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How else would they get their 10th win?

Kansas State's been all about on-field drama this season, and in the season finale, provided even more.

John Hubert stiffarmed a defender into the turf and stumbled into the end zone for a 26-yard score that provided the 30-23 final margin with 3:29 to play.

Iowa State back Jeff Woody fumbled in Kansas State territory on a fourth-and-2 with just more than a minute to play to give the Wildcats another dramatic victory.

Iowa State had four fourth-quarter comebacks of their own, but was denied a fifth.

For Kansas State, it got its first big win of the season via a last-second goal-line stand against Miami. That followed a win over Eastern Kentucky that required a late touchdown after trailing in the fourth quarter.

A late interception off Robert Griffin III and a third-down conversion against Missouri sealed wins over Baylor and the Tigers.

K-State erased a second-half deficit against Texas Tech and beat Texas A&M in four overtimes. A late Texas rally was stuffed by the Wildcats, who declared themselves "Texas State Champions" after beating the Longhorns for a sixth time in eight tries since Texas joined the Big 8 to form the Big 12.

Now, a Wildcats team picked to finish better than just two Big 12 teams is better than all but two, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.

If Oklahoma wins on Saturday night, the 10-2 Wildcats would win a share of the Big 12 title, their first since 2003. Positively amazing.

Workhorse Daniel Thomas left for the NFL. He's been replaced by one even better: quarterback Collin Klein. Klein ran for 86 yards and a score and threw for 158 more with a touchdown.

Despite pouring rainstorms that delayed the game two hours, Kansas State's run-heavy offense didn't have a turnover. It committed two penalties.

It won in dramatic fashion late.

What else should we expect?

Anyone in Ames, Iowa, can attest to it.

The same with folks from Manhattan, Kan., or Waco, Texas. A normally joyous occasion -- the opening kick of the football season -- had a pall cast over it by off-the-field wranglings.

Baylor in Conference USA, back tangling with old friends SMU and Houston?

Iowa State chatting up the Mountain West Conference?

Kansas State in the Big East?

The prospect of a nightmare waiting at season's end makes football not quite as fun. The Big 12 has hung together -- with a few new members, of course -- but three teams with unsavory post-Big 12 options have done a lot more than hang around.

Iowa State did it in historic fashion on Friday night, dispatching No. 2 Oklahoma State and beating a top-two team for the first time in the program's 18 tries. And why stop there? It was the first victory over a top-six opponent in 58 attempts dating to 1936.

With it, Iowa State clinched its second bowl bid in three seasons under Paul Rhoads, leaving no doubt about it: This is a special season in Ames. If Friday night didn't tell you that, consider also that this season marked the first time in school history that Jack Trice Stadium hosted six crowds of 50,000 or more.

Baylor? Did you see Bears fans rushing the field on Saturday night, 24 hours after Iowa State fans did the same? Only the ignorant denied that Robert Griffin III and coach Art Briles were special in their own right, already securing a second consecutive bowl bid after a 16-year stretch without one. Saturday's victory over Oklahoma, the first in 21 tries, only further stamped this season as one for the ages.

A bowl game? How about 10 wins? Baylor can get there by beating Texas Tech on a neutral site and Texas at home, then winning its bowl. Baylor has hit the 10-win mark just once in its history, all the way back in 1980.

And Kansas State re-hiring Bill Snyder was a mistake, you say? He came back to Manhattan to "calm the waters," but he's making a huge splash in 2011, guiding the nation's biggest overachiever to the doorstep of the BCS top 10. The Wildcats, a seven-win team a year ago, lost their entire offense when Daniel Thomas left after the 2010 season.

No worries. Collin Klein can handle it. He's made himself a fringe Heisman candidate by accounting for 36 touchdowns, carrying his team (and a few defenders) on his back all season.

There's no guarantee they won't come again, but those bad feelings? Fans from all three programs will always remember how those uncertain weeks in the past two years felt.

The teams those programs are putting on the field are making it easy to forget.

A year ago, Kansas State lost five of its last seven games, but still finished with seven wins.

Yearly improvement is the hallmark of Bill Snyder-coached teams and this year's Wildcats squad is doing exactly that.

That continued with a 41-34 win over Texas Tech in Lubbock, Kansas State's fourth consecutive win as an underdog and its fourth consecutive win while getting outgained in total offense.

Kansas State is making plays when it needs to. Tonight, it was a timely fumble and interception in the fourth quarter to stymie Texas Tech drives and help put the Wildcats up double digits.

Snyder's getting the most out of what he has. Collin Klein is carrying this team. He's a less than polished passer, but he made two huge throws to help dig Kansas State out of an eight-point hole in the second half.

He topped 100 yards rushing and ran for three touchdowns, taking another beating with 23 carries. He's had at least 19 carries in all six wins this year.

Daniel Thomas carried the ball 545 times in two seasons for this team, leading the Big 12 in rushing in 2009 and 2010. He's gone. K-State's five-star transfer, hyped recruit Bryce Brown isn't on the team.

The answer? Unheralded Waco native John Hubert, who has been a reliable option and had 71 yards rushing tonight and joined Klein in the national top 50, making Kansas State one of just two teams in the nation with two rushers in the top 50.

The defensive revitalization is equally amazing, prodded by newcomers Arthur Brown and Nigel Malone, who intercepted a pass and returned it 24 yards for the game's first score.

Even recovering a late onside kick wasn't enough to get Tech back in the game. The Red Raiders turned it over on downs without getting a first down.

Once gain, when Kansas State's defense needs a stop, it gets one. It happened against Baylor. A last-minute goal-line stand beat Miami.

By now, it's time to stop wondering why and how the Wildcats are winning these games. It's happening, and Kansas State is done being an underdog for a week.

It will travel to face Kansas in the Sunflower Showdown next week, and it may do it with a top 15 ranking.

After that? A home date with national title contender Oklahoma.

Anybody willing to count out Kansas State in that one?

Thanks for all the questions in Tuesday's chat. Here's the full transcript.

Didn't get yours answered? Put a better one in my always-open mailbag.

And a few highlights:

Steve in Moore, Okla., asked: Why are we not hearing anything from Beebe?

David Ubben: He's working behind the scenes and probably doesn't see the benefit in speaking publicly. That's debatable, but like last summer it's not like he's doing nothing. Now, though, I'm not sure what his approach will be in trying to keep UT and OU in the league.

Clayton in Houston asked: Is the Aggie defense feast or famine? It seems like Saturday it was a 3 and out/turnover or SMU got a string of big plays. What's up Ubbs? Should I be worried about the Aggie defense going into Big 12 play?

DU: I wouldn't get too worried. It was one game, and the throws over the top were communication errors on a similar play with a post-flag crossing route. The safety and corners couldn't figure out who had who and the flag was wide open like three times, including on the touchdown. The running game was a bit more troublesome, but it's one game. The Aggies led the league in the stat last year and don't play again for two more weeks. I wouldn't be too concerned just yet.

Mike in Wichita asked: So explain to me again how "Super Conferences" are good for college football? The fans, traditions, rivalries are what make it great - not TV $ for the schools. With all this influx of huge revenue - shouldn't tuitions go down along with ticket prices? (kidding)

DU: I hate them for college football. All the things that make this game special are getting minimized in these discussions.

Robert Griffin III in Waco, Texas asked: Is there a player in the NCAA more singularly important to his team's success than I am?

DU: This is kind of a mischaracterization. It's true to an extent, but I've talked to a few people about it over the weekend. There's no doubt RG3 takes his team to the next level, but Baylor's not a bunch of dregs without him. They're a fringe bowl team without him and an 8-10 team with him. Kendall Wright, Elliott Coffey, Ahmad Dixon, Terrance Ganaway and Prince Kent are all big-time athletes who have come to Waco with Griffin. Baylor has plenty of talent outside Griffin.

Jordan in Fort Worth asked: Do you think the Texas the the ACC talk is just posturing? Like they are trying to make the PAC12 panic and accept them with their own network?

DU: I'm not going to take a guess at anyone's motivation for anything in this realignment mess, but I'll say this: Texas to the ACC might be the least likely scenario at the end of this saga. Pac-12, Big 12, Big Ten would all surprise me less.

Even the SEC. (Hi, Aggies! Remember us?)

Brian in Dallas asked: Which upset would have supprised you more if they happend Kansas State or Iowa State?

DU: Honestly, they were pretty even. Both teams are trying to feel around in the dark for what they can do offensively. Daniel Thomas was K-State's offense last year. Alexander Robinson and Austen Arnaud were Iowa State's offense. They're all gone. There were bound to be some issues.

Eric in Manhattan, Kan., asked: Snyder's time is coming to an end in a couple years. Although I have great respect for the man as a person and coach. Who do you think will take his place? Especially with the probably conference changes.

DU: Joe Paterno.

Raiderttu06 in Lubbock asked: Leon Mackey, is he still good enough to put on the field with half a lung? BTW- Did you hear about our new defensive weapon, the West Texas dust storm that rolled in during the second quarter as the cold front blew through and kept Texas State scoreless for three quarters.

DU: Ha. I felt bad for Mackey. That's got to be frustrating. I heard about the dust storm. Tech may get to see a few more of those in the near future when it travels to Arizona for conference games.

Haboob. One of the nation's great linguistic accomplishments, and a word soon to be added to plenty of Big 12 fanbase's dictionaries.

Bill in Norman asked: Can you explain to me why Texas is in the Top 25? Thanks

DU: No. They're Texas?

Kevin D. in Concord, N.H., asked: I've been riding the Henry Josey train since last year. Does this Kendial Lawrence injury finally give him the chance to take the reigns? He seemed to me to be by far and away the most effective back (besides Franklin) on the field against Miami on Saturday.

DU: It'll be interesting. I picked Josey to lead the team in rushing at some point this summer, but Lawrence really picked it up in fall camp and I thought he was poised for a big year. It's hard to imagine a guy having a worse start to the season, though.

Here are ten things I'm keeping an eye on in Week 1 of Big 12 football.

1. Garrett Gilbert. Everything else aside, Gilbert is ultimately the one guy who will decide how far Texas gets this season. Or, at least whoever Texas' quarterback is by midseason. Gilbert needs to play well to a) make sure he's that guy and b) help Texas rebound from last year's debacle.

2. Does Baylor have a second go-to receiver? Josh Gordon is a huge loss. Everything pointed to a breakout year for the big receiver, but who's going to emerge as Robert Griffin III's other top target. Baylor has talent at the position, but it's going to help if one receiver makes his presence clear. Terrance Williams? Tevin Reese? Lanear Sampson? Bueller?

3. Oklahoma's safeties. Javon Harris and Aaron Colvin have a ton of potential, but they've got a tough test in Week 1. Last year, Oklahoma broke in two brand new corners against Utah State and nearly was upset on its home field. G.J. Kinne is a stud, and with both of last year's safeties in the NFL, are Harris and Colvin up for the task?

4. Weeden2Blackmon. Here's the deal: This game won't be close. But I love watching these two play. And they're going to be putting up some big highlights for the first time in eight months. Football! Finally!

5. James Franklin's arm. We've seen Franklin run plenty as a freshman playing behind Blaine Gabbert. But Missouri will go about as far as Franklin's arm will take them. His teammates have been impressed with what he's down through the air in the offseason. Will he validate them in the opener?

6. Steele Jantz's legs. Nobody outside Ames has really seen Jantz, a transfer from a California junior college, do much. But he won the starting job over the more experienced Jerome Tiller (before he was ruled academically ineligible for the season) and has Cyclones fans excited. Is he the dynamic playmaker Iowa State's offense has been missing?

7. Kansas State's running backs. Bill Snyder called it the closest competition on the team. The WIldcats have three co-starters, and third on the list is the Big 12 transfer with the most hype: Bryce Brown. Will he establish himself as the clear replacement for Daniel Thomas, who led the Big 12 in rushing the past two seasons?

8. Kansas' point total. Kansas simply needs to show it can execute. It did it against New Mexico State last year and briefly against Colorado, but this is largely the same team from last year, with a handful of new faces added. How much better is the offense? Good enough to compete in the Big 12? Because the Jayhawks weren't close in 2010.

9. Texas A&M's linebackers. Most of the attention is paid to quarterback Kyle Padron, but the Mustangs' 230-pound, rumbling running back Zach Line is no joke, either. He had at least 94 yards rushing in six of the past seven games in 2010, and the Aggies have a big hole at middle linebacker that Jonathan Stewart will try to fill.

10. Texas Tech's playcalling. Tommy Tuberville wants a new commitment to the running game, but where will that show up? The Red Raiders have what I think will be a good QB, but lots of unanswered questions at receiver next to a deep stable of running backs and a good offensive line. I'm also excited to see what freshman tight end Jace Amaro can do.

Today is all about the quarterback at ESPN.com, but it's time to introduce you to each of the Big 12's passers.

Best in class: Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State

Weeden is everything you want in a quarterback. He's a good decision-maker with a huge arm that's about as accurate as they come in the college game. He led the Big 12 with 8.4 yards per attempt in 2010, his first year as a starter, and helped Oklahoma State win a school-record 11 games.

Sorest postgame arm: Landry Jones, Oklahoma

Jones is a close, close second in the Big 12 and wouldn't surprise anyone by surpassing Weeden, but Jones threw 617 passes in 2010, more than any quarterback in the nation. Part of that number is the high volume of short passes in Oklahoma's offense that it views as an extension of the running game, but Jones piled up big numbers with those throws, leading the Big 12 with 4,718 yards and 38 touchdowns to just 12 interceptions. Without workhorse DeMarco Murray in the fold this season, don't look for those pass attempts to dip much, if at all.

Most misperceived: Robert Griffin III, Baylor

Griffin has a well-deserved rep as a dual-threat quarterback, but he also completed 67 percent of his 454 passes in 2010, good for eighth in the nation and second in the Big 12 behind Taylor Potts by one-tenth of a percentage point. Griffin can still giddy-up after knee surgery in 2009, but he's a much more mature passer than he gets credit for, and he's got one of the league's best receiving corps to help him out.

Most pressure: Garrett Gilbert, Texas

I'm going all-in with Gilbert as the Longhorns' opening-day starter against Rice, but Gilbert better perform and do it early, because if not, the hook that never arrived in 2010 will do exactly that, giving Case McCoy, Connor Wood or David Ash a chance. Gilbert's 10 touchdowns to 17 interceptions in 2010 were eye-popping, but he'll try to improve on that in a new offense under Bryan Harsin from Boise State.

Most indecision: Iowa State

The Cyclones have an open gig after three-year starter Austen Arnaud left, but the job sounds like it's still wide open between junior Jerome Tiller, who played some during a few of Arnaud's injuries the past two seasons, and juco transfer Steele Jantz. Coach Paul Rhoads says Jared Barnett is still a factor in the race, but Iowa State plans to officially name its starter on Aug. 20, exactly two weeks before its season opener.

Best story: Seth Doege, Texas Tech

Doege grew up in West Texas and dreamed of becoming the next great passer in red and black. As soon as Texas Tech began recruiting him, he committed, but missed his final two seasons of high school football with knee injuries. The Red Raiders stuck with him during two frustrating runs of rehab while others took a pass, and five years after his last season as full-time starter, the junior is finally getting his shot to do what he wanted to do since well before high school.

Smartest quarterback: Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M

Tannehill has just six starts under his belt, but they were memorable last season, helping rescue the Aggies from a 3-3 start, including an 0-2 start in conference play. The Aggies ended up co-Big 12 South champions, earning a berth in the Cotton Bowl. But Tannehill did it all despite missing parts of spring practice for labs for his biology major, which he hopes to use to eventually attend medical school and become an orthopedic surgeon. Tannehill graduated in May with a 3.59 GPA, and ask any of his teammates who the smartest guy on the team is. There's no contest.

Best supporting cast: James Franklin, Missouri

Franklin will fill the void left behind by Blaine Gabbert, but he'll do it with the most help of any first-year starter in the league, and any first-year starter Gary Pinkel has ever prepared. The Tigers return one of the league's best defenses, four offensive linemen, and every single receiver from last season's team. He also returned four running backs, but one of the reserves, Marcus Murphy, will likely redshirt after needing shoulder surgery. Still, the Tigers are ready-made contenders if Franklin can get the job done.

Biggest passer: Collin Klein, Kansas State

Klein used his legs to earn a solid chunk of playing time in 2010, but the 6-foot-5, 233-pounder (see him in real life here) will have to be more than just hard to tackle for the Wildcats to get back to the postseason in 2011 after reaching the Pinstripe Bowl in 2010. That was their first bowl appearance since 2006, but Klein has a lot to prove after throwing just 18 passes last season, compared to his 76 carries for 432 yards and six scores. Making matters more difficult: Workhorse back Daniel Thomas, who had a Big 12-high 595 carries over the past two seasons and led the league in rushing both years, is in the NFL now.

Most work to do: Jordan Webb, Kansas

The Jayhawks were the Big 12's worst passing team in 2010, failing to reach 2,000 yards, and Texas was the league's only other team to throw more interceptions than touchdowns. Webb earned the most time, and seized control of the starting job ahead of Quinn Mecham over the summer, but he completed just 56 percent of his passes last season, better than only Colorado's Cody Hawkins.

I've done it. You've done it.

"Hey, is that guy still around?"

Even with two fewer teams, it's hard to keep track. Our next series, which we did last year, too, takes a look at two key players for every team in the league who are taking their talents elsewhere, returning to campus, or arriving to try to write a legacy of their own.

So really, this series isn't so much for the fans of the teams in the posts, but more for everyone else. It wouldn't be a bad idea to bookmark these.

Next up: Kansas State

Going:

Daniel Thomas, RB

Thomas came to Kansas State from junior college and joins a line of juco players turned FBS stars under coach Bill Snyder. The 6-foot-2, 228-pound back bounced off defenders and led the Big 12 in both carries and rushing yards in his two years in the league, finishing with 2,850 career rushing yards. He battled a shoulder injury his junior year, but played through it and his efforts paid off as a senior when he helped carry the Wildcats back to a bowl game for the first time since 2006. He was drafted by Miami in the second round.

Considering Kansas State's struggles throwing the ball during his time there, Thomas' production is even more staggering. Defenses knew he was coming, and he ran over and through them anyway.

Zach Kendall, OL

And how did Thomas do it? Kendall and the offensive line, which loses three starters from last year's team, were the biggest reason. Kendall, a 6-foot-2, 317-pounder, took over as the starting guard midway through the 2008 season and remained a constant on the line for the next two and a half seasons, taking over as one of the team captains in 2010 and earning All-Big 12 honors.

Staying:

David Garrett, CB

Garrett was a rarity last season, the Big 12's only cornerback to lead his team in tackles. That's not a great sign for the defense as a whole, but there's no denying Garrett is one of the team's best playmakers. A 5-foot-8, 175-pound junior college transfer made 92 tackles, including 68 solo stops. He's undersized, but the Big 12 is thin at cornerback. Don't be surprised if Garrett lands on the All-Big 12 first team next year.

Brodrick Smith, WR

Smith transferred from Minnesota and finally got on the field last year, jumping out to a nice start, catching 12 passes for 179 yards and three touchdowns in his first three games, providing a much-needed target for Carson Coffman. But late in the game against Nebraska, Smith suffered an ugly broken leg that ended his season. He'll be back on the field again this year with a breakout season in mind.

Coming:

Ian Seau, DE

Seau comes from a rather obvious bloodline that bodes well for his football future. His uncle is veteran NFL linebacker Junior Seau. The Wildcats' top recruit from the 2011 class will get to campus this summer and try to crash the rotation on a defensive line that loses two starters from last year's team. The 6-foot-3, 235-pound Carlsbad, Calif., native may end up moving to linebacker, but for now, he's the nation's No. 18 defensive end.

Lamonte Clark, DT

Kansas State was pretty deliberate about its efforts to beef up the defensive line in this year's class. The top five signees from this February were all defensive linemen, and Clark is the biggest, by far. The Washington, D.C., native weighs in at 310 pounds, and stands 6-foot-4. There aren't many defensive linemen in this league that tip three bills on the scale, and Kansas State would certainly like to see him become a force up front.

Click here for more from The Revolving Door.

A little more than three months before we kick off the 2011 season, one thing is clear: Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M are the Big 12 favorites.

Of course, last season, Texas and Oklahoma were the favorites and Oklahoma State came out of nowhere to contend.

So, who could be this season's Cowboys? Here are three teams with the most upside that could contend for a Big 12 title.

Missouri

Last season: 10-3

Big 12 Power Rankings: 4th

Why the Tigers aren't a contender: Simply put, Blaine Gabbert is gone. If the Tigers still had their first-round pick, they'd likely be a borderline top-10 team entering the season.

Why they can contend: Missouri's defense should be great once again after taking big strides in 2010 under coordinator Dave Steckel. The Tigers have lots of confidence in corners Kip Edwards and E.J. Gaines, and even list Edwards as a returning starter since he was in the rotation alongside Carl Gettis and Kevin Rutland last season. They'll get a lot of help up front from an offensive line that should be the Big 12's best, and perhaps one of the best in college football.

Offensively, James Franklin replaces Gabbert, but has lots of talent around him, including four returning running backs with experience and every single receiver on the team returns, including four with at least 39 catches a season ago. That's rare, and the experience gained will pay off next fall.

Texas

Last season: 5-7

Big 12 Power Rankings: 7th

Why the Longhorns aren't a contender: The offense crashed and burned in 2010 and the reigning Big 12 champs and national runner-up endured its worst season since 1997.

Why they can contend: Mock recruiting rankings all you'd like, but it's still hard to shake the feeling that Texas is a sleeping giant in 2011. The offensive talent didn't look like it was there last season, but can new coordinator Bryan Harsin change that? The Big 12 won't have a truly elite defense this season, so it's possible.

Texas also should have one of the Big 12's best defenses, as long as it can overcome some inexperience in the secondary. The front seven has loads of experience and potential, and if the turnovers, which coach Mack Brown has harped on all offseason, swing in the Longhorns favor, Texas could become a factor once again. That 5-7 record last season wasn't far from 9-3. Texas lost four games by eight points or fewer.

Kansas State

Last season: 7-6

Big 12 Power Rankings: 8th

Why the Wildcats aren't a contender: The Wildcats rode Daniel Thomas for two seasons, and lose him, as well as starting quarterback Carson Coffman. Combine that with a defense that struggled for most of last season, and it's not an attractive résumé.

Why they can contend: It all comes down to how good the new faces will be. Bryce Brown and Arthur Brown have gotten plenty of press this spring, but Arthur and quarterback Collin Klein will likely have the most to do with the Wildcats exceeding expectations. Klein will have receiver Brodrick Smith back, a transfer who started the season hot before breaking his leg against Nebraska.

The Wildcats are by far the darkest of these horses, but it could be one of Bill Snyder's best coaching jobs if this team contends or finishes in the top 25.

If you missed my take on our team polls last week, here you go. Moving on to the player polls.

[+] Enlarge
Chuck Cook/US PresswireOklahoma State's Justin Blackmon will open the season as a leading candidate to be the Big 12's offensive player of the year.

Who is the offensive player of the year?

• Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State: 32 percent
• Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma: 29 percent
• Cyrus Gray, RB, Texas A&M: 23 percent

Comment: Interesting results here. Personally, I'll be voting Blackmon in the preseason, but if I had to guess, I think Jones wins the official award in December. Blackmon should have a big season, but I don't think he'll be able to duplicate what he did last season with defenses focused on shutting him down and a new, inexperienced playcaller.

Meanwhile, if Jones duplicates what he did last season and Oklahoma wins 11 games, Jones will take this award home, and probably the Heisman. Christine Michael's return will be great for the Aggies, but bad for Gray's chances to win the award.

Who is the defensive player of the year?

• Travis Lewis, LB, Oklahoma: 41 percent
• Brad Madison, DE, Missouri: 16 percent
• Keenan Robinson, LB, Texas: 16 percent

Comment: Like I wrote last week, this one's wide open. I'll probably be voting for Lewis in the preseason, but at the end of the season, I can't shake the feeling that someone will come out of nowhere to win the award, a la Blackmon a year ago. Lewis is the most established name in the group (which, by the way, should have included Iowa State linebacker Jake Knott. My bad on that one.), but we haven't really seen any of these guys take over a game the way Von Miller or Jeremy Beal could, or even the way Nebraska's secondary worked together to do it.

Which player will have the conference's biggest impact?

• Malcolm Brown, RB, Texas: 33 percent
• Steele Jantz, QB, Iowa State: 19 percent
• Bryce Brown, RB, Kansas State: 19 percent

Comment: Rather than mix the top offensive and defensive players in this poll, I went with relative unknowns nationally. I was pretty surprised with the results. Brown being the best of this group next season wouldn't surprise me one bit, but I'm going with Arthur Brown, who if I was pressed right now, I'd bet on being the best defensive player on Kansas State's team next season, with apologies to David Garrett.

Malcolm Brown will have brighter lights on him in Austin, but Arthur Brown was making a big impact on the scout team last season and this spring as a likely starter.

Who will be the conference's most improved player?

• Damontre Moore, LB, Texas A&M: 30 percent
• Corey Nelson, LB, Oklahoma: 26 percent

Comment: Both good choices here, and about what I expected. Moore has more space to make an impact with his improvement, but Nelson sounds ready to be a major player at this level. He just has to wait for his opportunity to be a key cog for the defense.

Moore, meanwhile, could have a very different profile nationally this time next year.

Who is the Big 12's toughest player to replace?

• Von Miller, LB, Texas A&M: 41 percent
• Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri: 36 percent

Comment: No love for my pick here, Daniel Thomas. He had just eight percent, the second fewest votes. Gabbert probably would have been my No. 2. Miller's raw size-speed numbers are the hardest to replace or duplicate, but in terms of what he meant to the defense or offense, Thomas and Gabbert should leave behind bigger holes.

Miller was hurt early in season, and (admittedly, Damontre Moore had a lot to with it) the Wrecking Crew held on. There was a lot of talent around Miller and the Aggies should still be fine next seaosn.

Can anyone imagine what Missouri or Kansas State would have looked like without Gabbert or Thomas? Bryce Brown has plenty of hype, but Thomas' production the past two years with so much attention being paid to the line of scrimmage was staggering. He was the Wildcats' entire offense the last two years. Kansas State probably would have won 5-6 games in 2009 and 2010 without him. We'll see how they do with his replacement.

As for Gabbert, Franklin will learn on the go this season, but him trying to do it last season? Scary thought for Tigers fans.

This is a question that, perhaps more than the others, we can't answer until maybe October, but finding out will be fun.

We'll do this category a bit different. We're all about the wild cards here on the Big 12 blog. Fear of the unknown? How about the anticipation of the unknown?

In this poll, pick the unknown player that will have the most impact on the 2011 season. (alternate title for this poll: What can Brown do for you?)

Malcolm Brown is one of the nation's top running backs in the 2011 class, and appears to have an opportunity with a pair of underachieving seniors as the featured backs on campus. Can he be the guy to bring the Longhorns running game to life?

Bryce Brown was once a five-star running back prospect just like Malcolm Brown. But his career took a detour to Tennessee before he transferred back closer to his home in Wichita. Is he the answer to replace Daniel Thomas, running behind an offensive line that must replace three starters?

Sheldon Richardson is another former five star who had to go to junior college and committed to USC before re-committing and signing with Missouri. He's expected to be on campus this June, but once he arrives, will he be a game-changer?

Steele Jantz, aside from possessing the league's most intimidating name, is entrenched in a four-man race to be Iowa State's new quarterback. Is he the man to replace Austen Arnaud?

Arthur Brown, like his brother Bryce, was once one of the nation's top recruits, but signed with Miami. Also like his brother, he's back closer to home and made a big impact this spring. Will that continue through to the fall?

We'll kick off our polls with a look at which players across the league leave behind the biggest voids. Lots of big names stuck around for 2011, but others will take their talents to the NFL next season.

Von Miller is the only defensive player on the list, but can Texas A&M find a way to replace his one-of-a-kind combination of size and speed?

Kendall Hunter was a constant for the Cowboys last year, running for 100 yards nine times in 2010. Can Jeremy Smith and Joseph Randle fill in?

Blaine Gabbert left early, and his younger brother transferred earlier this week. Is James Franklin the answer?

DeMarco Murray scored more touchdowns than any player in Oklahoma history. Will the Sooners' committee approach to replacing him be enough to prevent a drop-off?

Despite having a struggling passing game, Daniel Thomas led the Big 12 in carries and rushing yards the last two seasons. Can Bill Snyder's team get back to a bowl game behind Bryce Brown and John Hubert?

Which player will be the toughest to replace?

KANSAS STATE

2010 overall record: 7-6

2010 conference record: 3-5

Returning starters: Offense (5), Defense (6) P/K (1)

Top returners: QB Collin Klein, CB David Garrett, S Tysyn Hartman, LB Alex Hrebec, S Ty Zimmerman, WR Brodrick Smith

Key losses: RB Daniel Thomas, WR Aubrey Quarles, OL Zach Kendall, DL Prizell Brown, QB Carson Coffman, RB/KR William Powell

2010 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Daniel Thomas (1,585 yards)

Passing: Carson Coffman (2,060 yards)

Receiving: Aubrey Quarles (765 yards)

Tackles: David Garrett* (92)

Sacks: Prizell Brown (5)

Interceptions: Ty Zimmerman* (3)

Three spring answers

1. Quarterback spot looks clear. It’s not over, but it’s obvious Klein will enter fall camp with a lead in the quarterback spot, ahead of Sammuel Lamur and Boston College transfer Justin Tuggle. He’s only thrown 18 career passes, but will the experience he gained on the field in 2010 should help entrench him as the starter next year.

2. Defensive playmaker emerges. Linebacker Arthur Brown returned home from Miami and sat out last year, per NCAA rules, but made an impact as a scout team defender. This spring, he moved up and will likely start next year. He made a game-high 14 tackles in the spring game and has speed unlike any other Wildcats linebacker.

3. Snyder works his juco mojo again. Juco cornerback Nigel Malone showed up to campus this spring from a junior college in California, and after just 15 practices he may be a starter across from one of the team’s stars, Garrett. Bill Snyder is known for his juco talent-mining skills, and with Malone it looks like he’s struck again.

Three fall questions

1. Who’s the running back? Daniel Thomas was a do-everything back for two years, but we may see a share of carries this year. Bryce Brown hasn’t had quite the impact his brother, Arthur, has, but he’s competing with John Hubert for a starting spot.

2. Where’s the D? Kansas State has found a few new pieces in Malone and Arthur Brown, but embattled defensive coordinator Chris Cosh is still there. The Wildcats defense struggled last year, ranking 11th in total defense. How much better can it be in 2011?

3. What’s in store from Klein? Even if Klein wins the job, he won’t be facing Kansas State’s secondary every week. Is he developed enough as a passer to give Kansas State a viable passing threat? That’s something the Wildcats didn't have with Carson Coffman or Grant Gregory, but can Klein buck the trend?

ESPN.com fantasy sports analyst Christopher Harris put out his list of the 2011 draft's top fantasy rookies, and who's sitting alone on top the list?

Former Kansas State running back Daniel Thomas.

I couldn't agree more. If you're a faithful reader of the blog, you know about my love of fantasy football (Vick's Vapo Rub, 2011 fantasy champs), and players' value in the game is centered around the mix of talent and opportunity.

It's pretty clear that Thomas has both. I pegged him as one of my Big 12 draft steals last week, and I feel pretty confident he'll have the best career of any of the Big 12 backs in this year's class.

But after being selected in the second round by Miami, it looks like he could have a busy year ahead of him. That's assuming, of course, that the NFL has a season in 2011.

Miami's two running backs, Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown, are both free agents, and using an early selection on Thomas could be a good sign of the Dolphins' hopes for his future.

Thomas proved, without a doubt, that he's an every-down back in his two years in the Big 12. He led the Big 12 in carries both seasons and had the third most in 2010 with 298.

Could that continue into the NFL?

Whoever ends up owning him in fantasy football next year certainly hopes so.

The NFL draft has come and gone, and I hope you're all prepared for no more NFL anything for awhile. I know I'm not.

Anyway, here's how the Big 12 shook out over the weekend, with a few thoughts to follow.

First round (8)

• No. 2: Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M (Denver)
• No. 7: Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri (San Francisco)
• No. 10: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri (Jacksonville)
• No. 17: Nate Solder, OT, Colorado (New England)
• No. 19: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska (New York Giants)
• No. 21: Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor (Cleveland)
• No. 23: Danny Watkins, OL, Baylor (Philadelphia)
• No. 27: Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado (Baltimore)

Second round (2)

• No. 34: Aaron Williams, CB, Texas (Buffalo)
• No. 62: Daniel Thomas, RB, Kansas State (Miami)

Third round (2)

• No. 71: DeMarco Murray, RB, Oklahoma (Dallas)
• No. 95: Curtis Brown, CB, Texas (Pittsburgh)

Fourth round (6)

• No. 103: Sam Acho, DE, Texas (Arizona)
• No. 105: Roy Helu Jr., RB, Nebraska (Washington)
• No. 108: Quinton Carter, S, Oklahoma (Denver)
• No. 115: Kendall Hunter, RB, Oklahoma State (San Francisco)
• No. 118: Jalil Brown, CB, Colorado (Kansas City)
• No. 120: Alex Henery, K, Nebraska (Philadelphia)

Fifth round (3)

• No. 146: DeJon Gomes, S, Nebraska (Washington)
• No. 155: Niles Paul, WR, Nebraska (Washington)
• No. 164: Chykie Brown, CB, Texas (Baltimore)

Sixth round (1)

• No. 196: Keith Williams, OL, Nebraska (Pittsburgh)

Seventh round (8)

• No. 216: Mikail Baker, CB, Baylor (St. Louis)
• No. 227: Scotty McKnight, WR, Colorado (New York Jets)
• No. 229: Jonathan Nelson, DB, Oklahoma (St. Louis)
• No. 232: Baron Batch, RB, Texas Tech (Pittsburgh)
• No. 234: Andrew Gachkar, LB, Missouri (San Diego)
• No. 246: Jay Finley, RB, Baylor (Cincinnati)
• No. 247: Jeremy Beal, DE, Oklahoma (Denver)
• No. 248: Eric Hagg, S, Nebraska (Cleveland)

Here's how the Big 12 teams ranked in terms of total draftees:

1. Nebraska - 7
2. Baylor - 4
2. Colorado - 4
2. Oklahoma - 4
2. Texas - 4
6. Missouri - 3
7. Kansas State -1
7. Oklahoma State - 1
7. Texas A&M - 1
7. Texas Tech - 1
11. Iowa State - 0
11. Kansas - 0

And the major conferences (counting where players actually played):

SEC - 38
Pac-12 - 33
Big 12 - 30
Big Ten - 29
ACC - 35
Big East - 22

• Texas A&M had just one player drafted, but the Aggies will have plenty next year, including a handful of possible first-rounders. Cyrus Gray, Ryan Tannehill and Jeff Fuller could all go very early in 2012, depending on what happens between now and then.
[+] Enlarge
Matthew Emmons/US PresswireOklahoma defensive end Jeremy Beal was drafted in the seventh round by Denver.
• Interesting that Miller went 245 selections before the Big 12's Defensive Player of the Year, according to the media, Jeremy Beal. Also an interesting coincidence? The same team drafted both. I do think Beal will have a productive NFL career, and there's no denying what he did at Oklahoma, but the measurables were never quite there for Beal. What's not measurable? How difficult he is to block. That said, Miller was my vote for the Big 12's Defensive Player of the Year.
• Good to see some hard-working, perhaps under-respected guys get drafted. This was an important year for that, considering those left over won't be able to get into NFL minicamps until the lockout ends and won't be able to do anything to further their NFL careers besides work out on their own. I'll have a post later today on some of those snubs. There's no guarantee that late-drafted guys like Baron Batch, Scotty McKnight, Jay Finley or Eric Hagg will catch on in the the pros, but I'd be willing to guarantee they'll do everything in their power to maximize what opportunities they get.
• One of the most interesting selections? Mikail Baker. He wasn't invited to the combine, and played just one full season on defense at Baylor after working as a kick returner and a cornerback in 2009 before a season-ending knee injury. You don't see that kind of impressive athleticism at Baylor traditionally.
• Let the debate continue: Kendall Hunter vs. DeMarco Murray. Murray getting drafted 40-some spots earlier only intensified that discussion, if you ask me.
• Also, what's more impressive from Art Briles? That Baylor had four picks, the most in school history since 1996? Or that despite those four picks, Baylor's returning an even better team than last season, when it ended a 16-year bowl drought?
• Colorado's draft, meanwhile? Not exactly a ringing endorsement for Dan Hawkins' coaching job in Boulder.
• Alex Henery didn't win the Lou Groza Award, but his fourth-round selection makes him the earliest kicker draft pick since 2006. Will that end the state of Nebraska's blood feud against respectable OSU kicker Dan Bailey, who did win the Lou Groza Award? I doubt it. (Save your emails. For the 100th time, I agree, Nebraska fans. Henery > Bailey.)
• A few guys who went way lower than I thought they would. In order of my surprise level: Beal, Gabbert, Amukamara, Hagg, Hunter.
• A few guys who went way higher than I thought, in the same order: Aldon Smith, Batch, Gachkar, Baker.

The Big 12 will likely have a pair of top-10 picks tonight and five selections in the first round, but there will still be six more rounds over the next two days, and plenty more Big 12ers will have a new home soon.

Middle and late-round picks are when you really have a chance to build a program, and here are a few folks who won't hear their names called tonight, but will on plenty of Sundays in the future.

Daniel Thomas, RB, Kansas State

He'll have the best NFL career of any of the Big 12 backs in this year's draft. Better than DeMarco Murray and Kendall Hunter. Roy Helu, too, if you're into that kind of thing.

Thomas is durable (never missed a game in two years), runs with a low center of gravity, making him one of the hardest guys to bring down in the league and is a great balance of power and speed. But what's most impressive? Despite leading the Big 12 in rushing the past two years, he's probably got the most upside of any back in the draft. He's only played the position since leaving junior college, where he was a quarterback.

Jeremy Beal, DE, Oklahoma

He's a tweener at the next level. Not fast enough to be a linebacker and not big enough to play defensive end. He's not physically impressive. But he never has been, really. He's never a guy who wowed me, unless I was looking in the offensive backfield or on the stat sheet. He always had a strong presence in both.

For three years, he's been one of the best defenders in the Big 12, and it's hard to believe he won't exceed his modest expectations at the next level.

Sam Acho, DE, Texas

Unless his teammate, cornerback Aaron Williams, slips in the first round, it'll be the first draft since 1998 without a Sooner or a Longhorn selected in the first round. Even so, Acho assures there are still quality prospects from both programs available later in the draft.

He's got impressive agility for 6-foot-3 and 260 pounds, and any player has a distinct advantage if he's got what it takes in the most important part of any NFL player: the brain. Acho definitely does, and won the Academic Heisman for his efforts in the classroom, too. A model citizen, even if Acho isn't an impact player on the field, he can be a big impact in the locker room. Don't be surprised if he ends up being both by the time his career is over.