ESPN College Football

2011 overall record: 6-7

2011 conference record: 3-6
Returning starters: Offense (7), Defense (5), P/K (1)

Top returners: RB James White, LB A.J. Klein, LB Jake Knott, QB Jared Barnett, QB Steele Jantz, WR Josh Lenz, WR Aaron Horne

Key losses: OL Kelechi Osemele, WR Darius Reynolds, CB Leonard Johnson, DE Jake Lattimer, DL Stephen Ruempolhamer

2011 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: James White* (743 yards)
Passing: Steele Jantz* (1,519 yards)
Receiving: Darius Reynolds (695 yards)
Tackles: A.J. Klein* (117)
Sacks: Patrick Neal (3.5)
Interceptions: Ter'Ran Benton (3)

Three spring answers

1. Jerome Tiller's not pouting: Tiller sat out 2011 after being academically ineligible, and as such, became a nonfactor in the quarterback race, even though he was the likely successor to Austen Arnaud. Tiller came back with a vengeance this spring ... at receiver. He caught five passes for 44 yards, but don't be surprised to see him put up those kinds of numbers during the season. Nice to see him bounce back.

2. The linebacker spot is in good hands: Jake Knott missed the spring after offseason shoulder surgery, but the linebackers put on a show during the spring. Jevohn Miller played well in Knott's absence, but Jeremiah George was one of the most improved players on the team during the spring. Knott and Klein will be senior stars, but Iowa State's linebacker tradition will carry on when they leave.

3. The offense isn't changing: Offensive coordinator Tom Herman left to take the same job at Ohio State, but replacement Courtney Messingham isn't messing with much in the offense. There will be subtle changes, sure, but mostly to suit whoever wins the QB job. The version of the spread ISU uses has a lot of zone read concepts, and that will continue with either. What the passing game looks like will be a little different.

Three fall questions

1. Who will be the quarterback? Jared Barnett and Steele Jantz both had their moments in 2011. Both went 3-0 in their first three starts. Jantz had three fourth-quarter comebacks and Barnett grabbed one of the biggest wins in school history against OSU to get ISU bowl eligible. Jantz was turnover-prone, however, and Barnett struggled with consistency. The competition is still wide open heading into fall camp.

2. What's the status of Shontrelle Johnson? Johnson's the biggest home run hitter on the offense, but he's been out since early last season with a neck injury. His status is still in doubt. James White filled in nicely last year, but Johnson can take the offense to another level. Iowa State hopes he can get back, but nothing's promised.

3. Who's the new No. 1 receiver? Jantz loved Darius Reynolds early in the season, but Aaron Horne and Josh Lenz were more productive with Barnett late in the season. Reynolds is gone, but who's the new go-to guy in the passing game? It could be either.

Miss Iowa State's spring game on Saturday? No worries, we've got you covered.

What happened:

• Jared Barnett threw for 67 yards on 11-of-21 passing, and Steele Jantz completed 16 of 28 passes for 194 yards.
• Barnett rushed 11 times for 55 yards.
• A 56-yard bomb to Josh Lenz highlighted Jantz's day.
• Linebacker A.J. Klein returned an interception 94 yards for a touchdown, a stretch of five plays with three interceptions.
• Lenz led the team with seven catches for 98 yards.
• Cardinal beat Gold, 13-7, whatever that means.
• An estimated 5,000 fans showed up.

What we learned:

• Iowa State has nothing settled at quarterback. Barnett looked like the future quarterback midseason after leading ISU to three wins in his first three starts --including an upset over No. 2 Oklahoma State. He struggled down the stretch, was benched in the bowl game and gave way to Jantz. He started the 2011 season with three fourth-quarter comeback wins. After 15 spring practices, nothing is settled. Coach Paul Rhoads says it's still even and he won't declare a winner until August, which is exactly where the Cyclones were this time last year.
• They're down one quarterback, though. Jerome Tiller, who was in the race last year, has found a nice home at receiver. This is good to see after Tiller missed all of the 2011 season because of academic ineligibility. He caught five passes for 44 yards. "It was fun," Tiller told reporters. "It was a pretty smooth transition."
• The defense looked good, although it is not used to giving up long passes to Lenz. He established himself as Barnett's top target in the slot late last season while Darius Reynolds was Jantz's favorite. But long balls from Jantz to Lentz? That's nutz.
• The offense turned it over four times, including Klein's long score, but Rhoads wasn't taking a lot away from those plays. "I didn’t think those interceptions were all just great defensive plays," Rhoads told reporters "I think the offense hurt themselves in that regard. ... I shouldn’t let those turnovers completely influence me, but they didn’t show up like they have in probably the last four to six practices."

They said it:

"When we get started in August, we will see who wants to perform. Timetable ... I don’t know. When I know we got a No. 1, 1 I will tell you." - Paul Rhoads, on the quarterback race.

Iowa State's receivers need a big spring, but injuries are keeping major contributors off the field.

Aaron Horne, a juco transfer who caught 38 passes for 431 yards in his first season, will miss the rest of the spring with a broken collarbone. He suffered the injury on Saturday, coach Paul Rhoads told reporters this week.

Fellow receivers Ja’Quarius Daniels (shoulder) and Chris Young (concussion) are also being kept off the field.

Iowa State's leading receiver, Darius Reynolds, is gone, and Josh Lenz will enter his senior season as one of the top targets, but his production narrowly outpaced Horne's, with 39 catches for 510 yards.

The unit was one of the least productive in the Big 12, and one of the positions that needs the most improvement this spring.

If that's going to happen, the receivers obviously have to stay healthy. Not what Iowa State wanted to see this spring.

We're continuing our look at the postseason rankings for each position in the Big 12. Here's a look back at where the receivers ranked in the preseason.

In this position, unlike quarterback, depth is a major, major factor in these rankings.

More postseason position rankings:

• Quarterbacks
• Running backs

1. Oklahoma State: The Cowboys boasted two-time Biletnikoff winner Justin Blackmon, but he wasn't the only weapon. The Cowboys had nine (!) receivers with at least 19 catches and 200 yards receiving this season. Insane. Life is good with Brandon Weeden at quarterback.

2. Baylor: Kendall Wright actually outperformed Blackmon and Ryan Broyles on the stat sheet, catching 108 balls for 1,663 yards. The Bears didn't have the insane depth of OSU, but the trio of Wright, Terrance Williams (59 rec, 957 yards, 11 TDs) and Tevin Reese (51 rec, 877 yards, 7 TDs) were all in the Big 12's top seven receivers.

3. Texas A&M: Ryan Swope emerged to become one of just four Big 12 receivers to notch 1,000-yard seasons. Jeff Fuller's season was disappointing, but he still finished eighth in the league in receiving, and Uzoma Nwachukwu was in the league's top 15 in receiving.

4. Oklahoma: The Sooners weren't quite as solid as they thought to begin the season. Broyles was as advertised, though his Biletnikoff-contending season was cut short by a torn ACL. The unit was productive, but came down with the drops late in the season. Broyles and Kenny Stills were both in the league's top seven in receiving, and Jaz Reynolds caught 41 passes for 715 yards to crack the top 10.

5. Texas Tech: Tech's top target, Darrin Moore, battled injuries all year, but Eric Ward emerged as the team's most consistent target, catching 84 passes for 800 yards and 11 scores. Alex Torres missed two games, but added 616 more yards.

6. Missouri: The Tigers' receivers had their production dip with a dual-threat passer in James Franklin who ran the ball more than his predecessor, but they were still pretty good, despite lacking a true big-time threat. T.J. Moe caught 54 passes for 649 yards and four scores. Tight end Michael Egnew added 50 grabs for 523 yards and three scores. L'Damian Washington, Marcus Lucas and Wes Kemp had unremarkable individual seasons, but their production added up to a good year for Mizzou's receivers.

7. Kansas State: Kansas State was better than most thought to begin the season, but the ground-based offense limited their receivers' ability to finish with big production. Chris Harper (40 rec, 547 yards, 5 TDs) led the group. Tramaine Thompson and Tyler Lockett showed some good promise, too.

8. Texas: The Longhorns could get really good, really fast at this spot. The uncertainty/struggles at quarterback limited this group, but Jaxon Shipley and Mike Davis could both mature into absolute stars. For now, though, they didn't quite crack the top 15 in the Big 12 in receiving. Both topped 40 catches and 600 receiving yards.

9. Iowa State: Darius Reynolds' size downfield will be missed, but Aaron Horne and Josh Lenz are tough covers working the middle of the field. Reynolds caught seven touchdowns, and Horne and Lenz both topped 38 catches.

10. Kansas: Yikes. The Jayhawks didn't have a receiver in the league's top 20, but D.J. Beshears led the team with 40 grabs for 437 yards and three touchdowns. He was the only Jayhawk in the Big 12's top 32 in receiving.

Signing day is coming fast. Next Wednesday, the next round of players will sign up for their respective programs and start what could be storied careers.

Here's what each team across the Big 12 needs. You'll find Texas A&M and Mizzou on the SEC blog and West Virginia on the Big East Blog.

BAYLOR

Quarterback: This one's pretty simple. Robert Griffin III is taking his talents to the NFL early. Nick Florence is waiting to take over, and the Bears have Bryce Petty behind him, but more reinforcements at quarterback are needed. Dual-threat quarterbacks, ideally.

Defensive tackle: Baylor already was one of the nation's worst teams (102nd nationally) at stopping the run. Now it'll need to replace both its interior linemen, Nicolas Jean-Baptiste and Tracy Robertson.

Offensive linemen: Baylor's offensive line, meanwhile, has been solid. It loses junior college transfer and two-year starter Robert T. Griffin, as well as All-Big 12 center Philip Blake. John Jones, a reserve guard, also has exhausted his eligibility.

IOWA STATE

Receiver: This has been a weak spot for the team for several years, and its top overall talent, Darius Reynolds, is gone. Darius Darks is, too. Aaron Horne and Josh Lenz will be the team's best weapons in 2012, but the pair of shifty slot guys will be seniors. This position needs reinforcements.

Defensive back: The DBs have been a quiet strength for ISU, especially in 2011. Cornerback Leonard Johnson and safety Ter'Ran Benton both have exhausted their eligibility, though, and defensive backs coach Bobby Elliott left for Notre Dame. You'll see plenty of new faces in the Cyclones' secondary next year.

Defensive line: Experienced starters Stephen Ruempolhamer and Jacob Lattimer are both gone, and Iowa State has struggled to stop the run consistently the past few seasons.

KANSAS

Quarterback: Kansas landed high-profile transfers Dayne Crist (Notre Dame) and Jake Heaps (BYU), but this is still a huge position of need. Last year's starter, Jordan Webb, left the team. Quinn Mecham is out of eligibility. Heaps is sitting out his NCAA-mandated year after transferring. Crist is the starter, but he badly needs a backup, especially if Brock Berglund's transfer appeal allows him to leave.

Wide receiver: Kansas lacks a big threat at this position. It needs a talent upgrade in a big way. Oklahoma transfer Justin McCay is joining the team, but he's no guarantee to a) be granted immediate eligibility or b) become an impact player.

Defensive tackle: Kansas is thin here, too. Richard Johnson, Patrick Dorsey and Michael Martinovich are gone, and Kansas couldn't stop much of anything on defense. Some push up front could help make everything look better. A late addition to the 2012 class from a junior college seems like a no-brainer. The Jayhawks need physically mature players to contribute immediately.

KANSAS STATE

Offensive line: K-State's offensive line was much better in 2011 and could be again in 2012. It needs help replacing All-Big 12 lineman Clyde Aufner, though. Starter Colten Freeze is also gone.

Defensive line: Kansas State is bringing back about as many starters as anyone in the Big 12, but the biggest losses are along the defensive line. Kick-blocking specialist (five in 2011) Ralph Guidry is gone, along with tackle Ray Kibble. Juco transfer Jordan Voelker exploded onto the scene this year, but he's gone, too.

Defensive backs: Cornerback David Garrett leaves a huge hole behind. Tysyn Hartman may not be as talented as teammate Ty Zimmerman, but his experience leaves a big hole. Zimmerman will have to mentor a younger safety in the near future.

OKLAHOMA

Receiver: The Sooners are thin here in a big way. That was obvious late in the season when Ryan Broyles' storied college career ended a few weeks early with a knee injury. The team also lost Justin McCay (transfer) to Kansas. Jaz Reynolds and Kenny Stills are the likely top two targets, but they need help.

Tight end: This position inspired a bit of panic at the end of the season. Seniors James Hanna and Trent Ratterree are gone. Austin Haywood wasn't allowed back on the team, and two more tight ends left the team for various reasons. That left the Sooners suddenly without a scholarship player at the position returning in 2012.

Offensive line: Starting tackle Donald Stephenson must be replaced, as will guard Stephen Good, who moved in and out of the starting lineup throughout his career. The Sooners bring back a lot of talent and aren't dying for depth there, but those two will leave holes. Three more offensive line starters will be seniors in 2012.

OKLAHOMA STATE

Offensive line: The Cowboys need a whole lot of help here to fill in behind young players stepping into the starting lineup. Starters Levy Adcock, Nick Martinez and Grant Garner are gone. Backup center Casey LaBrue is gone, too. Those are two All-Big 12 linemen who leave big shoes to be filled.

Receiver: Justin Blackmon surprised no one by leaving a year early, and Josh Cooper leaves with perhaps the most underrated career of any receiver in school history. In OSU's offense, there's always room for depth here. Nine receivers had at least 19 catches in 2011. Blackmon and Cooper combined for 192, though.

Defensive ends: The pass rush was solid for Oklahoma State this year, but both starters, Jamie Blatnick and Richetti Jones, are gone. Replacing both is a necessity.

TEXAS

Receiver: Texas lacks a true game-changer at the position, though Jaxon Shipley and Mike Davis may develop into that role in 2012. Former blue-chip recruit Darius White left for Missouri, too.

Quarterback: David Ash and Case McCoy didn't show a ton of potential at quarterback this year, though Ash may grow with an offseason to prepare as starter. Garrett Gilbert got a big chunk of the work in the spring, summer 7-on-7 and fall preseason camp. Even if Ash does grow, the Longhorns need reinforcements at the position.

Linebacker: Two senior impact players are gone. Texas is left trying to replace Emmanuel Acho and Keenan Robinson, though Jordan Hicks may mature into a star in 2012.

TCU

Offensive line: TCU's offensive line is headed for some major turnover. OT Robert Deck, OG Kyle Dooley and OG Spencer Thompson are gone. Two more starters, OG Blaize Foltz and C James Fry, will be seniors in 2012.

Defensive linemen: TCU isn't losing a lot at this spot, but Ross Forrest and D.J. Yendrey will be seniors in 2012. The Horned Frogs would be well-served to prepare, and offer some depth next year.

Specialists: TCU will have to break in a pair of new starters on special teams next season. Kicker Ross Evans and punter Anson Kelton have exhausted their eligibility.

TEXAS TECH

Receiver: The Red Raiders' offense requires a lot of depth here. Tramain Swindall is the only loss at the position, but three more (Alex Torres, Cornelius Douglas, Darrin Moore) will be seniors. Douglas moved to cornerback this year after the team was racked with injury, but we'll see whether he moves back this offseason.

Offensive line: Tech has a huge need here. Four players won't be returning in 2012. Lonnie Edwards, Mickey Okafor and center Justin Keown must be replaced.

Defensive linemen: Tech's Donald Langley and Scott Smith are both out of eligibility, and juco transfer Leon Mackey will be a senior.

We're offering up grades for each team in the Big 12 after their seasons conclude, so here's a look at how the 6-7 Iowa State Cyclones graded out in 2011.

More report cards:

• Kansas
• Texas Tech
• Missouri
• Texas
• Baylor

OFFENSE: Iowa State played through a lot this season. Coach Paul Rhoads picked an ideal time to make a switch at quarterback, handing the reins from turnover-prone juco transfer Steele Jantz to untested freshman Jared Barnett early in a loss to Texas A&M. Barnett responded by leading ISU to a blowout win against Texas Tech, a win against Kansas and a season-defining upset of Oklahoma State that sent the Cyclones to a bowl game. Well-played by Rhoads, who switched back to Jantz after benching Barnett in an ugly Pinstripe Bowl loss to Rutgers in which neither quarterback played well. ISU had to rebound from the loss of Shontrelle Johnson, the team's best running back, who missed most of the season with a neck injury. James White stepped in as the starter and thrived, and Jeff Woody had a few big runs late in the season, including the winner against Oklahoma State. Darius Reynolds also emerged as a big target, earning his nickname of "Money," with seven touchdown catches. He led the team with 695 yards on 43 catches, but Josh Lenz offers plenty of reason for optimism next season. He had great chemistry with Barnett and had 510 yards on 39 catches with two scores.

GRADE: B-

DEFENSE: The defense looked a bit better this seaosn, but still struggled to stop the run consistently. The linebacking corps of Jake Knott and A.J. Klein emerged as the Big 12's best this season, but neither is spending a lot of time in opposing backfields. Instead, they're making tackles from behind the defensive line. Sure tackling or not, ISU's defensive line wasn't fantastic this season. The Cyclones' underrated secondary quietly ranked third in the Big 12. Leonard Johnson was the best of that group, and played his best game of the season against Justin Blackmon in the win against Oklahoma State.

GRADE: B

OVERALL: Iowa State is an interesting team. It's hard to give it grades that are too generous when it ranked outside the top half of the Big 12 in both total offense and defense. The Cyclones didn't truly excel at anything in 2011, but they're no doubt a tough team that isn't deterred by the odds. Once again, as they've done in all three seasons under Rhoads, they overachieved. It started with an amazing three-game run to start the season with wins against Northern Iowa, Iowa and UConn. The win against Oklahoma State offered Ames an unforgettable night, even if it led to a forgettable bowl loss at Yankee Stadium against Rutgers, a game in which ISU was clearly outplayed. Still, a bowl is a huge accomplishment for this squad, picked to finish ninth in the Big 12. You've got to give their "overall" grade a big bump for the big wins alone.

GRADE: A

The Big East ended the Big 12's perfect record in bowls by way of the 27-13 Rutgers win over Iowa State in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl, played Friday inside Yankee Stadium.

Iowa State fought late, but it's a solid win for the Scarlet Knights, playing only about an hour away from their campus.

How the game was won: Rutgers climbed out of an early 6-0 hole with a 17-point second quarter to take control of the game. The Scarlet Knights used a powerful running game to dominate Iowa State's front seven, while Iowa State's offense sputtered for much of the final three quarters.

Turning point: Iowa State made it interesting with a 20-yard touchdown run by Jeff Woody to cut the lead to 20-13, and the Cyclones got the ball back. But after a punt, Chas Dodd hit 6-foot-6 Brandon Coleman for an 86-yard touchdown with 5:47 to play. That basically wrapped this one up. Matching up 5-foot-7 Jeremy Reeves against Coleman? Not a great idea.

The Cyclones had a drive reach the red zone, but a fourth-down pass to Darius Reynolds in the end zone fell incomplete.

Stat of the game: This one was the antithesis of a thrilling nightcap Thursday, won by Baylor over Washington, 67-56. These two teams combined to convert just four of 26 third downs. So many punts. So few first downs.

Stat of the game 2: Rutgers won the turnover battle 3-0.

Player of the game: Jawan Jamison, RB, Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights averaged just 91.5 yards per game on the ground entering today's game. Only five teams in college football were worse, but Jamison's diminutive size (5-foot-8, 198 pounds) didn't prevent him from bruising the ISU defense and running hard for 134 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries. He had topped that production only once all season, with a 200-yard game in a win over Cincinnati. He and the Rutgers' running game took control in the second half.

Best call: Iowa State got off to a nice start with a gutsy move from coach Paul Rhoads. He faked a field goal on fourth-and-2 from Rutgers' 31-yard line on his second possession of the game. Holder Brett Bueker narrowly got the first down, and extended the drive by taking the snap and running straight ahead. It swung momentum, but after a sack, Iowa State had to settle for a field goal just 3 yards closer, which gave it a 6-0 lead. The Cyclones didn't score again until Woody's touchdown.

Second guessing: Rhoads' reluctance/refusal to put Jared Barnett back in the game after benching him for Steele Jantz. Jantz had a few nice runs to spark the offense when he came in, but he didn't help the offense convert very many third downs and wasn't much of an improvement over Barnett, who struggled early, completing just two of seven passes for 23 yards. Jantz's passes sailed on him for much of the night, while Barnett most often threw passes at receivers' shoelaces. Not a sharp day for the ISU quarterbacks. Barnett was a bit gimpy when he left the game in the first half, but if he was capable of playing, why not give him another shot in the second half?

Jantz finished 15-of-31 for 197 yards and two interceptions.

Well wishes: Big East defensive player of the year Khaseem Greene announced his plans to stay at Rutgers another year, rather than enter the NFL draft. The junior linebacker went down with an ugly right leg injury late in the fourth quarter, though, after a hit on Jantz. It didn't look good, and he was attended to by trainers on the field for several minutes, while in obvious pain. His teammates came on the field to encourage Greene before he left on a cart with his right leg in an air cast.

What it means: This wasn't the way Iowa State offensive coordinator Tom Herman wanted to go out. He'll leave Iowa State to join Urban Meyer's staff as his offensive coordinator and playcaller at Ohio State next season. Cyclones coach Paul Rhoads was denied his second bowl win in three years, but Rutgers coach Greg Schiano won his fifth consecutive bowl game.

Jantz also failed to recapture his fourth-quarter magic from early in the season. He quarterbacked the Cyclones to three fourth-quarter comebacks against Northern Iowa, Iowa and UConn, but the effort wasn't enough in this one.

Record performance: In the first half, Rutgers junior receiver Mohamed Sanu snatched the school record for receptions. He finished his season with 210 career catches, breaking running back Brian Leonard's record.

Shaky start for the Cowboys in this one, and it hasn't gone how Oklahoma State would like, but the Cowboys are in a good spot, leading 17-7 after a mistake-filled first half that featured a couple big plays.

Time for some analysis.

Turning point: Iowa State quarterback Jared Barnett converted a third down with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Darius Reynolds to pull the Cyclones within 10-7 midway through the second quarter. Barnett's thrown the ball a bit more than Iowa State would probably like, and he's been streaky while his receivers have been plagued by drops, but no pass was bigger than that one, and showed that the Cyclones meant business.

Stat of the half: Oklahoma State has 20 rushing yards on eight carries, and one of those carries went for 10 yards. Slowing the Cowboys offense is one of college football's most difficult tasks, but stopping the running game from rolling is the best way to make it manageable and give your defense a chance to make plays. Iowa State's linebackers have been outstanding.

Best player in the half: Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State. Weeden's been given all kinds of time by his offensive line, and he's made the Iowa State defense pay while the Cowboys have struggled running the ball. He's completed 23 of 30 passes for 267 yards and a touchdown. Despite being in just his second year as a starter, Weeden also broke the school record for career passing yards.

What Oklahoma State needs to do: Iowa State is in the game because of turnovers. Joseph Randle coughed up a fumble near midfield and Weeden threw an interception deep in ISU territory because he was pressured and forced an uncomfortable throw off his back foot. Chances are OSU scores on at least one of those drives and this game looks different without those miscues. The second-half objective should be obvious, then. OSU hasn't run the ball well and the Cowboys went with Jeremy Smith after the Randle fumble. Simply put, Oklahoma State does not lose this game if it plays a turnover-free second half.

What Iowa State needs to do: It's a scary proposition, but it must keep bringing the heat on Weeden and try to force him to make mistakes. The defensive line is getting no pressure when the Cyclones don't blitz, and Weeden will torch any defense with that kind of time — to say nothing of a defense like Iowa State's, which is far from elite. When ISU has blitzed, good things have happened. Keep doing it, and you might give up a big play, but you might make a few with blitzes. Iowa State's not going to win letting Weeden pick them apart. It slowed down the blitzes late in the second half and Weeden found his rhythm and started hitting on throws all over the field.

Furthermore, if OSU gives up turnovers in the second half, Iowa State has to take advantage. Neither first-half turnover cost Oklahoma State any points.

Here's what I'm watching for in the Big 12 this weekend.

1. Kansas State Snydering so hard on Oklahoma. No risky plays for big losses. No head-scratching turnovers (seven in 2011, the fewest in the Big 12). No penalties (only OU has fewer than K-State's 41) and opportunistic special teams and defense. Oklahoma's more talented, but K-State has put itself in position to win games this year ... and then won them. I'd be surprised if K-State wasn't in position to win another game via Snyderball.

2. Bounce back for the Sooners' stars. Landry Jones' accuracy was off last week against Texas Tech. Ryan Broyles had a dropped pass and an inexplicable fumble that we haven't seen from him often, if ever. Kansas State's defense will be better than Tech, but will the Sooners' offense rebound? Those two will need to make it happen.

3. RG3 on the loose. Oklahoma State fans love noting that the most-often statuesque Brandon Weeden (19 yards) outrushed the track star Robert Griffin III (15) in last year's win over Baylor. Will that be the case again? Or will RG3 go back to having success as a true dual threat?

4. Brandon Weeden's complementary threats. The Cowboys think Justin Blackmon is going to play after getting "dinged" in the head last week and undergoing concussion tests this week. If he does, he won't have Hubert Anyiam with him. Isaiah Anderson slides into his role, but does Weeden look Josh Cooper's way more without his fellow No. 2 target?

5. Which Kansas shows up? Texas is a winnable game for KU, but the Jayhawks went from showing some fight for a game and a half against OU and Kansas State to getting trounced in the second half. A win on Saturday would be the biggest for Turner Gill at Kansas, and would go a long way toward inspiring some confidence in the future. The Jayhawks are just 1-18 in their past 19 Big 12 games, dating back to the final seven games of 2009, before Gill arrived.

6. The Texas quarterback shuffle. Case McCoy and David Ash have split reps in practice this week, despite Ash playing the entirety of a loss to Oklahoma State two weeks ago. Does anyone make a case for himself as the full-time starter this week against Kansas? Or does this dance continue? My bet is the latter.

7. Texas Tech's receivers. Darrin Moore was on the field, but clearly not healthy against Oklahoma last week. Alex Torres and Eric Ward picked up the slack very nicely. Does the offense get another boost as Moore returns to being the big-play weapon he was in the first couple of games this season?

8. Jared Barnett. Iowa State's freshman quarterback is making his first start, after filling in with lots of good moments and a few bad ones against Texas A&M last week. Can Darius Reynolds help out after struggling last week, and can Josh Lenz keep making plays to help the Cyclones pull the upset?

9. Big plays, but for whom? Texas A&M might have the most fascinating defense in the country this year -- leading the nation in sacks, but giving up more passing yards than anyone. Which does Missouri quarterback James Franklin see more of on Saturday? It'll be a tough atmosphere, but these are two of the best rushing teams in the league.

10. S-E ... see? I mean, this just has to be awkward. Do Texas A&M fans and Missouri fans engage in a flirtatious S-E-C chant? Does either team begin a misguided taunt before realizing the other is coming with them? Hopefully there's some pregame conversations to discuss chanting logistics.

An 0-of-4 start with an interception meant an early hook for Steele Jantz in Iowa State's 33-17 loss to Texas A&M.

In his place, a freshman: Jared Barnett.

Barnett wasn't great, finishing 16-of-36 for 180 yards and no touchdowns. But a bigger number was the zero in the interception column.

He carried the ball 13 times for 66 yards, too.

Jantz has struggled with turnovers all season, throwing nine interceptions (the most in the Big 12) to just 10 touchdowns in six games.

Barnett didn't get much help from his receivers Saturday, who struggled with drops. His top target, Darius Reynolds, had just one catch for seven yards and dropped an easy pass down the middle of the field late in the first half that likely would have led to points.

Josh Lenz, though, stepped in with a career day, catching eight passes for 117 yards for his first 100-yard day.

Jantz has to progress as a passer, but it's clear Barnett isn't far behind. Jantz is battling a foot injury as well.

Barnett made plays and kept his team in the game. Not something you would expect from a freshman playing in his first meaningful game. Who knows how Barnett will grow if the Cyclones keep him at the helm and give him his first start next week.

Jantz is a junior, but the juco transfer is playing his first season of major-college football, too.

Iowa State doesn't have a ton of firepower offensively, and it can't afford to have possessions end in turnovers, even if Jantz's fourth-quarter heroics pushed the Cyclones to a 3-0 start.

Barnett didn't turn the ball over on Saturday, and until he does, he shouldn't have to turn the job over either.

Steele Jantz got benched without completing a pass, including an interception in his first four attempts.

After a strong start, Jared Barnett has completed just 6-of-19 passes for 52 yards and ISU trails, 30-14.

He's not gotten much help with a handful of drops, including a perfectly thrown deep ball near the end of the first half.

The team's leading receiver, Darius Reynolds, dropped that ball and doesn't have a catch today.

Josh Lenz has been a bright spot, with six catches for 92 yards, the only Cyclone with more than one catch.

Iowa State had to score points to stay in this game. That starts with the quarterback play.

The Cyclones haven't been good enough at that position today to threaten Texas A&M.

This list was really, really difficult to put together. Much more so than the pre or postseason lists. That sort of surprised me. Lots and lots of talented players just missed my list.

Once again, here was the criteria I examined in putting together the list.

And here's the full list.

In no particular order, here are other players I considered, but couldn't put on the list. This league is deep in the standings, and it's no different on the field. Don't be surprised to see any of these guys on the postseason list.

Ronnell Lewis, DE, Oklahoma: Lewis is seventh in the Big 12 with 3.5 sacks, and has 37 tackles, with two pass breakups and a forced fumble.

Nigel Malone, CB, Kansas State: No cornerbacks made my top 25, but Malone is among a handful of DBs that were close. He leads the Big 12 with four interceptions, and has 27 tackles with four pass breakups.

Brodrick Brown, CB, Oklahoma State: Brown is right there, too. He's made 21 tackles, broken up seven passes, intercepted three passes and made two tackles for loss.

Meshak Williams, DE, Kansas State: Williams is a breakout player this year, sitting at fourth in the Big 12 with four sacks. He also has 5.5 tackles for loss, 13 tackles and a forced fumble.

Kenny Stills, WR, Oklahoma: Stills has missed two games this season, but he's made 27 catches for 330 yards and five touchdowns. That puts him at seventh in the Big 12 in TD catches.

A.J. Klein, LB, Iowa State: Klein is a worthy sidekick to top 10 player Jake Knott in Ames. Klein's made 45 tackles (7th in the Big 12) and has four tackles for loss with an interception for a touchdown and a sack.

James Franklin, QB, Missouri: Franklin has gotten it done as a sophomore first-year starter in a league filled with great QB play. He's thrown for 1,488 yards, 10 touchdowns and four interceptions, while also running for 390 yards (12th in the Big 12) and seven scores.

Cyrus Gray, RB, Texas A&M: Gray's been good, but his teammate Christine Michael has just been a bit better. He's ninth in the Big 12 with 521 yards and seven touchdowns. He's also caught 13 passes for 112 yards and a score.

Jamell Fleming, CB, Oklahoma: Fleming entered the season as the league's best corner, and he's still in the conversation. He's made 30 tackles, returned a fumble for a touchdown, has broken up three passes and forced a fumble. He also has two tackles for loss.

Jamie Blatnick, DE, Oklahoma State: Blatnick has been a force up front, ranking third in the Big 12 with five sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss, 27 tackles and an interception. He also has a fumble recovery and a pass breakup.

Demontre Hurst, CB, Oklahoma: Hurst and Fleming form the Big 12's best cornerback duo, and Hurst has made 23 tackles, one tackle for loss and returned his lone interception 55 yards for a touchdown. He's also forced a fumble and broken up three passes.

Joseph Randle, RB, Oklahoma State: Randle has 552 rushing yards and is second in the Big 12 with nine touchdowns, filling in admirably for the departed Kendall Hunter.

Carrington Byndom, CB, Texas: Byndom's stepped in as a first-year starter and been a huge boon to Texas' defense, making 28 tackles and intercepting a pass. He helped shut down Justin Blackmon last week, and has broken up nine passes with 3.5 tackles for loss.

Brad Madison, DE, Missouri: Madison has 3.5 sacks and an interception, with 18 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss. He's also forced a fumble.

Darius Reynolds, WR, Iowa State: Reynolds made a few huge catches in the Cyclones' early 3-0 start, including an eventual game-winner against UConn, and has 522 yards and 28 catches to rank fifth in the Big 12. He also has six touchdown catches.

Jordan Voelker, DE, Kansas State: Voelker and Williams have been a huge surprise at defensive end, making four sacks to tie for fourth in the Big 12, with five tackles for loss, 18 tackles and a pass broken up.

Kelechi Osemele, OT, Iowa State: Osemele has a bright future in the NFL. ISU's offense has rushed for a Big 12-low 903 yards and given up 15 sacks, but Osemele has still been solid, albeit banged up.

Terrance Ganaway, RB, Baylor: Ganaway may finish with 1,000 yards after big games against Texas Tech and TCU. He's sixth in the Big 12 with 561 yards and seven touchdowns.

I'm just saying: The guy's a judge. He could put a shirt on.

• This year's Bedlam is so big it needs a new name, writes Jenni Carlson of The Oklahoman. Readers: What ya got?
• Is Missouri a financial fit in the SEC? Its spending in sports pales in comparison to the best in the SEC, writes Stu Durando of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Here's how Missouri stacks up in total athletic department spending.
• If the Tigers leave, there are no winners, and both sides could have done a lot to maintain the relationship, writes Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star. He's got a little more to say about the column in his blog, too.
• Former SEC commissioner Roy Kramer talks about Missouri's possible future membership in the league with Jon Solomon of the Birmingham News. Interesting stuff here.
• Less practice and more fun have meant big success at Oklahoma State, writes Dennis Dodd of CBSSports.com.
• Will it mean a Heisman for Justin Blackmon? OSU's receiver knows his position puts him at a disadvantage, but Jeff Miller of ESPN Dallas checks out his chances.
• Cedric Golden and Kirk Bohls of the Austin American-Statesman grade the first half of the season for Texas.
• Do the right thing, Kansas: Fire Turner Gill and re-hire Mark Mangino, writes Bill Reiter of Fox Sports.
• Iowa State receiver Darius Reynolds is nicknamed "Money" and he's finally living up to the moniker, writes Mark Emmert of the Des Moines Register.
• Jimmy Burch of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram looks back on the highlights and lowlights of the first half of the season.
• Oklahoma State's Wilson Youman is one of the last two-way players, but he's excelling for the Cowboys, writes John Helsley of The Oklahoman.
• A piece of history at Oklahoma nearly ended up in the trash can.
• The rivalry in Kansas has a special effect on Kansas OL Tanner Hawkinson's household, writes Matt Tait of the Lawrence Journal-World.
• Get ready for a fast game in Norman on Saturday, writes David Just of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.

Time for another round of fun facts about Saturday's games, courtesy of ESPN Stats & Info, as well as various sports information departments around the Big 12.

You make your readers the smartest people at their tailgates. For that, we are thankful.

• Kansas State (Collin Klein, John Hubert) and Texas A&M (Cyrus Gray, Christine Michael) are two of just five teams with two rushers in the national top 50.
• Landry Jones' 1,236 first-half passing yards this season are the most in the FBS.
• Oklahoma and Texas are a combined 25-0 under Mack Brown and Bob Stoops in the week following the Red River Rivalry.
• In that stretch of 12 games for Oklahoma, the Sooners have beaten Kansas four times. Oklahoma averages a 39-14 victory in the 12 games.
• In home attendance percentage, five Big 12 teams rank in the national top 15 with percentages over 100. Texas A&M (104.79) leads the group, which also includes Texas, Oklahoma, Texas Tech and Iowa State. Kansas State has filled 99.30 percent of its seats this season.
• Last year, East Carolina gave up 572 points to set the all-time record for scoring defense futility. Kansas is on track to give up 592 points this season.
• Oklahoma State has never beaten Texas in consecutive meetings.
• Oklahoma's 10-game winning streak is the second-longest in college football. (Stanford, 13 games)
• Oklahoma receiver Ryan Broyles needs four receptions to break Purdue receiver Taylor Stubblefield's NCAA career record of 316 receptions, set in 2004.
• True freshman Malcolm Brown has led Texas in rushing in every game this year.
• This year was just the second time (2004) in Big 12 history that every Big 12 team finished nonconference play with a winning record.
• Three Big 12 teams will earn bowl eligibility with a win on Saturday: Kansas State, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.
• Kansas State leads the nation in time of possession (35:57) and has won the stat in each of its five games this season.
• Baylor had 37 first downs against Iowa State last week, a school record.
• Kansas State is last in the Big 12 in total offense.
• Iowa State receiver Darius Reynolds' 178 receiving yards last week were the most by a Cyclone since Todd Blythe had 214 against Texas A&M in 2005.
• Oklahoma State's seven-game road winning streak is the nation's third-longest and the second-longest in school history.
• Missouri has won nine consecutive games at home, the third-longest streak in school history.
• Kansas scored 26 touchdowns last season, but has 24 through five games this year.
• Kansas State hasn't beaten Texas Tech since 2000.
• Jordan Webb's 316 yards last week marked the first 300-yard game by a Jayhawks quarterback since Todd Reesing threw for 498 yards against Missouri in 2009.
• Last week, Oklahoma State set school records with 35 first-quarter points and a 56-point first half. The Cowboys hadn't scored 70 points since beating Southern Illinois 70-7 in 1973.
• Texas hasn't given up a touchdown in the first quarter this season.
• This weekend is Missouri's 100th Homecoming game.
• Last week's victory over Texas was Bob Stoops' 43rd over a ranked team, which matched Barry Switzer's school record.
• Missouri tight end Michael Egnew only had eight catches this season before catching eight passes in last week's loss to Kansas State.

IOWA STATE CYCLONES

Record: 3-2 (0-2 Big 12)

Iowa State's season began with drama and a dream. Three fourth-quarter comebacks and an overtime win over rival Iowa had the Cyclones undefeated and 3-0 riding a fantastically named quarterback in Steele Jantz and an improving group of skill position players. A pair of 23-point losses to Texas and Baylor have followed, but Iowa State is still in the hunt for a bowl game -- its second in three years under Paul Rhoads. But it's going to be tough with a nine-game conference schedule and dates with four ranked teams ahead. Linebackers A.J. Klein and Jake Knott have continued their excellence, and any path to a bowl game likely will require a win at Missouri on Saturday and wins at Texas Tech and Kansas to follow.

Or does Rhoads have another shocking upset up his sleeve to help the Cyclones sneak into the postseason?

Shontrelle Johnson had high hopes before the season, but he's been banged up. RB James White has emerged and played well, as has WR Darius Reynolds, who has six touchdowns and 488 yards receiving.

Offensive MVP: Steele Jantz, QB. I nearly gave this to Reynolds, but I'll go with the early-season playmaker who is still learning to take care of the ball. He's shown the ability to make plays with the game on the line, and he rallied his team back for three wins early in the season. He's also proven to be one of the most mentally tough passers in the league. On the road against UConn, he threw interceptions on three of his first four passes, but came back and got the win. There aren many passers who can't do that. He's thrown for 1,161 yards and 10 touchdowns with eight interceptions, while also running for 148 yards and two more scores.

Defensive MVP: Jake Knott, LB. The Cyclones' "tough nut" is back and excelling as expected. His 59 tackles are 13 more than any player in the Big 12, and he's making his case as the Big 12's top defender. He ranks 13th nationally in tackles after his 18-tackle day against Baylor, and he has 3.5 tackles for loss and has forced a fumble.