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She feels great. Her spirits are high, the whole family's high. There's your headline.

• Don Banks at SI.com profiles Baylor's "other" Robert Griffin, who's making his way to the NFL, too.
• The Oklahoman's Berry Tramel has a suggestion for Big 12 commissioner.
• Life is a little difficult for Baylor fans who love the Dallas Cowboys ... but have to watch their program's greatest player go to the Cowboys' biggest rival.
• Kansas added yet another transfer from Notre Dame, a linebacker named Anthony McDonald.
• Landry Jones' return to Oklahoma didn't inspire celebrations everywhere in the Sooner State, writes Jenni Carlson of The Oklahoman. But who will be his best returning receiver? Time to discuss.
• Kansas' defensive line is waiting for reinforcements, writes Matt Tait of the Lawrence Journal-World.
• The Austin American-Statesman breaks down Texas Tech's spring and Kirk Bohls tells you why blue-chip recruit Michael Brewer decided to come to Lubbock, instead of chasing his family legacy at UT.
• J.B. Lageman got some great news after WVU's Orange Bowl win. Jack Bogaczyk of the Charleston Daily Mail explains. He also explains some of the versatile shifts in the Mountaineers' new depth chart.
• Oklahoma found some answers this spring, but plenty of questions remain, writes Mike Baldwin of The Oklahoman.
• Texas Tech quarterback Scotty Young landed with coach Sonny Dykes at Louisiana Tech after transferring.
• Gina Mizell of The Oklahoman introduces you to Daytawion Lowe, OSU's hard-hitting country boy at safety. Meanwhile, no separation in the QB race means good news for true freshman Wes Lunt.
• Marc Hansen of the Des Moines Register says goodbye and relives some moments, including a few from Iowa State.

Got a chance to catch up with Red Raiders coach Tommy Tuberville this week, and if you missed it earlier this week, here's a look at a couple stories from that conversation:

• Lessons learned in Tech's forgettable flop
• Juco duo fills needed roles for Red Raiders

He had plenty more to say, though.

[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Eric GayTexas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville came away encouraged with spring practice despite having to deal with numerous injuries.
• Texas Tech and Oklahoma State are the Big 12's only teams without indoor facilities, so Tuberville readily admits the Red Raiders roll the dice every year with weather when they start spring. This year, Tech began practice on Feb. 17, before any other Big 12 team. They only missed two practices, and made up the time before last Saturday's spring game. Tech is already finished with spring practice, but Kansas State hasn't even started.
• You know football teams have 22 starters, right? Texas Tech was missing six to seven starters this spring from injuries suffered during the season. Nobody got beat up last year like Tech did. Mizzou was a distant second. Oklahoma had big-impact injuries (Ryan Broyles, Dominique Whaley), but had nowhere near the volume Tech did.
• Texas Tech has hauled in top 25 recruiting classes in each of the past two years, two of the best in school history. But for the players even in the 2011 class, it's easy to forget most are entering their first spring. Tuberville thought this spring was really valuable for guys like DL Delvon Simmons, LB Branden Jackson, DE Kindred Evans, QB Michael Brewer, RB Kenny Williams and OL Le’Raven Clark. "They didn’t know what to expect but that’s where you can get better. That’s where you work on a lot of fundamental techniques, so that was the main objective, trying to bring up the level of the young guys on the team," Tuberville said. "Some ended up playing, but we didn’t have a lot of time to spend with them on fundamentals because of game planning in the fall."
• Tuberville loved what he saw from juco transfer Rashad Fortenberry out of Mississippi. "He’s going to be a real solid left tackle behind LaAdrian Waddle, and that was a big concern with him coming out of junior college," Tuberville said. "He had a very good spring, but I think we really readied ourselves there in terms of depth on the offensive line."
• Looking for leadership? Tuberville feels like he identified it during the last 15 practices. Defensively, S Terrance Bullitt, S D.J. Johnson, S Cody Davis and DE Kerry Hyder emerged this spring. For the offense, Tuberville saw leadership out of offensive linemen Waddle and Deveric Gallington.
• There was plenty of hype around Brewer at quarterback this spring, and Tuberville loves what he's seen from the apparent heir to the Red Raider QB throne. "He’s got the ability and the luxury of playing behind [Seth] Doege and learning from him and how he handles himself and how he’s worked through adversity. Seth’s been a very good coach," Tuberville said. "He’s got a lot of room for improvement, but the main thing is his leadership and his knowledge of the offense were much, much better this spring."
• The offense had a rough spring at times, but Tuberville pointed to his reliance on a lot of different players and combinations at receiver and on the offensive line that produced some short-term struggles he hopes are long-term advantages. "We’ve got so many receivers that we’re looking at," Tuberville said. "There wasn’t one day that we had the same guys playing the same position at the same time, so timing was off a little bit, but that’s a luxury for us." Among the receivers who made great strides during the spring: Javon Bell, Tyson Williams and Derek Edwards.
• Art Kaufman is Texas Tech's fourth defensive coordinator in four years, but Tuberville says his scheme isn't much different from the 4-2-5 Texas Tech ran under Chad Glasgow in 2011. "We’re pretty much running our same things, we just changed a little of our philosophy and some of our techniques that we’re playing in the secondary and at linebacker," he said.
• From my estimation, Texas Tech may have the best special teams duo of any squad (outside of do-everything Quinn Sharp at Oklahoma State) in the Big 12 next year. New kicker Ryan Bustin "picked up right where Donnie Carona left off." Tuberville estimates he made 90-95 percent of his kicks in game action this spring. Punter Ryan Erxleben averaged about 48 yards on his eight punts in the spring game, and Tuberville called it some of the best punting he'd ever seen. "I think Ryan has finally bought into the situation that golfers and basketball players and a lot of skill guys finally come to the conclusion of, 'I’ve gotta get stronger.' A lot of kickers and punters don’t believe that," Tuberville said. "They believe in more flexibility, but Ryan’s bought into the fact that he’s got to get his leg stronger and in the last eight or nine months, he’s worked on that, and I’ll tell you, he had a really good spring."
• Tuberville was disappointed in his secondary for good reason in 2011, but likes what the unit showed during the spring, especially after moving receiver Cornelius Douglas to defense and keeping him there. "We’re much better with him and Eugene Neboh and Derrick Mays who, I think, is making a lot of progress. We still don’t have the depth we need at defensive line," Tuberville said. "It’s a work in progress, but we’ve got two more coming in from the high school ranks."

Missed Texas Tech's spring game on Saturday? No worries, we've got you covered.

What happened:

• Red beat Black, 25-19, but players switched teams throughout the game. Note: This is not allowed during Big 12 play.
• Quarterback Seth Doege completed 25-of-39 passes for 217 yards, a touchdown, an interception and was sacked five times. Fellow QB Michael Brewer completed 21-of-28 passes for 297 yards and two touchdowns.
• Running back SaDale Foster ran for 70 yards on nine carries.
• Fellow juco transfer Will Smith had a team-high six stops and an interception, the only turnover of the game. He also had a tackle for loss.
• Possible starters TE Jace Amaro and RB Kenny Williams were held out of the game after arrests this spring, but further punishment will be doled out as the legal process plays out, coach Tommy Tuberville said.

What we learned:

• If you paid attention, you heard the buzz surrounding Michael Brewer this spring, and Scotty Young's decision to transfer only further perked my ears. This is Seth Doege's job, but the future looks promising for Brewer, who has lots of targets to throw to in this offense, too. He had a great day, and here's a guess it'll be far from his last. Much of Brewer's production came against the No. 2 defense, but offensive coordinator Neal Brown said he wants him confident heading into the season. Mission accomplished.
• Even if Eric Stephens can't get back from his dislocated knee for 2012, you've got to feel good about the RB spot at Tech. Foster earned rave reviews this spring, as did Ronnie Daniels, and validated them in Saturday's game. Williams' status is in question after his arrest, but before that, he was the likely starter at the position. He's continued to practice with the team, but Williams or not, Tech should have some productive backs. The big question is can they replace the one thing no Red Raider could in 2012? Nobody pass blocked like Stephens.
• Speaking of hype, it's probably OK to get pretty excited about Will Smith. You heard it all spring and finally saw it on Saturday. He'll have to get used to the speed of the game once the actual games start, but he'll be one of a handful of big-impact juco transfers across the Big 12 this year. Look out for him, Brandon Moore at Texas and Calvin Barnett at Oklahoma State.
• Texas Tech is breaking in a new kicker, but the Red Raiders are really pleased with what Ryan Bustin did, and it's easy to see why. He missed a 52-yard kick short, but banged in kicks of 42 and 49 yards, as well as a 26-yarder. Tuberville called his performance "pretty impressive."

They said it:

"My goal when we kick off against Texas State is to have 100 percent confidence in Michael Brewer. ... If something happened to Seth Doege, Michael Brewer comes in and we don’t change anything. We’re not there yet, but today was a good step in that direction."

- Texas Tech offensive coordinator Neal Brown

Spring is already underway at three Big 12 schools (Texas, TCU, Texas Tech), but it's March today, and we're headed for full swing this month.

Here's what you can expect when it comes to quarterback competitions this fall. Each spot is ranked from most to least secure entering spring 2012.

FASTEN YOUR SEATBELTS

1. Oklahoma State: This should be the best battle by far. Junior Clint Chelf is the elder statesman of the group, but redshirt freshman J.W. Walsh and early enrolling true freshman Wes Lunt were both much more highly recruited. Lunt hails from Illinois and Walsh from Denton, Texas, but Chelf, from nearby Enid, Okla., will try to hold off the younger guys to grab the reins of one of the most powerful passing offenses in the country.

2. Texas: The Longhorns didn't resolve much late in the season, but David Ash had the best finish, helping Texas win the Holiday Bowl. Case McCoy is back, too, though, and the coaches say the competition is still wide open. Early enrolling freshman Connor Brewer would like to crash the party, and he and Ash are more physically gifted passers, but McCoy made plenty of plays during the season. He'll be right there fighting, too.

TIME TO LOCK IT DOWN

3. Iowa State: Jared Barnett looked like the future of the program over the second half of the season, but struggled down the stretch and opened the door for senior Steele Jantz, who helped Iowa State start the season 3-0 before being benched for Barnett. It's probably Barnett's job, but he's got to earn it. If he doesn't improve, Jantz could take advantage.

4. Baylor: Nick Florence started nine games in 2009 with mixed results, but looked good in relief of Heisman winner Robert Griffin III in a win over Texas Tech. Coach Art Briles says it's Florence's job to lose to start the spring, but Bryce Petty will be looming during the spring, too.

5. Kansas: Last year's starter, Jordan Webb, has transferred, and ex-Golden Domer Dayne Crist is on campus and taking part in promotional videos for the program. He looks like the guy, but juco national champion Turner Baty is joining the team, too. Could Michael Cummings be a factor, too? Jake Heaps is waiting his turn until 2013 while he sits out his NCAA-mandated redshirt season after transferring from BYU.

FIX ALL THE LITTLE THINGS

6. Oklahoma: Hush, Sooner fans clamoring for Blake Bell. He's part of the Belldozer gadget formation that produced 13 rushing touchdowns in the final half of 2011. But it's exactly that, a gadget formation. If OU can run the ball between the tackles well next year, we may not even see much of it. He's not touching Landry Jones' spot, though. Jones enters 2011 as a legitimate Heisman contender.

7. Kansas State: Collin Klein is the guy at Kansas State, but he's still got to develop as a passer. We'll see what kind of growth he shows this offseason.

8. Texas Tech: The Red Raiders' coaches were pleased with Seth Doege's performance in all but two games (Iowa State, Oklahoma State), but the defense gave him almost no chance to succeed. He's back this spring. Michael Brewer's development is encouraging, but it's highly unlikely we see any shift in the starter's status.

9. TCU: Casey Pachall threw for 25 touchdowns, seven picks and completed 66.5 percent of his passes. His top three targets return. When it comes to the QB spot, the spring is about preparing for a big year on offense at TCU.

10. West Virginia: Geno Smith makes WVU's offense go, and he'll be back for his senior year with big hopes in Morgantown. Smith threw for 4,385 yards and 31 touchdowns with just seven interceptions. Like Pachall, Smith's spring is about getting ready for a memorable Big 12 debut.

Great look at Texas Tech on ESPNU All-Access last night. If you didn't see it, here were the highlights.

• Tommy Tuberville: "You have to really enjoy college football to want to be a part of it, because it's not a lot of down time, it's a lot of busy time and it's a lot of late-night hours, seven days a week." All true, even if that's mostly just during the season.
• The show followed the team during its week of preparation heading into last week's 52-20 loss to Texas.
• I really enjoyed getting a look at Chad Glasgow working. An early opening segment offered a look inside a defensive coaches meeting. The Red Raiders defensive coordinator's side of the ball has struggled this year, but I'm sure the season has been a huge learning experience for the first-time coordinator from soon-to-be conference mate TCU, where he coached defensive backs.
• Robert Prunty, recruiting extraordinaire and defensive ends coach, explained the Red Raiders' "Pitbull" mentality. No, he doesn't have his players slam Dr. Peppers 24/7, Make plays, and you get your name up above the board below a picture of a pitbull. Scott Smith and Dartwan Bush made the top of the board, and the better you play, the more impressive-looking your pitbull is. Kind of hilarious. Jackson Richards and Kindred Evans were also on the board for making plays. Every week, Prunty prints out information of this weeks "bite victims." That means both team's tackles, and in Texas' case, QBs. Also, running backs. Case McCoy and David Ash were both on the wall in the DEs meeting room. From Prunty's assessment, it seems like the DEs have taken to it. Competition will do that. Here's guessing Brandon Weeden's face has spent a lot of time on the wall this week.
• The Masked Rider has used the same horse for 10 years. His name is "Midnight Matador." "This is all he's ever done, really." Becoming the masked rider comes with a written test about horse health and equipment. The rider is responsible for taking care of the horse during the year, and answers 10 open-ended questions and does a driving test with the truck and trailer that holds the horse. There's also a riding tryout and an interview with a panel of 12-15 people. The Masked Rider is far more fascinating than I ever knew.
• The statue of Will Rogers on Tech's campus was rotated after installation so its butt faced A&M, riding away from College Station. Touche, Tech.
• Interesting to see OC Neal Brown offer a team-wide academic update on Tuesday, calling out receiver Marcus Kennard to study for a history test. Stuff like that, and accountability, is where some senior leadership can come into play. Brown also announced in a team meeting that WR Tavares McRoy had gotten a 100 on a test and reserve QB Michael Brewer had gotten a 96. Positive reinforcement! "Smile, man. It's not illegal to smile," Brown said.
• "I'm only as good as my staff," Tuberville said. "I delegate responsibility and I took most of my philosophy from Jimmy Johnson when I was at Miami."

For all the realignment discussion over the weekend, there was actual football being played, too.

I'll be out at Texas A&M's scrimmage this morning, and will have a few notes later this morning from the Aggies' practice on Sunday afternoon.

For now, here's a look at some of the developments across the Big 12 during scrimmages.

Big days for the QBs at Texas Tech

Seth Doege appeared to pull away from the competition during spring camp, and he's not backsliding a bit in his fall encore. The Red Raiders hosted their first scrimmage of fall camp over the weekend and Doege starred, completing 21 of 37 passes for 255 yards and three touchdowns.

One of the Red Raiders' backups, Michael Brewer, threw three touchdowns as well, completing 24 of 38 passes for 330 yards. Brewer, a true freshman who enrolled before spring practice, is likely to redshirt, but it's a promising day for Texas Tech's future at the team's most important position.

The scrimmage was closed to fans and media, but Tech officials released a box score from the practice.

Gundy lauds his team's first scrimmage

Oklahoma State's scrimmage was closed as well, but coach Mike Gundy couldn't say enough good things about his team's performance.

"That was one of the best scrimmages we've had here in seven years. It was a lot of fun for me as a coach to watch our guys compete," Gundy said in his opening statement to reporters. "I was really encouraged by both sides of the ball. I don't think we turned the ball over, we didn't give up many big plays on defense. We had a lot of effort and saw some young guys make some plays."

Stats were unavailable for the scrimmage, but receiver Justin Blackmon sounds encouraged as well.

"We worked hard and got better," he said. "It's our first scrimmage and the first time we ran a lot of those plays live. It's a building block and we've got the speed of the game down. I would say it was a good first step, but we've got a lot more to go."

Missouri finding some clarity at RB

Missouri coach Gary Pinkel says he's not content with settling for a three or four-man platoon approach at running back.

Kendial Lawrence looks like he may have provided what Pinkel was looking for.

Lawrence ran for 133 yards on eight carries, including a pair of 60-yard touchdown runs. Lawrence is already atop the depth chart for the Tigers, and Saturday's scrimmage sounds like he may have provided a bit of distance between himself and the rest of the team's backs.

"That’s encouraging, he made some big plays," Pinkel told reporters. "If you want to be an impact-offense football team, you’ve got to have playmakers. You’ve got to have guys who will make special plays in special situations. We’ve seen that before around here."

Iowa State QBs still muddled

Meanwhile, in Ames, Paul Rhoads still has a tough decision that doesn't look like it's getting any easier. Iowa State set August 20 as the date for the team to announce a starter, but of the group consisting of Jerome Tiller, Steele Jantz and Jared Barnett, there's still a lot to be decided.

"I’m pretty sure one of the guys out there will start," Rhoads told reporters.

Another short Friday. Thanks for all the e-mails this week, folks. Have a great weekend.

Christian Gulker in Manhattan, Kansas asked: Who do you think is a team that could be a legit contender for a big 12 title in 2 years other than the teams that are already powerhouses (OU, OSU, TAMU,UT)?

David Ubben: I don't think Texas Tech is getting enough attention for what it's building under Tommy Tuberville. This year's team won't scare anyone, but the defensive line is on the rise in a big way, the secondary will mature, and he's recruiting some big-time receivers in the 2012 class to go with some good talent already on campus.

Additionally, and most importantly, they're going to be set at quarterback. This should be Seth Doege's team for the next two years, but when he's gone, you're going to see a big-time quarterback race between Jacob Karam, Scotty Young and Michael Brewer. They'll have great depth, similar to what they had last year.

The future is definitely bright for the Red Raiders, who could flirt with a Big 12 title as soon as next season.

Philip in Columbia, Mo. asked: David, how can you hate Mizzou so much? Saying they have no chance to make the B12 Championship Game...All kidding aside, when do you think everyone will realize there is no championship game? When they fly to Dallas and are heartbroken to find out that they are an idiot?

Ryan in St. Louis, Mo. asked: Sorry about all the Missouri fans who seem to not realize that we don't have a Big Xii Championship game anymore. Ill try to round them up and show them a film about why there isnt one and what happens now that we dont have one. Now to my question. I have noticed that your preseason top 25 list hasnt had one former north team player other than Missouri. Is that going to continue and does that show just how bad the former north teams, other than Missouri of course, are?

DU: Ha, I enjoyed having a little fun with a few misguided Mizzou fans this week, but I'm sure they're in the minority. I hope no one has tickets to Dallas booked for the first weekend in December this year.

I'd offer to show you around town as a consolation prize, but I'm sure I'll be on my way to Stillwater for an epic Bedlam matchup that weekend.

(Feel free to bookmark this post for an obvious jinx midseason.)

Alex in CR asked: Is A.J Klein overlooked and under-appreciated? Knott may have great numbers but he isn't the only play maker on defense.

DU: I definitely think he is. As little respect as Jake Knott gets nationally and even in his own conference, Klein gets even less, and we're talking about the Big 12's third-leading returning tackler, behind Knott and Texas A&M's Garrick Williams.

Klein had 111 stops of his own, and though I think Knott's physical skills are superior, those two guys turned potential into big-time reality in just one season as starters. They're going to get even better. Iowa State has other problems, but linebacker is going to be a strength for at least a couple more seasons.

I've been gone for awhile, but your emails didn't stop. Here's a few that landed in my box while I was away.

Scott in Lubbock, Texas, asked: David, its my birthday today. Because you're so kind-hearted, I figured you'd give me a birthday present of saying the 3 most positive things on any angle about Texas Tech (recruiting, the direction of the program, upcoming season etc) Thanks!

David Ubben: Ha, I’ve got you covered, Scott. I’ve always liked Tommy Tuberville for this job, but I didn’t think the transition would be seamless. It wasn’t, but the hardest parts are over. He’s got the program heading in the right direction, and with his résumé, you know this story is not going to end with Tech taking a nose dive and Tuberville ultimately getting fired. That’s just not how college football works. He’s proven himself.

Secondly, Tech has a strong stable of quarterbacks on the field now, with a good backup and good players coming up at the most important position in the league. You’ve got to feel good about Seth Doege, and Jacob Karam should be a good backup. Better yet, once they learn the game it and slows down for them as they gain experience, Scotty Young and Michael Brewer have a good chance to be better than both of them.

Finally, I think Tech brought in one of the best rising coaches in the game in Chad Glasgow. There’s no arguing what he did at TCU in the secondary, and it’s not like he was doing it with gobs of NFL talent. Tejay Johnson was a Thorpe Award finalist and went undrafted, for various reasons. Combine his potential with Tuberville’s defensive pedigree, and you’ve got to be very optimistic about the program’s future.

Jeremy in Washington asked: DU: Great job as always with the blog. So looking back at your amusing post about best conference uniforms, do you think they have an influence on recruiting and a team's perception, and can you use your immense journalist powers to influence a change to my Cyclones hideous uni's?

DU: Ha, I don’t think they’ll consult me on uniform advice, but I think their influence on recruiting and overall perception is somewhat overrated.

I think most would agree that Iowa State’s uniforms are a fairly shameless ripoff of USC (stopped by Heritage Hall last week, by the way. Looked a little empty.), but I don’t think any recruit is making his decision based off of that. I do think teams with great uniforms might have a slight influence, but it’s not a major one.

Andre S. in San Antonio, Texas, asked: What's going to be the trap games for major contenders in the conference? i.e. how Troy almost got my Pokes and the same could be said for Air Force almost getting OU after they trampled FSU last year...

DU: Interesting question here. I’ve got a few.

The one that jumps out to me is the season opener for Texas A&M against SMU. The Ponies are a good team, and as we’ve learned so many times, it’s hard to have a ton of confidence in A&M when the lights are brightest. It sprung great upsets against Nebraska and Oklahoma last year, but when it was still in the thick of the Big 12 race early in the year, it self-destructed in the second half against Oklahoma State (giving up 28 consecutive points after leading 21-7 at half) before rallying to tie and eventually lose the game. Only when most had written the Aggies off (note: I was not one of those) did they rally and tie for a Big 12 South title.

Few people think SMU’s going to win that game, but they’re definitely capable of doing it. If A&M loses the turnover battle or opens the season flat, that game could come down to a few plays in the fourth quarter. You don’t want that in a game you should win by double digits.

The only other game in which a team will be solidly favored but could lose: Oklahoma State at Tulsa on Sept. 17.

Jon in KCMO asked: Missouri has got to be upset that Nebraska didn't leave 5 years ago, because if they did Missouri would have had a 50% chance of being National Champions. If you remember in the 2007 season, Missouri was ranked No. 1 going into the Big 12 Championship, but lost to Oklahoma. If Nebraska would have left sooner, we wouldn't have had to play that game and would have only had to beat Ohio State to be National Champs. I guess it was just bad luck for the Tigers. Your thoughts?

DU: I’d say your oversimplifying things a bit here. In theory, yes, that’s true. However, Missouri also avoided playing a top 15 Texas team that year because of Big 12 scheduling. In the new Big 12, you’ve got to play everyone, and I have my doubts about whether the Tigers were ready to knock off a team like that. Don’t forget, the next year, with Chase Daniel still at quarterback, Missouri trailed 35-0 in the first half against the Horns in Austin.

Missouri’s 2007 team was better than the 2008 team, obviously, and Texas’ 2008 team was better than the 2007 team, but that much better? I’m taking Texas in that game.

Kevin in San Antonio asked: maybe u answered this but I didn't see it. BIG XII conference is dead. The conference will try to built the year on ONE GAME.... Other than the one game give me another game of interest in the conference, Kansas vs Iowa St, TT vs Baylor... er how about this for a powerhouse game, UT vs KSt....

DU: See, folks? There’s still a wide sect of people who believe this, and it’s the same sect of people who aren’t paying attention. Sure, Michigan-Ohio State is still the most storied game in the Big Ten, but that doesn’t make it the best game. Michigan’s been down for quite some time and hasn’t even beaten the Buckeyes since 2003. There are other great games in that conference, even if the best current teams aren’t as powerful historically.

The same is true in the Big 12. Want examples? Uh, how about the three teams in the Big 12 that will open the season in the top 15 and none of them is Texas. Want other big games?

Oklahoma State-Texas A&M in September may ultimately decide a BCS berth. Bedlam in December may decide the Big 12. Oklahoma-Missouri should be another great game, just like last year. Texas A&M-Missouri should be good, and Texas A&M will get a good shot at trying to end Oklahoma’s crazy home winning streak, now at 36 games.

Texas and Oklahoma are the Big 12’s big names, but it’s obvious: If you think that’s the only game in the league that matters, you’re being ignorant.

Taylor in Waco, Texas, asked: You have to be kidding me!!! Please explain how you have Ryan Tannehill AND Seth Doege before RGIII in your latest big 12 qb rankings??? Tannehill impressed everyone by managing the TX a&m offense as a converted WR, but was never the focus of the offense, anyone who could effectively throw to jeff fuller and hand off to cyrus gray would be a good qb there! Seth Doege has no experience at all, why would you rather have Doege with no experience than RGIII who has been one of the most effecent and productive passers over the past three years?!?!?!

DU: Easy, Taylor. Easy. As I said when I first made the rankings, I’m factoring in depth. I didn’t rank Seth Doege above any of those guys.

Texas Tech has two guys that are ready to play in the Big 12 right now, and two more in the fold that could be future stars. That’s a better group than what Baylor has or what Texas A&M has.

We'll kick off our look today at the position rankings for each team in the Big 12 before looping back around to rank the top 10 at every position in the Big 12.

We'll start at the most obvious position: Quarterback, a position that I'd argue is more important in the Big 12 than in any other conference.

Depth will be a huge factor in these rankings, though at quarterback, it's the toughest to gauge, considering how little we see of backup quarterbacks.

Here's how each Big 12 team ranks at the quarterback position:

1. Oklahoma

Oklahoma learned the hard way in 2009 about the importance of the backup quarterback, but even in his limited experience, Drew Allen has impressed Bob Stoops after narrowly losing out on the backup job behind Sam Bradford in 2009. Landry Jones is a great one, and with his opportunities, has become a Heisman Trophy favorite. Could Allen have done the same if he had beaten out Jones in 2009? Blake Bell, the nation's No. 3 quarterback in the 2010 class, will likely be Oklahoma's No. 3 in 2011.

2. Oklahoma State

Brandon Weeden's profile spiked when he led the Cowboys to a comeback win over Colorado on a Thursday night game in 2009. He took over as the starter shortly after, but going into that game Weeden was a third-stringer. Alex Cate transferred after it became evident that Weeden would be the starter in 2010, and behind Weeden is Clint Chelf and two solid recruits: Johnny Deaton and J.W. Walsh, who was the nation's No. 10 QB (just outside the ESPNU 150) in 2011 and enrolled early.

3. Texas A&M

Ryan Tannehill is entrenched at the starting spot, with a lot of youth behind him. Matt Joeckel and Jameill Showers will try to hold off incoming freshman Johnny Manziel for the No. 2 spot this fall. Manziel was impressive during the spring, and will contend for the starting job in 2012, but he'll likely redshirt unless he wins the backup job.

4. Texas Tech

Seth Doege looks ready to grab the reins for two seasons, barring injury. Jacob Karam is probably ready to start in the Big 12 right now, he's just not as good as Doege. Behind them are two promising prospects with upside and development to do: Scotty Young and Michael Brewer. The Red Raiders are the last of the Big 12 teams who have truly solid depth at quarterback.

5. Baylor

Robert Griffin III will probably hold every school record for quarterbacks by the time he leaves Waco, but the Bears need to find a true replacement behind him. Nick Florence filled in well in 2009 when Griffin missed the final nine games with a knee injury, but he's a junior like Griffin and their eligibility will expire simultaneously. Redshirt freshman Bryce Petty and 2012 commit Jared Johnson could battle for the spot in 2013.

6. Missouri

The Tigers depth took a hit after Tyler Gabbert's transfer following spring practice, but expectations are high for sophomore James Franklin, who got a bit of experience in 2010 behind Blaine Gabbert. Senior Jimmy Costello quit the team after last season to focus on an impending fall enlistment in the Army, but rejoined after the Gabbert brothers' departures from Columbia. He's likely to be the backup, with Ashton Glaser and walk-on Ryan Howerton filling out the rest of the quarterback spots. Corbin Berkstresser, a 6-foot-3, 218-pound quarterback from Kansas City that ESPN ranked No. 43 at his position, will arrive in the fall, too.

7. Texas

How long until we see a quarterback make the kind of plays Garrett Gilbert made against Alabama in the national championship? Those kinds of long scores were rare last year, but the Longhorns will have a competition this fall that sounds like it's pretty open heading into camp. If Gilbert wins, he'll likely have a much shorter leash in 2011 than he did in 2010, before Case McCoy or Connor Wood gets a crack, and dark horse true freshman David Ash could make things interesting, too.

8. Kansas State

Collin Klein made a nice move toward winning the job with a strong spring game performance. But coach Bill Snyder says he still didn't see a ton of separation between Klein and his backups, Sammuel Lamur and Boston College transfer Justin Tuggle, who spent last year replacing Cam Newton at Blinn College in Texas.

9. Iowa State

James Capello transferred after the spring, but Iowa State's race has likely boiled down to two men: Jerome Tiller and Steele Jantz. Jantz, a juco transfer, is the wild card and Tiller will need to show that his struggles in spot duty last season were temporary. He didn't show the progress you'd expect from a maturing player when he played for an injured Austen Arnaud in a few games early and late in 2010. Jared Barnett is still battling in Ames, but him winning the job would be a huge upset.

10. Kansas

The Jayhawks could use a couple more years of Todd Reesing. The Jayhawks saw a huge drop off at the quarterback position in 2010, as Jordan Webb, Quinn Mecham and Kale Pick all got time under center. Kansas will likely run its offense through a strong group of running backs, but unless newcomer Brock Berglund shows potential and proves he's the best of the group, expect Kansas to remain near the bottom of the Big 12 by the end of 2011.

LUBBOCK, Texas -- Not having an indoor facility is a lot like having a leaky roof. Most of the time, it's not a problem. But when it rains, it's an annoyance that's too late to fix to do any good.

Tuesday, of course, it was the wind that postponed Texas Tech's practice until today. As a result, I didn't get to see Texas Tech practice, but I spent a long while with coach Tommy Tuberville and a few players during my time in Lubbock.

Tuberville is mildly irritated with the lack of an indoor practice facility, and sometimes the Red Raiders are able to practice at Frenship High School, but that poses a whole new set of problems. In fact, when I sat down in Tuberville's office, he had a mock-up of an indoor facility on his desk, a rough draft of something he had drawn up to gauge the possibility of building an indoor facility in the future.

"It's not a necessity, but it's something that would really help," he said. "I just had somebody draw that up just to get the feasibility of whether it would fit here and how big it needs to be, height, and a lot of them use it for different things."

Tuberville cited his nickname of the Riverboat Gambler, which apparently transcends the field and carries over to spring practice as well. Last year, Tuberville began spring practice in mid-March, partially because he needed time to get his feet on the ground after being hired in January. This year, Tech's spring game is set for Saturday, the first in the Big 12.

"I started spring practice about three weeks before anybody even thought about spring practice," he said. "I did it for the simple fact that we've got to have more offseason. If we go 4 to 5 weeks of offseason and then have spring practice and then 2 to 3 weeks of offseason, it breaks it up too much. We've got to get stronger and quicker."

Last year, the late spring practice meant players like LaRon Moore couldn't make it back for the fall because of injuries suffered in the spring. So the gamble, of course, was that the weather in West Texas would cooperate.

"The weather was rough last year. I said, 'We can't have two years bad weather like that back-to-back, and we haven't. We've had great weather," he said. "Until today. We've got a mini-hurricane out there."

Winds were up to 50 miles per hour throughout Tuesday.

"No sense in going out there if you can't get anything done," he said.

Regardless, we touched on a wide variety of topics, and we'll have more on the Red Raiders later this week, but here's some of what Tuberville had to say.

Offense playing catchup

Tuberville readily admitted that the offense is behind where it was a year ago at this point, but what would you expect? Last year's team had two senior quarterbacks, a senior running back and two senior receivers. Even though this is spring No. 2 for Tuberville, he's working with a much younger offense as a whole this time around.

He feels like he's starting back at ground zero a bit, but the eventual upside with this group is obviously higher since they won't be here one year and gone the next like most of last year's offense.

This year will come with a few changes, but Tuberville has a good idea of what he wants. He didn't have to worry about having two quarterbacks that were ready last year, Taylor Potts and Steven Sheffield came with the job. This time around, Tuberville wants to make sure he has two quarterbacks, and it may be a bit more difficult, but Jacob Karam and Seth Doege have separated themselves. It's not over yet, but Doege taken the early lead with his consistency and is getting the vast majority of reps in practice with the first team. Tuberville said, barring injury, Michael Brewer will redshirt. Like last year, Tuberville plans to officially name a starter during the second week of fall two-a-days. More on the quarterbacks is coming later.

He also wants his tight ends to get involved more as blockers to help establish a running game he believes the Red Raiders need. That's good news for touted recruit Jace Amaro's future, but for now, the duties have gone to Adam James, who has put on a bit of weight to fill the need.

Spring game expectations

Texas Tech had about 12-15,000 fans show for last year's spring game, but Tuberville says they're hoping for 25-30,000 to show for Saturday's game if the weather is good, which it's supposed to be.

Giving the attendance a boost, Tuberville hopes, is a visit from the "king of country music" for a concert later that night at United Spirit Arena.

"George Strait," he said with a laugh and a point to an autographed photo on the wall of his office. "George Strait, Reba McEntire and LeAnne Womack, yeah. It just happens to be the night of. It sold out in 30 minutes. Wish I could sell out a football game in 30 minutes."

Personally, you'd have to drag me to a country music concert, but this is Texas, and Texans love their country music--especially West Texans. That love could help a few more Red Raiders fans spend the day on Texas Tech's campus. The school also has a baseball game slated for Saturday against Nebraska.

"I'm hoping, our goal is 30,000-plus," he said.

Freshmen LB, RB impress early

Two early-enrolling freshmen have stolen the show in spring scrimmages, and Tuberville provided a bit of insight on both.

Linebacker Blake Dees has racked up tackles in both scrimmages and should be a part of the rotation at middle linebacker along with Sam Fehoko. For Dees, who Tuberville admitted has surprised him with his early impact, the coaches simplified his responsibilities, allowing his natural linebacker instincts to take over.

"He's really catching on well. He might not be a starter, but he'll play," Tuberville said. "We put him at linebacker and he plays run first. It's cut his responsibilities down and really helped him."

Simplicity in his 4-2-5 scheme is what Chad Glasgow has preached since he took the job, and with so many young, inexperienced players all over the defense, it's going to be necessary for the defense.

Another quick note: Tuberville sees safety as the strength of the defense, thanks to new nickel back Terrance Bullitt and Cody Davis. D.J. Johnson has also moved to safety from cornerback.

Running back Ronnie Daniels led the team in rushing with 80 yards on 13 carries in the second scrimmage, and the 6-foot-2, 195-pounder has made it obvious he'll play as a freshman along with Eric Stephens and Aaron Crawford. Tuberville has expressed his desire to run more two-back formations with one as a runner and the other as a blocker, and the Red Raiders have developed solid depth at the position.

Daniels had 3,000 yards as a senior in high school.

"He's just been so raw at running back, sometimes that's the best kind to have. You don't tie them down with reads and things he has to do," Tuberville said. "He just came in and just turned it loose. He's got a good frame, he's tall and physical and he's got good hands. He can play in this offense and he's been a breath of fresh air."

No Championship Weekend for Tech-Baylor, other schedule notes

Texas Tech and Baylor are set to finish the season against each other in Cowboys Stadium, and since the Big 12 Championship game no longer exists, Tech was open to the idea of moving their game to that weekend. Other games like the Lone Star Showdown and Bedlam may end up on that weekend, but the Bears and Red Raiders won't. After the championship was kaput, Jerry Jones filled the stadium with another event.

The Big 12 schedule is still in flux, but Texas Tech knows it will open its season with Texas State, have an off week and then play 11 consecutive games.

Schedule: Practice began on February 20, and continues through the spring game on March 26 after a pause for spring break. Selected practices between now and then are open to fans and media.

What’s new: Texas Tech will try and shore up a leaky secondary with a new defensive coordinator who specializes in exactly that. Chad Glasgow earned notoriety while coaching top defensive backfields at TCU, and he'll be running all of Texas Tech's defense starting this spring. Also, Texas Tech now has a fullback position, filled by freshman Omar Ontiveros.

On the mend: A handful of players from the secondary. Cornerback Jarvis Phillips is out for spring practice after offseason shoulder surgery, but the injuries that forced so many underclassmen to suit up in the secondary last year haven't affected them as much this spring. Receiver Alex Torres also looks back at 100 percent after battling a back injury throughout 2010. He's contributed in both scrimmages so far this spring, with three receptions for 86 yards last week and a pair of scores in the Red Raiders first scrimmage. Defensive backs Derrick Mays, Urell Johnson and Jared Flannel are all out this spring.
New faces: Early-enrolling freshman running back Ronnie Daniels, an Albuquerque, N.M. native, has impressed early. He's leading the team in rushing in both scrimmages, with 80 and 73 yards on 12 and 11 carries, respectively. Junior college transfer receiver Marcus Kennard is also in camp, along with quarterback Michael Brewer and linebacker Blake Dees. Dees also made eight stops in the Red Raiders first scrimmage and is getting some first-team reps as the backup middle linebacker.

Breaking out: Linebacker Sam Fehoko led the defense with eight tackles and an interception in the second scrimmage after making nine stops in the first scrimmage. He's presumably seized solid control of the middle linebacker position, just ahead of the youngster, Dees.

On the move: Safety Terrance Bullitt is starting at a new position, strong safety, after mild contributions in 12 appearances last year. He played with a broken hand in 2010. His new position in Glasgow's offense is closer to the line of scrimmage, where he'll be more responsible for slot receivers and help in the running game.

Question marks: The obvious one is the secondary. It remains to be seen how much better they'll be in that area. If Texas Tech gets burned with the pass in 2011 like it did in 2010, it'll have a hard time winning more than 7-8 games, so the importance of improving in that area is difficult to overstate.

Big shoes to fill: Both of the Red Raiders' top receivers, Detron Lewis and Lyle Leong, are gone. Torres has big potential and experience as a freshman, but beyond him, the opportunity to emerge is there for younger players, or even new players like Kennard. Eric Ward is starting at Leong's old spot. Shawn Corker had a big day (7 rec, 131 yards, 2 TD) in the second scrimmage, and could become a key part of the offense. The Red Raiders need moderate contributors like Austin Zouzalik, Tramain Swindall and Cornelius Douglas to become big contributors next year and help out their new quarterback. The Red Raiders also have to replace standout defensive tackle Colby Whitlock.

All eyes on: Quarterback Seth Doege. Jacob Karam is gunning for his spot with a nice performance in the second scrimmage, but Doege has the job right now. The Texas Tech quarterback spot carries with it a certain degree of expectation, and Doege has to prove he can first hold off Karam and live up to it on the field this spring and next fall.

Texas Tech coaches acknowledged that junior Seth Doege (DAY-gui) was the clubhouse leader in the quarterback race to begin spring practice, and he kept his distance from the competition in the first scrimmage of the spring.

The Red Raiders took to the field on Saturday and Doege impressed his coaches.

The junior completed 17 of 26 passes for 246 yards and three touchdowns with an interception.

"He threw the ball pretty well and made good decisions,” coach Tommy Tuberville told reporters. "We’re expecting a lot from him. I think a lot of people are. You’ve got to remember he hasn’t played in a long time, as consistent as what he’ll play."

Doege missed his final two seasons of high school football with injuries and has one start in three seasons at Texas Tech.

"I intentionally put him against the wind just to see how he would handle it," Tuberville said, "and he did well."

The coaches may be touting Doege as the leader with what they're saying, but they're proving it on the field, too. The division of reps in scrimmages like these can give anyone a good feel for how the quarterback race is shaking out.

Doege threw 26 passes and sophomore Jacob Karam threw just 17, completing eight for 116 and two touchdowns with a pair of fumbles.

Quarterbacks Scotty Young and Michael Brewer threw just 11 and seven passes, respectively.

Doege has a chance to grab a pretty good hold on the job by spring's end and spend the summer emerging as one of the team's leaders on and off the field in offseason voluntary workouts. He could be well on his way to doing exactly that if he continues playing like this on the most important days of spring practice.

Texas Tech's spring practice only started on Friday, but there's already plenty of news coming out of Lubbock.

Most importantly, there looks like a clear leader in the quarterback race: junior Seth Doege (get used to it: it's pronounced DAY-gee, with a hard "G").

That's no big surprise. Excuse the (very true) cliché, but there's no replacement for experience, and as the oldest player in the race, he clearly has plenty over the competition, sophomore Jacob Karam and a pair of freshmen, Scotty Young and Michael Brewer.

Offensive coordinator Neal Brown told reporters after the first practice that Doege led by a decent margin. As long as he keeps doing what he's doing, I'd be surprised if he didn't win the job.

---

According to a report in the Austin American-Statesman, the Lone Star Showdown may move from its annual date on Thanksgiving to championship weekend, possibly being played alongside the in-state rivalry to the north, Bedlam.

Both sides told the Statesman they're open to the move "if it's critical to the television deal."

If I remember correctly (and usually I do), I suggested this needed to happen months ago when the league first started talking about moving games to championship weekend. The response:

"RABBLERABBLETRADITIONRABBLERABBLE!!"

Look: I get that "it's the way it's always been done." The game has been centered around Thanksgiving weekend every year since 1901 and played on Thanksgiving 63 times.

That said, there's no concrete reason it has to be. We're not talking about the Red River Rivalry, which has to be in early October to be part of the State Fair of Texas, which provides the game a uniqueness found nowhere else in college sports.

As long as the Aggies and Longhorns close their regular seasons against each other, I don't see the big deal. As cool as it is to have the game on TV on Thanksgiving night, it's still a bit inconvenient to have an on-campus game during a holiday break.

This move should happen, featuring two of the best rivalries in the Big 12 on championship weekend, giving the league plenty of relevance while the Pac-12 and Big Ten debut their championship games next season.

---

The Apocalypse hasn't quite arrived, Texas Tech fans. But perhaps it's close.

The shotgun is taking a few steps closer to center. The Pistol could be a bigger piece of the Texas Tech offense this year.

By 2013, Tommy Tuberville will have the triple option installed and he'll have swindled you all!

Or something like that.

Tuberville has made it clear he wants to run the ball, but that's a lot more fun when the run is effective. To do it, Tuberville wants a different kind of running game that isn't so east-west.

"We’ve got to do something a little bit downhill," Tuberville told reporters after spring practice over the weekend. “We did that a little last fall and it worked pretty good. We’re kind of looking at different things in the running game."

The Red Raiders have the backs to establish a downhill run with hard runners like Eric Stephens, Aaron Crawford and Harrison Jeffers, but it won't matter if they can't block it.

With all five starters back on the offensive line, Tech fans have to feel good about running it at least a little better than they did in 2010.

We took a look at the Big 12's spring storylines yesterday, and for several teams, that involves the quarterback. For others, it doesn't. But heading into the spring, which starts as early as Friday at Texas Tech, here's how the Big 12's teams rank in terms of certainty at quarterback.

LOCKED AND LOADED

Baylor: Baylor's offense runs entirely through the Bears' Robert Griffin III. He rebounded well last season from the knee injury that made him miss most of the 2009 season, and became a much, much better passer. We'll see if that continues in 2011, but it would take a serious injury to knock him off his starting spot.

Oklahoma State: Brandon Weeden started every game for the Cowboys last season and earned All-Big 12 first-team honors. He's back. Look elsewhere for quarterback controversy. The backup race between Clint Chelf, Johnny Deaton and early enrolling freshman J.W. Walsh could be interesting, though.

Oklahoma: Landry Jones will effectively be a third-year starter for the Sooners next season, and a strong contender for All-Big 12 honors and possibly the Heisman. It's his offense for sure in 2011.

Texas A&M: Ryan Tannehill would be the easy front-runner even if he hadn't started the second half of the 2010 season. But he did, went 5-1 in his starts, and has the Aggies sniffing the top 10 in the preseason.

BETTER LOCK IT DOWN, KID

Texas: Garrett Gilbert had a horrible first year as starter in 2010, but he'll need to show his coaches -- new and old -- he'll be better in 2011. Grasping new coordinator Bryan Harsin's system will be key in keeping the junior ahead of his competition, Case McCoy and Connor Wood. Coach Mack Brown said last month that the job was open.

Missouri: James Franklin is the likely lead dog in the race, but only because he got more time and experience playing the game and adjusting to the speed of the game. He'll need to clearly be the best quarterback Missouri has to leave the spring as the projected starter. Tyler Gabbert and Ashton Glaser might steal the title with standout springs, but if all three aren't getting it done, incoming freshman Corbin Berkstresser could theoretically crash the party in preseason camp.

Iowa State: Jerome Tiller has five starts in two seasons because of injuries to Austen Arnaud, including an historic, albeit ugly, 9-7 win at Nebraska in 2009. But Paul Rhoads signed juco transfer Steele Jantz, and he'll have a great chance to win the job, too. James Capello and Jared Barnett will try to make splashes in the spring.

WHICH END IS UP?

Texas Tech: Tech, as usual, is likely to get good play out of whoever wins the job, but it's a near guessing game at this point. Seth Doege and Jacob Karam impressed coach Tommy Tuberville last spring working with the first team after Steven Sheffield and Taylor Potts were hurt, but Doege and Karam will have to hold off younger talents Scotty Young and Michael Brewer to win the job.

Kansas: The Jayhawks never settled on a quarterback, and battled injuries at the position last year. Kale Pick was moved to receiver during the 2010 season, and Jordan Webb and Quinn Mecham will be the main competition this year, despite a lack of truly inspired play for much of 2010. If incoming freshman Brock Berglund, who enrolled early, can show flashes of potential and outplay Webb and Mecham, he might be the guy best suited to help Kansas win right now and in the future.

Kansas State: The Wildcats' presumptive starter might not even be playing the position in 2011, and we've seen very, very little of the three quarterbacks hoping to replace the departed Carson Coffman. Justin Tuggle, a juco transfer, started three games at Boston College and has a good shot to win the job. Newcomer Daniel Sams could win the gig eventually, or it could be the returning Sammuel Lamur, who threw all of three passes last season (completing all three!) as the third-stringer.

Springtime is almost here. And here's a look at what to expect across the Big 12 when it gets into full swing here in the next couple weeks.

BAYLOR BEARS

Spring practice starts: February 28

Spring game: April 2

What to watch:

• Big changes on defense. Baylor brought in Phil Bennett as its new defensive coordinator, and he says his scheme will be multiple, built to fit the Bears' personnel. Considering the Bears' recent recruiting successes in the secondary, look for a 4-2-5 type of look.
• Recruiting stars: time to shine. Both safeties, Tim Atchison and Byron Landor, are gone. Baylor, though, has two former ESPNU 150 recruits at safety who would be well served to start filling their potential. Prince Kent was a reserve last season and at one time, the nation's No. 51 overall recruit who originally signed with Miami. Ahmad Dixon, meanwhile, was the No. 15 overall prospect in the 2010 class. The opportunity is there. Baylor needs big talent at the position. Briles has recruited it. Can they develop into players who make Baylor a contender?
• Running back competition. Jay Finley topped 1,200 yards in 2010, but he's gone. Who steps into his void? Terrance Ganaway is a bowling ball at 5-foot-11, 235 pounds, but the shifty Jarred Salubi could get a good amount of carries, too. They could begin to share carries this spring.

IOWA STATE CYCLONES

Spring practice starts: March 22

Spring game: April 16

What to watch:

• Quarterback competition. It should be a good one in Ames this spring. Jerome Tiller is the name most recognize after getting lots of meaningful time and starts because of injuries to Austen Arnaud over the past two seasons. But juco transfer Steele Jantz sounds confident he can win the job. Rising sophomore James Capello and redshirt freshman Jared Barnett will compete, too.
• Paging Cyclone receivers. Iowa State had one of the most underwhelming receiving corps in the league during the past season, and three of its top five pass-catchers won't return in 2011. Of those three, however, one is a tight end (Collin Franklin) and another is a running back (Alexander Robinson). The new quarterback will need some help, and Darius Darks and Darius Reynolds will need to provide it as seniors.
• Shontrelle's time or not? Freshman Shontrelle Johnson looked like the running back with the most pop behind Robinson for most of 2010, but two other freshmen running backs jockeyed for carries, too. Paul Rhoads is hardly handing the job over to Johnson, but spring could be the time when he really separates himself from the pack.

KANSAS JAYHAWKS

Spring practice starts: April 1

Spring game: April 30

What to watch:

• What are they doing behind center? Kansas never got much consistent play out of the quarterback position last year, but freshman Brock Berglund is one of the 2011 class' top recruits, and enrolled early to compete in the spring with Jordan Webb and Quinn Mecham. With a building program like Kansas, there's perhaps some value in handing the program to a younger player like Webb or Berglund, but they'll have to earn it. Doing so will start in the spring, but don't expect the Jayhawks to have a set-in-stone starter by spring's end.
• Top linebacker back on the field. Huldon Tharp missed all of 2010 with a foot injury, but he says he's 100 percent and ready to get back on the field. As a freshman in 2009, he was fifth on the team in tackles, with 59, and looked like one of the league's possible budding stars. Now, he'll get his chance to join fellow linebacker Steven Johnson as one of the team's top tacklers, and he'll do it as a sophomore after redshirting in 2010.
• Toben rising? Turner Gill raised plenty of eyebrows when he moved his team's leading rusher in 2009, Toben Opurum, to linebacker in fall camp, and eventually slid him up to defensive end. But toward the end of 2010, Opurum started showing some major signs of growth at the position. We'll get a better idea this spring if he's one of the league's most unlikely new stars at defensive end.

KANSAS STATE WILDCATS

Spring practice starts: April 6

Spring game: April 30

What to watch:

• Prodigal Kansan sons come home. There's no doubt that the Wichita native Brown brothers are the main attraction at Kansas State this spring, a season after transferring back home. Bryce Brown, the running back, was the nation's No. 8 prospect in the 2009 class. Arthur Brown, the linebacker, was the nation's No. 6 prospect in the 2008 class. Bryce transferred from Tennessee and Arthur from Miami. The Wildcats are pinning much of their hopes on the duo, and we'll get a good sense of what they can provide soon.
• Quarterback competition. Carson Coffman is gone, and two new faces will challenge for the job: juco transfer Justin Tuggle and Daniel Sams. Sammuel Lamur is also up for the gig. Collin Klein may or may not be; Bill Snyder hasn't explicitly confirmed a past comment from Sams saying Klein had moved to receiver. Don't expect a starter to be named by spring's end, but a general order could start to form.
• Can the defense show improvement? Kansas State had the Big 12's worst overall defense last year, and the worst rushing defense in college football, giving up 3,008 yards on the ground. Coordinator Chris Cosh looks like he'll still be around in 2011, and defensive backs David Garrett and Tysyn Hartman are solid pieces to try and build around. But this young maturing defense must get better to make a bowl game again with so many questions on offense. That starts in the spring.

MISSOURI TIGERS

Spring practice starts: March 8

Spring game: April 16

What to watch:

• Franklin comes alive! Blaine Gabbert bolted to the NFL early, and Missouri has a gaping hole a quarterback. The position, however, is surrounded by a lot of quality talent that likely makes the Tigers a Top 25 team. There's no understating the importance of the position for the Tigers, and that will begin to be decided in the spring. James Franklin, a rising sophomore, saw spot duty in 2010 as more of a runner, and may have the inside track on the job, but Tyler Gabbert, Blaine's younger brother, and Ashton Glaser should make it an interesting competition in the spring. If neither of them impress early, don't count out incoming freshman Corbin Berkstresser.
• Here is the new secondary. Same as the old secondary? After years of pass defense being one of the Tigers' biggest weaknesses, it became a strength in 2010 behind the leadership of senior corners Kevin Rutland and Carl Gettis. But the Tigers lose them and safety Jarrell Harrison. Rutland emerged as one of the team's most impressive players last spring, but was Missouri's success in the secondary a one-time thing or the beginning of a welcome trend?
• Time to dominate the trenches? Missouri played without likely first-round pick Aldon Smith for much of the previous season, but the defensive and offensive lines for the Tigers were as good as ever in 2010. How will they look in 2011? Impact juco transfer Sheldon Richardson won't be enrolled by the spring, but the four returning starters on the offensive line should get some solid work against Brad Madison, Jacquies Smith and Terrell Resonno.

OKLAHOMA SOONERS

Spring practice starts: March 21

Spring game: April 16

What to watch:

• Freshmen on display. Coach Bob Stoops hasn't been shy about saying his 2010 recruiting class was his best ever, but it could look even better after this spring. Two of his best emerging recruits, Justin McCay and Geneo Grissom, didn't even play in 2010, and could start to make an impact. The same goes for Corey Nelson, who will try to earn some more time somewhere backing up star Travis Lewis.
• Is there a golden boot in Norman? Jimmy Stevens was much more accurate in 2010, finishing 19-for-23, but his attempts outside 45 yards were sparse. The good news is he missed none of his 53 extra points. Field goals have been a bit of an adventure for the past couple years, but continuing in the spring what he started last year would be a good sign for Oklahoma. The Sooners are strong everywhere and need good special teams play to reach their lofty title goals.
• Are the Sooners' backs back? Roy Finch missed the Fiesta Bowl with a stress fracture, and his durability is certainly questionable entering 2011. When he's healthy, he looks like the next star in the Sooners' backfield, but they'll need some depth behind the 5-foot-8, 173-pounder. Jermie Calhoun, Jonathan Miller and Brennan Clay have all looked good at times, but there should be some good competition from newcomers Brandon Wegher, an Iowa transfer who'll be in camp this spring and eligible next season, and blue-chip recruit Brandon Williams, who enrolled early.

OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS

Spring practice starts: March 7

Spring game: April 16

What to watch:

• Every piece of the offense. The spring in Stillwater is all about keeping or improving upon the status quo. Had it kept Dana Holgorsen, there'd be little doubt that would happen, but Oklahoma State must make the most of its five returning offensive linemen, quarterback Brandon Weeden and receiver Justin Blackmon. The opportunity for a historic season is there, but they'll have to pick up the nuances of the new offense quickly in the spring like they did last year.
• What about the kicker? Dan Bailey won the Lou Groza Award as the nation's top kicker in 2010, but he's gone. Oklahoma State needs to fill that role quickly, and we'll likely know who will get the nod after the spring.
• Who steps up on the defensive line? The Cowboys lose three starters up front on defense, including All-Big 12 performer Ugo Chinasa and tackles Chris Donaldson and Shane Jarka. Can senior Richetti Jones become a star in the Big 12? We'll have a good idea if he, or any of the Cowboys' other defensive linemen, can by the end of April.

TEXAS LONGHORNS

Spring practice starts: February 24

Spring game: April 3

What to watch:

• New coaches and their students/players. Texas has five new coaches. Although it's hard to get a good read early on, how they relate with the players on the field, in the film room and around the facilities will have a big impact on how the 2011 season plays out in Austin. The young-blooded coordinators could serve themselves well by relating to players and the players will need to spend plenty of extra time learning new schemes and plays.
• Quarterback competition ... or not? Mack Brown says the gig is open and it is, for now. Garrett Gilbert can close it with a strong spring. If Garrett struggles on the field or has difficulty grasping the new system, the door will be wide open for Connor Wood or Case McCoy to step in and close it. Gilbert didn't get much help, but he did very little in 2010 to inspire a lot of breathing room with McCoy and Wood clamoring for playing time.
• And you've got to defend the pass, too. Texas loses its top three cornerbacks to the NFL, and only Carrington Byndom and A.J. White got much meaningful playing time last season. Younger players can earn some rare early playing time with a strong spring. Will anyone step up?

TEXAS A&M AGGIES

Spring practice starts: March 22

Spring game: April 16

What to watch:

• New linebackers in the running. Spring isn't so scary when you bring back nine defensive starters, but the two Texas A&M lost were the heart of its defense. Linebackers Michael Hodges and Von Miller are gone. Kyle Mangan didn't look fantastic when forced into action during the Cotton Bowl, but the time is now for Damontre Moore and Dominique Patterson, a pair of sophomores, to make their impact.
• Tannehill's tuning things up. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill played about as well as anyone could have hoped late last season, but he'll need it to continue his performance with a solid spring nailing down the timing with his receivers, who all return. He's already got a leg up on last year's quarterback, Jerrod Johnson, who was held out of team drills last spring after shoulder surgery that eventually derailed his senior season.
• Christine's back. Christine Michael missed the second half of the season with a broken leg, giving way to Cyrus Gray's rise among Big 12 backs. It should make Texas A&M's depth at the position even more impressive, but we'll see how Michael looks coming back from the injury.

TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS

Spring practice starts: February 19

Spring game: March 26

What to watch:

• Past defending that pass defense. Texas Tech had the Big 12's worst pass defense last season, but has a pair of big potential players at cornerback in rising sophomores Tre Porter and Jarvis Phillips. Starters LaRon Moore and Franklin Mitchem are gone, but if returning starters Cody Davis and Will Ford can continue to mature, the defense should improve in the area most important for success in the Big 12.
• And they're off! There's a four-man quarterback derby set in Lubbock this spring between Seth Doege, Jacob Karam, Michael Brewer and Scotty Young. I don't expect it to be settled until midway through fall camp, similar to last season, but there should be a solid front-runner and more clarity after spring. Coach Tommy Tuberville was extremely impressed with Doege and Karam last spring after Taylor Potts and Steven Sheffield went down with injuries.
• Time to find new stars. Most of the big names on Texas Tech's defense are gone. Colby Whitlock, Bront Bird, Brian Duncan will all continue their careers elsewhere. The leaders on the defense will have to begin to emerge in the spring. Is it Scott Smith? Cody Davis? A younger, unexpected player? We'll find out. Sometimes these types of situations aren't as easy to predict as they might seem, like Missouri's strength in 2010 emerging in the secondary.