ESPN College Football

My apologies, but we won't have a chat this week. Too much activity in Kansas City.

• Brian Christopherson at the Lincoln Journal Star has more on Nebraska's two latest commits, including one who did so without stepping foot inside state lines.
• Colorado is trying to schedule a game at Yankee Stadium, reports John Henderson at the Denver Post.
• He also reports the Buffaloes feel the Big 12 is best, but Colorado would be proactive, according to athletic director Mike Bohn.
• Colorado receiver Markques Simas has been suspended, and there's a "slim possibility" he could return in the fall as a walk-on.
• Tom Keegan at the Lawrence Journal-World says KU's athletic department has literally turned into a nightmare on Elm Street.
• Kansas athletic director Lew Perkins' resignation is necessary for the university to move forward, writes Kevin Haskin of the Topeka Capital-Journal.
• The Lincoln Journal Star's Steve Sipple thinks out loud about a doomsday scenario: Four 16-team conferences.
• The amount of money Mike Leach says Texas Tech owes him has grown to over $2 million, reports Matthew McGowan of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
• The Sporting News named its favorite helmets in college football. Among them: Well, just one. Texas.

Any joke in the ballpark of "Today at breakfast, Kendrick Perkins got T'd up for spilling the milk" is lame.

But seriously, I think he might have.

Earlier today, we looked at the three offenses in the Big 12 most in need of repair. Here's how they rank in ease of improvement.

Shortest road to recovery

1. Nebraska -- All the pieces seem to be there. The Huskers have one great receiver (Niles Paul) and a few solid options behind him (Brandon Kinnie, Mike McNeill). They have two great running backs in Rex Burkhead and Roy Helu Jr. running behind an offensive line that spent the spring getting healthy and drawing praise from coach Bo Pelini. If Zac Lee can pretend every game is the Holiday Bowl, or the one of quarterbacks behind him, Cody Green, Taylor Martinez or Kody Spano, can emerge, the Huskers could become scary fast. Arizona learned, but can the Huskers have a chance to teach the rest of the Big 12?

2. Baylor -- The idea is pretty formulaic. Bad offense + Robert Griffin III = good offense. We won't find out if the formula is faulty until the fall, but Baylor ranked 10th in total offense in Griffin's freshman season. He could battle rust as he returns to full speed from a serious knee injury, but he also got a season to sit back with a clipboard and learn the game, something he says helped him understand the finer points of the position more so than when he ran wild in 2008. He loses his biggest target in David Gettis, but keeps his main target, Kendall Wright. If Griffin does emerge from the injury a smarter player and keeps his aggressiveness and accuracy, the Bears could be a lot better on offense.

3. Colorado -- The Buffaloes have talent at the skill positions. Rodney Stewart should embrace the role as the featured back this season. Scotty McKnight and Markques Simas will be joined by Toney Clemons to form perhaps the most underrated receiving corps in the conference. But none of it will matter if they can't get better on the offensive line and quarterback. The offense was just as bad in 2008, even when Hawkins started all 12 games for the Buffaloes. Hansen completed better than 60 percent of his passes in three starts last season. He completed fewer than 50 percent in two. The goal for the spring was 70 percent. If the offensive line doesn't get better, that's not going to happen. Max Tuioti-Mariner will return from injury this season, but he and tackle Nate Solder can't block everyone. If they don't get help, the Buffaloes could be at the bottom of the Big 12 again with nearly 800 fewer yards than any team in the conference like in 2009.

Not everyone can throw for 300 yards, run for 200 and hang 40 points on the board every time out. Here are three offenses in need of some work, and this afternoon, we'll look at which have the shortest roads to recovery.

In need of repair

1. Colorado -- The Buffaloes' problems are everywhere, and the gap between Colorado and the rest of the league is enormous. The second-best offensive team in the Big 12 last season, Texas A&M, averaged 5.8 yards per play. The second-worst averaged 5.2 yards. Colorado averaged 4.4 yards. Its 44 sacks allowed were 12 more than any other team in the league as well. The quarterback play from both Tyler Hansen and Cody Hawkins wasn't very consistent, but when dealing with that kind of pressure, that's no surprise.

2. Baylor -- Baylor's offensive struggles were due in part to misfortune. Freshman Nick Florence played well, but the Bears were without 2008 Offensive Newcomer of the Year Robert Griffin III for all of conference play. In those eight games, the Bears scored only 13 points per game, 5.8 fewer than the 11th-place team, Nebraska. Florence's success didn't loosen defenses enough for the running game to flourish. In conference play, the Bears rushed for just two yards per carry. Barring a rule change providing teams five plays to achieve a first down, that's not good enough.

3. Nebraska -- Most of Nebraska's struggles on offense were self-inflicted. After a home loss to Iowa State that featured eight turnovers, the offense was so conservative, at times it looked like offensive coordinator Shawn Watson had handed over playcalling duties to Rush Limbaugh. The defense allowed just nine points in that loss, and averaged under 10 points a game from that point on. The bar was set, and the offense knew it was low. They won with field position and special teams, but a good offense to go with the nation's best defense a season ago would be other Big 12 teams' worst nightmare.

2009 overall record: 3-9

2009 conference record: 2-6

Returning starters: Offense (8), Defense (7) P/K (1)

Top returners: QB Tyler Hansen, WR Scotty McKnight, RB Rodney Stewart, OT Nate Solder, DB Anthony Perkins, WR Markques Simas, DB Jalil Brown

Key losses: TE Riar Geer, RB Darrell Scott (transfer), DB Cha’pelle Brown, LB Jeff Smart, DB Benjamin Burney, LB Marcus Burton

2009 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Rodney Stewart* (804 yards)

Passing: Tyler Hansen* (1,440)

Receiving: Scotty McKnight* (893 yards)

Tackles: Anthony Perkins*, Jeff Smart (77)

Sacks: Marquez Herrod* (6.5)

Interceptions: Benjamin Burney (2)

Three spring answers

1. Get to know Toney Clemons. The Michigan transfer made a big splash this spring, impressing his team enough to be the top pick in the draft when the Buffaloes split for the spring game. Clemons has size and speed, but 2010 will be about turning that into on-field production.

2. Stars staying strong. Colorado’s two most consistent players a year ago, offensive tackle Nate Solder and running back Rodney Stewart, both had good springs. Stewart was protected from contact often with dwindling numbers at running back, but Solder caught a touchdown pass in the spring game after being drafted with the No. 2 pick before the game.

3. Hawkins’ future not a distraction. Dan Hawkins will sit on maybe the hottest seat in the Big 12 this season, but he didn’t address it much during the spring as his team went about its business.

Three fall questions

1. Who’s the quarterback? After taking over for Cody Hawkins last season and finishing the year as the starter, most figured the job was all but Tyler Hansen’s entering spring. But Hawkins insists there’s a competition and that Hawkins and Hansen remain thinly separated. Colorado fans won’t be happy initially if Hawkins starts, but if he produces and the Buffs win a few games, few will be complaining. Some think the team would be better suited by naming a starter now and allowing him to embrace a leadership role over the summer. Hawkins wants competition.

2. Who’s catching the ball? Clemons will be a factor, but Colorado could end up having one of the conference’s most underrated corps of receivers in Clemons, along with last year’s leading receiver Scotty McKnight and Markques Simas. Kyle Cefalo could also be a player that emerges this fall after catching 12 balls for 144 yards in the spring game.

3. Can the Buffaloes defense improve? Colorado had the second-worst defense in the Big 12 last season, and with an underwhelming offense, it’s no surprise they won only three games. Defensive back Cha’Pelle Brown was the only Colorado player to make the All-Big 12 top two teams, and he graduated. Outside of Anthony Perkins, Colorado is replacing its top four tacklers and needs playmakers to emerge to improve on its 2009 season.

1. Texas

The defending champs will have one of the nation’s best defenses again, and perhaps its best secondary. Garrett Gilbert spent the spring validating his performance in the national title game, showing some of his near-limitless potential. The Longhorns won’t be easy to unseat in 2010, especially if they finally discover a running game.

2. Oklahoma

Here’s why the Sooners are here: The gap between Oklahoma’s offense and Nebraska’s offense is wider than the one between the Sooners’ defense and the Huskers’ defense. If Oklahoma’s offensive line can show improvement next season, the Sooners won’t have trouble scoring with the amount of talent they have at the skill positions, talent that’s much better than Nebraska’s.

3. Nebraska

The Huskers get Missouri and Texas in Lincoln and don’t see the Sooners, which has Big Red looking for a big season, but don’t count on another 10-win season if the offense doesn’t improve. The offense previewed its fall reopening in the 33-0 bowl win over Arizona, but if the quarterback play isn’t solid, the reopening could be a bad thing. With what could be the best defense in football again, and two solid backs in Roy Helu Jr. and Rex Burkhead, the Huskers’ floor is pretty high and the ceiling is even higher.

4. Missouri

Home losses to Nebraska and Baylor ended any chance the Tigers had of winning the North in 2009, but they bring back a lot from last year’s eight-win team and have a lot of experienced talent at linebacker and receiver ready to replace the big names -- Sean Weatherspoon and Danario Alexander -- they lost from last year’s team. Blaine Gabbert has to show he’s ready to become a household name, and if he does, the Tigers could make a serious run at the North.

5. Texas A&M

The Aggies kept almost the entire core from last year’s team, but remember, A&M still only won six games last season. It’ll be replacing three offensive linemen who could stop the Aggies' skill position players -- cumulatively the best in the conference -- from being as productive as they could be. One of those replacements should be true freshman Luke Joeckel, but if the defense improves and the line re-establishes itself, the Aggies are South contenders. If not, they won’t be much better than a seven-win team.

6. Kansas State

The Wildcats aren’t built to win 10 games just yet, but if Nebraska and Missouri stumble, they’ll be there to slip into the North conversation just like last season, when they were one upset win over the Huskers from a trip to Arlington. Carson Coffman took hold of the starting quarterback job in the spring, but he’ll need to keep it in the fall and be productive with his three new receivers to lighten the load on running back Daniel Thomas. If that happens, there’ll be more happy Saturdays than sad ones in Aggieville.

7. Texas Tech

Injuries kept the Sticks vs. Potts debate from really heating up this spring, but the switch to a higher risk/reward strategy with an aggressive defense could be fun to watch next season. The Red Raiders are deep at running back and receiver, but look for the former to get more touches this fall than they have in over a decade.

8. Oklahoma State

The Cowboys grabbed hold of Dana Holgorsen’s offense this spring, and Brandon Weeden grabbed hold of the starting role. Oklahoma State should have an impact player at each level of the defense in defensive end Ugo Chinasa, safety Markelle Martin and linebacker Orie Lemon, but they’ll need the rest of the D to solidify for the Cowboys to climb to a higher rung of the South ladder.

9. Iowa State

Iowa State is getting better, but the tough schedule and young defense will make it difficult for the Cyclones to improve on their 7-6 record in 2009. Five linebackers from last year’s team graduated, and the three likely starters this year, sophomore A.J. Klein, Jake Knott and juco transfer Matt Tau’fo’ou have a combined 41 career tackles. Iowa State is solid in the secondary, but with the amount of quality running backs in the North, a good defense up front is more important. It's also replacing two starters on the defensive line.

10. Baylor

A bowl game isn’t out of reach for the Bears, but they’ll have to prove something before they move out of the South’s cellar. Robert Griffin gives Waco hope, but the other 21 guys have to provide substance for Baylor to succeed. Replacing two safeties, two linebackers who combined for 190 tackles last season and an offensive line shift to replace All-American center J.D. Walton could make Baylor’s early road a bumpy one.

11. Kansas

Kansas will be short on talent this year, but expectations are measured after losing plenty on both sides of the ball. The Jayhawks are a team that could get a lot better as the season progresses, but when it starts, they’ll have a lot of work to do. They’ll be competitive in the bottom half of the North, but slipping past rival Kansas State to finish in the top half of the division is about as good as it could get for the Jayhawks in Turner Gill’s first season. Not having Texas or Oklahoma on the schedule could help make that happen.

12. Colorado

Transfer Toney Clemons infuses some excitement into the Colorado faithful, and alongside Markques Simas and leading receiver Scotty McKnight, the Buffaloes could have one of the more underrated receiving corps in the conference, helping loosen things up for Rodney Stewart. But the defense gave up the second-most points in the conference last season, and there’s little reason to think they’ll be a lot better in 2010. Scoring 22 points a game and allowing just under 29 is the opposite of a recipe for success.

Colorado

Colorado's offense struggled in its Friday scrimmage, but Michigan transfer Toney Clemons caught six passes for 37 yards and two touchdowns, both from goal-line situations. Receivers Scotty McKnight, Markques Simas and Will Jefferson did not play.

The 106-play scrimmage featured seven scores, but all came in that goal-line package late in practice. Tyler Hansen hit Clemons for both touchdowns and completed 12 of 22 passes for 102 yards. He also threw an interception. Cody Hawkins completed 10 of 22 passes for 111 yards.

Running backs Rodney Stewart and Brian Lockridge were held out of the scrimmage and the running game struggled, gaining just 61 yards on 22 carries.

But Buffaloes coach Dan Hawkins said the lack of personnel wasn't to blame for the offensive struggles, instead pointing to the scrimmage's situational and segmented focus.

Texas Tech

The big news, of course, was the absence of Taylor Potts (laceration on hand) and Steven Sheffield (surgery to repair broken foot), who both are expected to miss the spring.

Sophomore Seth Doege and redshirt freshman Jacob Karam stepped in and impressed new coach Tommy Tuberville.

"I'm really proud of the young quarterbacks," Tuberville said after Friday's closed scrimmage. "They came out and threw the ball well, threw some touchdown passes. We were able to get them some work that otherwise they may not have seen. They split the reps evenly, with Doege running with the ones and Karam with the twos. We'll switch them up for Monday's practice."

Colorado hosted the first of three spring scrimmages on Thursday, but senior receiver Scotty McKnight suffered a leg injury late in the game that put him in a boot and on crutches.

Buffaloes coach Dan Hawkins and other team officials had no update on McKnight's status, but quarterback Tyler Hansen said after practice that McKnight told him the injury was a broken fibula that would keep him out for the remainder of the spring. Team trainer Miguel Rueda told reporters on Thursday there was nothing peculiar in McKnight's MRI, and he would be further evaluated on Friday morning. Before the injury, McKnight had three catches for 31 yards and a 14-yard score.

McKnight led the Buffaloes last season with 76 receptions for 895 yards, and ended the season two catches shy of the school record, set by Michael Westbrook. McKnight also broke his ankle during the spring before his redshirt freshman season, but returned to lead the Buffaloes in receiving.

The Buffaloes second-leading receiver last year, Markques Simas, is practicing this spring after being reinstated following a DUI arrest and suspension. Simas and transfer Toney Clemons will likely take over as Hansen's top targets for the remainder of spring through McKnight's return.

Cody Hawkins was 25-of-44 for 194 yards and four touchdowns. Hansen was 16-of-29 for 136 yards and a touchdown.

Hansen began spring with the goal of not throwing a single interception, but Dan Hawkins said the length of the 163-play scrimmage made the turnovers less bothersome. Afterward, Hansen called the quarterback battle "dead even."

"I can't have an OK day," he told CUBuffs.com. "I have to have a great day."

Zach Grossnickle, a redshirt freshman playing both punter and placekicker, made all four field goal attempts and averaged 37.5 yards on nine punts, with a long of 44 yards. Rodney Stewart and Brian Lockridge both had just four carries in the scrimmage, but with just three scholarship running backs dressed for spring practice, Hawkins is likely being cautious with his shallow depth at the position. The Buffaloes signed three running backs in their 2010 class.

Here's a breakdown of three issues facing each program heading into the spring:

Baylor Bears
Spring practice starts: March 16
Spring game: April 10

1. Quarterback Robert Griffin III's surgically repaired right knee. Griffin hasn't played since tearing the ACL in his right knee in the third game of the '09 season. He recently said he's ahead of schedule in rehabilitation, but probably won’t do much during spring practice. He'll wear a heavy knee brace and won’t participate in contact drills.

2. New linebackers. The Bears lost strongside linebacker Antonio Jones and middle linebacker Joe Pawelek, who combined to make 190 tackles last season. Senior Earl Patin, who also has played some defensive end during his career, is poised to replace Pawelek in the middle. But Patin will have to hold off highly regarded youngsters Chris McAllister and LeQuince McCall, who redshirted in ’09. Senior Chris Francis is probably the top candidate to replace Jones on the strong side.

3. Safety. The Bears must replace both of their starting safeties, including All-Big 12 performer Jordan Lake, who started 36 games in a row. Junior college transfer Byron Landor and sophomore Mike Hicks will get the first looks in the spring. But they'll have to hold off incoming freshman Ahmad Dixon, one of the top prospects to ever sign with Baylor, after he arrives for fall camp.

Colorado Buffaloes
Spring practice starts: March 6
Spring game: April 10

1. Michigan transfer Toney Clemons. Buffaloes coach Dan Hawkins called Clemons his team's most exciting receiver while he sat out the '09 season under NCAA transfer rules. The cousin of Arizona Cardinals receiver Steve Breaston, Clemons could bring an interesting dynamic to the CU offense. His arrival couldn't come at a better time, either, after Markques Simas was suspended indefinitely for violating team rules.

2. Linebacker. The Buffaloes must replace their two most productive linebackers after losing Marcus Burton and Jeff Smart. The departed seniors combined to make 105 solo tackles and 6.5 sacks last season. Senior Michael Sipili is the top candidate to replace Burton in the middle, and sophomore Jon Major might get the first crack at replacing Smart on the weak side.

3. Offensive line. The unit's inconsistency has dogged Hawkins' offense in each of his first four seasons. Eight offensive linemen had significant playing time in '09, so the Buffs are looking for more stability up front. The return of sophomore guard Maxwell Tuioti-Mariner from a pair of knee injuries, and early arrival of junior college transfer Eric Richter might shore up the interior line.

Iowa State Cyclones
Spring practice starts: March 23
Spring game: April 17

1. Linebackers. The Cyclones lost each of their starting three linebackers: Josh Raven, Jesse Smith and Fred Garrin. Junior Jacob Lattimer is in line to replace Raven on the strong side, and two highly regarded sophomores are in line to fill the other spots. A.J. Klein, who had 17 tackles in 13 games as a freshman, might get the unenviable task of replacing Smith, who led the Big 12 in tackles in '09. Jake Knott, who had 23 tackles as a freshman, is the top candidate to start on the weak side.

2. Wide receiver. Iowa State lost leading receiver Marquis Hamilton, who had 50 catches for 606 yards with four touchdowns in '09. Tight end Derrick Catlett, another top receiving threat, also is gone. The good news: Junior Darius Reynolds returns from a broken leg that caused him to miss all but four games last season. Reynolds, who earned the moniker "Money" for his big-play potential, had 13 catches for 72 yards before he was hurt in practice in late September. Junior college tight end Ricky Howard enrolled in classes in January and will participate in spring practice.

3. Defensive line. Two starters will have to be replaced after ISU lost right end Christopher Lyle and tackle Nate Frere. Lyle led the team with five sacks in '09; Frere was a pretty good run-stopper. Sophomores Cleyon Laing and Roosevelt Maggitt will get strong looks at end, and senior Austin Alburtis and sophomore Jake McDonough will move into the tackle rotation.

Kansas Jayhawks
Spring practice starts: March 27
Spring game: April 24

1. Quarterback. New Kansas coach Turner Gill might have one heck of a competition on his hands. Sophomore Kale Pick is a mobile option, after averaging 11.9 yards per rushing attempt in 2009. Junior college transfer Quinn Mecham, who enrolled in classes at Kansas in January, threw for 3,091 yards with 40 touchdowns and 11 interceptions at Snow College in Utah last season.

2. Wide receiver. The Jayhawks have to replace departed stars Kerry Meier and Dezmon Briscoe, which will be no easy task. The duo combined to catch 186 passes for 2,322 yards with 17 touchdowns last season. Bradley McDougald and Johnathan Wilson were proven targets last season, but younger players such as Chris Omigie and incoming freshman Keeston Terry will have to help this fall.

3. Secondary. The Kansas defense gave up too many big passing plays and didn't create enough turnovers last season. The Jayhawks will have to replace strong safety Darrell Stuckey, who led them with 93 tackles in '09. Senior Phillip Strozier will get the first crack at replacing the heart and soul of the Kansas defense.

Kansas State Wildcats
Spring practice starts: March 21
Spring game: April 24

1. Oregon transfer Chris Harper. In 2008, Harper played wide receiver and quarterback for the Ducks as a freshman. He became the first Oregon player in eight years to run, pass and catch a touchdown in the same season. Harper, a native of Wichita, Kan., might figure into Kansas State's quarterback or wide receiver plans after sitting out the '09 season under NCAA transfer rules.

2. Quarterback battle. Harper and two other players will probably battle to replace departed senior Grant Gregory. Senior Carson Coffman, who started the '09 season at quarterback, figures to be back in the mix, along with junior college transfer Sammuel Lamur.

3. Defensive line. The Wildcats have a couple of gaping holes to fill up front defensively. End Jeff Fitzgerald, who had 40 tackles and 10 tackles for loss in '09, has to be replaced, along with tackles Daniel Calvin and Chidubamu Abana. Junior college transfer Javonta Boyd, who has already enrolled in classes, could help in the interior line.

Missouri Tigers
Spring practice starts: March 9
Spring game: April 17

1. Wide receiver. The Tigers have to replace Danario Alexander, who led the country with 1,781 receiving yards in 2009. Juniors Jerrell Jackson and Wes Kemp both caught more than 20 passes last season, but younger players like T.J. Moe and Rolandis Woodland are going to have to contribute more. Incoming freshman Marcus Lucas could help in the fall.

2. Linebacker. The Tigers bring back two of their starting three linebackers, but three-time All-Big 12 selection Sean Weatherspoon is the one who left. Sophomore Donovan Bonner heads into spring camp as the top candidate to replace Weatherspoon on the weak side, and Will Ebner and Andrew Gachkar are back at the other linebacker spots.

3. Defensive line. Two starters are gone on the defensive front: end Brian Coulter and nose tackle Jaron Baston. At least the Tigers know they’re set at one side, with end Aldon Smith coming back after totaling 19 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks in '09. Marcus Malbrough and Jacquies Smith will battle for starting end, and Terrell Resonno could move into the vacant tackle spot.

Nebraska Cornhuskers
Spring practice starts: March 24
Spring game: April 17
What to watch:

1. Will quarterback Zac Lee keep his starting job? After Lee was plagued by inconsistency throughout the '09 season, offensive coordinator Shawn Watson is expected to open the competition during spring practice. Sophomore Cody Green, senior Latravis Washington and freshman Taylor Martinez will all be given a fair chance to win the job.

2. Defensive tackle. Nebraska fans won't see All-American Ndamukong Suh commanding double-team blocks along the line of scrimmage. Even after losing one of the most decorated players in school history, the Cornhuskers figure to be pretty good up front. Jared Crick and Baker Steinkuhler will man the middle, with Pierre Allen and Cameron Meredith entering spring camp as the favorites at ends.

3. Rex Burkhead. The sophomore burst onto the scene after Roy Helu Jr. was hurt early in the Huskers' 33-0 rout of Arizona in the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl, rushing for 89 yards with one touchdown. Burkhead was very explosive running out of the Wildcat package, so look for Watson to try and utilize him even more to make the Nebraska attack less predictable.

Oklahoma Sooners
Spring practice starts: March 8
Spring game: April 17

1. Offensive line. The Sooners have a lot of questions up front on offense, after left tackle Trent Williams and right guard Brian Simmons departed. Will junior Donald Stephenson finally be ready to contribute at left tackle after being suspended for all of the ’09 season? Will center Ben Habern be ready after breaking his leg late in the ’09 season? When will Jarvis Jones return from a broken heel?

2. Linebacker Ronnell Lewis. The sophomore had a break-out game in the Sooners’ 31-27 victory over Stanford in the Sun Bowl, finishing with six tackles and a forced fumble. With starting linebackers Keenan Clayton and Ryan Reynolds departing, Lewis will assume a starting role on the strong side. Redshirt freshman Tom Wort is projected to start in the middle, with junior Travis Lewis starting on the weak side.

3. Secondary. The Sooners have shuffled their defensive backs after losing cornerbacks Dominique Franks and Brian Jackson. Sophomore Demontre Hurst is in line to replace Franks at field cornerback, and senior Jonathan Nelson has moved from strong safety to boundary cornerback. Junior Sam Proctor is expected to replace Nelson at strong safety, and senior Quinton Carter is back at free safety.

Oklahoma State Cowboys
Spring practice starts: March 8
Spring game: April 17

1. Quarterback Brandon Weeden. The 26-year-old junior is the top candidate to replace Zac Robinson, who broke nearly every OSU passing record. Weeden was a second-round choice of the New York Yankees in the 2002 amateur baseball draft. If he can grasp new offensive coordinator Dana Holgorson's spread offense quickly, the Pokes' passing game should again be potent in 2010.

2. Defense. Defensive coordinator Bill Young will have his hands full this spring trying to replace nine starters. The only returning starters are defensive end Ugo Chinasa and strong safety Markelle Martin. The Pokes have to replace three starters on the defensive line, three linebackers and three defensive backs. Three newcomers -- linebacker Caleb Lavey and defensive backs Devin Hedgepeth and Malcolm Murray -- will get early looks in spring camp.

3. Offensive line. The Cowboys will have to replace star left tackle Russell Okung, left guard Noah Franklin, center Andrew Lewis and right tackle Brady Bond. Juniors Nick Martinez, Casey LaBrue and Grant Garner will be the top candidates to fill open starting spots.

Texas Longhorns
Spring practice starts: Feb. 26
Spring game: April 4

1. Quarterback Garrett Gilbert. The sophomore was thrust into action after Colt McCoy injured his shoulder against Alabama in the Citi BCS National Championship Game and played admirably well in tough circumstances. The Longhorns might change their identity on offense with a young quarterback under center, so developing a running game to take pressure off Gilbert might be a top priority.

2. Defense. The unit is in good hands with coordinator Will Muschamp, but he'll have to replace many of the star players from 2009. End Sergio Kindle, tackle Lamarr Houston, linebacker Roddrick Muckelroy and safety Earl Thomas are all gone. Younger players such as end Alex Okafor and tackle Tyrell Higgins will have to turn it up a notch during spring practice.

3. Wide receiver. Jordan Shipley, who was McCoy's favorite target, also departed. Seniors James Kirkendoll and John Chiles, junior Malcolm Williams and sophomore Marquise Goodwin will have to be more consistent in their route running and pass catching. Other receivers such as D.J. Monroe and DeSean Hales will be trying to crack the receiver rotation during the spring, before talented freshmen like Darius White, Mike Davis and Demarco Cobbs arrive on campus.

Texas A&M Aggies
Spring practice starts: March 23
Spring game: April 17

1. New defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter, who built one of the country’s best units at Air Force last season. He inherits an A&M defense that was woefully porous last season and will switch to a 3-4 scheme. Nine starters are coming back on defense, including pass-rushing specialist Von Miller. DeRuyter will spend the spring trying to install his system and getting his players comfortable with it.

2. Offensive line. The Aggies must replace three starting offensive linemen: left tackle Michael Shumard, center Kevin Matthews and right tackle Lee Grimes. Juniors Joe Villavisencio and Danny Baker and sophomore Stephen Barrera have to be ready to step up this spring.

3. Special teams. The Aggies’ special teams weren’t so special last season, as they ranked 104th in net punting, 91st in kickoff return defense and 49th in kickoff returns among FBS teams. Aggies coach Mike Sherman is putting a new emphasis on special teams, which cost his team dearly in its 44-20 loss to Georgia in the Independence Bowl.

Texas Tech Red Raiders
Spring practice starts: March 7
Spring game: April 17

1. Quarterbacks. With former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville replacing Mike Leach at Texas Tech, senior quarterbacks Taylor Potts and Steven Sheffield figure to start spring camp on a level playing field. Potts started 10 games last season, throwing for 3,440 yards with 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Sheffield started two games and threw for 1,219 yards with 14 touchdowns and four picks. New offensive coordinator Neal Brown, who was hired from Troy, runs a version of the spread offense, but Tuberville will probably incorporate more of a traditional running game into the offense.

2. Defensive line. New defensive coordinator James Willis has to replace three starters on his defensive front: ends Brandon Sharpe and Daniel Howard and tackle Richard Jones. Making matters worse, the top two reserve ends in 2009 were seniors, along with the backup nose tackle.

3. Offensive line. O-line coach Matt Moore, who was retained from Leach's staff, has to replace three starters: center Shawn Byrnes, right guard Brandon Carter and right tackle Marlon Winn. Juniors Justin Keown and Mickey Okafor and sophomore LaAdrian Waddle will probably be given first crack at replacing them. Incoming junior college transfer Scott Smith could play stand-up end in Tech's 3-4 scheme, and junior college defensive tackle Donald Langley might also have an impact in spring practice.

Colorado has indefinitely suspended its second-leading receiver.

According to a press release issued by the university, coach Dan Hawkins suspended junior Markques Simas for a violation of team rules.

This is the second time Simas has been suspended from the team. He missed the first two games of the 2009 season because of a violation of team rules as well.

Simas has had trouble staying on the field since joining the team as a highly touted recruit in 2007. He redshirted his first season then missed all of 2008 with academic issues. After his two-game suspension, he finally found his way into a starting role. He finished the season with 43 receptions for 575 yards and three touchdowns.

Dan Hawkins got a reprieve a day before his last game and was invited back for another season as head coach.

Hawkins told reporters he was “fortunate” to be coming back after the struggles of a 3-9 season. It marked the third time in four seasons the Buffaloes failed to make a bowl trip and dropped his career record there to 16-33.

After Hawkins brashly predicted -- or “strongly suggested” as he’s framed it after the fact -- that the Buffaloes could win 10 games with no excuses this season, Colorado fell off the track. Those hopes were effectively gone by the time conference play began after nonconference defeats to Colorado State, Toledo and West Virginia.

They rebounded to mount comeback victories over Kansas and Texas A&M during conference play, but struggled against the conference’s better teams.

The Buffaloes ranked among the bottom 10 teams nationally in rushing, sacks allowed, net punt and punt returns. They struggled with penalties all season long. And the offense seemed to turn the corner only after quarterback Tyler Hansen grew with his comfort operating the unit.

Markques Simas emerged as a potential playmaker at wide receiver late in the season. Combining him with Scotty McKnight could give the Buffaloes a strong combination at wide receiver.

Heralded tailback Darrell Scott left the program, but Rodney “Speedy” Stewart already had beaten him out for most of the carries by that point.

Hawkins has a collection of athletes, but will be challenged to work them together into a team. He likely won’t get another mulligan next season if his team struggles again.

Offensive MVP WR Scotty McKnight

McKnight emerged as Colorado’s top playmaker with 76 receptions for 893 yards. His reception total was good for the second-most in school history. He needs only three receptions to break Michael Westbrook’s school record. He produced at least seven receptions this season in six games including each of the last three games.

Defensive MVP CB Jimmy Smith

Smith produced 70 tackles, broke up 10 passes and tied for the team lead with two interceptions to serve as the Buffaloes’ top defender in the secondary and a key lockdown cornerback in their pass defense.

Turning point Sept. 11 at Toledo

Some of the sting of a season-opening loss to Colorado State could be blotted away because it’s a rivalry game. But the way the Buffaloes were torched defensively against Toledo was indicative of the defensive struggles they would face as the season unfolded. Toledo rushed and passed for more than 300 yards in the game as they gashed the Buffaloes for nine plays from scrimmage of at least 27 yards. The 54-38 loss helped foreshadow the struggles in Big 12 play when the Colorado athletes had trouble matching those from a Mid-American Conference opponent.

What’s next?

No bowl means the Buffaloes have all winter to refocus before starting spring practice. Hansen will have the starting job from the first day as most of his offensive weapons return with McKnight, Simas and Stewart back. The defense loses only four starters but two of them are key producers in cornerback Cha’pelle Brown and linebacker Jeff Smart. The Buffaloes desperately need to work on fundamentals. Hawkins’ job will be riding on it.

Here are some things I'll be watching when Colorado travels to Oklahoma State for tonight's game (ESPN, 7:30 p.m. ET).

What I'm looking for from Oklahoma State:

• Will Zac Robinson be ready to play? Only five days after a vicious head-to-head shot from Texas Tech defensive back Jamar Wall, Robinson’s condition is questionable coming into tonight’s game. Robinson has displayed a lot of toughness and moxie over his career and undoubtedly would like to play on his Senior Night. But the Cowboys likely won’t need him to beat the struggling Buffaloes. Backup Alex Cate would be ready to play if needed and the Cowboys have a consistent running game keyed by Keith Toston, Kendall Hunter and Beau Johnson to carry the team. It might not be really fancy, but that ground game could take a lot of pressure of a first-time starting quarterback -- if it was needed.
• Oklahoma State’s shot at the national spotlight: Tonight’s game provides the Cowboys and the Big 12 with a rare shot at Thursday night exposure. And a big performance is important as OSU attempts to prove its worthiness for the first BCS at-large berth in school history. If the 8-2 Cowboys can beat Colorado tonight and then defeat Oklahoma in Norman next week, their argument for an at-large berth would be strong. But in order to cement those hopes and likely make a trip to the Fiesta Bowl, Mike Gundy’s team needs a strong performance.
• Bill Young’s emerging OSU defense: Oklahoma State’s defense under veteran coordinator Bill Young has really made strides in recent weeks. The Cowboys will attempt to handcuff a Colorado offense that has sputtered with the exception of wide receiver Markques Simas, who has produced 14 catches in his last two games. All-Big 12 candidate Perrish Cox, the Big 12’s current defensive player of the week, will get the first shot at stopping Simas. It should be an intriguing battle between an emerging receiver and one of the nation’s most underrated lockdown cornerbacks.

What I’m looking for from Colorado:

• The play from streaky quarterback Tyler Hansen: Colorado's starting sophomore quarterback appeared to be headed for a redshirt season earlier this year as he rode the bench behind Cody Hawkins. But Hansen got the call midway through the season and has been alternately strong and struggling. He provides the Buffaloes more of a run-pass option than Hawkins and his teammates appear to gravitate to his inspirational leadership. But he’s thrown more interceptions (four) than touchdowns (three) and will likely face a huge amount of pressure from the underrated OSU defensive front.
• Can Colorado get anything from its offense? The Buffaloes have sputtered all season long, ranking 105th in total offense, 112th in rushing and 94th in scoring. They will need to produce something from their running game, particularly fumble-prone starter Rodney "Speedy" Stewart to keep OSU honest. And nothing from the past few weeks is indicative they will be able to do that. If they don’t start fast, this one could turn ugly for the Buffaloes.
• How Dan Hawkins approaches the game: With speculation swirling about potential replacements, the Colorado coach is coaching to keep his job. His teams have been one of the most penalized groups in the country, ranking 119th among the 120 FBS teams. He even had members of his operations staff dress in striped shirts at practice throwing penalty flags. The Buffaloes are at a huge competitive disadvantage as they try to stem a 10-game road losing streak against a team that is fighting for a spot in the BCS. The Buffaloes are the only team in the conference to already be eliminated from bowl contention. It will be a massive coaching effort to keep this group involved if they have some early problems. Can Hawkins keep his team close in the game? We’ll have to see.

Maybe there was something in those lucky puka shells that Markques Simas' mother brought him before the Texas A&M game.

Simas, Colorado's sophomore wide receiver, had been beset by struggles and bad luck since he arrived at college. But the talisman brought from her recent trip to Hawaii seemed to transform Simas’ fortunes as soon as he started wearing them.

“I wore them to the hotel before the game and then everything seemed to change,” Simas said with a chuckle. “That might have been the reason.”

Or it might have been the product of Simas’ hard work, preparation and his patience. But whatever the cause, Simas erupted for a career-best seven receptions for 135 yards, bringing an element of a vertical game that helped spark the Buffaloes’ wild 35-34 comeback victory over Texas A&M.

Simas was one of the top recent recruits at Colorado after a standout career at Mira Mesa High School in San Diego. But he never could get a shot at playing time after sitting out the 2007 season as a redshirt, missing last season while he was academically ineligible. His hopes for playing time were set back when he was suspended for the first two games of this season for an undisclosed violation of team rules.

“It feels good to be able to come back and produce,” Simas said. “I feel like I wasted a year on some dumb things. It’s just rewarding to come back and do some things to help us out. I wanted to show it just wasn’t hype -- that I could fulfill what everybody was saying about me.”

The big game against the Aggies enabled him to more than double his previous yearly receiving total for any previous game. And his knack for making big plays was critical in enabling Colorado to overcome an 11-point halftime lead and a 10-point deficit midway through the fourth quarter.

His breakout game appears to have brought some explosiveness back to a Colorado team that has struggled making big plays all season. Scotty McKnight has been the Buffaloes’ top receiver, but the 6-foot-2, 215 Simas can stretch defenses as well as outfight them for positioning.

Working with quarterback Tyler Hansen, Simas seems to have made an immediate connection with the Buffaloes’ new starter.

It showed last week when he produced key catches of 47 and 45 yards that ranked as the two longest passes of the season for the Buffaloes. The 45-yarder came on a key third-and-16 late in the fourth quarter, setting up Colorado’s game-winning touchdown on the next play.

“I felt like I’m a guy who can stretch the field and open the offense up a little bit,” Simas said. “Almost every other team was double-covering Scotty. It also helps our running game. They can’t load up the box like they have before, so it lets us be more balanced and play to our potential.”

Coach Dan Hawkins, who also doubles as Simas’ position coach, said he has been pleased with his recent surge but expects much more.

"I thought it was great, what he is capable of, but we also talk about things that happen in the game that he can do and do better,” Hawkins said. “That's just kind of the approach we take with him, but it was great for him to break out a little bit.”

The late charge enabled Colorado to keep its flickering bowl hopes alive. The 3-6 Buffaloes could still win the Big 12 North if they can win out and Kansas State loses its last two games.

Their first step will come Saturday at Iowa State, where the Cyclones will be attempting to earn bowl-eligibility for the first time since 2005 with a victory. A loss would eliminate the Buffaloes from bowl contention.

“We’ve got an urgency coming into the game, but we’re very confident coming into Iowa State,” Simas said. “We still feel like we have a lot to play for.”

A similar resolve has marked Simas’ attitude since his return.

“Coming here definitely helped me mature,” Simas said. “I came in here young, dumb and worried about a lot of other things. But what I’ve gone through has given me an urgency to produce. There’s no time to waste.”

Here's the latest four-star viewer's guide for the games on Saturday. Set your DVRs and plan your honey-dos accordingly.

A ranking of four stars indicates must-see television, and maybe even a game tape to be savored by the most devoted viewers to be saved for posterity. Three-star games clearly are worth the investment in time. Two-star games are worth a quick glimpse or two for occasional score updates, but little more. And one-star games are indications that your time might be better spent spending time at a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese's -- which I did earlier this week.

All starting times are Eastern.

Four-star games

Texas Tech at Oklahoma State (8 p.m., ABC-TV): The winner of this game immediately jumps into the driver's seat for a trip to the Cotton Bowl. And maybe with a lot of breaks, they could have slim hopes of making the BCS as an at-large team. It's annually a high-scoring shootout and there's always the promise of potential fireworks in the postgame press conferences when Mike Leach and Mike Gundy meet. It should be an entertaining game to watch.

Nebraska at Kansas (3:30 p.m., ABC-TV): The Cornhuskers have rebounded to save their season with two late victories. They meet the slumping Jayhawks, who realistically might not make a bowl game if they don't win this game. It will be interesting to watch Nebraska's punishing defensive front pressure struggling Kansas quarterback Todd Reesing. Nebraska's offense is struggling, so look for a low-scoring game where the kicking game might be critical.

Three-star games

Missouri at Kansas State (12:30 p.m.): Bill Snyder's surprise season can take another step forward against his old whipping boys, the Missouri Tigers. Snyder has beaten Missouri 13 straight times and can get his team to bowl eligibility with another victory. The Tigers have struggled against the pass, but have done better against the run -- Kansas State's biggest offensive strength with Daniel Thomas. This will be a great shot for stellar Kansas State returner Brandon Banks to make the record books as he runs back kicks against Missouri's leaky special teams.

Texas A&M at Oklahoma (7 p.m.): It's been the roughest week in recent memory for Bob Stoops as his team struggles with a 5-4 record -- his worst mark ever at this point of the season. But it's got to be a relief to see Texas A&M coming into Owen Field. Stoops has lost to the Aggies only once in his career and never at home in his five previous games. But the level of talent between the two teams with all of the Sooner injuries probably is closer than it's been since Stoops took over.

Two-star games

Texas at Baylor (11 a.m.): The Longhorns are in cruise control as they head to their first Big 12 title game since 2005. Colt McCoy's passing was the big story last week against UCF and he could be primed for another game just like that against Baylor's leaky secondary. Baylor's Nick Florence is coming off the most productive game by a Baylor quarterback this season, but he will quickly find out that throwing against the Texas secondary is a little different than teeing off on the Missouri Tigers.

Colorado at Iowa State (1 p.m.): Something has to give in this game. Iowa State needs a victory to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2005. Colorado needs a victory to keep its flickering championship and bowl hopes alive. A Buffaloes loss ends all of that. The Buffaloes looked like they got a spark in the passing game with Tyler Hansen throwing to Markques Simas. They might be able to thrive against the smallish Cyclones secondary. But the Cyclones will be looking to dominate the clock with their running game, which struggled last week.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

Could it get much better?

College GameDay is in Austin. The conference race starts tonight with Texas and Texas Tech, playing before what likely will be the largest crowd in Texas history.

Nebraska will travel to Virginia Tech in a potential statement-making game for Bo Pelini's team. Oklahoma will be facing an underrated challenge from Tulsa. Baylor will be trying to build on its first-game victory over Wake Forest as it meets old nemesis Connecticut.

It should be an interesting day across the Big 12. Here are a few brunch-time links to get you primed for the action later today.

• Austin American-Statesman beat writer Suzanne Halliburton wonders what Texas defensive coordinatorWill Muschamp learned from the Longhorns’ loss at Texas Tech last season.
• Despite all of his personality quirks and media access foibles, Austin American-Statesman columnist Kirk Bohls writes that Mike Leach is worth every penny he’s being paid by Texas Tech.
• Baylor players haven't forgotten about last season'snarrow loss at Connecticut, the Waco Tribune-Herald’s John Werner reports.
• Colorado wide receiver Markques Simas is excited to finally get his chance to play today after missing his first two games with a suspension, Tom Kensler of the Denver Post reports.
• The Lawrence Journal-World’s Jesse Dugan catches up with Kansas freshman wide receiver Bradley McDougald, who tells him about his cooking, his basketball talent and his ability to fold his ear inside his ear.
• Kansas State’s challenges of setting a non-conference schedule are analyzed by the Topeka Capital-Journal’s Austin Meek.
• The St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Vahe Gregorian checks out Furman's history of being a pesky opponent for FBS schools as the Paladins head into their game today at Missouri.
• Nebraska will be battling some significant negative numbers when it visits Virginia Tech today. The Cornhuskers haven’t beaten a top 15 team in a true road game in 12 seasons, Rich Kaipust of the Omaha World-Herald reports.
• Tulsa World columnist Dave Sittler opines about why Oklahoma running back DeMarco Murray needs to emerge as a prime offensive weapon over the next several weeks.
• The Oklahoman’s John Rohde writes about the resiliency of Oklahoma State players as they prepare for today’s game against Rice.