ESPN College Football

David Ubben says Baylor QB Nick Florence, OSU WR Josh Stewart and Texas RB Joe Bergeron are three players to watch in the Big 12 this year

2011 overall record: 12-1
2011 conference record: 8-1

Returning starters: Offense 6; defense 8; P/K 2

Top returners
RB Joseph Randle, WR Tracy Moore, WR Isaiah Anderson, CB Brodrick Brown, LB Shaun Lewis, S Daytawion Lowe, LB Alex Elkins, CB/KR Justin Gilbert

Key losses
QB Brandon Weeden, WR Justin Blackmon, S Markelle Martin, DE Jamie Blatnick, C Grant Garner, RT Levy Adcock, WR Josh Cooper, WR Michael Harrison

2011 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Joseph Randle* (1,216 yards)
Passing: Brandon Weeden (4,727 yards)
Receiving: Justin Blackmon (1,522 yards)
Tackles: Daytawion Lowe* (97)
Sacks: Jamie Blatnick (8)
Interceptions: Justin Gilbert*, Brodrick Brown* (5)

Spring answers

1. Handing the reins to the youngster: I had my doubts about whether OSU would actually pull the trigger and name a starting quarterback. For the Cowboys to name 18-year-old true freshman Wes Lunt is a big move, and proof of the staff's confidence that the Illinois native is the best man for the job. The summer will be about him establishing himself as the team's leader, but seeing how he handles the fall will be fascinating.

2. Rebooting the offensive line: You could say OSU must replace four starters on the offensive line, but sixth-year senior Jonathan Rush has plenty of experience while he returns from a knee injury, and Lane Taylor returns, too. Michael Bowie was a starter-quality contributor last year, and Parker Graham earned rave reviews for his work in the second unit last year, moving into a starter role for the final five games. Evan Epstein is the man at center, but replacing Grant Garner won't be easy. This is a unit hardly devoid of experience.

3. Emerging stars at receiver: OSU knew Justin Blackmon and Josh Cooper would be gone this year, but Michael Harrison's exit from the team was a surprise. OSU needed talents to emerge in the spring, and they did. Josh Stewart was a big standout, as was juco newcomer Blake Jackson, in the mold of former Sooners star Jermaine Gresham. Charlie Moore exploded for 243 receiving yards and three touchdowns in the spring game.

Fall questions

1. How far can Lunt take the Cowboys? Oklahoma State will carry the banner of defending Big 12 champs for the first time in school history next fall. They'll do so with a wide-eyed true freshman making his way through plenty of unfamiliar territory and playing plenty of new faces for the first time. His ceiling is high, but Oklahoma State will start in the top 25 and is good enough to be a factor in the Big 12 title race. How far will Lunt carry them?

2. Who's filling in for Markelle Martin? Martin was the leader of the defense in 2011, but defensive coordinator Bill Young says replacing him will be done by committee. Lavocheya Cooper, Zack Craig and Shamiel Gary will be in the mix, but how will that rotation work out in the fall?

3. Can the defense carry more of the load? OSU forced 44 turnovers last season, the most of any team in college football. It also finished 107th nationally in total defense. The Cowboys won't have the same awe-inspiring offense in 2011, but the defense returns a lot of experience and a lot of talent. Defensive ends Jamie Blatnick and Richetti Jones leave holes in the pass rush. The defense should be better, but it has to be. The margin for error will be much smaller.

Everybody, the Kentucky Derby is tomorrow!

Sorry, I can't do it. I really can't stand horse racing. Alas, our boys on the Big Ten blog handicapped the league title race, and for those of you who do like horse racing, here's how I'd slot the Big 12 if all 10 teams were making the nervous walk to the track right now.

We'll take it from the top.

Oklahoma: 8-to-1 odds

As I've written before, this thing is wide open, and nobody's going to walk into the 2012 season feeling too confident about their chances. That said, Oklahoma has the closest thing to a truly complete team. The Sooners have an experienced quarterback with lots of weapons around him at the skill positions, along with a solid offensive line. OU's defense should be one of the league's best, and the Sooners have been in this position plenty of times. They are a narrow favorite in a loaded Big 12, but the Sooners have enough upside to sneak into the national title game, too.

Kansas State: 10-to-1

Deep down, I don't think I truly believe Kansas State is the Big 12's second-best team (WVU), but I do believe in Bill Snyder, and the Wildcats have very, very few variables. That's a far cry from the two new teams in the league, who both have huge questions on defense and bigger questions about their ability to handle a more difficult schedule. That considered, there's no doubt in my mind Kansas State has the second-best chance to take home the league title. Kansas State is the little engine that could -- that keeps on chugging, seemingly oblivious to the spread offenses all around it.

West Virginia: 12-to-1

Speaking of high-powered offenses, West Virginia might well have the best in the entire Big 12. It's loaded at receiver and running back, and Geno Smith might be the best quarterback in the league. He'll get a chance to prove it this fall. In the meantime, WVU's got to make sure its defense is ready to give its offense a chance to outscore folks across the Big 12.

TCU: 15-to-1

TCU has plenty of question marks on a depleted defense without projected starters, but its offense will be as good as any in the Big 12. The Horned Frogs still can't answer their biggest question -- How will they handle the jump from non-AQ to a major conference? -- until they actually do it. TCU's floor seems pretty high, but can it actually win the Big 12 in its first season?

Texas: 15-to-1

Texas has the most upside of any team in the Big 12, but 2012 seems more likely as a set up for a title run in 2013. It's hard to see Texas running the table or going 11-1, but if the top of the league gets muddled and 9-3 is good enough to win the league? These Longhorns will be physical mudders. Pray for losses raining down on everybody, UT fans. There's nobody in the Big 12 Texas can't beat, but does it have enough offense to beat them all?

Oklahoma State: 20-to-1

Oklahoma State's defense, an underrated unit in 2011, will be much better, and its running backs will be some of the best in the league. Emerging weapons like Josh Stewart, Blake Jackson and Charlie Moore will make names for themselves in 2012, but how far can OSU really get with a true freshman at quarterback? Look out for OSU and Texas in 2013, though.

Baylor: 45-to-1

Aaaaand here's your big drop-off from the legitimate Big 12 title contenders. Baylor's a good team. It might even be a borderline top 25 team. But the Big 12 is so, so stacked at the top. You don't win 10 games, lose a Heisman winner, the Big 12's leading rusher and receiver, and then go win the Big 12. I'd be pretty surprised if Baylor didn't make a bowl game, though.

Texas Tech: 55-to-1

Tech wants to prove it's back, but find me a spot where Tech is better than Baylor. The quarterbacks are close, and Seth Doege's been better when he's played, but Nick Florence is due for a big year at Baylor. Tech's focus for now needs to be staying healthy and getting back into bowl games, not fighting for a Big 12 title.

Iowa State: 75-to-1

Iowa State might sneak into a bowl game again, too. They're good enough. This is still a team that's come pretty close to maxing out its talent the past few seasons and won seven games twice. That's legitimately impressive, but not anything close to Big 12 title contention. This season's team should be solid, though. The battle between Baylor, Tech and Iowa State to grab the last bowl bid or two is going to be really heated.

Kansas: 125-to-1

Charlie Weis has made some nice moves to get KU moving in the right direction, but if the Jayhawks go from 2-10 to Big 12 champs, I'll get a three-foot tattoo of a Jayhawk on my chest. That's a promise.

Miss the Pokes' spring game on Saturday? We've got you covered.

What happened:

• The Cowboys' on-field quarterback derby came to an end: J.W. Walsh completed 16 of 27 passes for 310 yards and two touchdowns. Clint Chelf completed 18 of 31 passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns. True freshman Wes Lunt completed 15 of 23 passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns. The Cowboys didn't announce a starter after the game. More on that later.
• Junior receiver Charlie Moore broke out with nine catches for 243 yards and three touchdowns, highlighting the offense's day.
• Defensive end Tyler Johnson made five tackles, a sack, two tackles for loss and recovered a fumble. Linebacker Caleb Lavey had five tackles and two tackles for loss.
• Gray won, 31-21, whatever that means. The 24-0 score at halftime was flipped in favor of the Gray.

What we learned:

• Oklahoma State's going to be just fine at quarterback. Oklahoma State's not sure who's going to grab the reins just yet. Coach Mike Gundy says the coaches will meet on Wednesday, and after that? "It should be shortly after that when we feel like we’ll have our quarterback," he said. Let's just say I have my doubts about an official announcement coming, but how can you not feel great about what you've got at quarterback after Saturday, and really, all spring? OSU's not going to have an All-Big 12 first-teamer behind center, but it'll certainly have a guy in the top half of the conference -- maybe even better. There is a lot of uncertainty, but in this offense all three can produce and have room for growth -- more so wit hWalsh and Lunt. My pick for the OSU quarteback race remains Walsh.
• We may have our breakout receiver in Stillwater. Everybody knew to watch Tracy Moore. The more-informed folks knew to keep an eye on sophomore Josh Stewart, arguably the best receiver in the spring for the Cowboys, and plenty more knew to watch juco transfer Blake Jackson. But Charlie Moore? A junior with seven catches, 114 yards and one touchdown in two seasons? I'd heard buzz that he'd excelled this spring, but no way anybody expected what he did on Saturday. He'll get plenty of hype in fall camp, and I'd caution the hype machine that Saturday was only a spring game. Doing that against teammates on a Saturday in spring is different from doing it every Saturday against Big 12 defenses. We'll see, but if a guy shows that kind of potential, it's hard to see him not being a major contributor.

They said it:

"I have an opinion on what I think is best. I mentioned to the offensive staff before prior to us starting that I didn't want to sway them one way or the other. I want to know what they have to say and then make a comparison. We'd like to name a quarterback this upcoming this week. That way we can move forward and know who our leader is this summer. I think that's best for our team."

-- Gundy, on his quarterback race

"There is an eyeball test. You look at something and you have to be careful of rushing to judgment without watching the tape. There are a lot of beautiful girls out there with terrible personalities. We'll have to see once we see the tape.”

Offensive coordinator Todd Monken, on the quarterback race. Monken also added that Walsh's day Saturday was his best of the spring after struggling in the middle of the 15 practices.

"You bet it does. Even though it's an orange and gray game and your teams are split and I'm blowing a whistle and it's not a real game, there's still competition out there. Players compete and the guys that really want to make plays, they don't care what the situation is -- they go out and play the game. It means a lot to me, the players that make plays out here today because this is as close as we can get to a game setting."

-- Gundy, on if Moore's performance means anything.

Do you know what's illegal in Europe? Nothing. You're going to college.

• Oklahoma State QB Clint Chelf is trying to replace Brandon Weeden at OSU. It's not the first time he's replaced a legend. He did the same with the late Austin Box back in high school in Oklahoma, writes Berry Tramel of The Oklahoman. Here's an update on the QB race in Stillwater, too.
• Texas moved away from the spread and into a power-running scheme. The transformation is nearly complete, writes Bryan Fischer of CBS Sports.
• West Virginia's Brodrick Jenkins has plenty of experience. Now he wants a starting job, writes Mickey Furfari of The (W.Va.) Register-Herald.
• WR Josh Stewart is by far the most improved player for OSU from the end of 2011 to now, reports Bill Haisten of the Tulsa World.
• West Virginia self-reported a minor violation, but trust me, it's stupid. It also won't affect WVU's current probation.
• Kirk Bohls of the Austin American-Statesman looks at the issue of multiyear scholarships, which Texas voted against, along with the rest of the Big 12.
• Here's lots more from Gina Mizell of The Oklahoman from Brandon Weeden's day at ESPN.
• WVU punter Corey Smith had some great moments and some awful ones that ended up on a blooper reel in 2011. Bob Hertzel of the Times West Virginia takes you on his journey.
• Brian McLaughlin of Sporting News catches up with a big receiver headed to Baylor, Quan Jones.
• If you missed it, Texas Tech dismissed reserve running back Ronnie Daniels from the team.
• Here's your update on the Iowa State quarterback race.
• Lingering health issues have ended WVU fullback Matt Lindamood's career.

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.

Oklahoma State kicks off spring practice next week, but the Cowboys released their pre-spring depth chart on Thursday.

You can see the full chart here.

A few thoughts:

• Gundy made it official on the depth chart: It's a three-man race for the QB job, and right now, junior Clint Chelf doesn't have the advantage. Chelf and freshmen J.W. Walsh and Wes Lunt will compete for the job in the spring and are all separated by an "or" on the chart.
• Junior college All-America tight end Blake Jackson just signed with OSU and has already earned a bit of pre-spring hype, and he'll enter the spring as a starter. Not at tight end, though. He's starting opposite Josh Stewart at inside receiver. That's an interesting selection. Not many 6-foot-3, 238-pound inside receivers in the Big 12. Jackson was listed at 220 when he signed, too. Looks like he's packed on a lot of muscle.
• Grant Garner leaves a huge hole in the middle of OSU's offense at center, but Evan Epstein will start the spring as his replacement. Parker Graham played a lot in 2011, but he'll replace Levy Adcock at right tackle after playing left tackle last year. Senior Michael Bowie will move to left tackle after playing a reserve role in 2011.
• Cooper Bassett and Ryan Robinson slide up, as expected, to replace OSU's pair of departed defensive ends, but those jobs aren't settled. Nigel Nicholas and Tyler Johnson are newcomers to the position. Nicholas played DT last year and Johnson was a linebacker. Nicholas is a co-starter with Bassett and Johnson is No. 2 behind Robinson.
• Lavocheya Cooper gets the first crack at replacing Markelle Martin at safety, but he's probably going to have a battle on his hands with Zack Craig for that spot. Cooper missed time with an injury last year, and Craig was the top reserve at the position.
• Sad to see Michael Harrison not on the depth chart. A personal issue prompted the NCAA suspension and his decision to leave the team, but I hate to see potential go unfulfilled. Harrison had a whole lot, and he was my pick to be the next big-time receiver in the program.

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.

Oklahoma State has avoided any major surprises on Wednesday, but got welcome news when its top recruit, Dominic Ramacher, faxed in his letter of intent just before 9 a.m. local time, the school announced.

Ramacher is the nation's No. 3 tight end and No. 126 on the ESPNU 150. The Denton (Texas) Guyer star joins two of his former teammates as highly-recruited stars to make the move from Denton to Stillwater.

Quarterback J.W. Walsh and receiver Josh Stewart just finished their freshman seasons for the Cowboys, who won the Big 12 title.

Ramacher, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound prospect, is Oklahoma State's only expected ESPNU 150 signee.

Here's our scouts' take on him:

He is a big, ultra-versatile throwback that can line up at just about any offensive skill position. Has experience in a variety of roles as a FB, H-back, tight end and direct snap Wildcat QB in the run game. He reminds us a lot of how Peyton Hillis was used when at Arkansas. In the backfield he is a movement-H/FB with ball-carrying experience as well as being the primary lead blocker. He has excellent measurables, may be on the slight shorter side for a TE, but he can really run. He is a big, physical power runner that has tremendous explosiveness and the ability to pick in slide in-line with good vision.

Should be a nice, physical piece to Oklahoma State's high-powered offense.

Thanks for all the questions in today's chat.

Here's where you can send me more mail if you didn't get your question answered in the chat.

And time for a few highlights.

mike (WV): best O in B12 next year - including WVU? Does Smith have a shot at the Heisman?

David Ubben: He's got a shot, sure. The Big 12 should be deep next year, though. It's going to tough for Geno to win it. As for the best offense in the Big 12 next year, certainly WVU will be in the mix. Don't overlook OSU or Baylor, too, even with new quarterbacks. I'll lean Oklahoma for now, but we'll see how the spring shakes out.

Kyle (St. Louis): As a Missouri fan we have seen great tight ends in recent memory (rucker, coffman, and now egnew) but there game hasn't translated to the NFL. Do you see egnew making an impact at the next level?

David Ubben: To me, it's all about the fit. Coffman and Rucker didn't land in situations that sort of fit their receiving talents. Ultimately, I think that's what will decide Egnew's fate. I don't know if he'll ever develop into the blocker needed in the NFL, but there's room for receiving tight ends in this league, as we've seen in these playoffs. Why can't Egnew be that kind of guy?

Chris (BCS, TX): Ok Ubbs... Honestly... how bad are my Aggies going to get killed in the SEC... I didn't like the idea from the begining but here we are so what do you think?

David Ubben: Ha. It's a trap! Here's the thing: The West is going to be tough on A&M in the immediate future. The Aggies are young. Finishing 6-6 in 2012 would be a good start. Meanwhile, Missouri is experienced and in a much less difficult division. I could see Mizzou winning 9-10 games in Year One. Over time, A&M should improve a bit, depending on how Sumlin works out. As for Mizzou, sustaining success is going to be a little more difficult.

Candice (Tulsa): If Clint Chelf comes out and plays a lot better than everyone expects him to, do you think OSU could win the Big 12? I'm an optimistic so I would like to think so. Plus, I would like all the haters (ahem, OU and Texas fans) to realize OSU is on the rise, and will be an elite team from here on out. Thoughts?

David Ubben: It's possible. OSU's got a good team coming back. The running backs should allow Chelf's margin of error to be a little bit larger. I'm not betting on it, but like I've written before: The Big 12 is wide open this year. There are easily 6-7 teams who could realistically win the Big 12 this year. Last year, there were only three. OSU's fortunate to be in both groups.

Jamie (Dallas): If Baylor's new stadium gets built in, say, the next 3 seasons, is that a game changer for the Bears in the recruiting field and if re-alignment evers rears its ugly head again?

David Ubben: Yeah, it could be. Realignment seems like it'll be quiet in the Big 12 until 2017 or so, but it can't hurt. More valuable for Baylor than any stadium? Keeping Art Briles.

Jeff (Columbia, MO): Is there any indication on when more information will come out on the WVU v. Big East? Is there still a chance the Big East could hold WVU to the 27 month 'we'll be here in case you change your mind' period?

David Ubben: They're undergoing non-binding mediation in the near future. There's a belief that said mediation could result in a deal that allows WVU to leave early but pay additional damages beyond the $5 million exit fee in the Big East.

danan (albuquerque): is tim kish a good hire for ou

David Ubben: I don't know the guy, but it's always a good thing when you can bring in an experienced guy who's dealt with more responsibilities at other times in his career to come be a position coach.

Ubben For President (Irving, TX): David, Do you think KSU's 10 win season this year was a fluke, or do you think that next year's season will sure up 2011's close wins?... Thanks for keeping me entertained during a slow day at work.!-Jacob

David Ubben: Here's how K-State looks: Was this year a fluke? Yeah, a little bit. The performance in close games (8-1) was insane. But next year, they bring back a TON and will be a better team. They'll have a good shot to win 10 games again. The odds are probably against that happening a little bit, but they'll come close.

Pete (Georgia): Which schools seriously would like to go back to 12 teams?

David Ubben: Not really much momentum to make it happen in the Big 12 for now. I could certainly see that changing in the future.

Tony (Richmond, CA): Who will Mike Gundy lean on to fill the big shoes left by Blackmon's depature to the NFL?

David Ubben: A lot of receivers. Won't be just one guy. Tracy Moore could slide in. Mike Harrison. Josh Stewart. They've got a lot of guys with a lot of potential.

A long time ago, in a small Oklahoma town far, far away from Phoenix, a bunch of people told Oklahoma State it would finish fifth in something once known as the Big 12 South.

That was back in August 2010, 16 months ago.

Since then, Oklahoma State won a share of the Big 12 South with a whole lot of guys nobody outside Stillwater had ever heard of.

A three-star recruit with 20 career catches won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's best receiver. A former walk-on won the nod as the Big 12's best quarterback. An offensive line with four new starters emerged as the Big 12's best.

That means this year, OSU won the Big 12 with a whole bunch of stars, including receiver Justin Blackmon, quarterback Brandon Weeden and one of the nation's best position coaches, OSU offensive line coach Joe Wickline.

Before the season, OSU coach Mike Gundy reflected on that dream, 11-win season that served as a precursor to 2011, an even dreamier season capped by a win over Oklahoma, the first since 2002.

It happened, Gundy says, because of his system that had been in place for five years, with improvement each year serving as the proof that persuaded players to buy in.

"It allows us to perform better than we should when maybe we’re not as talented or we’re not as experienced," he said before beginning a year that ended with the school's first Big 12 title. "We didn’t have hardly any experience coming back last year, and we stuck with what we believed in, and I am somewhat convinced that that’s the reason we were able to start playing pretty good and have a productive year in somewhat of a rebuilding phase."

Well, guess what?

It's time to test that theory once again.

We know how 2011 will end: With 11 or 12 wins and a Fiesta Bowl win or loss. The Cowboys finish their season against Stanford on Monday night.

The bigger unknown?

... What will happen next year?

Weeden will be gone. Blackmon will be, too. The Cowboys' No. 2 target, Josh Cooper, will relinquish his title as one of the Big 12's most underrated players upon graduating. Three offensive linemen will end their college careers, too.

The defense will lose both defensive ends and its leader, safety Markelle Martin.

That system of Gundy's? It's time for another big test.

In his seventh season in Stillwater, Gundy has the rare distinction of equaling or improving on the previous year's win total in every single year.

Next season undoubtedly will be a rebuilding year, but so was 2010. What will it mean on the field?

The Cowboys will host a quarterback competition for the right to throw to a group of talented receivers nobody outside Stillwater, as in 2010, has ever heard of.

Recruiting has improved every year under Gundy, and we'll see how those new faces have fit into his burgeoning program.

This time next year, will Clint Chelf, J.W. Walsh or newcomer Wes Lunt be a household name and an All-Big 12 quarterback?

Will Michael Harrison, Isaiah Anderson, Tracy Moore or Josh Stewart be on the short list for the Biletnikoff?

As in 2010, the Cowboys will have a solid running game to depend on. Joseph Randle and Jeremy Smith have combined for more than 1,800 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns with a game still left to play. They'll both be back, as Kendall Hunter, a 2008 All-American, was in 2010.

This year, Oklahoma State proved it can get over the hump.

Next year, we'll find out whether the Cowboys are capable of staying on top.

The regular season is over, but with the end of any season, you can't help but look to the future. In college football, that means youth, i.e., freshmen.

Plenty of big talents played their first season in the Big 12 this year, and here were the best of the bunch.

It should come as no surprise that the bulk of the young talent plays offense, assuring that the Big 12's reputation as an offense-driven league looks as though it'll remain a constant.

Malcolm Brown, RB, Texas: The Longhorns were tentative to let Brown start early in the season, but he emerged as the team's top back and into the starting slot, finishing the season as the team's leading rusher, at 707 yards and five touchdowns.

Tyler Lockett, WR/KR, Kansas State: Lockett became one of K-State's best playmakers late in the year and the Big 12's best kick returner. He returned two kicks for scores and averaged more than 35 yards per return, catching 18 passes for 246 yards and three scores. No small accomplishment in the Wildcats' run-heavy offense.

Jaxon Shipley, WR, Texas: Shipley was hampered by a knee injury for much of the season, but he was the Longhorns' most reliable receiver, leading the team with three touchdown catches. He was narrowly edged for the team lead in catches (40) and receiving yards (593).

Jared Barnett, QB, Iowa State: Barnett is best known for playing an unbelievable game against Oklahoma State. He took over for Steele Jantz in midseason and led the Cyclones from 3-4 to 6-4 and a bowl berth, with a blowout win over Texas Tech and dramatic wins over OSU and Kansas. He threw for 376 yards and three scores against OSU and ran 84 more yards.

Quandre Diggs, CB, Texas: Diggs has star written all over him. Don't be surprised if he's the Big 12's best defensive back next year. He showed flashes in the spring game after enrolling early and started nine games for Texas as a true freshman. A rare feat in most years, especially for the defense. He led the team with three interceptions, forced two fumbles and had 43 tackles and 13 pass breakups. An unbelievable freshman year for the Horn.

Darrian Miller, RB, Kansas: Miller's got some great wiggle to his running style as one of the league's most elusive backs, and he ran for 559 yards and four scores on just 136 yards.

Blake Dees, LB, Texas Tech: Dees looked like a potential starter in spring practice and showed up once fall came for the Red Raiders. Despite an ankle injury that basically erased the second half of his season, he made 32 tackles with four tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.

Tony Pierson, RB, Kansas: Memo to Charlie Weis: You've got a heck of a backfield; you'd better use it. Pierson, Miller and James Sims are all solid for the Jayhawks, and Pierson might have as much upside as any of them. He's an electrifying player like Miller but with more size, and he averaged more than 5.5 yards on his 71 carries, scoring three times. Here's guessing the scoring numbers and touches go up next year.

Josh Stewart, WR, Oklahoma State: Stewart was a nice piece of a powerful OSU offense and showed plenty of promise as a kick returner, too, averaging better than 20 yards on his 11 returns. He caught 19 balls for 291 yards and two scores.

Blake Bell, QB, Oklahoma: Bell redshirted before showing up midseason in the valuable BellDozer formation that OU came up with after Dominique Whaley went down with a fractured ankle. He scored an unbelievable 10 touchdowns on 34 carries, but the throwing thing could use some work. In four attempts, he completed as many passes to the other team (one) as his own.

David Ubben hands out a game ball to Texas A&M RB Cyrus Gray, Baylor WR Tevin Reese and OSU WR/KR Josh Stewart.

Time for our weekly look back at the weekend that was in the Big 12.

Best offensive player: Collin Klein, QB, Kansas State. This was a close one, but Klein made a ton of plays late in a tight game and again erased a 10-point, fourth-quarter lead. He finished with 384 yards of total offense and six touchdowns in a 53-50, four-overtime victory over Texas A&M. A&M forced him into pressure throws late; Klein made them. Honorable mention: Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State; Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

Best defensive player: Elliot Coffey, LB, Baylor. Coffey picked off two passes, made a tackle for loss and had 10 tackles. Honorable mention: Damontre Moore, LB, Texas A&M

Best game: Kansas State 53, Texas A&M 50 (4OT). This was the best game of the year and one of the best in Big 12 history. K-State erased deficits of 14 and 10 points and both teams made a handful of huge plays in overtime, including an unbelievable, game-extending touchdown pass from Ryan Tannehill to Uzoma Nwachukwu. It wasn't enough, though, and Klein beat the Aggies in 4OT with a predictable, yet unstoppable QB sneak.

Best team performance: Oklahoma State. The Cowboys eviscerated Texas Tech on the road, handing the Red Raiders the worst loss in school history, a 66-6 laugher that could have been even worse. Texas Tech's only points came on a fumble return. Good grief, OSU. Don't hurt 'em!

Best guest: Sal Giunta. As part of the Wounded Warrior Project, Giunta was an honorary captain for the Red Raiders. Very cool scene before the game, too, when Tech and the Lubbock Homes for Heroes charity presented a mortgage-free home to soldier Louis Flores. Giunta was the first living veteran since Vietname to receive the Medal of Honor, the highest award for valor in the armed forces. He rescued several of his squad members in Afghanistan.

Worst quarter: Kansas' fourth quarter. KU looked on the verge of its first conference win ... until it wasn't. RG3 evaporated a 24-3 fourth-quarter deficit with three long touchdowns and forced overtime, where the Bears won it after a missed 2-point conversion to win it for Kansas.

Worst guest: The injury bug. Seriously, this is getting out of hand. Big 12 talents are having big issues staying healthy. Saturday, it was Missouri running back Henry Josey and Texas back Fozzy Whittaker with awful-looking knee injuries. Terrible.

Worst half: Texas Tech. Even Kansas did better against Oklahoma State. In Stillwater, the Jayhawks trailed, 56-7 and took a 7-0 lead to start the game. Tech? It started with a three-and-out and trailed 49-0 at halftime. Ugly.

Worst self-parody: Texas A&M. I mean, at this point, the jokes are beyond old. Four times this year, Texas A&M has lost double digit leads in the second half, and long after the jokes have gone stale, the Aggies are still losing games late. Why? Your guess is as good as mine. If anyone really knew, it'd be fixed by now. This team just hasn't been able to make plays late.

Worst-sounding injury: Tyler Lockett, WR/KR, Kansas State. Lockett, one of the league's most dangerous return men, is out for the season with a lacerated kidney. Good grief, how does that happen playing football? Don't think I've ever heard of that. Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel suffered a "lacerated groin" last week, but that's maybe the only injury I've ever heard of that sounds worse. Here's hoping Lockett's OK long-term.

Worst trip home: Oklahoma State. The Cowboys had plane troubles, and got stuck on a plane and in the Lubbock airport for several hours before making it home to Stillwater. Despite leaving the stadium sometime around 3:30, the C0wboys didn't make it back home until 10:30 and had a pretty boring rough afternoon. That's about all that went wrong for them on Saturday, though.

Worst play: Texas Tech's kick return team. Two return men failed to retain possession, and four seconds after going down 28-0, Josh Stewart recovered the loose ball in the end zone to put OSU up 35-0. Not good, Red Raiders.

Biggest guts: Turner Gill, Kansas. Gill's guts didn't pay off, but it was the right call to try and beat Baylor with one play in overtime. Calling timeout before the two-point conversaion probably wasn't the best move, but KU was so, so close to the win. Gotta go get it when you can. Kansas almost did.

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.