis Lewis could cause some problems for the Sooners when it comes to scholarships, reports John Hoover of the Tulsa World.
• Richard Croome of the Bryan-College Station Eagle says the SEC proved it's dominance over the Big 12 again in Friday's Cotton Bowl.
• A Kansas State freshman quarterback may be transferring.