ESPN College Football

The Pac-10 and Big 12 nearly got married last year, but only Colorado ended up eloping with the now-Pac-12.

You know: The conference that can count!

But the Pac-12, which has, yes, 12 teams, and the Big 12, which has 10 teams (though it's often hard to keep up with which ones), play each other in three bowl games this holiday season.

Joy to the world.

So it seemed like a good time for the Pac-12 and Big 12 bloggers -- Ted Miller and David Ubben -- to say howdy and discuss all the coming fun.

Ted Miller: Ah, David, the bowl season. Pure bliss. Unless you’re the Pac-12, which is expected to get a whipping from your conference over the holidays. We have three Pac-12-Big 12 bowl games with the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl between Stanford and Oklahoma State, the Valero Alamo with Baylor and Washington, and the Bridgepoint Education Holiday matching California and Texas. And the Big 12 is favored in all three!

Poor ole West Coast teams. What are we to do? It’s almost like the Big 12 is the SEC or something. Speaking of which, how are things with your Cowboys? Are they over not getting a shot at LSU for the national title? Are they excited about getting a shot at Andrew Luck and Stanford? We might as well start with that outstanding matchup in Glendale.

David Ubben: You know, I was actually a little surprised. I stuck around Stillwater for the BCS bowl selection show announcement, and the players took the news pretty well. They found out an hour before, but there wasn't a ton of down-in-the-dumpiness from the Pokes. When you've never been to this point before, it's a bit difficult to develop a sense of entitlement. If Oklahoma had OSU's record and was passed over by Alabama and sent to the Fiesta Bowl for the 17th time in the past six years, you might have had a different reaction.

But Oklahoma State's first trip to the BCS and first Big 12 title aren't being overlooked. These players are looking forward to this game. There's no doubt about that.

I know the Big 12 seems like the SEC, but I have a confession, Ted. I wasn't supposed to tell anybody, but I can't hold it in anymore. When the Big 12 began back in 1996 ... wow, I'm really going to do this ... then-SEC commissioner Roy Kramer graciously allowed the league to keep two of his teams. The league made a similar arrangement with the Big Eight a century ago, and the Southwest Conference around the same time. Missouri and Texas A&M are really wolves in sheep's clothing: SEC teams just pretending to be in other leagues. So, that might explain the Big 12's recent dominance.

These should all be fun games, though. I ranked two of the matchups among the top three in my bowl rankings.

As for the big one, they say you learn more by losing than by winning. Stanford got its first BCS win. How do you think that experience plays into this year's game? I hate to ruin the surprise, but Oklahoma State's a bit better than the Virginia Tech team Stanford beat last season. OSU's loss to Iowa State this season is bad, but it's nothing like the Hokies' loss to James Madison last season.

Ted Miller: Not only is Oklahoma State better than Virginia Tech, it's still questionable whether this Stanford team is better than last year's. Since we're going all crazy and whispering about the SEC, there was a feeling out West that by the end of the 2010 season the Cardinal might not only be the best team in the Pac-12 but also in the nation. They were big and physical and quarterback Luck actually had a solid receiving corps with which to work. After a loss to Oregon in the fifth game, they didn't lose again until playing, er, Oregon in this year's 10th game. If we could go back in time and have the Cardinal play Auburn, I think Stanford would have won the national title.

But that's 2010. The difference this year is the season-ending knee injury to middle linebacker Shayne Skov, who was an All-American candidate, a slight step back on the offensive line and a lack of top-flight receivers. But if Oklahoma State fans are looking for something to worry about it is this: Stanford's running game.

The Pokes are bad against the run, and they haven't faced a team that is as physical and creative in the running game as Stanford. As much as folks talk about Luck's passing, it's his run checks that often ruin a defense's evening.

The Fiesta Bowl matchup looks like a great one, perhaps the best of the bowl season. But I’m excited to see Mr. Excitement Robert Griffin III in the Alamo Bowl against Washington. Of course, I’m not sure that the Huskies, their fans and embattled Huskies defensive coordinator Nick Holt are as thrilled. First, tell us about what Washington should be most worried about with Griffin. Then tell us about Baylor in general. Such as: Can the Bears stop anyone?

David Ubben: Nope. Not really.

Oklahoma State's defense unfairly gets a bad rap. Baylor's bad rap is earned. This is the same team that won five consecutive games late in the season -- but became the first team ever to win four consecutive in a single season while giving up 30 points in each.

Which, if you ask me, says plenty about both the defense and the power of RG3. They've got a lot of athletes on the defense, but when four of your top five tacklers are defensive backs, well, you need a guy like RG3 to go 9-3.

The man is a nightmare. Top to bottom, he's the most accurate passer in a quarterback-driven league. Then, you add in his athleticism, which he doesn't even really need to be extremely productive. It sets him apart, though, and forces defenses to account for it, and it buys him time in the pocket. How many guys break a 20-plus yard run before hitting a receiver for a game-winning 39-yard score to beat a team like Oklahoma for the first time?

How do you think Washington will try to slow him down? What has to happen for them to have some success?

Ted Miller: This game matches the 99th (Washington) and 109th (Baylor) scoring defenses. It has a 78-point over-under, the biggest of any bowl game. The offenses are going to score plenty, at least that's the conventional wisdom.

How does Washington stop RGIII? His name is Chris Polk. He's a running back. Baylor gives up 199 yards rushing per game. Polk right, left and up the middle is a good way to contain Griffin. The Huskies' best hope is to reduce Griffin's touches with ball control. It also needs to convert touchdowns, not field goals, in the redzone. The Huskies are pretty good at that, scoring 36 TDs in 45 visits to the red zone.

The Huskies also have a pretty good quarterback in Keith Price, who set a school record with 29 touchdown passes this year. He and a solid crew of receivers have prevented teams from ganging up against Polk. But Polk is the guy who burns the clock.

Should be a fun game. As should, by the way, the Holiday Bowl. David, Cal fans are still mad at Texas coach Mack Brown and his politicking the Longhorns into the Rose Bowl in 2004. Every team wants to win its bowl game, but the Old Blues really want to beat Brown.

Of course, neither team is what it was in 2004. Cal has an excuse. It's not a college football superpower. Sure you've been asked this before, but give me the CliffsNotes version of why the Longhorns have fallen so hard since playing for the national title in 2009.

David Ubben: Cal fans are still mad? Really? I'd suggest they get over themselves. What's anybody on that Cal team ever done anyway? It's not like the best player in the NFL missed out on a chance to play in the Rose Bowl. Now, if that were the case, we might have a problem. But honestly, I don't think Tim Tebow cares all that much about the Rose Bowl.

As for Texas' struggles?

The easy answer is quarterback play. Texas relied on Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley more than anyone realized. When they were gone, Texas couldn't run the ball, and quarterback Garrett Gilbert never made it happen. Two seasons later, the Longhorns still don't have a quarterback.

The other big answer last season was turnover margin. Gilbert threw 17 interceptions and the Longhorns were minus-12 in turnovers, which ranked 115th nationally.

They were still only 90th this year, and without solid quarterback play in a Big 12 dominated by passers, they scored five, 13 and 17 points in three of their five losses. Texas keeps people from moving the ball and runs the ball better this year, but without a solid passing game and a defense that changes games, it's tough to rack up wins in the Big 12.

It's been awhile since Cal was in the mix for the BCS, even as USC has fallen. Oregon answered the call and rose, but what has prevented Cal from winning the Pac-10 and Super Pac-10 since the Trojans' swoon?

Ted Miller: You mention quarterback play. Cal fans ... any thoughts? You mention Aaron Rodgers. Cal fans? Oh, well, that's not very nice during this festive time of the year.

Cal has become a solid defensive team, but it's lost its offensive mojo, and that can be traced to a drop in quarterback play since Rodgers departed. The latest Bears quarterback, Zach Maynard, started fairly well, stumbled, but then seemed to catch on late in the season. It's reasonable to believe the team that gets better quarterback play -- mistake-free quarterback play -- is going to win this game.

Nice to cover a conference where quarterback play matters, eh David?

Speaking of quarterback play and winning, let's wind it up. Our specific predictions aren't coming on these games until after Christmas. But we can handicap the Big 12-Pac-12 side of things. We have a three-game series this bowl seasons.

I say the Pac-12, underdogs in all three games, goes 1-2. What say you?

David Ubben: And to think, before the season, all I heard was the Pac-12 had surpassed the Big 12 in quarterback play. Did somebody petition the NCAA for another year of eligibility for Jake Locker and/or clone Matt Barkley? You West Coast folk are geniuses; I figured you'd find a way. We can't all be Stanford alums ...

Clearing out all the tumbleweeds here in middle America, I'll go out on a limb for the Big 12 in this one. Every matchup is a good one, and I don't think Cal has seen a defense like Texas' and Washington hasn't seen an offense like Baylor's. People forget that, yeah, RG3 is outstanding, but the Bears also have the league's leading receiver and leading rusher.

Stanford-OSU is a toss-up, but I'll go with a perfect sweep for the Big 12. The Cowboys haven't played poorly on the big stage yet, so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt in this one, and they clean up for the Big 12 against what was almost its new conference this fall.

Oh, what could have been. Ubben and Miller on the same blog? Divided ultimately by a little thing we call the Rockies.

Oklahoma and Texas are still in the first half of their games, but barring a collapse, we could be seeing a Red River Rivalry game featuring unbeaten teams in the Cotton Bowl next week.

Oklahoma didn't play well early, but it strung together 28 points in just under 5:30 to take a 38-6 lead. They have Tony Jefferson to thank for that. The safety all but assured himself Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week by intercepting passes on three consecutive drives.

The Sooners led just 10-3 after the first quarter, but Dominique Whaley (12 car. 96 yards, 2 touchdowns) and Oklahoma have taken over.

Meanwhile, in Ames, a showdown between Iowa State and Texas hasn't morphed into much of what we expected. The Longhorns lead 34-0 late in the first half.

David Ash has thrown for 113 yards and two scores, with a 48-yard score to Mike Davis and a 40-yard pass to Jordan Shipley, while Iowa State's cornerbacks looked lost.

Impressive performances for both teams, and exactly what both teams wanted heading into next week's annual epic.

It's going to be a great one.

AUSTIN, Texas -- Case McCoy had to laugh when the question came up, but with a self-aware smile, he made the confirmation.

McCoy and receiver Jaxon Shipley are, in fact, roommates.

"We've really dreamed of playing together for a long time, and that was fun tonight," McCoy said. "Hopefully, it'll be fun for the rest of the time we're here."

The players' older brothers, Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley, were famously roommates and served up constant reminders during their years as Longhorns.

Both players' fathers were also roommates in college.

This will be the last mention of this factoid in this space.

But at this point, the only thing left to do is laugh.

AUSTIN, Texas -- Jaxon Shipley has been around Texas' campus for quite awhile.

So has coach Mack Brown.

Of course, when Shipley first got there, he was rolling down the hills surrounding the practice field. He later graduated to sliding down the hill on cardboard.

Give Shipley a break, though. That was back when big brother Jordan Shipley was practicing and he was "watching."

Now, it's Jaxon Shipley's turn, and he's making noise early in his career.

"He’s come in mature beyond his years and he hasn’t been overwhelmed by whatever, the fanfare, the moment, 100,000 people in the stands, he just hasn’t been overwhelmed," said senior safety Blake Gideon.

The result? Shipley became the first true freshman receiver to catch a touchdown pass in a season opener in Texas history. He caught a pass from John Harris on a trick play for his 36-yard touchdown and added another 18-yard catch to finish with 54 yards.

Shipley won the team's offensive MVP award for the game, and Brown had a tough time remembering the last freshman to do so in his first game.

"During 7-on-7 stuff this summer he was hopping in there with the first group very quickly and did a good job, so you know, I knew from the start he was going to be a good player," said junior quarterback Garrett Gilbert. "He really shined the other night."

Gilbert loved what he saw during the summer, but he didn't get to see much of Shipley during the spring. Despite graduating high school early, he decided to spend the spring semester working with the player that he may never stop being compared to: his brother, Jordan Shipley.

Brown called the decision "smart." Shipley's academics were in order and he didn't need to enroll at Texas early. He had a sore knee, too. Jordan Shipley was locked out by the NFL and planned to get married in the spring.

"This gave him a chance to spend more time with his brother than he’ll probably ever get again," Brown said. "He said he could spend all spring working on their route running together, so it made sense to me."

The comparisons are obvious, and far from forced.

Both can "run forever" Brown said, noting that Shipley stood out in Sunday's conditioning workout after the win over Rice. Brown credits having a father as a coach, and, of course, the work with his brother.

"The way they run looks similar and they both run very good routes," Gilbert said. "Jordan is doing it at the highest level right now ... and I’m sure he taught his little brother some of that stuff."

Jaxon Shipley hasn't encountered any of the injuries that kept Jordan on campus for six seasons, but his potential? Undeniable.

"He’s a great young cat," said linebacker Keenan Robinson. "He’s a guy that’s shown me a lot in camp. He hardly ever drops the ball in practice. He’s a guy that’s following in the right footsteps. He could be as good or better than his brother was. He’s definitely that. He definitely has a chance to put up big numbers, and I expect him to possibly be a freshman All-American this season."

That's a long way from sliding down a grass hill during Longhorns' practices.

We know less about Texas than any team in the Big 12.

That's by design, of course, but after the team released its Week 1 depth chart on Monday, that's still the case, with apologies to Kansas State.

Texas hasn't had a practice open to the media all offseason. Quarterbacks spoke to the media today for the first time since a Thanksgiving night loss to Texas A&M.

Players weren't made available to the media during fall camp until 11 days had passed.

So, more so than any team in the league, these Horns are an unknown commodity. Coach Mack Brown provided a peek underneath the veil on Monday, but we won't get a real sense for how good Texas can be until it opens the season Saturday against Rice. We'll learn a good deal more of what we need to know when BYU travels to Austin the following week.

For now, though, here's what we've got:

• The big news is obvious: Garrett Gilbert gets the nod at quarterback. He was the safe bet all offseason, and the guy I thought would eventually get it. I doubted originally how "open" the job actually was, but to be clear, I don't think this whole QB race was a ruse. It was open. Gilbert re-won it. As for the difference this year? There's no doubt that if Gilbert struggles like he did in 2010, backup Case McCoy will get a look much quicker. "He’s the starting quarterback. If he moves the ball and scores, he’ll keep the job," Brown told reporters on Monday.
• Hyped freshman corner Quandre Diggs wowed in the spring game, and has mesmerized his teammates all fall. He's a co-starter at one of the cornerback spots alongside Adrian Phillips.
• Jordan Hicks missed the spring with a broken foot, but he's come on strong in the fall, seizing a starting spot at strongside linebacker. The Ohio native was one of the nation's best linebackers in the 2010 class, but he'll get a chance to grow alongside Keenan Robinson and Emmanuel Acho.
• Fozzy Whittaker is the starter at running back. His backup? A three-way tie between Joe Bergeron, Malcolm Brown and D.J. Monroe. The race at running back should be fascinating to watch.
• Good to see Blaine Irby back after his awful knee injury. He'll start at H-back.
• Look out for Shipley 2.0. Jaxon Shipley, Jordan's younger brother, is the starter at H receiver and will return punts. Every indication we've heard is he's a playmaker and will get a chance to show it early on. He graduated early, but instead of enrolling at UT and going through spring practice, he worked out with Jordan during the NFL lockout.
• Diggs and Monroe will handle kickoff return duties.
• Starting center? Redshirt freshman Dominic Espinosa. Tray Allen is back at left tackle, too, after missing all of last season because of a foot injury.

Coaches across the Big 12 are opening camp Thursday or hosting media days, and we've already seen news from a pair of them.

Texas coach Mack Brown announced receiver Malcolm Williams will miss his senior season and focus on a family situation, as well as academics.

The pair met on Thursday morning and made the decision, Brown said.

"He’s had some tough things happen that would be tough for all of us, that got tougher in the summer," Brown told reporters. "He was planning on playing, but some more things popped up. This morning, we talked. I want what’s best for him. I wish him well.”

Williams, a 6-foot-3, 220-pounder who caught 24 passes for 334 yards and two scores last season, would have been the team's lone senior receiver. He was also the team's second-leading receiver 2009 behind Jordan Shipley, when he caught 39 passes for 550 yards and two touchdowns.

Missouri also shared some bad news as camp opened. The Tigers had four featured running backs last season, but may have to make do with three this season, according to multiple reporters on the scene in Columbia for the first practice of fall camp.

Marcus Murphy had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder and his return is indefinite after rushing 22 times for 181 yards and two touchdowns as a freshman in 2010.

Murphy was also the team's top kick returner, averaging just fewer than 20 yards on his 24 returns

Thanks for all the emails, everyone. Short day today. Have a good weekend, and we'll see you live Monday morning from Big 12 Media Days. Get excited.

Justin in Forney, Texas, asked: DU, Why are we seeing A&M back in the news with the SEC? While I understand their frustration with the Longhorn Network, I do not see their recruiting increasing by moving to the SEC. Is this going to be a recurring issue each summer?

David Ubben: Yeah, my stance has basically remained the same since A&M's flirtations with the SEC started up more than a year ago. Texas A&M's decision-makers understand the risk in moving to the SEC, as well as the historical repercussions, saying goodbye to long-standing traditions with so many of the other schools in Texas.

Fans see opportunity for the program to grow in the SEC, and it's not impossible, but I feel it's much, much more likely that Texas A&M doesn't win in the SEC at the level it's won in the Big 12, which is already to say, not a ton. I see them on par with what Arkansas is now. Once in awhile, you may see them in the championship game, but if they're going to win a conference title, it's going to be once every 10-20 years. Programs like Alabama, LSU, Florida and rising powers like Auburn, not to mention sleeping powers like Georgia and Tennessee, won't make good new roommates if the Aggies want to win.

The recruiting advantages are overstated. The majority of players growing up in Texas dream of becoming Longhorns and beating the SEC, not going and playing in the SEC. Sure, when they get older, some of them realize schools like OU and Texas A&M are a better fit, but I absolutely, 100 percent disagree that "playing in the SEC" is a big draw for kids in Texas, and something that would help the Aggies recruiting substantially. It might be for a few guys, but it's not a game-changer, and the more difficult schedule would negate, if not overtake those advantages.

So, no. I don't think we'll see this every summer. Once this issue with the Longhorn Network is settled, I think the Big 12 will be back on solid footing. It will be glued together by the billion-dollar deal from Fox that it signed earlier this offseason, and looking forward to making even more money in 2014-15 when it negotiates a new deal for first-tier rights.

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Eric in Manhattan, Kan., asked: Why does David Garrett always seem to get the shaft? He is all of 5'8" and under 180 lbs, but he hits like a 230 lb linebacker. I've seen him on multiple occasion level running backs and not be scared to take on a fullback. Then on player and awards lists he's never mentioned, even though last year he had the most tackles for the Cats.

DU: Well, I think the biggest factor was a) Kansas State didn't win enough games to get a lot of attention last season and b) their team wasn't very fun to watch.

Big 12 fans, for better or worse, have come to love the spread game and like watching teams ring up points. Kansas State scored plenty last season (third-most in the Big 12, in fact), but it wasn't a very fun team to watch. More than anything else, I point to those two factors more than any one thing about Garrett himself. It's an exposure issue.

Anyone who saw him play appreciated him, but for as much of a great football player as he is, his coverage does leave a bit to be desired, and for a cornerback, that's a big deal. You'd probably hear guys like Prince Amukamara, Alfonzo Dennard, and Jamell Fleming be appreciated a lot more, because they specialize more in coverage. If Garrett does move around and play some more safety or nickel back, he'd probably get some more notice.

It's unfair, but that's just how it is. You can't really change what people want to see or notice.

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Denny Hinds in Waterloo, Iowa, asked: Tiller or Jantz in your opinion? I like jantz.

DU: I can't help but look back and think of Taylor Martinez when I think of Steele Jantz. Did Martinez have his shortcomings as a quarterback? Obviously, yes. But he wasn't significantly worse than Cody Green or Zac Lee as a passer, and his ability to run provided an absolute advantage and a new facet to the offense that no one else on the roster can provide.

For that reason, I think you'll see Jantz win the job. Tiller was very unimpressive when he got chances last season, and it's hard to believe Jantz is a worse passer. But his speed changes what Iowa State can do on offense, and it's worth putting him out there versus Tiller, unless Tiller is a substantially better passer.

For now, I don't believe he is. So, Jantz it is.

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Andy in St. Louis asked: Last season, Missouri had a good rushing attack. It was strength and very effective at times, but it was still only solid. Do you think that with all returning running backs, 4 returning o-lineman, and a more run-oriented QB Mizzou's run game can make the jump to elite?

DU: It's got a pretty good chance to do it. Their running backs are great, especially when you add up their production. Any coach would love to have a 1,557-yard rusher with 19 touchdowns. And all four guys averaged more than 5.2 yards per carry! That's crazy. Missouri will benefit from not having to face a team like Nebraska, a speedy defense with instinctive defensive backs and linebackers capable of shutting down the Tigers slow-developing running game that usually starts 5-7 yards in the backfield.

Nebraska really abused Missouri's offense, but the Tigers had a lot of success against just about everyone else. I'd argue Missouri was pretty close to elite in 2010. Even though the style of its running game doesn't exactly strike fear into defenses, you can't argue with the effectiveness with the running backs. Blaine Gabbert actually had 13 more carries than any running back, but only gained 232 yards on his 112 carries, dragging down the team's average into the middle of the Big 12.

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Seth Doege in Lubbock, Texas, asked: Should I attempt to do the "Teach Me How To Doege" dance after I score my first TD this year?

DU: YES.

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John in Broken Arrow, Okla., asked: Ubbs, if Blackmon and Weeden have another year like last year where would you rank them as far as QB-WR tandems in Big XII history?

DU: Interesting question. If Justin Blackmon repeats and wins the Biletnikoff with equal or better numbers than he had in 2010, I think you'd have to put them at least on the level -- probably higher -- than Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree.

They won't have the longevity of the success Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley ever had, but Shipley never had a season like Blackmon had last season. Blackmon put together one of the all-time great seasons in college football history. It's been repeated ad nauseum, but I'm not sure people fully appreciate how difficult it is to account for 100 yards and a touchdown in every single game. No one had ever done that before. We might never see it again.

If nothing else, that might put Blackmon over the top.

Heading into the season, I see five teams in the Big 12 with a realistic chance to win the league. I'll be breaking them down in order (which won't be the same as my post-spring power rankings) of their chances to leave the season with the Big 12 title.

No. 1 on the list was the favorite: Oklahoma.

No. 2 was Texas A&M.

Oklahoma State came in at No. 3.

No. 4? Missouri.

And now, we'll tackle the fifth and final team that I could realistically see winning the Big 12.

And yes, it's the team racking up good will from its conference brethren at a record rate.

Why the Longhorns will win the Big 12

1. They're Texas. You've heard it before, and cliche or not, it isn't meaningless. "They're Texas" simply means the Longhorns aren't short on athletes. Defensively, that was true even last year. Offensively, did Texas recruit a handful of guys that either a) haven't panned out or b) haven't fit into the offensive scheme well? The answer to that was pretty obvious after Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley checked out for the NFL. But Texas has the athletes on defense, and 2010 struggles aside, the potential for big years is there for running back Malcolm Brown and receiver Mike Davis. If Garrett Gilbert can bounce back from last year, or whoever Texas puts out there at quarterback plays well, and the offensive line can at least be decent, Texas will look radically different.

2. Last year's team was a lot better than 5-7. Mack Brown has repeatedly emphasized it, but he's not blowing smoke. Combine two simple stats from last year and Texas likely would have won 7-8 games. In 2009, when Texas went to the national title game, it turned the ball over 28 times and forced 37 turnovers. Last year, it turned the ball over just two additional times, totaling 30. The Longhorns, though, forced just 18 turnovers, including a big drop from 25 interceptions in 2009 to just eight in 2010. That margin put the Horns ahead of just three teams in all of college football. There's a lot of reasons for the drop in forced interceptions (not leading games and forcing teams to pass, weak pass rush, etc.) but there's no way that number will be as low in 2011. Manny Diaz's defense has emphasized forcing turnovers since Day 1, including pre-practice drills the Longhorns hadn't previously done. Additionally, Texas lost four games by one possession, and a couple bounces of the ball could have landed the Longhorns in the postseason, making the chasm between last year's last-place finish in the Big 12 South and a first-place finish in the Big 12 this year look much less imposing.

3. There's a renewed sense of purpose. Texas restocked its staff with rising talents in the coaching profession and guys eager to make a name for themselves. Additionally, Mack Brown has lauded his team's offseason efforts, no doubt aided by having to stare at the garish 5-7 record in 2010 next to all those double-digit totals for almost a decade before them. You're crazy if you don't think that's major motivation for a team that should have good leadership behind guys like Keenan Robinson, Emmanuel Acho, Blake Gideon and Fozzy Whittaker. That will manifest itself on the field.

Why the Longhorns won't win the Big 12

1. There isn't enough offensive production. For now, Texas has an underwhelming offensive line to block for a corps of running backs with two seniors who have never topped 600 yards in a season. Much-hyped incoming freshman Malcolm Brown won't join the team until fall camp, though he's on campus this summer. Texas has no receivers who have ever topped 550 yards in a single season or caught more than two touchdown passes in any given year. And there's an uncertain quarterback competition between three guys with no meaningful career snaps and another with 12 starts, 17 picks and just 10 touchdowns. Not exactly the recipe for a Big 12 champ.

2. The list of contenders is deeper than most years. This isn't your favorite college football-glossing fan's Big 12, which hinges on the Red River Rivalry every year. Texas can't hope to best Oklahoma in Dallas and cruise to a Big 12 title. If Texas does knock of OU, it's still going to have to beat Oklahoma State, Texas A&M (in College Station, by the way) and Missouri (in Columbia). If it can't do that, or at least finish with 1-2 losses, the Longhorns won't have a chance. There is zero chance the Big 12 champion will have three losses.

3. Players won't have either new system down in time. We haven't seen much from Texas, outside of its spring game, but this postgame quote from Diaz, the new defensive coordinator, definitely raised my eyebrows: "We are a defense that has to do everything right to be successful, and on the plays when 11 guys lock in and do their job, we are hard to move against. But we still have very little margin of error when we don't play within our technique or we don't play within our assignments." So what, pray tell, happens when all 11 guys aren't doing everything right? It's reasonable to suggest that in a new system, that might happen, and combined with the offensive issues we discussed earlier, 2011 could be another tough year for Texas. Of course, if things do come together and that potential becomes production, Texas might end up back on top of the Big 12.

Not a strong set of questions this week. You guys gotta step up your game. Until then, enjoy the weekend, everybody. Didn't get yours answered? Send me a better one.

Sheldon in Angleton, Texas, asked: If Oklahoma loses to FSU and then wins out, what are the chances they still get in the national championship game? (Assuming FSU is top 5) OU wouldn't drop that much and with wins over A&M, Mizzou, and OSU would that be enough?

David Ubben: As long as there's only one undefeated team, Oklahoma would probably be the best contender with one loss. So, I'd say the Sooners have a pretty good shot.

You're talking about a best-case scenario loss for Oklahoma if it loses and wins out. One, it was to a very good team. Two, it's early in the year. Three, it's on the road. Four, it's out of conference, so the Sooners don't have to worry about sharing a conference title. If you're going to lose a game and still get to the national title game, FSU would be a nice time to do it.

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Brett in Kansas City asked: What feature are you most looking forward to in NCAA 12?

DU: I actually finally got to play the demo yesterday after downloading it awhile back when it came out. I've been busy. Anyway, I really liked the new tackling physics. Much more realistic, and a good next step toward what they've been trying to do for awhile.

The new grass looks ridiculous, though. It mostly looks like it needs to be mowed, rather than looking more realistic.

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Hunter in Dallas, Texas, asked: Are there rumors about whether Jaxon Shipley will redshirt like his brother did or play as a true freshman?

DU: Everything I've heard is he's stood out this summer enough to play. We'll see, of course, and that might change once they get into fall camp, but Texas is pretty shallow at receiver, and he's not going to have to beat out very many guys to earn some time on the field.

I'd say the safe bet is he ends up playing if he can run a solid route, catch the ball and play instinctively. After spending a few months working out with his brother Jordan like he did after graduating early, you've got to think he's learned a lot.

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Ben in San Antonio asked: David, Are you ready for some college football?

DU: Yes. (Email of the week.)

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Clark in Lima, Ohio, asked: Why are you such a hater? Some sort of scam? Can't report the news without adding your own personal bias or jealously!

DU: I assume you're talking about my remarks re: Maty Mauk. To that, I say your sense of humor needs tweaking.

But seriously, until I see Matt Mauck and Maty Mauk in the same room, I will remain skeptical.

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James in Scottsdale, Ariz., asked: Can UT find a way to win 10 games if they receive just "average" QB play? Or does the fate of a 10 win season rest on the shoulders of the potential for greatness in Gilbert?

DU: Yeah, definitely, if they can run the ball. Of course, I think that would produce much better-than-average QB play. If Texas can run the ball as well as Bryan Harsin's offenses at Boise State have been able to do in the past, Texas has a great shot to win 10 games. I doubt their its to do so because its offensive line hasn't given me much reason to believe, regardless of the back toting the ball.

To your second point, though, no: I don't think Texas' whole season rests on Garrett Gilbert's shoulders. For one, there's not a lot of pressure on Texas this season to do much more than get back to a bowl game. The pressure to start getting back to Texas' big winning ways will probably come next year.

And to do that, it's going to need great quarterback play. Is Gilbert the guy to provide it? My guess is we'll find out pretty quick this year.

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Todd in Houston asked: Do you really think that Marquis Goodwin will return to football. I just think that after an entire year of no football and all track, he'll definatly be less likely to return.

DU: I hadn't really considered it, but now that you mention it, yeah, it's possible. However, he might have to if he wants his education. I'm unsure of what the rules are, but I'd think if he doesn't play football, his scholarship wouldn't be honored. And I highly doubt he'd just not come back to school at all.

I suppose it's possible, but right now, I think he's got every intention of coming back. I don't know him well and haven't really talked about how he sees this whole track thing in relation to football, but I'd be surprised if he never played another game for Texas. That said, if he doesn't, I don't think Texas fans would lose a ton of sleep. He's done a great job for the track team, and had some memorable moments on the football field, but he's not exactly a game-changer.

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Evan in Columbia, Mo., asks: I know it's still early and we won't know how James Franklin will develop, but do you think Maty Mauk could compete for the starting job his freshman year?

DU: You kind of already hit on it. The only person who can ultimately answer that question is James Franklin. If he's at the very least solid this year, we'll feel a bit ridiculous looking back on this question. But if he struggles, I could see it. Especially if Mauk enrolls early.

Corbin Berkstresser and Ashton Glaser will be in the mix, too, but Franklin struggling would certainly spice up Missouri's spring next year.

That said, I think Missouri's coaches would much rather have a boring spring after the season with no questions about their quarterback.

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Justin in Houston writes: You officially have ZERO credibility. I hope you enjoy eating crow, and your words, because there is no chance Baylor finishes ahead of Texas. Seriously are you out of your mind? How much dope were you smoking in Cali? Stay with your boys in Jokelahoma this year, because you are not welcome in Austin.

DU: LOL.

AUSTIN, Texas -- Taking a big-picture look at Texas' spring game on Sunday, I can't say it was much better or worse than I expected. Our postgame coverage can only say so much, but there was plenty more leftover after Sunday. Here's a few thoughts and notes:

First things first: Texas, to me, looks like a seven- to eight-win team. The defense in 2010 was better than it gets credit for, but the truth is the talent on offense isn't there, and unless Malcolm Brown is quite literally the reincarnation of Adrian Peterson, I don't see it happening right away. Maybe Texas proves some people wrong and exceeds expectations to win 9-10 games. Maybe not. If so, they're going to have to do it as the season goes along. Though the offensive and defensive playbooks were limited, Texas didn't show a ton of potential offensively that makes me believe they can put up the points necessary to return to double-digit wins or anything close. A month of fall camp and improving over the summer isn't going to give the Longhorns enough offense to compete for a title in a league that should be as high-scoring as ever next season.

That said, when fall comes around, Texas will get votes in the preseason poll. Big 12 fans, just be ready for it. Those that do put Texas in their preseason top 25 though, simply aren't paying attention to anything more than the name on the front of the jersey. Texas could certainly improve over the course of the season and play their way pretty quickly into the top 25 with BYU and UCLA on the nonconference schedule along with a likely early-season conference game on the slate. But to start the season, the only teams in the Big 12 that Texas looks markedly better than are Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State and ... well for now, that's it. To beat anyone else (i.e., Missouri, Baylor, Texas Tech) they'll have to overachieve a bit and improve rapidly, especially on offense. It's really, really hard to envision the team I watched on Sunday knocking off Oklahoma, Texas A&M or Oklahoma State next season.

Texas isn't far off. I believe Mack Brown when he says turnover ratio (-12 in 2010, ranking 116th nationally) is the biggest thing they have to fix. But fixing that will only get them to 7-8 wins. The talent level across the board on offense, quarterback, running back, receiver and offensive line, just isn't what it was in past years. Bringing in more guys like Mike Davis or perhaps Darius White and Malcolm Brown can help change that, but looking back, Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley carried the Longhorns offense perhaps even more than any of us knew.

I really liked both coordinator hires. Bryan Harsin and Manny Diaz were exactly what Texas needed, and they'll pay off in the long run. But in the immediate future, there's still some rough times ahead for Texas.

So, that's where I see the Longhorns right now. That's not to say there weren't plenty of positives on Sunday.

• For all the pressure he's under, Brown did a nice job of not showing it too much on Sunday. He was all smiles and even left the media room just after entering for interviews to visit with some recruits who were making visits rather than begin answering questions again. "You all are a really important part of our lives, but not nearly as important as recruits," Brown joked when he returned. "I know that's disappointing, but it’s fact." He also joked about being undefeated a few times. I'm sure part of him has to be at least a little rejuvenated by what should be a big challenge next year.
• Everyone had to be really impressed with both defensive end Alex Okafor and early-enrolling freshman cornerback Quandre Diggs. Okafor looks like he and Jackson Jeffcoat should be great up front, though Jeffcoat's two tackles on Sunday pale in comparison to Okafor's five sacks, a feat he said he never even duplicated in high school. Okafor is even more impressive when you consider he was planning on remaining at defensive tackle until a few days before spring practice began. "We saw that he had the ability to move around and change direction where he could be that guy that can move around. And he is a big imposing figure out there at defensive end," defensive coordinator Manny Diaz said. "The thing is this: he has to be that guy for us. If you look around, he is it. He is our elder-statesman at defensive end. If he feels like he can be good some of the time, then we're going to be good at defense some of the time. For us to be really great on defense, we need him to be great on defense."
• As for Diggs, I don't mean to overhype him, but the coaches did it plenty after the game. He looks a lot like a player who could leave Texas with "All-American" affixed to the front of his name. "Quandre is a guy who was born to play defensive back. He just has the knack," Diaz said. "Some guys you have to draw them a map, but Quandre understands what it takes to play there."
• Of Diggs, Brown later added: "He does get it," Brown said. "You would never think he's a guy who should be a high school senior." Brown credited Diggs being around his brother, NFL defensive back Quentin Jammer, who was in attendance on Saturday. Texas' secondary is replacing three corners next season, and I'd be shocked if, at the very least, Diggs wasn't in the rotation along with Adrian Phillips and Carrington Byndom. I wouldn't rule him out as a starter, even. Considering everyone is starting on even ground this spring, I doubt he's far behind either.
• And one final note on Diggs, a rousing endorsement from senior safety Blake Gideon: "Quandre’s going to be a very good player. He’s got a chance to do some great things while he’s here. There’s only so much you can coach. Coach [Duane] Akina tells us that all the time, and he seems to have that natural part, that instinct, that knack for the game, stems on routes and feeling a receivers hips, and that’s something that, for a young defensive back is pretty rare,” he said. “I think everybody is pretty excited about Quandre and what he brings, and he keeps his mouth shut, which is a very important aspect of being a freshman here."

I'd caution fans not to put a ton of stock in Case McCoy's performance on Sunday for two reasons:

• It was one scrimmage, albeit an important one.
• The numbers were good, but the performance left a lot to be desired.

I was really impressed with McCoy's ability to keep the chains moving and make completions, which is definitely important. But he still looked uncomfortable in the pocket, unwilling to set his feet and throw despite no threat of taking any big hits in a spring game that protected Texas' quarterbacks. He threw off his back foot often, and mechanics like that will have to be fixed if he's going to have consistent success and put up the kind of numbers he did on Sunday throughout next year.

It was a nice step for the quarterback, but when Texas' coaches insist there's no real leader in this competition, I don't believe they're slow playing anyone and trying not to show their hand. I do believe the coaches really have no idea who's going to start next season and need someone to step up and play. With this new system being as complex for quarterbacks as Brown says it is, I don't see last season's experience for Garrett Gilbert being a huge advantage.

Finding a quarterback will be a good test for offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin, who found a freshman named Kellen Moore in 2008 and got to the Fiesta Bowl the last time he had one of these competitions. In practices, Harsin will let his quarterbacks throw until they have an incompletion in pass skeleton drills, a move to make separation more obvious and one Brown called "genius."

The kind numbers geniuses over at ESPN Stats & Info compiled some fun numbers for us this week: total number of offensive plays longer than 20 yards over the past three seasons. That's a perhaps underrated number, but how important is it? We'll see. First, here are the numbers, ranked in order with their national rank.

2010 season

10. Oklahoma State -- 75
14. Baylor -- 69
17. Oklahoma -- 68
21. Nebraska -- 66
28. Missouri -- 63
41. Texas Tech -- 59
48. Kansas State -- 57
56. Texas A&M -- 56
72. Texas -- 51
96. Colorado -- 43
112. Iowa State -- 32
112. Kansas -- 32

A few observations:

• It's no surprise that four of the top five teams in the league all won at least a share of their division. This is also a good indication of how imperative it is for Baylor to improve on defense. New defensive coordinator Phil Bennett put it simply: Briles has got them going really well on offense. They just need a defense to go along with it. Look out for the Bears if that happens.
• Would anyone else have guessed that Kansas State would have more big plays than Texas A&M? That's the craziest part of that stat. I would describe Texas A&M's offense as very good, but not necessarily explosive. Kansas State? Whatever the opposite of explosive is ... that's how most people, myself included, see their offense. Perhaps that's not quite the case.
• For all of the talk about Missouri lacking a big-play threat, its number was a lot higher than I would have thought. It still needs someone like Danario Alexander, Jeremy Maclin or Jared Perry to emerge and make defenses truly respect the deep ball, but they won 10 games without such a player. That's pretty good.
• It's definitely not a coincidence that the bottom four teams in this category finished at the bottom of their divisions. Winning in the Big 12 with offense may be cliche, but it's true. Unless your defense is on par with some of the best in the nation (a la Nebraska in 2009), you're not getting far in the Big 12. It's safe to say neither of those four teams qualify. Offenses with defenses to match are the teams that emerge as elite, but there seems to be a baseline for success (i.e. a bowl game for Kansas State) that comes with being able to move the ball in chunks.
• The information wasn't available, but it would be interesting to see how many of Nebraska's plays longer than 20 yards came before Taylor Martinez's injury in the win over Missouri, and how many came after. I imagine there was sharp decline.
• Some of the numbers are going to be skewed a bit from teams like Nebraska or Oklahoma that played 14 games rather than 12 or 13, or teams like Oklahoma that run fast-paced offenses and can run upwards of 100 plays in a game, but I'd say it's still pretty representative.

Now, let's take a look at how the Big 12 stacks up over the past three seasons:

2008-2010 seasons (in chronological order)

Oklahoma -- 95, 55, 69 -- 219
Missouri -- 73, 66, 63 -- 202
Oklahoma State -- 75, 51, 71 -- 197
Texas Tech -- 74, 64, 59 -- 197
Nebraska -- 66, 52, 74 -- 192
Texas -- 70, 54, 51 -- 175
Baylor -- 56, 49, 69 -- 174
Texas A&M -- 49, 61, 56 -- 166
Kansas State -- 52, 45, 57 -- 154
Kansas -- 65, 51, 32 -- 148
Colorado -- 40, 45, 43 -- 128
Iowa State -- 52, 44, 32 -- 128

Finally, a few notes and observations:

• Oklahoma's 95 plays of 20-plus yards in 2008 were No. 3 nationally that year, the best mark of any team in the conference over that span. You might also remember that offense as the highest-scoring unit in college football history, hanging 718 points on the board in 14 games, capped by a loss in the BCS National Championship.
• Considering the talent lost by Kansas from its 2008 team to its 2010 team, the drop isn't surprising. But as a fan base, it's easy to see why attendance was lacking this season. It's tough to see guys like Todd Reesing, Dez Briscoe and Kerry Meier playing a refined game of pitch-and-catch in the 2007 and 2008 seasons, and then two years later, watch the Jayhawks put three points on the board in the season opener against North Dakota State. The Jayhawks are getting better, but I feel for their fans. No team saw anywhere near as sharp a drop as them. The 65 plays in 2008 fell to 32 in 2010.
• I was a little surprised Texas didn't put up better numbers with Colt McCoy, but considering their troubles running the ball, it makes a little more sense. Big plays are tougher when you're running almost exclusively out of the shotgun, defenses don't respect the run and you have just one real threat down the field: Jordan Shipley. A great offense by other measures like points scored, but not an "explosive" offense.

• The Big 12 doesn't have enough marquee games to fill its marquee time slots during the season, writes Berry Tramel of The Oklahoman.
• Kirk Bohls of the Austin American-Statesman goes inside the relationship of the Shipley brothers, Texas receivers Jordan and Jaxon.
• Suddenly, duplicate numbers have become the norm in college football, writes Jake Trotter of The Oklahoman.
• Spring football has already meant a pair of position changes for Texas Tech's defensive veterans, writes Don Williams of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
• Baylor signed a punter to its 2011 recruiting class.
• He may have invented the wishbone, but former Texas A&M coach Emory Bellard, who died this month, will be best known for his relationships with people, writes David Campbell of the Bryan-College Station Eagle.
• Also, Bedlam moving to what used to be championship weekend is looking like a formality.
• Randy Riggs of the Austin American-Statesman catches up with Sam Acho, who is preparing for the combine.
• Oklahoma State picked up a 2012 commit at receiver during its junior day over the weekend.
• Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville's raise has upset faculty members asked to take a pay freeze.
• The Associated Press profiles Texas' new network in partnership with ESPN.
• John Hoover of the Tulsa World revisits the Big 12 running back debate: Kendall Hunter or DeMarco Murray?

We're taking a look at some of the nation's higher profile bowl misses in 2010, and no one personified that in the Big 12 more than the Texas Longhorns.

How it happened: Well, for starters, Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley took their talents to Ohio and the NFL. No receiver ever emerged to fill Shipley's void, and all other problems aside, first-year starting quarterback Garrett Gilbert threw 10 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. Good luck finding those kind of numbers on a winning team. No other Big 12 quarterback threw more than 13 interceptions, and only three had double-digits. Additionally, Texas' commitment to a power running game throughout the spring and fall was a certified flop. The Longhorns never found a consistent back, and the team's leading rusher, Cody Johnson, finished with just 592 yards. No one else had more than 400.

The defense had a good season on the stat sheet, but a first-quarter lapse against Oklahoma and a poor second half against UCLA resulted in a pair of early-season losses that derailed the season. The Longhorns still managed to beat Nebraska in Lincoln, vaulting them back into the top 25. But the win was a result of the Huskers getting caught off guard by Gilbert using his legs to jump out to an early lead, while the defense corraled Taylor Martinez. Texas' only win the rest of the season came over Florida Atlantic.

What needs to change: Texas has to find offense from somewhere. Freshman receiver Mike Davis offers hope, but of the Longhorns touted freshman receivers from the 2010 class, he was the only one to make a real contribution. Darius White didn't play much, and finished with just one catch. Gilbert must improve, and look for the Longhorns to ride tailback Malcolm Brown, a much-hyped 2011 commitment, in next year's offense.

Will they go bowling in 2011: Uh, we'll wait and see when they fill the coaching staff. Defensive coordinator Will Muschamp bolted for Florida, offensive coordinator Greg Davis was forced to resign and two other assistant coaches had to retire. What the Longhorns look like next year is anyone's guess. You'd like to think boatloads of top-tier recruits will get you to a bowl game regardless, but we saw this year that's not necessarily the case.

Thanks for the questions, everyone. Let's do it again next week, but I'll be back tomorrow for a full slate of games.

John in Lincoln, Neb., writes: I always thought that Colt McCoy deserved a Heisman and they would never give it to him. I wonder what the voters think of him now considering how Texas has struggled with out him. I understand that a team is different every year but I wonder if the fact that they are Texas stole some of his spot light as everyone has been so high on them for so many years. This year shows me how good he truly was and how much he probably deserved a Heisman. Your thoughts?

David Ubben: It's an interesting point, but I've got two responses. One, I would have voted for Ndamukong Suh last year, and still feel that way. And two, you've underrated Jordan Shipley by a wide margin. Colt McCoy wouldn't be anywhere as good with this year's set of receivers, but Garrett Gilbert would be much, much better. That's not to discount McCoy; he and Shipley (Who, by the way, were also roommates. Did you know that?) were both obviously two of the best players in the league last year. Remember those two big touchdown passes by Gilbert in the national title game? Can anybody recall who both were thrown to? Great routes, great catches and great plays by Shipley and Gilbert against a fantastic secondary. Texas didn't have any offensive players in my preseason top 25 player ranking, and you can be sure there won't be any in my postseason top 25, either.

Patrick Cantu in College Station, Texas, asks: David, Von Miller may not be putting up the sack numbers like last year, but he is having a terrific season outside the stat column by giving opposing QBs nightmares and covering his side of the field like a hawk on a revamped Aggie defense, yet he is not on your top defensive players nor a finalist for any national defensive award. Why is the All-American getting no love?

DU: That was completely my mistake. After last week's game, I made a mental note to add him on this week's list after the way he dominated Oklahoma and helped the Aggies beat Baylor. I was going to put him around 5th or 6th. Come Wednesday, it just slipped. He's come on really, really strong, just like the entire team has lately. Unless he's a total non-factor against Nebraska, he'll be on there next week.

Chase in Nagoya, Japan, asks: David, I was just wondering how many times the Huskers have to shut down an "elite" quarterback either at home or on the road for you to pick them to win?

DU: Konnichiwa, Chase. Always good to see the love of the game isn't contained by the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. To your question, Texas A&M's Ryan Tannehill is only a small part of why I picked the Huskers to lose in College Station. And to your other point, I don't believe I was in the majority when I picked the same Huskers to go into Stillwater and beat Oklahoma State by double digits -- which they did. That week, by the way, Oklahoma State was ranked two spots higher than Nebraska in the polls. Last I checked, the Huskers faced an elite quarterback in that game -- Brandon Weeden -- and didn't shut him down (18-of-35, 283 yards, 2 TD).

Anthony Morgan in Gilbert, Ariz., asks: What do you think it will take for nebraska to make it to the national championship game? (specifics)

DU: Well, a lot of losses and some big wins, including one on Saturday over Texas A&M to score some style points and probably a 14-20 point win over Oklahoma State or Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game. Alabama absolutely has to beat Auburn. Boise State will have to slip up against Nevada in Reno next week, most likely. Oregon will have to drop a game at home to Arizona next week. TCU isn't losing; they finish with 1-9 New Mexico next week.

The Huskers need those valuable style points because of the Texas loss. With the Longhorns' nosedive, they took the Huskers title chances with them. In college football, with a few exceptions, you have to lose early if you're going to lose, and make that loss a quality loss. Of the one-loss teams in contention, Nebraska has by far the worst loss--at home to Texas. Wisconsin's came on the road to a top 15 Michigan State team with just two losses. Stanford and LSU's only losses came to teams currently undefeated--Oregon and Auburn. So even if the records are even, it's going to be tough for the Huskers to jump them, which is why they need to make a strong, strong case at the end of the season that they're playing the best football of any team in the country. Doing that will require more than just simply beating Texas A&M and one of the Oklahoma schools away from home. They're going to have to steamroll them to get into the title game.

That said, all of the above applies to Oklahoma State as well, who has further to climb, but has a much better loss on its resume, one at home against Nebraska. Like the Huskers, they also have two games remaining, not including this weekend, obviously, where they can impress voters.

Ross in Seattle, Wash., asks: David -- I am a former student at Texas A&M and was curious what you think about the state of the program. With Jeff Fuller, Ryan Tannehill and Cyrus Gray likely coming back next year, coupled with the return of an amazin defense. Are they the team to beat next year?

DU: I don't think so, but they'll be really, really good. Just about everybody in The Former Division Formerly Known as the Big 12 South should be good once again. Oklahoma will be better. As long as Oklahoma State keeps Dana Holgorsen, its offense should be as great--if not better--and the defense should be improved with more experience. A&M fits in that top group somewhere. Texas should be back to at least eight or nine wins. Baylor will be good again. Texas Tech will be in Year 2 of a new scheme, but it's going to lose a lot after this year, so it's somewhat of a wild card.

Texas looks like it'll miss a bowl game this year, but those six teams should all be bowl teams in 2011. All four of those first teams should be right there in contention for a Big 12 title. That's really weird to think about, by the way. A 10-team race for a conference title. Get used to it.

AUSTIN, Texas -- Business as usual here. Oklahoma State's offense looks like it can't be stopped. Texas' looks like anybody can stop it. Add it up and we get what we thought we'd get: A big lead for Oklahoma State.

Turning point: Brandon Weeden hit Justin Blackmon for a 67-yard touchdown on a long pass down the right sideline that put Oklahoma State up 16-3. Texas knew it would have to play out of its character to make that deficit up against an offense that was going to keep scoring.

Stat of the half: Texas was outgained 308-113 in the first half before a 20-yard run by Cody Johnson against an Oklahoma State defense looking to prevent a touchdown on the final play of the half.

Best player in the half: Oklahoma State's Blackmon. Talk about Alshon Jeffrey and A.J. Green's physical skills all you want. Blackmon might not duplicate the highlight-reel catches of Green, but he's way more productive than both. He caught five passes for 116 yards and a touchdown in the first half.

What Oklahoma State needs to do: Everything it did in the first half, minus taking shots down the field. Take what the defense gives them over the middle of the field and keep Kendall Hunter's diet steady. Texas hasn't tackled well in the first half and Hunter is a big reason why. He's got 69 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries, an average of more than five yards a carry.

What Texas needs to do: Consult with the university's compliance department and make travel arrangements. Do Jordan Shipley and Colt McCoy have any possible eligibility left, and can they get here by the fourth quarter?