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We're moving on in our series on the Big 12 Blog pegging the single player each team in the Big 12 can't afford to lose. He's also the player that will be most responsible for the team's ultimate success.

Next up, the Texas Longhorns.

Find more indispensable players here.

Most indispensable player(s): DEs Alex Okafor and Jackson Jeffcoat.

2011 stats: Jeffcoat: 63 tackles, 17 TFL, eight sacks, three PBUs. Okafor: 52 tackles, 12.5 TFL, six sacks, three PBUs, two forced fumbles.

Why Texas can't afford to lose them: There's no differentiating between these two. Without one, the other is less effective. Jeffcoat is a physical specimen that becomes unblockable all too often for Big 12 offensive coordinators' liking. Okafor's no physical slouch, but his experience paid off in big-time production in 2011.

This year, the duo is probable the No. 1 and No. 2 defensive ends in the entire Big 12. With the high-quality passing offenses that populate the Big 12, their worth is immense. There's nobody else on the roster who can duplicate this kind of production and disruption, and their presence gives the Longhorns a luxury few other Big 12 teams possess.

Texas gave up the fewest passing touchdowns of any Big 12 teams, and surrendered 17 fewer yards per game than any other team in the Big 12. Does that secondary, which is already very, very talented, look anywhere near as good if the pass rush up front isn't solid with what's sometimes just a four-man rush? No way.

DC Manny Diaz loves his blitzes, but if he wants to back off, Okafor and Jeffcoat assure him that quarterbacks will be rushed and will face pressure. That's only going to be more true in 2012.

No doubt about this one: Texas can't afford to lose this duo. If it does, the defense will suffer.

AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas has a well-earned reputation as the nation's "DBU," a proverbial factory of NFL defensive backs.

Even so, when three NFL-caliber corners leave a team, like they did at Texas before the 2011 season, doubts will surface.

Can you replace Aaron Williams' versatility? What about Curtis Brown's cover skills and Chykie Brown's knack for being in the right place for the big play at the right time?

New defensive coordinator Manny Diaz looked down his depth chart and saw a true freshman, Quandre Diggs, and a little-used sophomore in Carrington Byndom.

By season's end, though, the duo transformed one of the Longhorns' biggest question marks -- and after a 5-7 season in 2010, they had plenty -- into arguably its biggest strength.

"Both of them are both very bright," coach Mack Brown said. "They made an easy transition to the field. Both of them were in very good high school programs."

Diggs showcased his fearlessness early in the spring. He went head-to-head with -- and held his own against -- the team's top and more experienced receivers while he should have been in high school. The contact did not faze the former high school running back.

"Quandre was tough," Brown said. "He got knocked around a lot."

Meanwhile, Brown pointed to Byndom's outstanding athletic ability for his early success. Byndom had the option to play college baseball, but elected to stick to football.

"Carrington has gotten tougher every minute he's been here," Brown said, adding that he was a "very good athlete."

By fall, both were entrenched as starters.

Diggs finished the season with four interceptions, more than all but one freshman in college football (Bryce Callahan of Rice). The league's coaches named him the Big 12's top defensive freshman and Diggs was named a freshman All-American. He landed a spot on the All-Big 12 second team, too.

Byndom, a first-year starter, landed a nod as a first-team All-Big 12 talent and a key cog in a defense that topped the conference in total defense for a fifth consecutive season. He picked off two passes and tied Diggs with a team-high 15, earning the team's defensive player of the week honors on four occasions.

Notes KC Joyner of Football Outsiders:

His 6.2 yards per attempt (YPA) allowed total was better than the YPA marks posted by Alabama Crimson Tide cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick (6.6) and LSU Tigers cornerback Morris Claiborne (7.5), two coverage specialists who will likely end up selected in the first round of the 2012 NFL draft.

DBU, indeed.

The Longhorns also were the only team in college football to not allow a touchdown pass for 20 yards or longer before the season finale against Heisman winner Robert Griffin III and receiving champ Kendall Wright.

"They were very responsible," Brown said. "That was one of our biggest question marks sitting there in the spring and in the fall. And I thought you have to give a lot of credit to Manny and to [defensive backs coach] Duane [Akina] for devising a scheme that took pressure off of them as well.

"We didn't play near as much man and didn't put them in as many one-on-one situations, and then because of their confidence you see the play that Carrington made at A&M probably changed that game."

Byndom swung the momentum for the burnt orange in the final chapter of a heated rivalry with the in-state Aggies before they left for the SEC.

Trailing 16-7 at halftime, Byndom stepped in front of a Ryan Tannehill pass early in the third quarter, returning it 58 yards for a touchdown, silencing a rabid Kyle Field crowd and igniting a second-half comeback for the ages.

Brown saw plenty out of both corners in 2011, but they were young and inexperienced. What happens now?

Big 12 receivers, beware.

AUSTIN, Texas -- Kenny Vaccaro doesn’t want to offend or insult so it was with all apologies to those previous Texas players that he stated this defense, the 2012 version, is unequivocally faster than any he has played on.

Then linebacker Demarco Cobbs returned from injury.

“When he blitzes, it’s for real,” Vaccaro said.

In order for the 2012 defense to be for real, it needs Cobbs, not just a blitzing Cobbs, but one who stays healthy and active for the entire season. To date, Cobbs has been unable to do that.

A backup in 2011, Cobbs’ time on the field was limited to half the season because of a broken forearm. When he did make it back onto the field, the junior wasn’t effective as expected due to the injury and the unfamiliarity with Manny Diaz’s defense.

Spring was the same song, second verse. Cobbs suffered a neck injury that kept him out of the first half of spring. A combination of Tevin Jackson, Alex De La Torre, Aaron Benson and Kendall Thompson were shifted and shaped to try and fill the void alongside Steve Edmond and Jordan Hicks. Jackson received the most snaps. But he was unable to play with the same impact as Cobbs.

“We really were hurt by Demarco not being out there,” Texas coach Mack Brown said. “He's been a good player that's made some highlight plays. But he hasn't been consistently healthy. So like our backs, he's another guy that needs to be healthy and stay on the field.”

Ah, but when he is on the field …

“He is a versatile linebacker for us,” cornerback Carrington Byndom said. “With him being back, it is adding an older guy who has already been in this system. He is a pretty fast guy.”

“He is fast, and he is physical,” added Hicks. “He is somebody you can trust out there so it is always good to have somebody like that back.”

Trust will be a large factor in this defense. Diaz relies on many moving parts to confuse and stun the offense. Those parts must move in concert in order to be effective. If they are not moving together, it doesn’t matter how fast each individual player is.

For instance, in the first several games last season, Keenan Robinson and Emmanuel Acho, two players with less speed than Hicks and Cobbs, were not completely sure where the other would be within Diaz’s scheme. It led to several substantial runs from Rice, BYU, and UCLA before ultimately leading to a 64-yard backbreaker against Oklahoma.

That is the reason it was important for Cobbs to get back into spring practice and start working alongside Hicks and Edmond. That trio has to learn each other’s tendencies within Diaz’s schemes. That way they will understand what is expected of each other and how to react during the game. That familiarity can also lead to more innovation in the defense.

And that is exactly what has been happening in spring practice, Vaccaro said.

“I think we have the defense down to a 'T’ so much that we have freedom now,” he said. “We can mix things up on our own and execute the defense without putting too much of a twist on it.”

Now the added twist is the speed and ability of Cobbs.

AUSTIN, Texas -- Despite having the support of her administration and two years left on her contract, Texas women's basketball coach Gail Goestenkors resigned on Monday, and by Monday night, had a text waiting from Longhorns football coach Mack Brown.

He thanked her for her work, and told her he appreciated her.

"Who in the world knows how somebody feels?" Brown said.

Brown doesn't know exactly, but when Goestenkors says things like "My heart's telling me it's time to take a break," Brown knew he had some idea of what she was going through.

It came from a conversation with legendary Longhorns coach Darrell Royal back in 2003, when Brown felt similar to Goestenkors.

"I asked him, 'Why did you quit?'" Brown said. "And there were reasons. But he said that when the losses became devastating and the wins became relief and it wasn't fun to even win, because you were supposed to, then I needed to get out."

Brown, then in his sixth season and third of what would be nine consecutive 10-win seasons, said he just needed to "wake up."

Two years later, he won a national championship and his second consecutive Rose Bowl.

That feeling crept back in during the Longhorns' trying 5-7 season in 2010. Even Texas' signature victory of that campaign didn't offer the same kind of pleasure such a win used to, Brown said.

"I remember beating Nebraska, walking off the field and I was worried about [Brown's wife] Sally because she lost her brother," Brown said. "I didn't have any joy in that win and that was stupid because it was a huge win for Texas and these kids. I didn't feel it walking off the field because of her loss and I felt a little guilty I was there without her and her brother being buried."

He saw the same in Goestenkors, Brown said. He needed another wakeup call after 2010, and may have got it in a new staff with two new, young coordinators, Manny Diaz (defense) and Bryan Harsin (offense). Bouncing back for eight wins may have helped, too, but Texas has bigger things in mind for 2012 and beyond: Namely, a return to the excellence Brown established in his first decade at the helm in Austin.

"If you're going to walk around and pout when you lose, act like a baby, and when you win act arrogant, not feel good about a win because Texas is supposed to win -- we don't anoint ourselves supposed to win -- then you're in some trouble and you need to have fun," Brown said. "You need to have joy."

Another spring camp is opening, and it's time to take a closer look. Today, the Texas Longhorns get started.

Schedule: Practice starts today leading up to the spring game on April 1. Practices are closed to fans and media, though the team will have two open practices, a change from last year, when all 15 practices were closed.

What's new: Not much, as opposed to last year, when the answer was "almost everything." The Longhorns' staff all returned for 2012 after Mack Brown shook up his staff and replaced six assistant coaches after going 5-7 in 2010. Defensive coordinator Manny Diaz will have to replace defensive leaders Emmanuel Acho, Blake Gideon and Keenan Robinson, but the offense returns 10 starters, including both quarterbacks, David Ash and Case McCoy.

New faces: Quarterback Connor Brewer joins the fold, but the biggest news may have been a shift in recruiting philosophy with new assistants on staff with SEC ties. The Longhorns took a junior college signee for the first time since 2002. Offensive line coach Stacy Searels came from Georgia last season and will have offensive tackle Donald Hawkins from Mississippi to work with. Meanwhile, defensive tackles coach Bo Davis (Alabama) will work with Brandon Moore from Alabama.

Big shoes to fill: Linebacker Jordan Hicks. The Ohio native and No. 1 linebacker in the 2010 class made 55 tackles last season, but without Robinson and Acho, it's Hicks' time in Austin this year. Look out for a big year, and that starts this spring. He's battled through a broken foot, but if he can stay healthy, the sky is the limit for the 6-foot-2, 235-pounder who has added 20 pounds since leaving high school.

Don't forget about: Receiver Mike Davis. He was the team's top target this time last year, but had a slightly disappointing sophomore season and Jaxon Shipley surpassed him as the Longhorns' top receiver. Davis is very talented, though. He and Shipley could both be stars, but don't rule out Davis surging this spring. He turned the coaching staff's collective head last year.

Breaking out: Quandre Diggs was part of the freshman invasion at Texas last year, and he could have made a case for being the best freshman in the Big 12. He's a shutdown corner ready to become a star. In a league with the type of offensive talent the Big 12 has, his skills are invaluable. Don't rule out the sophomore cracking the All-America team next year.

All eyes on: Texas' quarterback battle. Texas will be best off if Ash asserts himself and boxes out McCoy with a strong spring, but there's no guarantee that happens. Ash's physical attributes (size, speed, arm strength) give him a much higher upside than his counterpart, but for now they amount to just that: upside. The two had comparable numbers in 2011 and neither was solid. Will we see separation this spring?

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

Time for some highlights:

QueenP (Lubbock, Texas): Being that A&M is no longer in the Big 12, do you see the TTU/UT rivalry growing?

David Ubben: No, probably not. They've obviously had some great games over the year, but I don't think so. If anything, some of that energy may spill over into the Red River Rivalry, as hard as it is to believe.

Tony (Richmond, Calif.): Don't you have to feel the conference is yours for the taking in Austin this season with OU having to travel to both Morgantown and Fort Worth at the end of the season with archrival Okie State sandwiched in between? Texas gets WVU and TCU at home, so they really have no one to blame but themselves if they don't return to the top of the Big XII? Your thoughts?

David Ubben: Texas needs to worry more about its quarterback spot than Oklahoma's schedule. Develop David Ash. Then let's talk Sooners.

Jeremy from Parkersburg, W.Va. [via mobile]: The Mountaineers will have a need to find a new rivalry game now that the Backyard Brawl with Pitt is possibly done. Who from their new Big 12 brothern would most likely step in to fit that bill. By the way, thanks to all for our warm Big 12 welcoming. Looking forward to see how we stack up against big boys.

David Ubben: Texas Tech and Oklahoma State make some sense because of the Holgorsen connection. Ultimately, though, rivalries are born out of great games stacked back to back.

Hornsfan (Best City in the USA): Ubbs, any way that UT qb play is worse next season?

David Ubben: No. I think it'll be better, but still a decent chunk away from being good enough to win the Big 12.

Kevin (Kansas): Collin Klein have a shot at Offensive Player of the Year in the Big 12?

David Ubben: Definitely, but he has to improve as a passer and have similar rushing output. There's going to be some tough competition this year. Look out for the new QBs, Casey Pachall and Geno Smith, too. Landry Jones is probably the frontrunner for the award, though.

Tony (Richmond, Calif.): Will this Texas defense rank among the best in Mack Brown's tenure by season's end?

David Ubben: It's got the talent to do it, but replacing the leadership from Acho, Robinson and Gideon is going to be tough. Those guys kept young players in position and motivated their teammates. UT will have the athletes, but who knows how it looks in Year 2 under Manny Diaz? I think it'll be really good, but you never know. Those guys left big holes.

ClarenceOveur (The Cockpit): David, you believe that TCU has more "potential upside" than WVU in the Big 12 due to its location in the DFW Metroplex and its familiarity with other schools in the conference. Did you consult TCU's prior record in the SWC at all before coming to that conclusion? At one point they went 35 years between conference titles. What about the Frogs makes their outlook that much better this time around? Also David, do you like movies about gladiators?

David Ubben: I think it's unfair to look at TCU's history. Look at it now. Gary Patterson's built something big there since. He's got them rolling. They'll be better with some more talent. He's also made TCU a much better job. He's got a lot of time there, but when he leaves, TCU will be in position to get a great replacement.

Steve (Philadelphia): I am thoroughly enjoying your coverage of my new league so far. However, I have never closely followed any Big 12 team and from BE country there was always a feeling that Big 12 teams were grossly unbalanced with high powered offenses and no defense to speak of. I would cite my Mountaineers Fiesta Bowl victory over the Sooners but that wouldn't be fair would it? Any evidence to the contrary?

David Ubben: Yeah, I think it's unfair to make that assumption. Teams like UT, OU and Nebraska have had some great defenses. The problem is one, the offenses are that much better than every other league, and they run a whole lot more plays. If I remember the numbers correctly, OSU faced something like 1,050 plays before its bowl game. LSU, meanwhile, had faced something like 615.

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.

Our countdown of the Big 12's top 25 players continues. The official list is locked away in a vault in an undisclosed location, but we're revealing a new member of the list every day.

Here's a quick rundown on my criteria for this list.

No. 20: Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas

2011 numbers: Made 71 tackles (46 solo) and 6.5 tackles for loss. Had two sacks and broke up eight passes.

Most recent ranking: Vaccaro was unranked in our preseason list of the top 25 players.

Making the case for Vaccaro: Texas defensive coordinator Manny Diaz unleashed one of the best quotes of 2011 when he set out to describe Vaccaro's playing style, saying he was "like a pack of rattlesnakes." That's about right. Vaccaro's quick and hits hard, but he's also one of the most versatile players in the Big 12, which landed him on this list.

He can play safety, but he's most effective at the difficult nickelback spot near the line of scrimmage. You need to be speedy and physical to excel at that spot, but Vaccaro is very much both. He was the Longhorns' third-leading tackler, and the 6-foot-1, 215-pounder possesses the ideal size for the position.

He's a big talent with a big chance to earn some hardware as a senior in 2012 after turning down the NFL to return to Austin as a senior.

The rest of the list:

• No. 21: Grant Garner, C, Oklahoma State
• No. 22: Ronnell Lewis, LB, Oklahoma
• No. 23: Cyrus Gray, RB, Texas A&M
• No. 24: Nigel Malone, CB, Kansas State
• No. 25: Damontre Moore, LB, Texas A&M

Once again, thanks for all the questions this week. Here's where you can send yours.

Marty in Dallas asks: Ubbs, are we in the Golden Age of Baylor athletics or what. If I had told you at the start of the football season that Baylor would defeat BOTH Texas and OU, have a player win the Heisman and that, as of the first part of January, the Bears would finish ranked HIGHER than A&M, Texas, Missouri, and OU in football, would be a unanimous choice as the top ranked women's basketball team and have an undefeated Men's basketball team that was higher ranked than Duke, Louisville, UConn, Kansas, or Michigan State, you would have asked what I was smoking. To put it in perspective, since losing to Ok State in October, Baylor's football, men's basketball, and women's basketball is 38-0. Do you think the the Baptists have made a deal with the devil?

David Ubben: Ha, I don't think the devil's involved here, but it really is an amazing time at Baylor. Ultimately, it boils down to great recruiting in all three sports. Every sport has a player that can change a team. You know about RG3, but the women's team has Brittney Griner and the men's team has Perry Jones III, who'll probably be something close to a top-10 pick if he comes out and enters the draft next year.

That's the root of all this. Art Briles, Kim Mulkey and Scott Drew have brought some amazing talent to Waco. The result has been this crazy run.

Griffin cracked a joke about it at his goodbye press conference this week, too.

"Maybe we can create a new record on ESPN of miscellaneous facts," he said. Maybe so. But that 38-0 record since Nov. 1 has to be something close to unprecedented.

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Ramiro Hernandez in Waco, Texas, asked: Do you think Baylor will collapse without RG3,Terrence Ganaway,and Kendall Wright.Sic'Em BEARS!!!!!

DU: No, I don't. Griffin was so good this year, it maybe too often overshadowed how much talent was around him. Baylor's receivers were as good as any group in the country this year. Terrance Williams and Tevin Reese will make the transition much easier for the new quarterback, who'll almost certainly be Nick Florence. All this despite losing Josh Gordon, and NFL-caliber receiver, before the season. He transferred to Utah after being suspended.

Baylor also has one of the nation's top running backs, Lache Seastrunk, waiting to get his shot next year. It didn't work out for him at Oregon, but he's a nice fit in Baylor's offense, and he should get some touches alongside Jarred Salubi and Glasco Martin.

The Bears still have a lot of talent, and you've got to think the defense will only get better. Baylor looks like probably a 6-7 win team next year with some upside. Briles has built a really good program. Griffin just took it to heights few others could.

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David in Austin, Texas, asked: With the Texas' hiring of Manny Diaz, entry of TCU, resurgence of Kansas State, and the return of Mike Stoops is it possible the Big 12 might be on the first (of many) steps to being a defensive or at least balanced conference?

DU: No, I don't think so. One, with the amount of plays these hurry-up offenses run, I think there's a pretty low ceiling at just how much "defense" can be happening in this league. Teams are going to get their yardage.

Diaz had a great first year, and he may only grow. Everybody knows Texas won't be lacking for talent on the defensive side of the ball. They're loaded. Diaz's defensive schemes won't be faced by any physical limitations.

As for Stoops, we'll see. He's a great coach, but it's been a long time since he was at Oklahoma. There's no guarantee he steps in and is amazing. He may be. I think OU will at least see some improvement, but on a conference scale, that's still just two guys. I don't see much of a trend.

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Joshua Papp in Cape Coral, Fla., asked: So in one of your recent articles you said Okie State should of had a shot at LSU. Then you started naming the qualitites that were "overlooked". You and I can agree that the BCS Championship is for the two BEST teams. Well, after going on about how Okie State deserved a shot you went and said that Alabama IS a better team than Okie State. So therefore, your saying they belonged in the championship. So, the rest of the article was pointless..or am I wrong?

DU: I don't know why this is so hard to understand. I've gotten e-mails about this for the past month since I've made the argument. I'll explain one more time.

If Alabama and Oklahoma State played, I think the Crimson Tide would win. If they played 10 times, I think the Tide would probably win 6-7 times.

But before the championship game, Oklahoma State's BCS resume was better and it wasn't really all that close. Alabama got in on the strength of the SEC (a conference whose depth is deceptively shallow) and its program tradition.

It just depends on what you value, which is why I don't think we saw a grand injustice this year. The only thing that frustrated me was having to watch that awful, awful game on Monday. Both of those teams deserved a shot, but I think a) Alabama already had their shot (and at home!) and didn't take advantage and b) it was unfair to make LSU play them again.

Alabama got in, so we're having this conversation. OSU deserved to get in based on what it did over the 13-game season. They're right.

If OSU had gotten in, Alabama would be sitting here complaining about how they'd beat OSU. They'd be right. I don't know why it's so hard to understand that both of those teams deserved to play LSU.

I mostly wanted to see OSU because I was fundamentally opposed to a rematch both philosophically (bowls are meant to match up opposing conferences) and as a college football admirer, I wanted to see contrasting styles go head to head, not two essentially identical teams slam into each other for three hours.

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Josh in Salina, Kan., asked: You said in a post that K-State can't duplicate their success they had in close games... You need to search for some crow recipes online. So you can have tasty crow when you eat it. Don't tell a Snyder coached team it can't do something.

DU: Easy there, John Locke. Do what you must, Josh, but I subscribe to the law of averages. And it says, definitively, that K-State's not going to win eight of nine close games in 2012.

I do think K-State will be a be a better team that doesn't have to be in close games against bad to mediocre teams (hey there, Eastern Kentucky and Miami), so I like the Wildcats chances to do big things next year. They'll do well in close games armed with the confidence and knowledge they can win games in tight spots, but next year, we won't see them win eight of nine games in that scenario. I promise you that.

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Reggie C. in Austin, Texas, asked: No way you replace a star receiver like Dez. J Blackmon says hello! No way you replace Blackmon. Michael Harrison says hello! I"m definitely concerned about the QB spot although I fully expect competent numbers, leadership takes time. Be very careful writing off the Cowboys as a middle of the pack Big 12 team next fall. Keep up the good work!

DU: You bring up valid points, Reggie. At OSU, I think it's pretty simple. The pieces are there at running back and receiver. This team's only going to be as good as its quarterback. That's how the offense is designed, even though they'll have two fantastic running backs returning in Joseph Randle and Jeremy Smith.

Zac Robinson left, but he was replaced with a mature, NFL-bound quarterback who happened to walk-on. The QB spot is the right place to place your concern. Watch very closely as Clint Chelf, J.W. Walsh and Wes Lunt go head to head.

We're offering up grades for each team in the Big 12 after their seasons conclude, so here's a look at how the 8-5 Texas Longhorns graded out in 2011.

More report cards:

• Kansas
• Texas Tech
• Missouri

OFFENSE: So much for redemption. After a disastrous 2010 season with 10 touchdowns and 17 interceptions, this was Garrett Gilbert's fresh start. He'd have a new offensive coordinator and a new offense. He'd have a productive running game with one of the best running backs in the 2011 recruiting class on campus. He'd have a maturing group of receivers.

Instead, he had shoulder surgery and booked a ticket to SMU after struggling in his second start of the season and being benched to a chorus of boos in the second quarter against BYU. Case McCoy and David Ash checked in, and neither grabbed hold of the position. McCoy would make plays (ask Texas A&M), but his limited arm strength and physical measurables made life easy on defenses and tough on his receivers. Enter the fleet-footed Ash. The true freshman didn't get much experience during the spring or in summer 7-on-7 and it showed. His decision-making didn't look much better than Gilbert's, and he finished with four touchdowns and eight interceptions. Jaxon Shipley was outstanding as a freshman, though he was slowed by a knee injury during the second half of his season. Still, it's not a good sign when a true freshman receiver has one fewer touchdown pass (3) than the team's leading passer.

Malcolm Brown validated much of the hype in his first year, looking the part of a future star in the running game, alongside Joe Bergeron, though both had the second halves of their seasons marred by injuries that kept them out of action or hobbled when they did play.

There's plenty of potential in this Texas offense, but ultimately, the passing game leaves a lot to be desired. Even with its defense, Texas isn't going to win the Big 12 with a total offense ranked seventh in the Big 12 and 54th nationally. Like we said in the Missouri report card, offenses in this league are graded on a curve. The Longhorns were nearly 80 yards per game behind sixth-place Texas Tech, and ranked eighth in scoring offense for the entire season and in conference play.

GRADE: D+

DEFENSE: The biggest surprise, and a welcome one for new coordinator Manny Diaz, was the play of the secondary, especially corners Carrington Byndom and Quandre Diggs. They'll both be back in 2012 and Diggs absolutely looks like a future All-American, and as a true freshman, tied for fourth in the league with four interceptions. Byndom, a first-year starter, could make a case as the Big 12's best corner in 2011.

Linebackers Emmanuel Acho and Keenan Robinson weren't superstars, but both were a step above solid and provided valuable leadership that was missing in 2010. They combined for 215 stops as the team's top two tacklers, and combined for 23 tackles for loss.

Both are gone in 2012, but the Longhorns have plenty of young stars who may mature into superstars. Diggs isn't the only one. Jordan Hicks stayed healthy and looked like he clicked in 2011. The same is true of the nation's No. 1 recruit in 2010, Jackson Jeffcoat, who led the team with 17 tackles for loss in a huge year after the second half of his promising 2010 season was slowed by an ankle injury.

And senior-to-be nickelback/safety Kenny Vaccaro might be the best of the bunch, a versatile, speedy, hard hitter with a nose for the ball who seemed to be everywhere. He finished with 71 tackles (third-most on the team), 6.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions and eight pass breakups. The Longhorns' defense was the best in the Big 12 in a league full of dangerous offenses, and ranking 11th nationally in that stat deserves respect.

GRADE: A+

OVERALL: This was an improvement. The offense was not quite as good as expected, but that's what happens when the guy who took a huge chunk of snaps in the spring and preseason camp gets benched for good in the second game. Ash and McCoy did what they could, but the Longhorns were tangled by their offense. In losses to Missouri and Kansas State, the Longhorns scored 5 and 13 points, and were held without a touchdown against Missouri, a first since 2004. Texas was back in a bowl, but if the team is to get any further than 8-5, the offense has to be much better.

GRADE: B-

AUSTIN, Texas -- Because Jaxon Shipley is a "been there, done that" player, it might be wise to listen to him when he singles out a player of the future for Texas.

M.J. McFarland is that player.

It's not that Shipley hasn't known about the freshman tight end. It is just now, during bowl practices, that Shipley is really getting a chance to watch McFarland and assess what he will be able to do for the team in the future.

“He is a player that has stepped up,” Shipley said.

That’s what bowl practice is about for the players like McFarland, who didn't get a chance to step up in the regular season. It's an audition.

“Coach [Manny] Diaz has constantly emphasized that,” linebacker Emmanuel Acho said. “He is continually talking to the younger guys. He keeps saying, ‘Acho and [Keenan] Robinson only have 60 minutes of ball left and after that they are gone.’ It’s really time for the young guys to step up and really come through.”

“You think, which one of you will be Keenan Robinson?” Texas coach Mack Brown said. “Which one of you will be Emmanuel Acho? Which one of you will be Blake Gideon? Which one of you will be David Snow?”

The thing about Texas is it really doesn't have too many young guys, at least young guys who haven't played. The Longhorns played 18 true freshmen in the regular season. They have never played that many before, and might not play that many in the near future. Texas is also not losing a lot of starters. The offense will lose just two. The defense will lose four and maybe, if there is an early departure by safety Kenny Vaccaro, five.

“What is really ironic is that normally the week of practice we concluded last week would almost be like a spring practice with the guys who have redshirted all year,” Diaz said. “That’s where you get them the reps and the practice, but those guys have played for us all year. We don’t have a redshirted class that we are taking the wrapper off of right now. We opened the box on that bunch in August.”

Still, while there is not a lot of inexperience, there is a lot of youth. That youth, as was obvious during the regular season, needs a lot of work and has a long way to go.

“[The 13 practices] are huge, especially for freshmen and sophomores,” Acho said. “It is when you prove yourself to not only your team, but to your coaches. That is when you truly develop as a player.”

That development is starting to show.

"They don’t get it yet, but we are closer than we were walking on the field at Baylor,” Diaz said. "That is what it is all about. From the second they get on this campus, you are trying to invest yourself in player development, so they can be as good as they can possibly be until the time that they leave. That is what this whole month has been about. It has been about developing our players, which in turn develops our program.”

AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas knows Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III is going to let it fly. Repeatedly.

But the Longhorns also believe they know how to keep those throws from turning into long touchdowns.

“The way our defense and coverage is structured, it is big-play proof because there is always going to be a safety overlapping,” safety Blake Gideon said. “There are a lot of eyes on the ball. If a few tackles are broken we always have a chance to get the guy on the ground.”

Which is why, in the passing game at least, Texas has not given up a touchdown pass of 20 or more yards. The Longhorns are the only team in the FBS that can say that.

“We always say the worst thing that can happen if we don’t give up big plays is that they end up in the red zone, and red zone defense, that's just a mindset,” Gideon said. “That's a toughness thing and obviously we prove ourselves on wanting to be the toughest team.”

Griffin does present a few more problems than the average quarterback. With that in mind, Texas will deploy a few other things to try and disrupt his flow.

“You gotta rattle a guy like that,” linebacker Emmanuel Acho said. “You have to get after him from the jump. You have to make sure he feels our presence. That's really the starting point.”

Texas does that with its myriad defensive fronts and blitz schemes. The Longhorns have more than 180 of the latter. But they will have to be judicious in deploying their blitzes. Griffin is adept at slipping through tackles, and if he makes the player blitzing miss, he will have plenty of room to run.

Running is exactly what Texas doesn’t want Griffin, or ay dual-threat quarterback, to do.

“You have to make them one dimensional,” Acho said. “You have to be able to stop their run and make them into a pocket passer. When they're a pocket passer then they become essentially the same as every other quarterback. But that's much easier said than done.”

Texas was successful turning Kansas State’s Collin Klein into a one-dimensional player by getting a solid outside rush from the ends. That kept Klein in the pocket and allowed the defensive tackles and linebacker to clog any of his running lanes. Klein finished with four yards on 26 attempts. He had averaged 101 yards per game.

Griffin is a better athlete than Klein. He’s not as tough, but is a much smoother runner. Still, the same principles will apply. Where the worry comes into play, is that unlike Klein, Griffin has learned to throw on the run. That forces the defensive backs to hold their coverages longer.

“We have to cover twice because he is going to scramble out of the pocket,” safety Keny Vaccaro said. “Now that he has developed his passing game when he scrambles out of the pocket he is going to look downfield and try to make the play. In the Oklahoma game right at the end he could of took off but he just made the great throw.”

Texas will have to use a mix of zone and man-to-man coverage in the secondary. Against Texas A&M, they were able to go with more man coverage with Vaccaro, Quandre Diggs and Carrington Byndom.

But if they play man, and Baylor sends three or four guys 40 yards down the field, that leaves a huge gap for Griffin to exploit with his legs. Now, the Longhorns could deploy a spy on Griffin, but that isn’t possible on every play.

“They are so dynamic as far as how they spread the field and where they place their people around,” defensive coordinator Manny Diaz said. “If you try to spy them, you will have more spies than the CIA. You can't all spy. Someone has got to go play.”

And someone has to figure out how to stop Griffin.

A Big 12 coach won't win the Broyles Award this year, given to college football's top assistant coach. Here are the five finalists:

• John Chavis, DC, LSU
• Paul Chryst, OC, Wisconsin
• Greg Mattison, DC, Michigan
• Garrick McGee, OC, Arkansas
• Sal Sunseri, AHC/LB, Alabama

That's a pretty solid group there. Not sure the Big 12 has an argument.

Oklahoma DC Brent Venables, Oklahoma State OC Todd Monken, and Texas DC Manny Diaz were the only Big 12 candidates from the list of nominees, but I'd take Diaz as the best of that bunch this year. I don't think he warrants taking any of the five candidates off this list.

Oklahoma State's Dana Holgorsen was a candidate for last year's award, and though he should have won, the award was given to Auburn OC Gus Malzahn.

Thanks for all the questions. Didn't get yours answered? Try again with a better one.

Colin in Tulsa, Okla.: Is Johnny Thomas being ineligible a blessing in disguise like Orie Lemon getting hurt? OSU had a serviceable backup (Donald Booker) and would've been left to have Caleb Lavey be the day 1 starter last year. So, this year Dawtawion Lowe comes in and plays well enough next to Markelle and Johnny Thomas can come back next year? That way OSU isn't left to start some random safety next to Daytawion next year.

David Ubben: That's maybe a little harsh and perhaps insensitive, but I must say: I think I agree. It's an interesting point. There's no doubt that Oklahoma State's defense in 2010 benefited from having Lemon out there, and Booker was outstanding in 2009.

This year, we've seen a guy in Lowe that had huge potential really step into that role and not see much fall off. You never like to see guys deal with academic issues or have serious injuries like Lemon had, but Oklahoma State has been fortunate to have players behind defensive leaders step up and do well. Credit Mike Gundy and his staff for recruiting well and having a much deeper team than when he arrived. The difference is unbelievable.

Next year, when Thomas joins Lowe, you'll see another good group of safeties at OSU.

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Ryan in Arlington, Texas, asked: Sean Porter for Texas A&M has 6.5 sacks this year (3rd in the nation), while the entire Longhorn defense has 7.0 (91st in the nation). Does this stat say more about Sean Porter, the effectiveness of Manny Diaz's or Tim DeRuyter's blitzes (who are both very aggressive), or the Longhorn defensive personnel?

DU: I'll say Porter. He's been outstanding, and has done an outstanding job of being everywhere. The combination of a) big leads early in games and b) defenses seeing they can beat A&M through the air has resulted in the Aggies defending 244 passes this year, which is 47 more than Texas and twice as many as Texas Tech, which has faced the fewest in the Big 12, with 122. Only Louisiana Tech has faced more pass attempts this season. So, take your pick, there. Texas A&M is racking up sacks but giving up yards by the bunches.

Neither DeRuyter nor Diaz has been outstanding so far this year. Diaz's defense got worked by the first real offense -- albeit one of the nation's best -- in its first real test. DeRuyter's defense has taken a huge step back.

Meanwhile, Porter has undoubtedly taken a big step forward. Kudos to him.

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John in Oklahoma City asked: Everyone is down on OSU's defense still this year. About half of our games so far our 2nd or 3rd stringers were playing in the 4th. The Cowboys are only allowing 14.6 ppg through 3 quarters. Plus we are 6th in the nation in creating turnovers. We are much more improved defensively with a better offense to go with it. Big (X)II title here we come!!!!!

DU: Your persuasiveness is surpassed only by your unbridled enthusiasm, John.

That said, you're right, and its a point that's perhaps been overlooked in the defensive statistics for Oklahoma State. Its backups have given up gobs of points this year, but the first team defense has done really well. For those unaware, allow me to point it out:

OSU led its opener 44-13 before giving up a pick six and two garbage-time touchdowns in a 61-34 win.

OSU led Arizona 34-7 before giving up a 54-yard touchdown pass to Texas transfer Dan Buckner.

In a game that kicked off after midnight, OSU led Tulsa 45-6 midway through the third quarter before giving up two quick scores and winning, 59-33.

Finally, last week, OSU led 70-14 with 12:45 left before Kansas' first-teamers scored on a 68-yard touchdown pass and a 31-yard run to make it a 70-28 final.

So, there you go. Take from that what you will. Is OSU's defense great? No. But it's a lot better than the numbers suggest.

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Chris J. in Houston asked: You have to give me props next week for this, I'm calling it: Texas beats Oklahoma State this week in a big way.

DU: K. What do I get if you're wrong?

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Scott in Oklahoma asked: David, with tcu coming into the fold next year, is the big 12 just going to give them the a&m schedule or will they redo them all together and give osu another catered home game vs. Ou as they have the these last two years? Or will it be another team? Also, will they change next years ou tcu game to a conference game or will it stay as a non conference game ala the colorado cal game this year?

DU: All valid administrative questions that haven't been addressed in this space. Let's change that.

For now, when the Big 12 moves on as a ten-team league in 2012, the schedule is being reworked. TCU won't just slide into Texas A&M's spot. That means they likely won't be the Longhorns' Thanksgiving opponent, a tradition Texas would like to continue. UT president Bill Powers says "a lot of teams are in the mix" for a new opponent. There's lots of talk about Texas Tech filling that role, but it's very much in the air for now. The Big 12 isn't worried about that currently. You've got to know your configuration next year and beyond before you get too concerned about scheduling. That issue will be pushed to the forefront more during the offseason.

As of now, TCU-OU is up in the air, too. It might be kept as an early season game, but like I mentioned earlier, that's up in the air. TCU doesn't have anything to worry about. With a 10-team league and nine-game schedule, they just slide OU in as a conference game and keep their nonconference games with Grambling State, Virginia and SMU. That's a decent set of games. TCU-OU won't be an awkward conference nonconference game like Colorado-Cal this year.

For Oklahoma? Things are a little more complicated. TCU is a good secondary game, but the Sooners already have a home-and-home with Notre Dame (!) on the schedule for 2012 and 2013, but Oklahoma is reportedly looking at replacing the TCU game with Arkansas. That's one heck of a nonconference schedule for the Sooners if it happens. That's nothing new. Oklahoma is the most ambitious scheduling program in the Big 12, and that's a stated goal of the school: to put a compelling product on the field for its fans and schedule to get an edge in the BCS rankings.

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Jordan Marshall in Hutchinson, Kan., asked: What do you think is going to happen to the BCS this year when there are going to be 4 undefeated teams at the end of the year (LSU/Alabama, OU/OSU, Wisconsin, and Boise State)? Clemson has a long shot of staying undefeated but that is just another team that could throw the whole system out of whack. Do you think that the BCS will just see this year as a fluke year or do you think that they will finally open their eyes to a playoff system?

DU: It could happen, but if it does, I don't think there's any question that the SEC and Big 12 champ would play each other. I could envision a scenario in which Wisconsin gets in over Oklahoma State, but hopping over Oklahoma or one of the SEC teams sounds impossible.

Jumping Oklahoma State is highly unlikely. We can talk conference strength, but simpler than that, just look at their past and future schedules.

OSU has a road win against a top 10 team, and four more top 25 teams on its schedule, closing with the crescendo of hosting Oklahoma.

The Big Ten is clearly down this season. Nebraska and Ohio State aren't great teams and will lose again. Michigan looks a bit overrated at No. 11. Wisconsin is a legitimate title contender, but even if Bucky runs the table, its weak nonconference schedule and the Big 12's depth and strength across the conference will push an undefeated Oklahoma or Oklahoma State team into the title game to face off with the SEC once again.

Texas defensive coordinator Manny Diaz talks about the Horns’ troubles against the Sooners.