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What are you looking at, Jar Jar Binks?

• Could Wes Lunt lose his spot as OSU's starting QB? Offensive coordinator Todd Monken says if he doesn't play well in fall camp, it's possible.
• Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads is fighting for Alzheimer's research. Why? "Because it's personal to me," he said. Andrew Logue of the Des Moines Register has the story. Will Rhoads always be at Iowa State? He talks about the complicated issue.
• West Virginia starting defenders Darwin Cook and Terence Garvin were arrested for shoplifting after stealing snacks from a convenience store.
• Baylor received a large donation that will go toward naming rights of the field inside its new stadium. It'll be called John Eddie Williams Field.
• Would you like to go to a Texas football game with Longhorns superfan Matthew McConaughey? Today is your lucky day, friends.
• After a handful of suspensions, Berry Tramel of the Oklahoman breaks down the winners and losers at Oklahoma.
• WVU is searching for a media partner for its third-tier media rights, and could have one by September, writes Mike Casazza of the Charleston Daily Mail.
• Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy sits down for a wide-ranging Q&A with Bill Haisten of the Tulsa World.
• Paul Myerberg at Pre-Snap Read pegs five transfers to watch in the Big 12.
• Coley Harvey of the Orlando Sentinel addresses the idea of Florida State to the Big 12 in the wake of the ACC media deal.
• Texas Tech safety Cody Davis takes you inside the last few weeks of the semester in the life of a college athlete.
• Brandon Weeden helped former Oklahoma State teammate Josh Cooper become his current teammate with the Cleveland Browns.
• Turner Gill's poor recruiting classes are hurting KU in 2012, writes Tom Keegan of the Lawrence Journal-World.
• Colleague Ivan Maisel points to what's unique about Oklahoma's new transfer.
• The Big 12's website takes a post-spring look at Texas Tech.
• And because WVU fans have been begging me all day to put this in lunch links ... here you go.

We've already gone over my thoughts on the Big 12's first round of the draft. What about the rest? Here are some thoughts:

• [+] Enlarge
  Brian Spurlock/US PresswireThe Lions saw enough from Ryan Broyles to take a risk on him in the second round.
  Absolutely fantastic to see Ryan Broyles find a home in Detroit in the second round. Broyles is a second-round talent, and it was great to see him recognized as such -- with NFL teams seeing enough out of his newly-rehabbed knee to know he's a solid prospect. No player in the history of college football had more receptions. I like his chances for a productive career, especially on a building Detroit team with a lot of talent, especially at the offensive skill positions.
• I've written about it in the past, but I'm intrigued to see what Missouri tight end Michael Egnew does at the next level. He was less productive than his predecessors at Mizzou, Martin Rucker and Chase Coffman, but supposedly is a more talented blocker. Coffman got stuck in a franchise that didn't seem willing to use him for what he is -- a receiving tight end -- but can Egnew shed the Mizzou tight end stereotype? We'll find out in Miami.
• Really happy to see things work out well for Oklahoma's Frank Alexander, who was drafted in the fourth round by Carolina. He had a scare at the combine. Doctors thought he had a heart condition and his playing career was in jeopardy. Turns out, he was fine. Glad the mixup didn't cost him more than it could have.
• Allow me to join in the chorus of folks asking, "What the heck is Washington doing drafting Kirk Cousins?" Nothing against Cousins, who I actually think will do well at the next level (or could elsewhere, at least), but this isn't even about bringing in a fellow rookie to "compete with" Robert Griffin III. Washington has plenty of other holes. The Redskins couldn't try to draft and fill it, while finding a backup quarterback in free agency? Seriously. Good grief. And you wonder why Washington hasn't won anything in a long while.
• Ronnell Lewis' fall from top-25 prospect to fourth-rounder is intriguing. Did NFL teams see him up close and get spooked by his lack of a true position? In my book, he'd be a great defensive end, but if NFL teams think he's too small, I have major, major doubts about his ability to play the linebacker spot. The mental part of the game didn't come easily to Lewis at OU, but his career will be fascinating to watch. He's got a high motor, and if it doesn't work out, it won't be because of a lack of effort.
• Good on A&M's Randy Bullock, who went in the fifth round. Prepare for a similar fate in 2011, Quinn Sharp.
• Interesting to see OU's Travis Lewis fall all the way to the seventh round. How much did his broken toe in 2011, which he rushed back from to help his team, hurt his NFL stock? His tape from senior season was underwhelming, no doubt. NFL teams had to be scared about his lack of progression from freshman to senior year, at least not what you'd expect from a guy who topped 140 tackles as a freshman.
• A year ago, A&M folks were rejoicing a future Big 12 title run when Jeff Fuller announced his intention to return. The Aggies went 7-6 and Fuller went undrafted. I hate to see when guys who make decisions to come back get hurt by them, but Fuller's season started with a hamstring injury, and his production never recovered, even when he got healthy. Almost the exact same scenario with A&M corner Coryell Judie, who couldn't get healthy in 2011 and didn't get drafted, even though he was one of the Big 12's top players in 2010.
• Meanwhile, Bryce Brown was drafted, and his 2011 tape included three total carries, one of which was a fumble on his own goal line that nearly cost 10-win Kansas State a game early in the season. Take a bow, Mr. Brown.
• Adding Josh Cooper to the Browns to play with Brandon Weeden? Well played, Cleveland. Well played.
• How did Leonard Johnson go undrafted? I have no idea. Seemed like a solid middle rounder to me, and he proved his worth plenty of times this year against some great Big 12 receivers. His physical skills don't wow you, but he's instinctive at the position, and was physical and productive.

I've been inspired by the boys at the Big Ten Blog, and this should be a fun walk through each week in the new-look Big 12 next season. I'll pick one game a week during the season that I'd attend if it were entirely up to me. I don't make the call, and things change as games are played, of course. But right now, this is how it'd look if it were up to me. I'll include road nonconference games, too.

• Week 1: West Virginia vs. Marshall
• Week 2: Kansas State vs. Miami
• Week 3: Texas at Ole Miss
• Week 4: Kansas State at Oklahoma

Here's the Week 5 slate in the Big 12:

• Baylor at West Virginia
• Texas Tech at Iowa State
• Texas at Oklahoma State
• TCU at SMU

My pick: Texas at Oklahoma State

Once again, no contest here. It'd be my first look at the reigning Big 12 champs, who would be sporting a brand-new look on offense without the team's top two receivers (Justin Blackmon, Josh Cooper) and quarterback Brandon Weeden. My money is on J.W. Walsh as the man to replace Weeden, but he'd face what would likely be the toughest test of his season in Texas' defense.

What a matchup. Last year, the Longhorns provided OSU's offense its toughest test, and this should be a close, classic game. OSU's offense won't be quite as potent and Texas' defense should be much better, as will its offense. Oklahoma State says its defensive tackles are much improved, but they'll get a tough test in the Longhorns' three-headed rushing attack with Joe Bergeron, Malcolm Brown and Johnathan Gray.

Neither team will be among the favorites to win the Big 12, but both teams have the potential to take the lead. Want to prove it? Win this game. Loser will get downgraded in the race for sure, and this one should go down to the wire after OSU beat the Longhorns by double digits in Austin in consecutive seasons.

Oklahoma State (aka the Big 12 champs) opens up spring practice later today. Here's a look at what to expect.

Schedule: Oklahoma State kicks off the first of its NCAA-allowed 15 practices Monday, leading up to the spring game on April 21. Practices are closed to fans and media.

What's new: The major characters in the story of the Cowboys' 2011 Big 12 title run (and subsequent Fiesta Bowl win) are gone. Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon hooked up for 232 completions and 38 touchdowns the past two seasons, carrying Oklahoma State to 23 wins in consecutive years that were each the best in school history. Replacing both is the primary issue in the spring.

New faces: Special teams coordinator Joe DeForest left after 12 years in Stillwater and leaves a big void of his own. New assistant Van Malone will coach OSU's safeties, but coach Mike Gundy won't decide who fills the special teams role until after the spring. Malone comes to OSU via Tulsa. Oklahoma State also welcomes four early enrollees: QB Wes Lunt, TE Blake Jackson, DT Calvin Barnett and LB Jeremiah Tshimanga.

Big shoes to fill: OSU's receiving corps. Blackmon is gone, but the search goes a lot deeper than just for OSU's No. 1. No. 2 receiver Josh Cooper graduated, as did No. 4 receiver Hubert Anyiam. The team's receiver with perhaps the most potential, Michael Harrison, also left the team after being suspended by the NCAA for the 2012 season. Last year, nine OSU players caught at least 19 passes for 200 yards. There's a lot of receptions to go around. Receivers have to step up this spring. Tracy Moore, Josh Stewart and Isaiah Anderson are the most likely candidates to grab 80-100 balls next year.

All eyes on: The quarterback battle, obviously. Gundy says junior Clint Chelf hasn't done enough to make the job his to lose. Freshman J.W. Walsh has a full year in the system under his belt, but can the dual-threat prove his mettle as a passer? Lunt enters this spring with what's likely the biggest arm of the three, but can he pick the system up fast enough to earn the job? Gundy says he wants to know his starter at the end of the spring, but all three will receive equal reps to begin practice today.

Breaking out: Jackson. We mentioned him earlier, and the early-enrolling tight end is already making a splash. He opens the spring at the top of OSU's depth chart at inside receiver. You don't see that every day. The 6-foot-3 juco transfer was an All-American last year and is already up to 238 pounds from 220 earlier this year. Don't be surprised if he makes major waves in the coming weeks.

Question mark: Markelle Martin wasn't the fastest safety in the league, but he provided valuable leadership, had tons of experience and was arguably the Big 12's biggest hitter. Lavocheya Cooper gets the first crack at replacing him, but will he be good enough? In the pass-happy Big 12, there's no overstating the importance of safeties that get in receivers' heads and prevent the big play.

Spring football is already under way at Texas Tech, but in the coming weeks, the Big 12's other nine programs will join the Red Raiders in taking the field as a team for the first time since January, December or November for some.

Here's a preview of what to expect:

BAYLOR BEARS

Spring practice start date: March 19
Spring game: April 14

What to watch:

• Nick Florence: It's not official, but the Baylor quarterback job is Florence's to lose. That means he inherits the unenviable task of replacing the school's first Heisman winner. He replaced RG3 in 2009 with mixed results, but showed some major potential in a win over Texas Tech when RG3 took a shot to the head and sat out the second half. Can he keep the bowl streak alive at Baylor? We'll get an idea this spring.
• The defense's progression: You didn't need to see much more than the 67-56 Alamo Bowl win over Washington to know the Bears needed some work on defense. In the month of November, Baylor became the first team in FBS history to win four consecutive games in a single season while also giving up at least 30 points in each of those games. The defense can't make Florence pick up the slack to that level. Year 2 under Phil Bennett must be better. Baylor has no excuses. The Bears have the athletes on campus necessary to be at least a decent defense.
• The team's attitude/motivation: Baylor played with a lot of purpose the past two seasons, and made history in both, cracking a 16-year bowl drought and winning 10 games this year. Is that fire still there? Baylor has to prove it is without RG3 (and Kendall Wright) carrying the team on the field, emotionally and mentally.

IOWA STATE CYCLONES

Spring practice start date: March 20
Spring game: April 14

What to watch:

• The quarterback battle: Or is it? Jared Barnett looked like the man of the future in Ames late in the season, leading the Cyclones to an historic upset of No. 2 Oklahoma State. But in the ugly Pinstripe Bowl loss to a mediocre Rutgers team, Barnett's inaccuracy posed big questions. He was benched and Steele Jantz stepped in, though he didn't play much better than Barnett. Turnovers were an issue for Jantz early on, but Barnett has to bounce back in the spring to make sure the job doesn't come open.
• The receivers: Darius Reynolds was the big-play man for the Cyclones, but he's gone. It's going to be tough to replace him. Slot receivers Aaron Horne and Josh Lenz were productive, but did little to stretch defenses like Reynolds did. Can ISU find someone to fill the void?
• The new man at left tackle: Iowa State had the luxury of having a future pro, Kelechi Osemele, at left tackle for the past three seasons. He earned All-Big 12 nods in each of those seasons, but he's gone now. Junior Carter Bykowski was behind Osemele on the depth chart, but will the converted tight end be the new man at tackle for the Cyclones?

KANSAS JAYHAWKS

Spring practice start date: March 27
Spring game: April 28

What to watch:

• Uh, everything?: I mean, what's not to watch at KU? Charlie Weis steps in for the fired Turner Gill and tries to build KU up from nothing. The Jayhawks were one of the worst teams in Big 12 history last season, losing six games by at least 30 points. Weis will speak his mind and watching him rebuilding the Jayhawks is going to be fun. It all starts next month -- on the field, at least.
• KU's new pass-catch combo: Dayne Crist is on campus, and so is Oklahoma transfer Justin McCay, a former blue-chip recruit who didn't quite catch on in Norman. Quarterback and receiver were arguably the two biggest positions of need for KU last year, and we'll get a preview of what could be a productive combo next season. McCay isn't officially eligible for the 2012 season yet -- he needs the NCAA to waive its mandated redshirt year after a transfer -- but the coaching staff is confident he'll have it granted.
• The uncertainty on the depth chart: When a new staff comes in, you never know what to expect. Kansas' leading rusher in its final season under Mark Mangino, Toben Opurum, is now one of its best defensive linemen. Look for Weis to shake things up, too. Where? Who knows?

KANSAS STATE WILDCATS

Spring practice start date: April 4
Spring game: April 28

What to watch:

• Collin Klein's maturation: Kansas State's quarterback could be fun to watch this spring and next fall. His throwing motion isn't pretty, but his accuracy improved in a big way throughout the season. If that continues at a pace anything close to what we saw last year, K-State's going to be a load for everyone. Look out.
• Developing depth at running back: John Hubert is back, and so is seldom-used Angelo Pease. Bryce Brown is gone, though. Klein handles a lot of the heavy lifting in the running game, but it'd be some nice insurance if K-State could establish some more depth in the backfield. Making Klein carry the ball 300 times again is tempting fate.
• Stars becoming superstars: Kansas State brings back more starters than all but seven teams in college football, so this team is going to look remarkably similar in 2012 to the way it did last year. However, it should get better. And its two transfers could look dominant this spring. Cornerback Nigel Malone and linebacker Arthur Brown emerged as stars last year, but we could see the duo emerge as true game-changers this spring. Look out, Big 12 offenses.

OKLAHOMA SOONERS

Spring practice start date: March 8
Spring game: April 14

What to watch:

• New faces on, off the field: Mike Stoops' arrival as the defensive coordinator was the biggest news this offseason in the Big 12, and Brent Venables, who had been at OU for all of Bob Stoops' tenure, left for Clemson rather than become co-defensive coordinator. Hopes are high that Stoops can revitalize Oklahoma's defense. He was in charge when the Sooners rode a dominant D to the 2000 national title, and the Sooners have the talent to win it all in 2012. Receiver Trey Metoyer joins the team this spring, and could be a major contributor immediately. Two of the team's four new tight ends are also enrolled early.
• QB Blake Bell's role: The Belldozer is back … but so is full-time quarterback Landry Jones. How will the balance between the duo look this spring? And what new wrinkles will we see in Oklahoma's simple, yet near-unstoppable short-yardage formation that scored 13 touchdowns in the second half of 2011?
• The battle at defensive end: Oklahoma must fill two huge holes at defensive end. Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Frank Alexander is gone, as is possible first-round pick Ronnell Lewis. R.J. Washington contributed late and has potential, but David King filled in for Lewis in the final three games of the season. The duo could be great, but it could also be pretty pedestrian. We'll get an idea this spring, but Lewis and Alexander set a high, high bar.

OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS

Spring practice start date: March 12
Spring game: April 21

What to watch:

• The quarterback battle: This will easily be the highest-profile, highest-quality quarterback battle in the Big 12. It won't be at the level of Texas Tech in 2010, but it won't be too far off. Clint Chelf, J.W. Walsh and Wes Lunt will go head to head. All have plenty of potential, though Lunt may have the most. The big-armed true freshman also has the least experience. Anything could happen here.
• Which receivers rise: Justin Blackmon and Josh Cooper leave huge holes behind. It's not every day a two-time Biletnikoff Award winner walks on campus. Hubert Anyiam is gone, too. Michael Harrison is unlikely to play for the 2012 season, but the school has offered no confirmation on his status. He had the most potential, but OSU is deep at the position. Who emerges as the top target? Isaiah Anderson? Tracy Moore? Josh Stewart? Anything could happen there, too.
• Defense needs a leader: Safety Markelle Martin has been the heart of the defense the past two seasons, but his big-hitting days are over. Who becomes the new voice of the defense? It needs to find leadership this spring heading into summer voluntary workouts.

TEXAS LONGHORNS

Spring practice start date: Feb. 23
Spring game: April 1

What to watch:

• The quarterback competition: I still think having a competition at the spot, which Texas says it will, isn't the best option, but David Ash and Case McCoy will go at it alongside early-enrolling freshman Connor Brewer. If Ash secures the job, expect an announcement heading into summer officially anointing the sophomore.
• More sophistication on both sides of the ball: The progression is natural and likely. Offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin and defensive coordinator Manny Diaz had good first years in Austin, but this is Year 2. The spring won't be devoted to learning the playbook. It's time to master it. Both units could look markedly different, and much more refined next fall. Deny it all you like: Texas is back on its way to the top after a rough two years.
• Maturing offensive weapons: Last season, the Longhorns relied on two true freshman running backs (Malcolm Brown/Joe Bergeron), a freshman/sophomore rotation at quarterback and its top receiver (Jaxon Shipley) was a true freshman. No. 2 (Mike Davis) was a sophomore. I hope I don't have to tell you what freshmen and sophomores do in college football. Look. Out.

TCU HORNED FROGS

Spring practice start date: Feb. 25
Spring end date: April 5

What to watch:

• Can TCU shut out the scandal? Four team members were arrested in a recent drug sting and kicked off the team. How much of a distraction will that be for a program undergoing the most monumental change in its history? Quantifying the effects of the scandal will be pretty impossible, and we've got no idea how they'll handle the change, but will it be on players' minds?
• The offense tightens up: The Horned Frogs' offense is absolutely loaded and ready to go for 2012. Quarterback Casey Pachall returns and brings his top three weapons (Josh Boyce, Skye Dawson and Brandon Carter) with him. Running backs Waymon James, Ed Wesley and Matthew Tucker each topped 700 yards rushing in 2011 and all return. The spring will be all about fine-tuning an already stellar offense, and it'll be fun to watch.
• Replacing departed starters: All-America linebacker Tanner Brock was among the four football players arrested and booted from the team, as was all-conference defensive tackle D.J. Yendrey and likely starting safety Devin Johnson. Those were unforeseen losses, but TCU can't feel sorry for itself. Gary Patterson has no choice but to find new faces to fill those holes.

TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS

Spring practice start date: Feb. 17
Spring game: March 24

What to watch:

• Once again, a new defense: Texas Tech sounds like a broken record these days when it comes to defensive coordinators. This time, Art Kaufman will be stepping to the microphone as the fourth defensive coordinator in Lubbock in four years. He's bringing a 4-3, a shift back to what Ruffin McNeil ran in 2009. Chad Glasgow's 4-2-5 and James Willis' 3-4 failed miserably in 2011 and 2010, respectively, the first two years under Tommy Tuberville.
• The battle at running back: No one knows yet if Eric Stephens will be back next season. There's still a long way to go in his rehab from a dislocated knee he suffered last season in a loss to Texas A&M. DeAndre Washington is also out this spring after tearing his ACL against Missouri. Harrison Jeffers hung up his cleats. Who will prove to be reliable this spring? Look for the Red Raiders to try to use sophomore Bradley Marquez, freshman Javares McRoy and junior SaDale Foster in a manner similar to the way Oregon uses scatback De'Anthony Thomas, with lots of short passes and bubble screens to get them the ball in space, where they can use their speed and shiftiness to make plays.
• Team health: Tuberville said earlier this month that the team is missing 15 players this spring. It can't afford any more injuries. It's already going to be tough to get enough done this spring, but Tech can't start getting banged up.

WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS

Spring practice start date: March 11
Spring game: April 21

What to watch:

• Dana Holgorsen's offense in Year 2: Holgorsen didn't get a chance to coach his talented offense at Oklahoma State in its second year. The results could have been crazy. They might be at West Virginia in 2012, and the beginning steps will be taken this spring as Geno Smith & Co. get more and more comfortable with the system and Holgorsen adds more wrinkles.
• The battle at running back: Sophomore Dustin Garrison hurt his knee in practices leading up to the Mountaineers' 70-33 Orange Bowl win over Clemson, and won't be there for the spring. What does senior Shawne Alston have in store for the spring? Garrison was the featured back last season, but a big spring could help Alston earn a few carries next year.
• Defense needs help: Najee Goode leaves a big hole at linebacker, and defensive back Eain Smith's exit means the Mountaineers enter the season without two of their top three tacklers from a year ago. Bruce Irvin and Julian Miller's talents on the defensive line will be tough to replace, and in a league that requires a great pass rush, Irvin, Goode and Miller's 19 combined sacks must be replaced somehow.

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.

PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. -- Everything about the first trip to the BCS is new for Oklahoma State.

At least one thing hasn't gone as expected. Back on Dec. 4, when the Cowboys learned their bowl destination, quarterback Brandon Weeden smiled and confessed he'd be bringing his golf clubs to Arizona.

A walk-on with Oklahoma State's storied golf team, he didn't need anybody to tell him that the Scottsdale area was a golfing hot spot.

This week, though, he was only able to squeeze in 11 holes, and two were in the dark.

Weeden, receiver Colton Chelf, quarterback Clint Chelf and receiver Josh Cooper made it out to the Phoenician resort in Scottsdale, but only got to play nine holes before the sun set over the Phoenix metroplex.

"I hit it real nice, which is why I wanted to play more," Weeden said with a laugh. "I brought my clubs thinking there’d be a lot more time as far as it goes. It’s hard to play 18 holes considering you need a four-hour gap there and two hours won’t get it done."

Such is life.

Playing in a BCS bowl is torture. For now, Weeden's focus is back on the real reason for the trip to the Valley of the Sun: Making Oklahoma State's first BCS bowl a successful one, and knocking off No. 4 Stanford.

"I’m probably done," he said, "We’re getting pretty close to game time."

We unveiled our All-Big 12 team last week with lots of talent.

Time for a new take, with a little help from the Big Ten Blog: The All-Underrated team.

My criteria: The conference's most underrated player at each position. This is, of course, subjective. This isn't for the second-best player at each position. It's for the player who doesn't get enough respect. The only rule: He can't be on my All-Big 12 team.

Here goes:

OFFENSE

QB: James Franklin, Missouri
RB: Christine Michael, Texas A&M
RB: John Hubert, Kansas State
FB: Braden Wilson, Kansas State
WR: Ryan Swope, Texas A&M
WR: Tevin Reese, Baylor
WR: Josh Cooper, Oklahoma State
TE: James Hanna, Oklahoma
OL: Clyde Aufner, Kansas State
OL: Philip Blake, Baylor
OL: Austin Wuebbels, Missouri
OL: David Snow, Texas
OL: Lonnie Edwards, Texas Tech

DEFENSE

DE: Toben Opurum, Kansas
DT: Nicolas Jean-Baptiste, Baylor
DE: Meshak Williams, Kansas State
DE: Jackson Jeffcoat, Texas
LB: Steven Johnson, Kansas
LB: Elliot Coffey, Baylor
LB: Alex Elkins, Oklahoma State
CB: David Garrett, Kansas State
CB: Leonard Johnson, Iowa State
S: Terrance Bullitt, Texas Tech
S: Daytawion Lowe, Oklahoma State

SPECIALISTS

P: Trey Barrow, Missouri
PK: Michael Hunnicutt, Oklahoma
PR/KR: Jarvis West, Iowa State

Coach: Paul Rhoads, Iowa State

LUBBOCK, Texas -- What more could Oklahoma State's defense possibly do?

At game's end, Mike Gundy had every right to rip his shirt off, grab a microphone and scream, "Are you not entertained?"

Texas Tech hadn't been shut out since 1987. Its defense had never given up more than 65 points. Oklahoma State, thanks to a second-half gift fumble returned for a touchdown, beat Texas Tech, 66-6.

Despite any devilish pleasure Gundy took in the gladiatorlike win, he declined any postgame theatrics.

"It got started with our defense -- a three-and-out," he said. "They played with a lot of energy and ran to the football. Even when [Texas Tech] did make a play, we tackled and we were very physical when we tackled."

Defensive coordinator Bill Young told his unit after the game what happened on Saturday might never happen again. Maybe so, but Oklahoma State did something that had never happened before, too. The Cowboys are 10-0 for the first time in school history and need wins over Iowa State and Oklahoma to play for the national title.

Oklahoma State looked immune to the swirling winds, and Brandon Weeden stated his Heisman case with 423 yards and five touchdowns on 31-of-37 passing.

"When he spins it, it cuts through there pretty good," said Gundy, whose career-yardage mark Weeden surpassed on Saturday. Weeden also took home the school record for career touchdown passes. "Honestly, [the wind] didn't concern me one bit."

Gundy added that wind hasn't come up once this year. Such is life with Weeden taking every snap.

Saturday, though, was about defense. Gone were the gratuitous garbage gains of past games. So were the touchdowns providing misleading final scores.

"I was really happy for the guys on defense," Weeden said, making sure to note that the initial "6" on the scoreboard came courtesy of the offense. "They didn't give up a touchdown."

Oklahoma State hung a shocking score for the nation to see on Saturday, complete with an eye-popping 49-0 halftime score, complete with a touchdown on kickoff coverage.

"It was obviously a very well-played game in all three phases," Gundy said. "Offensively, we just kind of kept up with what we'd done this year, and defense played well. I thought we tackled as good as we had in any game."

Texas Tech quarterback Seth Doege was held to a season-low 169 yards on 25-of-43 passing. The Red Raiders had just 101 yards rushing on 30 carries. No Tech receiver had more than 41 yards receiving and no running back had more than 47.

Said safety Markelle Martin: "We flew around. We had fun. I think we were very excited making those plays, and there was no drop-off when backups came in. I'm proud of that."

This looked like a different defense after last week's last-second win over Kansas State, complete with 45 points allowed.

"That was enough [drama] for everybody for a while," Gundy said.

Oklahoma State countered Tech's offensive futility with two 100-yard receivers (Justin Blackmon, Josh Cooper) and a 100-yard rusher (Herschel Sims) with Weeden's 400-yard day through (more literal than most days) the air. Josh Stewart added 93 yards and two scores on two catches.

One trip to Ames awaits next week before two weeks of buildup to beat the bullies down South. Oklahoma State hasn't beaten Oklahoma since Les Miles did it in 2001 and 2002, but if Gundy wants to take his team to New Orleans for the national title game, the Sooners are the biggest -- and most fitting -- obstacle in the way.

Play defense like the Cowboys did out on the Plains, and those bullies might get a little bloody.

"They're playing better than what most people would think they are. It's hard to really grade this defense on paper, based on what happened on the other side of the ball," Gundy said, noting that his defense has faced far more plays than his offense. "We take a lot of pride in that side of the ball."

Gundy can say it all he wants. So can any of the players on his defense.

Performances like Saturday's make folks start believing.

Thanks for all the questions in today's chat. Here's the full transcript if you missed it.

Don't complain if I didn't use your question. Send me a better one.

And, here's a few highlights.

W (Anaheim): The record of each team that has left (or will be leaving) the BigXII has been less than expected. Any checked Dan Beebe's home for voodoo mascot dolls?

David Ubben: I don't know if I've heard of anyone doing it, but yeah, Nebraska's struggled in spots this year, Colorado is much, much worse despite having a decent amount of talent. A&M has a few fatal flaws and Missouri's just not as good as I and others thought at the beginning of the season.

Jay in Ames: Do you think Iowa State has a legitimate chance of pulling off one more upset and becoming bowl eligible?

DU: Legitimate chance? Yes. Realistic chance? Yes. Will it happen? I don't think so. ISU's not beating OU or OSU. I'd give them about a 30 percent chance to do it against K-State.

Dave in DC asked: Brown and Bergeron for Texas: sustainable as a legit dual-threat, is Bergeron a threat to unseat Brown, and how scary is this team rushing attack going to be to close out the year (let alone next season)?

DU: Yeah, those two guys are solid. Has to be so exciting for Texas to watch, and with Johnathan Gray on the way, it's even more so. Texas wants that rushing attack, and it's going to have to continue, considering where the talent is. They need as many carries to go around as possible. Their best players are running backs, and they've got a lot of them, vs. David Ash, who is OK, but not a guy who looks like a franchise QB.

JB in Austin asked: Do you think Texas recruits are "overrated"? Seems to be not true in this conference just look at OU and UT and how many conference championships they have compared to missouri.....

DU: Ha, no, I don't. And to clarify, Sheldon Richardson was talking about players from the state of Texas, not Longhorns players or recruits.

Bill Snyder in Manhattan, Kansas asked: Hey David, I was glad you got to come to one of our games finally, even if it wasn't a home game for us. That said, how excited are you for the new Call of Duty that came out today? I can't wait to play it with my youngsters.

DU: Ha. E-mail of the day.

Porter in Denver asked: Ubbs, can OSU beat OU without Josh Cooper and Harrison?

DU: OSU will probably have Cooper. A better question is can OU beat OSU without Ryan Broyles and Dominique Whaley?

Terry in Manhattan asked: Your guess on Snyder's windbreaker against A&M? Perhaps the 2001 Cotton Bowl?

DU: I'm waiting for a 1993 Copper Bowl polo.

Nick in SC asked: Do you think that WVU will do well in all sports in the Big 12? Do you think that they will be a strong force in this conference?

DU: The money sports will be fine. I don't know a ton about how they recruit, but they'll be able to dip into Texas a little bit. I think TCU will develop into a force on the recruiting trail in Texas, but the state should give the Mountaineers a little boost.

Scott in Plano, Texas asked: Do you think Landry Jones sticks around for his senior year to improve his game, or do you think he's headed to the NFL?

DU: I'd expect Landry to leave, but don't be surprised if he comes back. Oklahoma could maybe make another run at the title, and he saw what happened to Sam Bradford. Bradford endured the nightmare scenario, and despite that, still was the No. 1 pick overall and is doing fantastic in the NFL.

Jooseppi in Tahlequah asked: Landry could be the first quarterback taken in the 2013 draft. And Bob gets people to stay.

DU: Good points. No chance to go No. 1 this year.

Jimmy Jam in Tulsa asked: I didn't realize Cincinnati had 40,000 students...I could see Louisville and Cincy in the Big 12, giving it some geographic balance. Thoughts?

DU: It could happen. The Big 12's got some OK options. If it invited Louisville and Cincy, I'd probably be behind it. Would offer some additional stability for the league. But does it make sense?

Michael in Austin asked: Who has the best shot at beating LSU? OSU, OU, Stanford, or Oregon?

DU: Stanford. That said, I think OSU would beat Stanford handily.

STILLWATER, Okla. -- It's a gorgeous homecoming Saturday in Stillwater that's perfect for football.

A little morning chill turned into a nice afternoon, which features a strong forecast for cloud-free sunshine and Justin Blackmon.

The Oklahoma State receiver got "dinged" in the head and sat out the majority of last week's win over Missouri, but the reigning Biletnikoff Award winner will be back on the field for the Cowboys.

It's Homecoming weekend here in Stillwater, and the house decorations were pretty high quality from what I saw on the drive into Boone Pickens Stadium in town. More than 50,000 people braved the chill last night to celebrate the occasion.

But back to football.

The Cowboys will need Blackmon today against a high-powered Baylor offense. Both of these teams can do just about anything on offense, which should make this one a fun game to watch.

Baylor's offense will be at full strength, but Oklahoma State is dealing with the loss of receiver Hubert Anyiam, who's likely to miss the rest of the season with a broken bone in his foot.

That will make life a little tougher on quarterback Brandon Weeden, but even though Anyiam will be replaced by suitable receivers Michael Harrison and Isaiah Anderson, look for slot receiver Josh Cooper to get the ball thrown his way a little more.

We'll have plenty of coverage right here throughout the day.

Cliches don't mean much until they become personal.

"One guy goes down, you have to replace him," said Oklahoma State receiver Josh Cooper this week.

For Oklahoma State, the cliche is all too real this week after being forced to watch senior receiver Hubert Anyiam roam the sidelines in a protective boot after breaking a bone in his foot during Saturday's win over Missouri.

"If he’s down in the dumps, he’s not showing it," Cooper said.

Anyiam led the team in receiving in 2009 before suffering through an ankle injury for the majority of 2010. This year, Anyiam was healthy and productive, racking up 370 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Now, his career is likely over.

"It really, really tore me up when we lost Hubert. He’s done such a great job for us, been such a great kid," coach Mike Gundy said. "I told him I hated it for him and that he’s still a big part of our team, and that he needs to stay focused, he needs to make sure he’s going to class and doing all the other things. He’s had a great career here. It’s unfortunate that things like this happen, but I believe everything happens for a reason, and up until he couldn’t play anymore, he gave us great effort and did everything he could to be a factor on our team. I was very proud of him."

Now, the Big 12's top offense is without one of its top weapons. And with no other choice, has to move on to the five games standing between it and the national title game.

"The other players, Josh and the other wide receivers, will have to make some more plays now," Gundy said.

Cooper has been the team's clear No. 2 receiver behind Biletnikoff Award winner Justin Blackmon.

"Running short routes, getting inside ... Making plays on third downs, and once Black gets coverage over the top, I try to come down in the middle or something and make plays. He draws those defenders off for me," Cooper said. "That’s just kind of what I do in this offense."

He'll be doing the same thing, but look for the ball to come his way a lot more without Anyiam. Isaiah Anderson and Michael Harrison will slide in to try and fill Anyiam's void.

"[Anyiam] is a great blocker and he’s made a lot of plays for us, but those guys can also make plays. Mike’s been making plays all year long, and I’m sure he can keep doing it for us," Cooper said.

STILLWATER, Okla. -- There was no bigger question surrounding Oklahoma State's program. Yeah, last season was fun, but did your offense pack up and move to Morgantown?

Former offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen revived an offense that a year ago looked like it was tentatively piecing together building blocks for a marginal run in years to come. But by season's end, the Cowboys were near the top of the college football world offensively -- looking up at only Oregon and Boise State. But as quickly as he came, he left for West Virginia, where he's now the head coach.

Back in what is, at least for now, Big 12 country? So far so good. Oklahoma State beat Arizona 37-14 just months after doing the same in the Alamo Bowl in Holgorsen's last hurrah while wearing orange.

"It's still the same guys blocking, catching, throwing, running," quarterback Brandon Weeden said. "I think [Dana] is one of the best playcallers in college football, but you've still got to execute. ... The transition's been really smooth."

Everyone knew that Oklahoma State returned much of last season's team, which won a school-record 11 games. But who deserved the credit for the rise with so little experience and even lower expectations?

Holgorsen's offense hung 34 points on Marshall in its Morgantown opener, but it's pretty clear by now that he didn't string together a record-setting offense in Stillwater with a bunch of scrubs.

For now, 2011 looks very much like a carbon copy of 2010.

Score 60 points in the season opener? Check.

Justin Blackmon racking up 100 yards receiving? Check.

Keep Weeden above 300 yards passing in both? Check, and he didn't even do that in 2010.

Beat Arizona by four touchdowns? Check, give or take a few points.

New coordinator Todd Monken's biggest tests are on the way, but the warmups? He's aced them all.

"Todd's doing fine," said coach Mike Gundy.

Out-of-character penalties stalled a few drives that could have put even more points on the board, but Oklahoma State has shown signs that it might be even better in 2011 armed with the experience from last year's overachieving season.

Weeden broke his own school record for completions on Thursday night with his 35th, and that was before the fourth quarter even began. He finished 42-of-53 for 397 yards and two touchdowns, both on goal-line fade routes to Blackmon.

Oklahoma State's top two backs, Joseph Randle and Jeremy Smith, combined for 186 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries.

Volume and balance, two very good words coaches like Monken want associated with their offenses.

"I was just focused from the minute I ran out of the tunnel," Weeden said. "The confidence when you get a couple short ones and you hit a long one and then a couple more short ones, you just get that confidence. You get in the flow of the game and that's kind of how it went."

Expectations were high. For now, Monken's taken a more experienced offense higher.

"I want to be somewhere where the expectations are high and there's good players. So, if you're afraid of that, you'll never go any place where they've got good players and you're afraid of following in someone's footsteps," Monken said. "I'm not really worried about that. I came here because I knew the place was different when I was here before and has got good football players that give us a chance to win every week."

Oklahoma State might do exactly that this season. Early on, at least, it looked capable. And for as much well-deserved attention as Weeden and Blackmon draw, they're far from alone.

"Last year, it was kind of like Kendall [Hunter], Blackmon and Brandon," Blackmon said. "Now, you've got Joseph and Jeremy back in the backfield. You got receivers Hubert [Anyiam] and Josh [Cooper] on one side with Tracy [Moore] on the other. And you've also got Mike Harrison out there making plays. Overall, you've just got more people out there making plays."

Weeden completed a pass to 11 receivers on Thursday. Even the punter, Quinn Sharp, had more rushing yards than any single Arizona running back. His 23-yard scamper on a third-quarter fake was more than the 22 and 19 yards Arizona's top backs finished with.

Penalties plagued Oklahoma State, in part because of confusion surrounding what a new rule stipulates receivers can and can't do on cut blocks. But Gundy's well aware of what he has.

"One concern I have with this team, is they're so experienced on offense, and they're so confident in themselves, that I don't want them to think they can just go out there and it's going to happen," Gundy said.

That didn't happen Thursday night, despite a mid-game lull with a comfortable 21-7 lead.

But as the season progresses, Weeden, Blackmon & Co. will go out there. And it probably will happen.

But trust that both will do what's necessary to make it happen. Regardless of who's up in the booth.

Another season.

Another bushel of points for Oklahoma State.

The Cowboys lead Louisiana-Lafayette 24-3 midway through the second quarter and look well on their way to a huge win.

There were plenty of questions about how the OSU offense would look without Dana Holgorsen, but against the Ragin' Cajuns, new coordinator Todd Monken has things looking about the same.

Oklahoma State actually trailed at the half of their first game last year.

That won't be the case this time.

Justin Blackmon already has four catches for 51 yards, and entered Saturday night's game as the only player in college football to play 12 consecutive games with 100 yards and a touchdown.

Brandon Weeden is 13-of-19 for 154 yards and a touchdown pass to Josh Cooper.

So, after today, we only have three players left in our top 25. The most devoted among you can probably name them. Though I won't divulge the order until the time is right, you'll see.

Anyway, there were lots of players I considered but didn't include. Here are the top players that just missed the cut, in no particular order.

Michael Egnew, TE, Missouri: Egnew, at 6-foot-6 and 245 pounds, is a heck of an athlete. He showed it with 90 catches for 762 yards and five scores last year. It's not meant as a criticism, but his gawdy numbers are more a product of big opportunities in Missouri's offense than anything he's done individually. Egnew was a huge part of the bubble screen game in 2010, but when that job went more often to Danario Alexander in 2009? Egnew had three catches for 25 yards. His 8.47 yards per catch in 2010 ranked 44th in the Big 12. Very good player. Not an irreplaceable player like so many others on the top 25.

Christine Michael, RB, Texas A&M: Michael has the clear ability to be in the top 25, but you can't put in a player that missed half the season. Here's guessing Michael, who I think enters 2011 second only to his teammate, Cyrus Gray, in ability, cracks the postseason top 25. He's up 12 pounds to 221 this season. No linebacker wants to see that coming through the hole in the offensive line.

Kheeston Randall, DT, Texas; Tony Jerod-Eddie, DT, Texas A&M; Frank Alexander, DE, Oklahoma: These three are arguably the best defensive linemen in the league, behind Missouri's Brad Madison. I had each on my first-team All-Big 12 ballot. Unfortunately, there aren't any defensive linemen in the Big 12 that truly scare offenses, and defensive lines on the whole are a weak spot in the Big 12. Each of these players may develop into players offensive lines truly fear, but none are there yet. At least not enough to warrant placement on the top 25 list.

Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M: A few Aggies wanted me to take into account Tannehill's receiving acumen in 2008 and 2009, as well as his talents at QB that finally found the spotlight in 2010. Nope. Tannehill took hold of a shaky team in midseason last year, and he was close to the top 25, but six starts with very, very modest numbers aren't enough to put him on the level of Griffin, Weeden or Jones just yet. Maybe by the end of this season, but right now? No way. That said, his status as the fourth-best QB in the league is nothing to shrug off. I see big things for him in 2011.

Trent Hunter, S, Texas A&M: Very good player, but not quite a game changer just yet in a pretty good group of Big 12 safeties. Hunter made 62 tackles and two picks for a much-improved defense. Without Von Miller, it will need his senior leadership.

Josh Cooper, WR, Oklahoma State: Cooper's huge 2010 season got completely dwarfed by some guy named Justin Blackmon. Cooper's 68 catches ranked No. 7 in Oklahoma State school history and were more than six Big 12 team's leading receivers. Receiver in the Big 12 is absolutely stacked, but don't count me among those that hasn't taken notice of Cooper's efforts.