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STILLWATER, Okla. -- Mike Gundy remembers what happened the last time Oklahoma State shook up the Bedlam rivalry.

Gundy was an assistant on Les Miles' staff back in 2001 when the Cowboys knocked off the defending national champion Sooners on their home field as four-touchdown underdogs. In 2002, Miles did it again, beating the No. 4 Sooners in Stillwater, 38-28. The Sooners' noisy neighbors to the north woke them up to a rivalry that would turn one-sided again very soon.

"The first two years I was here with Les and we beat them, they didn’t really consider us a factor. I obviously don’t have any proof of that, but I’m sure when they looked at their schedule, they were looking more at Texas and Nebraska and people like that. ... I don’t think their players every really paid much attention to us," Gundy said. "It’s been so one-sided here for the last 100 years, or however long; it's been a bigger factor for the fans than it was the players.

"That changed in 2003 up through now. They, in my opinion, were very aware of that game. Last year is only going to add to that."

Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops? Well, he strongly disagrees with that assessment.

"Everyone calls it a rivalry for all these years, now you’re saying it’s now become one? I don’t understand that. When wasn’t it a rivalry?" he said. "Like I didn’t need to last year? What year didn’t I need to win it?"

Valid points from Stoops, but the facts support Gundy's assumption. After the 2002 loss, the Sooners won next eight Bedlams battles. Only three of the eight wins were by single digits, even though a rising Oklahoma State program was ranked in five of the eight meetings.

Just like 2001 and 2002, Gundy says the Cowboys' emphatic 2011 win "throws fuel on the fire" of Bedlam, a Big 12 rivalry gaining fast on Red River as the Big 12's most nationally relevant game.

Last season, the balance of power in the state shifted. When receiver Isaiah Anderson goes home to Wichita Falls, Texas, he sees more orange than ever before. It's on car bumpers, the fronts of shirts and emblazoned across hats.

With a 44-10 Cowboys romp in Boone Pickens Stadium capped by a field storming, Oklahoma State announced its arrival.

"Oklahoma’s not the only team in Oklahoma anymore. They can’t call it the Sooner State," Anderson said.

This was no fluke win. It was no blip of an upset that put a late-season blemish on Oklahoma's record. This was two in-state rivals playing for everything, and Oklahoma State walked away as 34-point victors.

"I said it then: If not now, then when? When is that gonna happen?" offensive coordinator Todd Monken said. "We got them here, everything’s on the line, we’ve had a bye week, we’re playing good football. We’re healthy. They weren’t."

The Sooners had taken home seven Big 12 titles since 2000, and even with injuries to leading receiver Ryan Broyles and running back Dominique Whaley, they had positioned themselves for an eighth. Oklahoma State said, "No. This one's ours."

Oklahoma State had won games, sure. It had won bunches of them -- 29 in the past three seasons, including a school-record 11 in 2010. What it hadn't won? The big one.

"The bully is the bully until you beat up the bully," Monken said. "You can’t say you’ve arrived until you actually win it."

Fans mobbed players to celebrate as they ripped down the goalposts.

Middle-aged alums hopped the field's 8-foot wall and hugged players such as Justin Gilbert, who said he couldn't take a step without someone thanking him and his teammates.

In one night, Oklahoma State ended eight years of frustration.

"Hopefully, now in our players' minds and our fans’ minds, we’re not the whipping boy anymore," offensive lineman Jonathan Rush said. "We can play. It’s not like we have a curse that we’ll never win that game. Now we can believe. It’s doable."

It also booked its first trip to the BCS and, most importantly, won its first outright conference title.

"If we beat Iowa State and lost to OU, it’s not the same," Monken said, referencing a double-overtime loss to the Cyclones that cost OSU a shot at the national title but didn't deter its Big 12 title hopes. "Yeah, we might have gone on and played in the Sugar Bowl, but it wouldn’t have been the same because you didn’t win the league. You didn’t win the title. You can’t say, 'Hey, we’re conference champs.' And you did it against OU, who, let’s face it, has had the upper hand for years."

The Sooners had the upper hand on more than just Oklahoma State. OU and Texas combined to win 10 of the 15 Big 12 titles before last season. No one except the Sooners and Longhorns had won the former Big 12 South since Texas A&M in 1998.

Then, all of a sudden, the Big 12's Red River dominance came to an end.

"I think what that’s done is kind of broke the ice a little bit," Gundy said. "The people that follow football in this part of the country, I think they enjoyed watching Oklahoma State win this league, because of the dominance the other two schools have had."

It's no longer impossible to surpass Oklahoma and Texas. The road to the Big 12 title was easier in the former Big 12 North, but when the Big 12 eliminated divisions in 2011 after being trimmed to just 10 teams, concern arose that no one would be able to outperform OU or Texas over the course of a 12-game season.

A Big 12 North team could upset a team from the South in the Big 12 title game. Kansas State proved that with a mammoth upset in 2003. Colorado upset Texas in 2001. But outplay the Red River rivals for an entire season? Good luck with that.

A year later, Oklahoma State proved it can be done, and can be done emphatically. The Cowboys finished two games ahead of the Sooners after the Bedlam beatdown for state supremacy.

"Winning a BCS game in some way has changed all of their lives," Gundy said. "They just don’t know it. It certainly changed mine and the people that coach here and work in their organization. It did theirs, too. They just don’t know it yet."

STILLWATER, Okla. -- We've only scratched the surface of my notebook after my visit to Stillwater on Wednesday. Lots, lots, lots more to come. Here's a few spare thoughts, notes and quotes from my day with the reigning Big 12 champs.

• You've heard enough about Oklahoma State's QBs for today (Part 1, Part 2), with more to come on that trio, but whoever wins the job won't be short for targets. Receiver Josh Stewart's made the biggest improvement this offseason, but Tracy Moore has come on strong on the outside, too. Inside, you really do have to watch out for Blake Jackson. I regret not putting him on my "Top Newcomers in the Big 12" list from earlier this week. He's playing inside, but he's basically a tight end, and was the best of the junior college ranks last year. He's also a man. He's a huge target with great, great hands. Look for him to get some run on the goal line, but in this offense, he may actually be my frontrunner for Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. I'd almost guarantee him getting a high volume of touches, and he's going to be tough to bring down at 6-foot-3, 238 pounds. He's every bit of that, too. "He's a big body guy and has really good hands. If it's in the general area of him, he's going to catch it," quarterback J.W. Walsh said. "He's got really good leaping ability and great ball skills."
• Speaking of newcomers, you don't hear as much hype around him, but defensive coordinator Bill Young is hopeful that Calvin Barnett can have a big impact on the defensive line. Plenty of folks were after the one-time OSU commit, turned Arkansas signee, turned juco All-American, turned Cowboy signee. The 6-foot-2, 300-pounder has big-time potential, but he has to pick up the speed of the game and focus on technique. OSU's defense may ultimately depend on strength at the defensive tackle spot. "He's a very talented guy, he's really strong and powerful. Weight coaches have raved about what he's done in the weight room," said Young. "He's a big guy who can run and change direction. We're fortunate to have him." Big impact? "We're hoping he can," Young said.
• Fired Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt, an Oklahoma State alum, was back on OSU's campus on Wednesday visiting with the coaching staff. Colorado coach Jon Embree also showed up unannounced earlier this spring to meet with Gundy, who granted the request.
• Oklahoma State's corners and running backs are both having great springs, as expected. Those two spots might be the biggest strength on the team. OSU has a great case as the Big 12's best set of running backs, and is second to only Texas at cornerback.
• Defensively, Mike Gundy feels like this year's team is the most talented and deepest of any team he's had dating all the way back to even when Gundy was an assistant under Les Miles.
• Oklahoma State may be hurt the most of anyone with the new rule changes in special teams. Kickoffs have been moved up to the 35-yard line and touchbacks are now brought out to the 25-yard line. That negates two huge advantages OSU has had the past two season. Quinn Sharp boomed 61 touchbacks last season. No other kicker had more than 40. Meanwhile, Justin Gilbert is one of the most dynamic return men in the league, but he'll have fewer opportunities. He says he'll still plan on taking it out when he gets a chance, but he'll have to dial it back some and take the unselfish route a whole lot more. Sad to see that. He's electrifying.
• Oklahoma State moved safety Daytawion Lowe to nickel back and Lavocheya Cooper is holding down the free safety spot. The void at strong safety will be filled by committee, Young said. Zack Craig will be part of it, as and Shamiel Gary and Deion Imade will get a shot, too. "The good thing about is we have all the backups back," Young said.
• OSU is missing center Evan Epstein this week. He's out with pneumonia.
• Former OSU lineman Levy Adcock showed up briefly to Oklahoma State' facilities on Wednesday. I can confirm he's shaved his mullet, just like he said he would.

Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy won the Paul "Bear" Bryant College Coach of the Year Award on Thursday night.

He beat out LSU coach Les Miles and seven other finalists after leading Oklahoma State to a 12-1 record and the school's first Big 12 title.

The Cowboys beat Stanford 41-38 in the Fiesta Bowl.

"It's been an unbelievable season," Gundy said. "I don't know that Oklahoma State's ever been perceived the way we are now from coast to coast all through the country. I'm so proud of our team and the administration and coaches for getting to this level and continuing to work hard."

Gundy was also given the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year award by the Football Writers Association of America this season.

Thanks for all the questions today. Here's the full transcript.

And if you want to make an appearance in a later mailbag, here's where you can reach me.

And now, for a few highlights:

Ryan (MO): What do you think would help our defense become great again? Is Mike S. coming back going to make it better?

David Ubben: Yeah, that could help. Clearly, Mike Stoops is a coach who has learned a lot as a head coach. How long he'll be back at Oklahoma is anyone's guess, but defensive improvement seems likely. I don't know how "great" an Oklahoma defense is going to be in the offense-heavy Big 12, but it can be better. It doesn't need to be much better for OU to win big. The key in this league, more than anything, is limiting big plays. OU had big issues in that area.

alan (stillwatet): hey ubbs, i was driving around campus and saw that they are building the practice facility for OSU. My question is do the practice facilities really make a difference or is it more of a recruiting thing?

David Ubben: Well, in OSU's case, it'll be a big help. Tech, too, if they can get an indoor facility of their own. It helps in recruiting, but mostly, it's a lack of headache. When the weather's bad, OSU has to alter their practice schedule. Not many others in the Big 12 has to deal with that. Tech can use the indoor facility at Frenship High, but not all the time. It's a headache and a runaround to get players in the loop. Now, for OSU, that headache is about to go away.

Wade (San Diego): If the Big 12 decided to go to 14 teams, which 4 teams would you add?

David Ubben: Nebraska, Missouri, Texas A&M, Colorado.

Connor R (Beamont, TX): I just want to know what it is that you do not see in David Ash? That being said, was the decision for Texas not to pursue the JuCo quarterback a good one or a bad one? My money is on the negative but let's hope I'm wrong.

David Ubben: He didn't show a lot this year to make people believe he can be a special QB like you need in the Big 12. That said, I do buy into the theory that his growth was stunted by a lack of reps in spring and fall camp, as well as limited work in summer 7-on-7. That'll change this offseason. We'll know just how good David Ash can be about halfway through his sophomore year. He doesn't need to be great, but he needs to show a lot more than he did this year.

Mark L (Saint Louis, MO): Hey Ubbs love your commentary, i have one question to ask. I know people are down on THE MISSOURI TIGERS. Do you think with the team they have are they going to finish near the top, middle or the bottom and why.

David Ubben: Meh, I don't think too many people are down on them. I think Mizzou's got a great chance to be a big contender in the SEC East next year. They'll probably be the third-best team in the division right away, but UGA and USC aren't teams that will completely outclass Mizzou or require Mizzou to go 11-1 to win the division. 9-3 might win it. The Tigers will be right there immediately. In the long run, however, I think Mizzou might be in for some lean years as its recruiting philosophy shifts.

Candice (Tulsa): Why do you think OSU's recruiting isn't sky rocketing after their successful year? What do you think they can do to change it?

David Ubben: Usually a season like this takes a year to sort of grab hold on the recruiting trail and show some dividends. We'll see what the 2013 class looks like. OSU was pretty good last year, though. Cowboys fans have to be a little disappointed with an underwhelming class that was good early, but they lost a few commits like Kendall Sanders and Bralon Addison that would have probably put this class near the top 25.

george (Baton Rouge): Dear Big 12, please take Les Miles back

David Ubben: LOLSU.

Steve (Austin, TX): What do you think the chances are that Texas is able to steal DGB away from Arkansas?

David Ubben: I will say this and only this, re: DGB: I will be shocked if he goes to Texas.

Chris (DC): What are your thoughts on a potential plus-one? Do you think this would help or hurt the Big XII? Would you want a seeded plus-one (basically, a 4-team playoff) or just an extra game after the current BCS bowls (play the BCS bowls minus the NCG, rerank the teams, then have 1 vs 2)?

David Ubben: I love the idea. I had sort of given up on a playoff and stopped being emotionally invested, but now that there's some momentum in making it a reality, I want it badly. I don't think it has a huge effect on the Big 12 either way. It'll come down to beating the SEC. I like the idea of playing the first round of semifinals the week after championship weekend, and sending the losers to the bowls with a four-team playoff at the end of the bowls.

Matt (Dallas): Does Art Briles have another QB phenom recruit in the wings that he's managed to keep a secret so far?

David Ubben: Well, if he told us he'd have to kill us, right?

Seems like he'll throw him out there and everybody will rip on Texas for not having him like always. Won't be next year, though. Seems like Baylor's about to be Nick Florence's team. Showed some nice things in the win over Tech this year. Much improved from a guy that struggled in 2009.

Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy has been voted the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year by the 1,200-member Football Writers Association of America.

Gundy beat out LSU's Les Miles, Kansas State's Bill Snyder, Michigan's Brady Hoke and Clemson's Dabo Swinney to win.

He led the Cowboys to an 11-1 season and the school's first Big 12 title, as well as its first BCS bowl bid.

The 11 wins equaled a school record set in 2010, when Gundy was a finalist for the award.

"It's a testament to our players and our coaching staff that we are in the position that we are in," Gundy said in a release. "I want to thank the Football Writers Association of America for recognizing our team in this way."

Former Kansas coach Mark Mangino was the last Big 12 coach to win the award in 2007. Oklahoma's Bob Stoops also won in 2000.

Gary Patterson won the award at TCU in 2009.

Kansas State coach Bill Snyder and Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy are two of five finalists for the Eddie Robinson Award, given annually to the best coach in college football.

Snyder and Gundy join Brady Hoke of Michigan, Les Miles of LSU and Dabo Swinney of Clemson as finalists.

From my perspective, Snyder and Miles are 1a and 1b for this award, but as the nation's only undefeated team, Miles may get the nod. The distractions LSU has played through all season, though most dealt with discipline issues, were remarkable. The Tigers never lost a beat and strung together one of the best regular seasons ever, beating the Pac-12 champion and Big East champion away from home, as well as beating Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

Snyder's Wildcats went from No. 8 in the Big 12 preseason poll to No. 8 in the BCS at the end of the regular season, and second in the Big 12.

Definitely wow-worthy.

This should be an interesting award race.

STILLWATER, Okla. -- The proud Pokes finally did the deed.

The goalposts came down, and the Oklahoma State flags went up.

Red state? Blue state? For the first time since 2002, Oklahoma is an orange state.

The impact of Saturday's dominant 44-10 Oklahoma State win over Oklahoma was far-reaching. After voters from coast to coast slot LSU No. 1, they'll have to decide on No. 2: Alabama or Oklahoma State?

But on this night, the Cowboys had a chance to enjoy the simpler pleasures, too.

All that politicking and SEC mudslinging will last less than 24 hours.

This win on Saturday night? It'll last a whole year and bleed everywhere -- from coffee shops to elementary schools across Oklahoma.

Coach Mike Gundy says he's immune from the ever-present smack talk. But everybody else?

"I know it affects the players," Gundy said. "And coaches' families, their kids. I've got three kids that go to school, and all the coaches have kids. They want to win. That's what their dads do. That's just a fact. Whether you like it or not, there's legitimate reasons for us to win, so when they go in those restaurants, they don't have to listen to, 'Hey, y'all made it all the way to No. 2 in the country, but you still didn't beat OU.'"

They played this Bedlam rivalry for the 106th time on Saturday night. This was only the 17th time that Oklahoma State fans left with their heads held high.

"It's one thing to hear it around the rest of the state, but when you go home and you have to hear people talk to you about it, it makes it worse," said receiver Justin Blackmon, who hails from the heart of Sooner country. His hometown of Ardmore, Okla., is only about 80 miles south of Norman.

"I know they won't be able to talk," Blackmon said.

The simple truth: Wins like these are more special for the folks in orange. They don't see them quite as often, but that number is growing.

For a year, they'll relish the first outright conference title in school history and the first since they shared a conference crown in 1976.

Gundy called it the most gratifying football moment of his career, overtaking the first time he beat Texas in 2010.

"Nothing compares," said the career Cowboy, who has spent 21 years as a player, assistant and now head coach at Oklahoma State.

This one was special.

"We've earned their respect over the last four, five, six years, so it's different," Gundy said. "There were a number of years we didn't even have their respect. They respected us, and that helps, but still, you've gotta beat 'em. Otherwise it's always, OSU has got to this level or that level, but they've never beat OU."

And Gundy, in a fashion that turned the second half into a party atmosphere instead of a tense one, became the first coach since that coaching savant down in the Bayou, Les Miles, to knock off Oklahoma as the Cowboy-in-chief.

The Cowboys didn't beat Oklahoma. They beat the heck out of Oklahoma. The offensive line: "Phew, dominant," quarterback Brandon Weeden said with a shake of his head.

Weeden had enough time in the pocket for most of the night to craft each of his linemen a handwritten thank-you note to hand out in the postgame locker room, where Gundy obliged his team with another one of his patented dance sessions.

"I had no choice," he said. "I'm a YouTube sensation. There's no telling what'll be on there next."

That was only after a well-deserved Gatorade shower.

"God, that was cold," Gundy said.

Yeah, Oklahoma fans felt the same way.

Oklahoma State running backs Jeremy Smith and Joseph Randle -- who combined ran 22 times for 178 yards and four touchdowns -- found holes from the offensive line wide enough that if the two were Siamese twins, their numbers might not have been much different.

The last time Oklahoma State took the field, Iowa State fans stormed it. Saturday night, it was the Cowboys' turn, all before slapping on orange shirts and white hats declaring them "Big 12 Champions."

Fans braved the nine-foot drop from the stands to the field at Boone Pickens Stadium.

Weeden stopped and posed for an endless string of photos. Players celebrated among the mob.

"I had my helmet on, and I got slapped in the head so many times, I might have a concussion," Weeden joked.

He stopped and shook Pickens' hand after. Those hundreds of millions of dollars that Pickens handed over to the school he loves so much? BCS National Championship Game appearance or not, it's paying off.

Oklahoma State, for the first time, is the Big 12 champion.

"To see [the players] enjoy that, that's a huge thrill for me, because there's so much that goes into this," Gundy said. "I just want them to be able to enjoy it."

They will. And so will the rest of the Oklahoma State family.

When the end of day is nigh, I'll have taken off this tie.

• Could Texas A&M be set for a post-Big 12 series against Oklahoma? Kirk Bohls of the Austin American-Statesman says there's a mutual interest in doing so.
• SEC merchandise is on the way in Columbia, Mo., writes Emilie Stigliani of the Columbia Missourian.
• What do Kansas fans think about KU's pointed approach to responding to Missouri's move? J. Brady McCollough of the Kansas City Star fills you in and introduces you to the man behind the tweet heard 'round the Big 12.
• If the season ended today, the BCS title game would be a matchup of teacher vs. student. Gina Mizell of The Oklahoman explores the dynamic between Mike Gundy and Les Miles.
• A Missouri curator recalls a frank comment from Texas AD DeLoss Dodds and says it illustrates a reason for the Tigers to leave, reports David Briggs of the Columbia Tribune.
• Two Texas Tech defenders have suffered season-ending injuries.
• It's 2003 all over again at Texas Tech, and that's not a good thing, writes Don Williams of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
• Jenni Carlson of The Oklahoman takes you inside what it's like to try to come back from a serious injury.
• An Oklahoma offensive lineman was arrested after Saturday's win, reports Guerin Emig of the Tulsa World.
• Mack Brown is a happy man these days, and he has reason to be, writes Cedric Golden of the Austin American-Statesman.
• Third-quarter woes are haunting Missouri this year, writes Vahe Gregorian of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
• Turnovers are killing Texas A&M's chances, writes Robert Cessna of the Bryan-College Station Eagle.
• I love to see stuff like this.

LSU Tigers coach Les Miles and Oklahoma Sooners coach Bob Stoops discuss their top spots in the rankings.

Life should be good for the Big 12's veteran quarterbacks with little changing around them. But the league's top two passers are facing a lot of change. Here's a look:

Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State.

Weeden is facing the biggest change. The offense will be the same, but the voice on the headset will be different. Inexperienced playcaller Todd Monken replaces Dana Holgorsen for the Cowboys. Monken previously coached wide receivers with Mike Gundy under Les Miles at Oklahoma State and came to the Cowboys after four seasons at LSU and two as the wide receivers coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFL. He was promoted to quarterbacks coach before taking the OSU job, where he'll get the keys to what he's described as a "Ferrari." That's Weeden, Biletnikoff-winning receiver Justin Blackmon and the Big 12's best offensive line.

For Weeden, though, he'll have to deal with the loss of two-time 1,500-yard back Kendall Hunter. Joseph Randle and Jeremy Smith will try to fill the void, but Hunter was a steadying force last season for the Cowboys' offense, which loses just two receivers: Bo Bowling, who caught 42 passes, and Colton Chelf, who caught 11 passes.

Landry Jones, Oklahoma

Jones, like Weeden, lost his offensive coordinator to a head-coaching job in the offseason. Kevin Wilson left OU to take the job at Indiana, but Jones' new coach is a man he knows well, and a man Oklahoma knows well. Josh Heupel has coached quarterbacks for the past five seasons at Oklahoma (which featured three Big 12 titles under three different quarterbacks), and now takes over as the offensive coordinator under Bob Stoops. Heupel also quarterbacked the Sooners under Stoops to the program's last national title, in 2000.

Heupel shares coordinator duties with receivers coach Jay Norvell, but Heupel will call the plays, and did well in his first try, a 48-20 stomping of Connecticut in the Fiesta Bowl. Norvell, 48, is a more experienced coach, but Heupel, 33, is on the fast track for a head-coaching job.

Jones also must deal with life without DeMarco Murray, who carried the ball 282 times last season and caught 71 passes. That's a lot of touches to replace, but for the Sooners to reach their stated goal of a title, Jones will have to find a way to distribute those receptions elsewhere and support his new stable of running backs.

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

No. 1 on the list was the favorites: Oklahoma

Today, we take a look at my No. 2: Texas A&M.

Why the Aggies will win the Big 12

1. They've got the most complete offense.

Center Matt Allen is the only offensive starter not returning, but the Aggies have a solid line, headlined by a maturing, but already talented pair of bookends with big potential, tackles Luke Joeckel and Jake Matthews. At the skill positions, you won't find anything close to a weakness. Texas A&M returns the best running back corps in the league and maybe the best 1-2 punch in the nation with Christine Michael and Cyrus Gray. All of the team's top five receivers return, and Jeff Fuller, who chose to return for his senior season, is arguably one of the five best in the country. Ryan Tannehill doesn't have a ton of starts (six) under his belt, but he was great in a tight spot last year, and led the team in receptions his first two years on the field.

2. They're especially strong in great places on defense.

Those places: Secondary and pass-rushers. That's huge in the Big 12. New joker Damontre Moore, defensive end Tony Jerod-Eddie and linebacker Sean Porter should combine for more than 15 sacks this year and tons of quarterback pressures that could result in some big plays for another defensive strength: the secondary. All four starters return, and Terrence Frederick, Coryell Judie are experienced seniors at corner, while Trent Hunter and Steven Campbell hold down the safety spots.

3. They made it hard to win nine games last year.

Texas A&M already won a share of the Big 12 South last year, despite ranking 10th in the Big 12 in turnover margin at minus-5. Its 30 turnovers (15 INTs, 15 fumbles lost) were the most in the Big 12 and 111th most in the nation. You'd have to think that number will drop this year with Tannehill at quarterback. He struggled in the loss to LSU, throwing three interceptions, but he had just three in his six previous games at quarterback, compared to 11 touchdowns. Five of those 30 turnovers came from Jerrod Johnson in a loss to Oklahoma State, and if the Aggies take care of the ball then, or this time around, they're likely Big 12 champions.

Why the Aggies won't win the Big 12

1. The defensive losses will be too much.

Damontre Moore should slide in and replace Von Miller. I'd expect him to do well, but what about middle linebacker? Michael Hodges was the heart of the defense in 2010 and its leading tackler. When a knee injury forced him out of the Cotton Bowl against LSU, the Tigers gashed the Aggies' defense, which for the few weeks to end the season, looked like one of the Big 12's best and topped the league in rush defense. Hodges is gone for good now, and the Aggies left spring without a solid replacement. For now, it looks like Jonathan Stewart will slide in, but it could end up being true freshman Donnie Baggs. Either way, A&M won't be as strong there, and teams that can run the ball (i.e., OSU, OU) may take advantage. Lucas Patterson is the only other loss on the defensive side of the ball, but my money is on Hodges being missed the most on the field, even though Miller was the No. 2 pick in the NFL draft.

2. They have to travel to Norman.

Texas A&M has been outscored 107-24 in its last two trips to Norman, and Les Miles at Oklahoma State in 2001 is the only Big 12 coach to ever beat Bob Stoops at Owen Field. The odds are definitely against Mike Sherman becoming the second. The Aggies knocked off Oklahoma in College Station last year, but did it largely on the strength of the linebackers, and Hodges and Miller, who helped orchestrate those three goal-line stops to beat the Sooners, are gone.

3. Hype and the Aggies are not happy bedfellows.

Texas A&M looked like a possible Big 12 South contender last year, but the Aggies lost all three of their first real tests, and nearly lost to Florida International in College Station, erasing a 21-7 fourth-quarter deficit to avoid embarrassment. After being written off by most, they rallied for a share of the Big 12 South, but this year, the attention is back on the Aggies, who will likely be toting a top-15 ranking into the preseason. How will the team handle big games early in the season against Oklahoma State and an early trip to Lubbock before the showdown in Norman? Their recent history suggests "not well."

The Big 12 blog gives its official recommendation to "Super 8," the most fun you'll have at a movie this summer.

• Dave Matter of the Columbia Tribune ranks the top 10 offensive position coaches in the Big 12. Oklahoma State offensive line coach Joe Wickline comes in at No. 1. (As he should.)
• Fantastic look here at Texas Tech and Tommy Tuberville's relationship with Under Armour from Courtney Linehan of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
• Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops sat down for a Q&A with Fox Sports.
• Andy Staples at SI.com has a post-spring look at Texas' offseason makeover.
• Matt Tait of the Lawrence Journal-World tells the story of Kansas OC Chuck Long's relationship with his late father, who died as Long went through one of the hardest periods in his life.
• Ben Frederickson at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has a look at the growing world of 7-on-7 football, which every summer removes a bit of attention from high school programs in the recruiting game.
• Texas' website has a Q&A with freshman receiver Miles Onyegbule.
• What attracted Oklahoma commit Durron Neal to the Sooners? A realization of the program's tradition during a video that made him a part of it, writes Anthony Slater of The Oklahoman.
• Oklahoma State's rising football program can be traced back to one man: Les Miles, writes John Helsley of The Oklahoman. He also has a few thoughts from new offensive coordinator Todd Monken.
• Berry Tramel of The Oklahoman ranks the Big 12 nonconference schedules. For comparison, here's where I slated them.

Schedule: Practice opens today, and continues through the spring game on April 16. All 14 practices between now and then are closed to fans and media.

What’s new: The guy calling the plays, but the Cowboys hope the offense isn't. Todd Monken is back in Stillwater for a second term after serving as receivers coach and passing game coordinator under Les Miles. He says he plans on keeping the same system as departed coordinator Dana Holgorsen, and is getting a lesson on the intricacies from his quarterback, Brandon Weeden.

On the move: Punter Quinn Sharp missed the Alamo Bowl, but his duties may be fairly comprehensive after this spring. He already handles punts and kickoffs, and he'll be battling for the starting placekicker job this spring, too.

Key battle: Oklahoma State returns all five starters from last year's offensive line, but that doesn't mean the same five guys will start the season. Early-enrolling juco transfer Michael Bowie is listed as co-No. 2 at right tackle in the pre-spring depth chart and could make a play for a starting job this spring.

New faces: Freshman quarterback J.W. Walsh enrolled early and should take part in a three-way battle for the No. 2 spot behind All-Big 12 quarterback Brandon Weeden with fellow passers Clint Chelf, last year's backup, and Johnny Deaton.

Breaking out: Running back Joseph Randle was a great compliment to Kendall Hunter last season, but enters the spring before his sophomore year as the starter ahead of the bulkier Jeremy Smith. Randle caught 37 passes last year, second-most among running backs in the Big 12 behind only Oklahoma's DeMarco Murray. He'll see a big boost in his carries this time around. He had just 81 last year.

Question marks: Oklahoma State lost both defensive tackles, Shane Jarka and Chris Donaldson from last year's team, and Nigel Nicholas and Christian Littlehead, among others, will try and fill their voids. Dominant interior defensive line play isn't necessary to win in the Big 12, but teams that have it can be great on a national scale.

Big shoes to fill: Linebacker Caleb Lavey. He enters the spring as the starter at middle linebacker, and is in line to replace Orie Lemon, one of the defense's leaders in 2010 and the Big 12's No. 2 tackler with 133 stops. Lavey was one of the jewels of the Cowboys' 2010 recruiting class, and as a sophomore, it's time for him to make good on that potential.

Don’t forget about: Receiver Hubert Anyiam. He led the team in receptions after Dez Bryant was suspended for the final nine games of 2009, but battled an ankle injury throughout 2010 while teammate Justin Blackmon raced to a Biletnikoff Award-winning season. If he can stay healthy, he could develop as an underrated, but very valuable compliment to Blackmon as a senior.

All eyes on: Quarterback Brandon Weeden. He came out of nowhere last season to become Oklahoma State's first all-conference quarterback since 1932. The 27-year-old went eight years between starts, but looked like he didn't miss a beat from the start. He'll have to try and build off last year with a new coordinator, and him doing so will be necessary for the Cowboys to capture the Big 12 title that narrowly eluded them in 2010.

It seems like Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops made his bosses happy by rebounding from an 8-5 season for a Big 12 title and BCS bowl win, followed by eschewing Florida's advances in the offseason.

According to the Tulsa World, they've rewarded him with a big raise.

Stoops' paycheck is now at a plump $4.875 million per year, up from $3.875 million in 2010.

The staff's salaries are now nearly $7 million.

Stoops' raise brings him right up underneath Texas coach Mack Brown's $5.1 million salary for highest in the Big 12. The next-largest in the Big 12 is Gary Pinkel at Missouri, with $2.55 million.

Last year, the only other coaches to make more than Stoops were Nick Saban, Brown, Urban Meyer, Les Miles and Jim Tressel.

Thanks to the raise, that list now includes just Saban ($5.16 million in university compensation, without bonuses) and Brown.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- LSU knew what it wanted to do, or needed to do, rather.

Texas A&M finished its season as the Big 12's best rush defense, reclaiming the "Wrecking Crew" nickname in the process.

"We had to mix it up," said Tigers offensive coordinator Gary Crowton. "We felt like if we could loosen them up with some big passes, we'd be able to run the football."

Few figured the Tigers would have the kind of success they did doing both, but they did. Quarterback Jordan Jefferson had thrown four touchdown passes in 12 games entering Friday's Cotton Bowl, including just two in his past 11 games.

He threw three on Friday, and two were longer than 40 yards, softening up the Aggies defense exactly as planned to help beat Texas A&M 41-24 in the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic in front of 83,514 fans at Cowboys Stadium.

"I thought he threw the ball about as good as I've seen him throw on tape," Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman said. "He was decisive, aggressive and accurate."

With Jefferson keeping the Aggies honest, LSU rolled over the Wrecking Crew for 288 rushing yards. Running backs Stevan Ridley and Spencer Ware both topped 100 yards, and Jefferson made a handful of plays with his legs, extending drives on third down on plenty of occasions and finishing with 67 yards on 12 carries.

"For our run game, I thought we were doing a really good job of dominating the line of scrimmage," Crowton said.

Early on, the Aggies were up 10-0, but with one torque of a knee they were down a leader. Senior linebacker Michael Hodges suffered a sprained ACL in the first quarter, and Texas A&M's leading tackler never returned.

"He is the heart and soul of our defense in many ways," Sherman said. "At the same time, you can't use that as a reason why we didn't perform the way we should have been capable of performing. ... One guy gets hurt, another guy has to step in and make the play."

His replacement, Kyle Mangan, managed just four tackles, the same amount Hodges had already accumulated in the first quarter.

"I think Kyle, put in the situation he was in, he played well," defensive end Lucas Patterson said. "You can't replace a player like Hodges."

With Jefferson having one of his best games of the year, and the Aggies patching together a run defense that often looked out of character, there was little expectation after Texas A&M's 10-0 lead had evaporated that chants of "Wrecking Crew" would make an encore in Cowboys Stadium.

Early on, it might have. Jefferson's first deep pass -- and the Tigers first attempt to soften the defense -- was interecepted with one hand by Coryell Judie. But Jefferson's first of three connections in the end zone with senior receiver Terrence Toliver assured an end to the Aggies' six-game winning streak.

"I came back with the next deep ball call when we got in the right situation," Crowton said. "Jordan stood in there, took a big hit, but got the touchdown. I knew we'd be alright from that point on because we were going to run the ball. We pound it in there."

The Aggies had no answer for the majority of the night. Gaps went unfilled and runners sliced through wide lanes. The Tigers ran the ball 55 times, and averaged 5.2 yards per carry.

"Our offensive line came to play," LSU coach Les Miles said. "Our offensive line said this is a challenge they wanted. I think they played to that challenge."