ESPN College Football

The Sooners have struggled in the red zone all season, and have shuffled kickers in and out of the lineup for three seasons.

Both came into play and cost Oklahoma in a shocking 41-38 loss to Texas Tech, 28-point underdogs.

Michael Hunnicut clanged a 28-yard field goal off the upright late in the fourth quarter, and Oklahoma scored just one of its three second-half touchdowns from the red zone. It settled for one field goal, and also missed a 39-yard kick earlier in the game.

With that, Oklahoma's home-game winning streak and it's national championship hopes are over.

The warning signs were there in lackluster wins over Kansas and Missouri this year. The offense sputtered for most of the game against the worst defense in the nation last week at Kansas, and the defense gave up more than 500 yards to Missouri.

Saturday night, Texas Tech did what it wanted offensively for almost the entire 60 minutes and put up 600 yards and 41 points, all season highs, against the Sooners.

Just like Texas Tech did against Texas in 2008, the Sooners' national title hopes are dashed. Seth Doege to Alex Torres may not have the same ring to it as Graham Harrell to Michael Crabtree, but the duo was almost as potent Saturday against Oklahoma's defense, which was missing top cornerback Jamell Fleming.

Torres caught four passes for 94 yards and three touchdowns, tormenting Oklahoma's secondary with big plays.

Doege threw for 441 yards and four touchdowns on 33-of-52 passing.

Oklahoma didn't play well, but Texas Tech walked in and won this game, fully intending to do so all night. Tommy Tuberville faked a punt and went for it on fourth down twice inside the 5-yard line.

Only one of those attempts worked, but it said a lot about Texas Tech's intentions and mindset. Both paid off, and Tuberville has the biggest win of his two seasons in Lubbock.

Next week's showdown with Kansas State has lost a bit of its luster, but Oklahoma State and Kansas State are the last two remaining undefeated teams in the Big 12.

Who saw that one coming?

We'll cap our Big 12 preview today with five predictions for the year.

1. The Big 12 will have two teams in BCS bowls. The Big 12 did it in 2007 and 2008, but hadn't done it since the 2004 season before that. This year, the Big 12 is in perfect position to land two teams on college football's grandest stage. Oklahoma, tied with Ohio State at eight appearances for the most in the nation, is the league's surest thing, but there are three quality teams below the Sooners that can get it done. The winner of the Sept. 24 matchup between Oklahoma State and Texas A&M in College Station will lose only to Oklahoma and reach a BCS bowl.

2. Texas Tech and Missouri will have a 1,000-yard rusher. Oklahoma will not. Hop aboard the Eric Stephens and Kendial Lawrence buses. They're going a long ways. For Tech, it'll be the first 1,000-yard rusher since Ricky Williams (no, not that one) in 1998. Both players have strong offensive lines and first-year starters at quarterback. Each is fully capable of handling a big load, and will do it. Meanwhile, Oklahoma will ride its experience at quarterback and receiver while a platoon of running backs split the duty.

3. Oklahoma will go undefeated and play for a national title. The injury to Travis Lewis, possible ineligibility of Ronnell Lewis and a trip to Tallahassee in Week 3 won't deter the Sooners. The offensive firepower is enough to push the Sooners through a rough Big 12 slate unscathed. What happens in that national title game? Well, we'll find out in January, won't we?

4. Texas will not finish in the top half of the Big 12. The Big 12 has too many quality teams with too many quality offenses. Texas reaches a bowl game, but finishes behind Missouri and Baylor, setting for a sixth-place finish heading into a strong spring.

5. Justin Blackmon will become the second player to ever repeat as Biletnikoff Award winner. Believe it or not, but only Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree has won the 17-year-old award twice. That changes this year. Blackmon is the nation's best receiver and he proves it for a second year. His numbers dip to around 1,600 yards and 17 touchdowns, but it's still enough to be the clear winner.

On Monday, we began a week-long project looking at the most famous touchdowns from 100-plus yards down to 1 yard, and we'll be taking a look at each of the Big 12 entrants on the blog throughout the week.

You can see the full project here.

Surely, you all remember this one. Michael Crabtree caught the most famous pass in Red Raiders history, and in the process, helped usher in an eventual three-way tie atop the Big 12 South that resulted in Oklahoma playing for a Big 12 title and eventual national title, despite losing to Texas in the Cotton Bowl months earlier and both teams finishing with one loss.

Perhaps even more famous in Texas fans' minds, besides Crabtree's catch, which grabbed the 28-yard spot on our list, is Blake Gideon's easy dropped interception earlier in the drive, and the missed tackle by Curtis Brown.

Nov. 1, 2008: If you had to reduce a program's highlight reel to a single play, this would be Texas Tech's. Trailing No. 1 Texas 33-32 with eight seconds left in a battle of unbeatens, the Red Raiders didn't play for a field goal. Instead, quarterback Graham Harrell fired a pass into double coverage for star receiver Michael Crabtree on the sidelines. Crabtree not only made the catch at the 5-yard line, he stayed in bounds, shrugged off the tackle attempt of Curtis Brown and scored the biggest touchdown in Tech history.

-- Pat Forde

Thanks for all the emails, everyone. Short day today. Have a good weekend, and we'll see you live Monday morning from Big 12 Media Days. Get excited.

Justin in Forney, Texas, asked: DU, Why are we seeing A&M back in the news with the SEC? While I understand their frustration with the Longhorn Network, I do not see their recruiting increasing by moving to the SEC. Is this going to be a recurring issue each summer?

David Ubben: Yeah, my stance has basically remained the same since A&M's flirtations with the SEC started up more than a year ago. Texas A&M's decision-makers understand the risk in moving to the SEC, as well as the historical repercussions, saying goodbye to long-standing traditions with so many of the other schools in Texas.

Fans see opportunity for the program to grow in the SEC, and it's not impossible, but I feel it's much, much more likely that Texas A&M doesn't win in the SEC at the level it's won in the Big 12, which is already to say, not a ton. I see them on par with what Arkansas is now. Once in awhile, you may see them in the championship game, but if they're going to win a conference title, it's going to be once every 10-20 years. Programs like Alabama, LSU, Florida and rising powers like Auburn, not to mention sleeping powers like Georgia and Tennessee, won't make good new roommates if the Aggies want to win.

The recruiting advantages are overstated. The majority of players growing up in Texas dream of becoming Longhorns and beating the SEC, not going and playing in the SEC. Sure, when they get older, some of them realize schools like OU and Texas A&M are a better fit, but I absolutely, 100 percent disagree that "playing in the SEC" is a big draw for kids in Texas, and something that would help the Aggies recruiting substantially. It might be for a few guys, but it's not a game-changer, and the more difficult schedule would negate, if not overtake those advantages.

So, no. I don't think we'll see this every summer. Once this issue with the Longhorn Network is settled, I think the Big 12 will be back on solid footing. It will be glued together by the billion-dollar deal from Fox that it signed earlier this offseason, and looking forward to making even more money in 2014-15 when it negotiates a new deal for first-tier rights.

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Eric in Manhattan, Kan., asked: Why does David Garrett always seem to get the shaft? He is all of 5'8" and under 180 lbs, but he hits like a 230 lb linebacker. I've seen him on multiple occasion level running backs and not be scared to take on a fullback. Then on player and awards lists he's never mentioned, even though last year he had the most tackles for the Cats.

DU: Well, I think the biggest factor was a) Kansas State didn't win enough games to get a lot of attention last season and b) their team wasn't very fun to watch.

Big 12 fans, for better or worse, have come to love the spread game and like watching teams ring up points. Kansas State scored plenty last season (third-most in the Big 12, in fact), but it wasn't a very fun team to watch. More than anything else, I point to those two factors more than any one thing about Garrett himself. It's an exposure issue.

Anyone who saw him play appreciated him, but for as much of a great football player as he is, his coverage does leave a bit to be desired, and for a cornerback, that's a big deal. You'd probably hear guys like Prince Amukamara, Alfonzo Dennard, and Jamell Fleming be appreciated a lot more, because they specialize more in coverage. If Garrett does move around and play some more safety or nickel back, he'd probably get some more notice.

It's unfair, but that's just how it is. You can't really change what people want to see or notice.

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Denny Hinds in Waterloo, Iowa, asked: Tiller or Jantz in your opinion? I like jantz.

DU: I can't help but look back and think of Taylor Martinez when I think of Steele Jantz. Did Martinez have his shortcomings as a quarterback? Obviously, yes. But he wasn't significantly worse than Cody Green or Zac Lee as a passer, and his ability to run provided an absolute advantage and a new facet to the offense that no one else on the roster can provide.

For that reason, I think you'll see Jantz win the job. Tiller was very unimpressive when he got chances last season, and it's hard to believe Jantz is a worse passer. But his speed changes what Iowa State can do on offense, and it's worth putting him out there versus Tiller, unless Tiller is a substantially better passer.

For now, I don't believe he is. So, Jantz it is.

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Andy in St. Louis asked: Last season, Missouri had a good rushing attack. It was strength and very effective at times, but it was still only solid. Do you think that with all returning running backs, 4 returning o-lineman, and a more run-oriented QB Mizzou's run game can make the jump to elite?

DU: It's got a pretty good chance to do it. Their running backs are great, especially when you add up their production. Any coach would love to have a 1,557-yard rusher with 19 touchdowns. And all four guys averaged more than 5.2 yards per carry! That's crazy. Missouri will benefit from not having to face a team like Nebraska, a speedy defense with instinctive defensive backs and linebackers capable of shutting down the Tigers slow-developing running game that usually starts 5-7 yards in the backfield.

Nebraska really abused Missouri's offense, but the Tigers had a lot of success against just about everyone else. I'd argue Missouri was pretty close to elite in 2010. Even though the style of its running game doesn't exactly strike fear into defenses, you can't argue with the effectiveness with the running backs. Blaine Gabbert actually had 13 more carries than any running back, but only gained 232 yards on his 112 carries, dragging down the team's average into the middle of the Big 12.

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Seth Doege in Lubbock, Texas, asked: Should I attempt to do the "Teach Me How To Doege" dance after I score my first TD this year?

DU: YES.

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John in Broken Arrow, Okla., asked: Ubbs, if Blackmon and Weeden have another year like last year where would you rank them as far as QB-WR tandems in Big XII history?

DU: Interesting question. If Justin Blackmon repeats and wins the Biletnikoff with equal or better numbers than he had in 2010, I think you'd have to put them at least on the level -- probably higher -- than Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree.

They won't have the longevity of the success Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley ever had, but Shipley never had a season like Blackmon had last season. Blackmon put together one of the all-time great seasons in college football history. It's been repeated ad nauseum, but I'm not sure people fully appreciate how difficult it is to account for 100 yards and a touchdown in every single game. No one had ever done that before. We might never see it again.

If nothing else, that might put Blackmon over the top.

The Biletnikoff Award, given annually to college football's top receiver, has released its preseason watch list, and there's a whole lot of Big 12 on the 75-man list.

Eleven receivers, to be exact. Here's who made the cut:

• Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State
• Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma
• Josh Cooper, Oklahoma State
• Mike Davis, Texas
• Jeff Fuller, Texas A&M
• T.J. Moe, Missouri
• Daymond Patterson, Kansas
• Kenny Stills, Oklahoma
• Ryan Swope, Texas A&M
• Alexander Torres, Texas Tech
• Kendall Wright, Baylor

I'd say it's pretty obvious that Blackmon, defending his award in 2011, is the favorite entering the season. But Broyles and Fuller are strong candidates to be finalists and both could win the award.

As for the list itself, it's a decent reflection of the league's top 10 receivers. I might have added Baylor's Josh Gordon to the list, and I was surprised to see Patterson earn the preseason designation, but both should be due for boosts in production this year.

Other than that? A solid list.

The Big 12's eleven spots are second only to the SEC, which had 12.

Blackmon became the Big 12's third winner in four years after Michael Crabtree won the award in 2007 and 2008. Could we see another repeat? Crabtree was the only other player to do it since the award's inception in 1994. He's also the only other winner in Big 12 history.

Even if Blackmon doesn't repeat, it's a good bet that the Big 12 will bring home a fourth Biletnikoff Award this December.

South Carolina's Alshon Jeffery and Arkansas' Greg Childs are a couple of other contenders, but it should be a great year for receivers in the Big 12.

For just the second time ever, the first round of the NFL draft will be the only part of the draft's first day, set for primetime on Thursday night.

This year, the Big 12 could have as many as five first-round picks, and five players from the league are in New York for the draft.

So, let's take a look back. Since the first NFL draft of the Big 12 era, who has the most first-rounders?

Texas: 16

• 2010: S Earl Thomas, 14th overall, Seattle Seahawks
• 2009: DE Brian Orakpo, 13th overall, Washington Redskins
• 2007: S Michael Griffin, 19th overall, Tennessee Titans
• 2007: CB Aaron Ross, 20th overall, New York Giants
• 2006: QB Vince Young, third overall, Tennessee Titans
• 2006: CB Michael Huff, seventh overall, Oakland Raiders
• 2005: RB Cedric Benson, fourth overall, Chicago Bears
• 2005: LB Derrick Johnson, 15th overall, Kansas City Chiefs
• 2004: WR Roy Williams, seventh overall, Detroit Lions
• 2004: DT Marcus Tubbs, 23rd overall, Seattle Seahawks
• 2002: OL Mike Williams, fourth overall, Buffalo Bills
• 2002: CB Quentin Jammer, fifth overall, San Diego Chargers
• 2001: OL Leonard Davis, second overall, Arizona Cardinals
• 2001: DT Casey Hampton, 19th overall, Pittsburgh Steelers
• 1999: RB Ricky Williams, fifth overall, New Orleans Saints
• 1997: CB Bryant Westbrook, fifth overall, Detroit Lions

Oklahoma: 12

• 2010: QB Sam Bradford, first overall, St. Louis Rams
• 2010: DT Gerald McCoy, third overall, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• 2010: OT Trent Williams, fourth overall, Washington Redskins
• 2010: TE Jermaine Gresham, 21st overall, Cincinnati Bengals
• 2007: RB Adrian Peterson, seventh overall, Minnesota Vikings
• 2006: OL Davin Joseph, 23rd overall, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• 2005: OL Jammal Brown, 13th overall, New Orleans Saints
• 2005: WR Mark Clayton, 22nd overall, Baltimore Ravens
• 2004: DT Tommie Harris, 14th overall, Chicago Bears
• 2003: CB Andre Woolfolk, 28th overall, Tennessee Titans
• 2002: S Roy Williams, eighth overall, Dallas Cowboys
• 2001: Stockar McDougle, 20th overall, Detroit Lions

Oklahoma State: 6

• 2010: OL Russell Okung, sixth overall, Seattle Seahawks
• 2010: WR Dez Bryant, 24th overall, Dallas Cowboys
• 2009: TE Brandon Pettigrew, 20th overall, Detroit Lions
• 2004: WR Rashaun Woods, 31st overall, San Francisco 49ers
• 2003: DE Kevin Williams, ninth overall, Minnesota Vikings
• 1998: CB R.W. McQuarters, 28th overall, San Francisco 49ers

Missouri: 4

• 2010: LB Sean Weatherspoon, 19th overall, Atlanta Falcons
• 2009: WR Jeremy Maclin, 19th overall, Philadelphia Eagles
• 2009: DT Ziggy Hood, 32nd overall, Pittsburgh Steelers
• 2001: DE Justin Smith, fourth overall, Cincinnati Bengals

Kansas State: 3

• 2009: QB Josh Freeman, 17th overall, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• 2003: CB Terence Newman, fifth overall, Dallas Cowboys
• 1997: DB Chris Canty, 29th overall, New England Patriots

Texas A&M: 2

• 2003: DT Ty Warren, 13th overall, New England Patriots
• 2003: DB Sammy Davis, 30th overall, San Diego Chargers

Texas Tech: 1

• 2009: WR Michael Crabtree, 10th overall, San Francisco 49ers

Kansas: 1

• 2008: CB Aqib Talib, 20th overall, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Baylor: 1

• 2009: OL Jason Smith, 2nd overall, St. Louis Rams

Iowa State: none since 1973 (George Amundson)

A few thoughts and observations:

• I doubt many would be surprised that this list is also a reasonably accurate reflection of overall success since the Big 12's inception in 1996. Obviously, Texas and Oklahoma have dominated. Since 2000, Texas has the nation's fourth-most first-rounders. Oklahoma is No. 6. Their success has paralleled that, along with recruiting rankings.
• In that same breath, it's impossible to look at this list and not once again be impressed with what Mike Leach did. He obviously has the reputation as an overachiever, but looking big picture, he was able to do it with one first-round pick. Nobody beat Texas and Oklahoma more and Leach helped put together what is still the Big 12's longest bowl streak.
• Texas' consistency sticks out, too. Since just 2001, Texas has had two first-rounders in six different seasons. If you've got two first-rounders on your team, you're probably going to be pretty good. The Longhorns, if you haven't noticed, have been. Those two first-rounders in six seasons are more or as many as half the league has in the history of the Big 12. What else you should note? Texas is unlikely to have a first rounder this year, and after Aaron Williams is drafted, Sam Acho probably will be the next to go, which won't be until the third or fourth round.
• Oklahoma State and Missouri's rise over the past three seasons has paid off in the NFL draft. Missouri had three first-rounders in the last two seasons and figures to add two more this year after having just one in the 12-year history of the league before 2009. That's quite a streak, and even more proof of what Gary Pinkel has built at Missouri. One more piece of evidence? Despite losing those two first-rounders, Missouri should be back in the preseason polls next year after losing two of its top players. That's definitely something new in Columbia. The Cowboys figure to add more soon with Justin Blackmon at least. As long as Pinkel and Gundy are at the helm for their respective programs, expect them to continue to rise.
• Don't be surprised by Texas A&M's swoon following R.C. Slocum's departure. From 1990-1998, the Aggies won nine games every season but one. From 1990-96, the Aggies had eight first-round picks. Since 1998? Two seasons with at least nine wins and just two first-round picks.
• More evidence you can't underestimate the importance of having first-round picks? None for Baylor in the history of the Big 12 before Art Briles. In just three years, Briles may have three if the Bears add two more this year with Phil Taylor and Danny Watkins. Taylor and Watkins both came from unlikely sources. Taylor was a Penn State transfer and Watkins a juco transfer that formerly worked as a fireman in Canada.

We asked you to provide a few things you love about your team last week, and you answered in a big way. It was a little difficult to pare down all the responses, but here's why you guys love your respective teams.

Eathan in Manhattan, Kan., writes: The one thing I love most about my Wildcats is the overwhelming feel of family. We are allowed the best seats for students. The school puts emphasis in alum and fan relations and makes sure they are happy. K-State is a family and you feel at home when you step on Wildcat soil.

Matt Kuhns in Lakewood, Ohio, writes: Love about the Cyclones: Being "the cyclones." Lots of bulldogs, large cats and predatory birds in sports; not many tornadoes. So at least we've got that!

mhbtiger in KC, Mo., writes: My favorite tradition is the MIZZOU to TIGERS during pregame. The band makes the transition during the Fight Song. And speaking of...I like how we have 2 songs that fit together so nicely..A close 2nd is the Missouri Waltz at the end of the 3rd Q. Go! Fight! Win! TIGERS!!!

Tanner D. in Huntsville, Ala., writes: The things I love most about Oklahoma are Bob Stoops (not our first great coach), and seeing our players wear the Golden Hat Trophy after beating Texas.

Patrick Woo in State College, Penn., writes: About my Texas Longhorns, I LOVE...the burnt orange, Bevo, the logo, the success, but most importantly how Mack Brown and others conduct themselves and the class they do with it. Those are the people in the world that you should admire.I am FIRED up for 2011 and I love absolutely love Bryan Harsin. TEXAS is my life, but I'll admit I was riding the Boise Bus in 2010 and now we have Harsin.

Matt in Texas writes: I love the way oklahoma absolutely buries everybody at home, even top 5 teams! I just wish they could do it on the road...this is an abusive relationship.

Alex in Dallas writes: I love that our school, Baylor, lets the freshmen on the field to celebrate with the team before the game! Nowhere else can say that!

Dan in Dallas writes: What's my favorite thing about Iowa State: The story of Jack Trice, who Iowa State is named after. Amazing letter he wrote to himself the night before he died from injuries at the football game the next day. Great story here.

Tommy B in Stillwater, Okla., writes: I think one of the best atmospheres is at Boone Pickens Stadium. Where else is the student section no more than a few feet away from the field with paddles banging on mats the whole game? As former Texas A&M coach Jackie Sherrill once said, "I always hated playing in Stillwater because the crowd is right on top of you. The fans sit right on top of the field. You turn around and there is a fan in your face." Better tell Landry Jones not to turn around this year....

Jesse in KC writes: I love that we have a coach the whole school can get behind now, and have faith in, even if the first year was kind of tough: Turner Gill!

Josiah in Houston writes: David, gotta say love the blog. i've been an Aggie fan since they day i was born and i gotta say the thing i love most about my team is waching the team saw varsity's horns off after a win.

Drew in Austin writes: I love the burnt orange and white, the thundering roar of the crowd, the eyes of Texas, Texas fight, cannon shots after Texas touchdowns, old friends you see every football season, the overall aura of Saturdays at the DKR, it just doesn't get any better than that. I love the Red Out Around the World video Nebraska launched, and then proceeded to get beat yet again by a Texas team that history will show was inferior. What a beautiful way to send Nebraska out of the Big 12. 9-1 in Big 12 play against Nebraska.

Brian McCandless in Manhattan, Kan., writes: My absolute favorite things about K-State are the two things that I believe are the most unique as well. First is the Wabash Cannonball. There's nothing like watching the student section perform this mind-boggling back-and-forth dance that harks back to a fire that burned down the music building. The only surviving piece of music was the Wabash Cannonball and the band played it a lot for the basketball game following the fire. Thus the dance.The other is Willie the Wildcat doing K-S-U. Not only is Willie very unique with only a head as part of his costume, but performing the letters to the chant of the crowd is one of the more spine-tingling moments for every game - especially when we beat KU or Nebraska and it feels so good.K! S! U! Wildcats! K! S! U! Wildcats! Kaaaaaay! Essssssssssss! Uuuuuuuuuu! Wildcats!Go Cats!

Patrick Jeter in College Station, Texas, writes: What isn't there to love about Texas A&M, more-so now that our football team is on the verge of being truely great this season. From the Corps of Cadets marching in, Revielle on the sidelines, and who can forget the yells (along with Yell Practice)?!I believe that is what sets us apart from almost any other school in the country, win or lose we are there until the final minute yelling our heads off, when most fans would bail.

Adam Dalby in Louisville, Ky., writes: Three thingsI love about Texas Tech: 1) Always have a winning record/in a bowl game...even during rebuilding years. 2) TTU's Under Armour deal. Unquestionably the coolest jersey's and I am definitely unsurpassed with my alma mater workout attire at the gym. 3) Gameday in the LBK.

Garrett Morgan in Austin writes: I am a Red Raider who grew up in Austin and left for Lubbock to attend Texas Tech. I never thought that I would cheer for any team other than the Longhorns growing up here, but after a year in Lubbock I was bleeding red and black. I always loved our all black uniforms and the way that the city with a small town feel rallied behind their team during the high and low times. To this day I never get more pumped than on a Red Raider football Saturday.

Russell in Norwalk, Iowa, writes: I love Paul Rhoads as head coach of the Iowa State Cyclones. I loved Mac, but Rhoads may take over as the greatest Cyclone football coach in my life.

Ben in San Antonio writes: Harrell to Crabtree......TOUCHDOWN Red Raiders!

Oklahoma State looked like the Big 12 favorite down the stretch, but lost to Bob Stoops and Oklahoma at home in the season finale, eventually landing in the Alamo Bowl instead of getting a shot at a trip to the Fiesta Bowl. In San Antonio, they've found another Stoops: Mike, and his Arizona team that lost its last four games.

WHO TO WATCH: Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon. He'll be the best player on the field every time he steps on it, and he'll have a chance to break an impressive record as well. In all 11 of his starts this season, he's finished with at least 100 yards receiving and a touchdown. If he does it against the Wildcats, he'll be the only player in FBS history to do it for 12 consecutive games. That's especially impressive considering the caliber of receivers who couldn't duplicate his feat: Larry Fitzgerald, Calvin Johnson and Michael Crabtree, to name a few. The Biletnikoff Award winner missed one game for the Cowboys, who managed just 24 points in a win against Kansas State. The Cowboys haven't been held under 33 points in any other game, and have scored 40-plus points in eight games, ranking third nationally in scoring offense.

WHAT TO WATCH: Oklahoma State's offense. Dana Holgorsen is headed to West Virginia after the bowl game to become the coach-in-waiting, but he's sticking around through the bowl game to fulfill his duties as offensive coordinator. I wouldn't expect any big differences out of the Cowboys, but it'll be interesting to see if the transition for Holgorsen has been a distraction that manifests on the field.

WHY WATCH: Similar to the Insight Bowl, despite the pair of disappointing finishes, these are still two teams who spent time near the top of the polls this season. Arizona was 7-1 to start the season and a mainstay in the top 15 before the losing streak sent it south in the polls. Oklahoma State was inside the top 10 at the end of the season. Outside of that, these are two of the most exciting offenses in the country. Both teams threw the ball just under 500 times this season, and figure to do plenty of it in the Alamodome on Wednesday night. Arizona's Nick Foles and Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden are two of the best around at doing it, and will get plenty of chances.

PREDICTION: Oklahoma State 37, Arizona 28. Arizona doesn't have anybody who can stop Blackmon (not that anyone else does), and the Cowboys' Big Three are too much for the Wildcats to keep up with.

Joe in Omaha, NE asks: If you were in charge of matching a team (reguardless of conference) to all the big 12's bowl eligible teams, which matchups would you want to see?

David Ubben: Interesting question. Most of the Big 12 matchups are snoozers, but Texas A&M and LSU and Missouri and Iowa are decent. So is Baylor and Illinois.

As for the rest, let me see these games (all picked within reason, so no Nebraska-Stanford, aka Luck vs. the Blackshirts. Sorry.):

Oklahoma vs. Ohio State: The Buckeyes took home a BCS bowl last year, but both teams could still use a bump in their street cred. Beating Oklahoma, even if it's not an SEC team, could do it for Jim Tressel. Texas and Ohio State played a couple classic games, including a Fiesta Bowl, this decade. Limas Sweed, anyone? What a catch in the 'Shoe. Quan Cosby, too, in that Fiesta Bowl.

I bet this would be a great game. Like OSU, Oklahoma could use the prestige boost. A win over UConn would be nice for the Sooners, but a win over a four-loss team won't completely satisfy the folks who think Bob Stoops has lost his "Big Game Bob" moniker. The Sooners played a better team last year (No. 19 Stanford, also with four losses) in the Sun Bowl. Plus, if the Sooners lose this year, it's an absolute disaster.

Nebraska vs. South Carolina: The Head Ball Coach against the Blackshirts? Yes, please. I'd like to see the good version of Stephen Garcia show up against the best secondary in the country, and we could see some high-quality football. Oklahoma's Landry Jones played as well as anyone against them and put up great numbers, but I'd like to see them take on Garcia, Alshon Jeffery and Marcus Lattimore. That could be a great matchup.

Texas Tech vs. Miami. Because...obviously. Most awkward bowl game ever? Not that he'll leave, but would that be the first time a coach has ever coached against his future team in a bowl game? Might be. If Tuberville actually left, he probably wouldn't coach this game, but remember people, we're operating in an ideal world. And in my ideal world, these things happen.

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Joe Guilliams in St. Louis, MO asks: DU,What's happening with Gabbert next year? Is he coming back and if so will he start over James Franklin? Thanks, JG

DU: I'd expect Gabbert to come back this year. I imagine he feels like he left a lot on the table and Missouri should have a pretty good team in 2011, especially if he returns. (And, he won't have to see Nebraska's secondary anymore!)

He could still get a lot better, but it wouldn't surprise me if he made the leap this year. He's obviously a smart, coachable player and with his arm strength at every bit of 6-foot-5, 235 pounds, he'll make a lot of money in the league eventually.

Also, anyone who thinks James Franklin should be playing over Gabbert is out of their mind. He worked really well in the way Missouri used him this year, as a bit of a spot runner a la freshman year Tim Tebow, but nobody on that team is going to be able to run the entire offense as well as Gabbert, no matter how much Franklin improves next year.

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Jeff in Memphis,TN asks: No disrespect to the Oklahoma State kicker,but how was the Nebraska kicker not even on the list. I watched the Big 12 title game and was amazed. Please enlighten this confused southerner.

Migu in Columbia, Missouri asks: What happened to the Mackey Award? I thought my man Michael Egnew was the sure bet to get it--I mean, isn't Egnew the top in most statistics for a tight end? Or is the selection process for the award getting ridiculous to the point that statistics doesn't matter anymore?

DU: I figured there would be a lot of questions about this, and there were. I threw these questions in here to refer you back to my thoughts on the issue from earlier today.

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Bob Powell in Nazareth, PA asks: I live on East Coast and get no inside scoop anymore. What are the chances Broyles sticks around for Natl Title run?? How high in first round do you think he will go if he comes out?? How fast is he really?? Is he another Mark Clayton - which is pretty damn good. Thanks.

DU: I wouldn't rule out Broyles staying, but I think he'll leave, and it'd probably be a good call. I mentioned it earlier in the week, but he's learned a lot about the game. He's been a contributor for three years in this league. He's seen about everything defenses can throw at him. There's little issue about legacy; he owns eight of the nine major receiving records at Oklahoma. The only one he's missing is the single-game record for touchdowns, but he's had a three-touchdown game and the record is four. He's the best receiver in Oklahoma history, period.

He's fast, but he's quicker than he is fast. For an undersized guy like him, that's a big deal. Also a big deal are his hands. They're some of the best in the game. He had one dropped pass this year, and Landry Jones said in midseason that before that drop, he hadn't dropped a ball since the third game of the year in 2009, against Tulsa.

As a receiver under six-foot, he's not going to be a guy that teams will draft in the early first round, like a Calvin Johnson or Michael Crabtree, but he'll have a solid NFL career. He made a brief appearance on Mel Kiper's Big Board earlier this year, but if he impresses in pre-draft workouts, he could probably be a late first rounder, but I'd be surprised if he dropped out of the second round. Other than his size, all of his measurables should be good, and though he's not 6-foot-3, he can still go up and get a jump ball from time to time.

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Kanye West (Phoenix) writes: Yo, Dan Bailey, I'm really happy for you, and I'mma let you finish, but Alex Henery is one of the greatest college kickers of all-time! Of all-time!

DU: A strong, strong candidate for best e-mail of the season. I want to drop a "Yup, these are my readers" so hard right now, you don't even know.

Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon won the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the nation's top receiver.

He finished with 102 catches for 1,665 yards and a nation-leading 18 touchdowns, helping the Cowboys win a share of the Big 12 South title.

He's the school's first Biletnikoff Award winner, and the third in four years for the Big 12.

Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree won the award in 2007 and 2008.

You might have heard something about this, but 2010 is the last season of the Big 12 as we know it. To commemorate the league's run as a 12-team conference, a panel of 20 media members compiled their all-time Big 12 team. Here's who made it, and you can see the full votes here.

All-time Top Offensive Player: Vince Young, QB, Texas

All-time Top Defensive Player: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska

All-time Coach: Bob Stoops, Oklahoma

OFFENSE:

QB: Vince Young, Texas

RB: Ricky Williams, Texas and Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma

WR: Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech and Rashaun Woods, Oklahoma State

TE: Chase Coffman, Missouri

OL: Dominic Raiola, Nebraska; Jammal Brown, Oklahoma; Aaron Taylor, Nebraska; Justin Blalock, Texas; Russell Okung, Oklahoma State

DEFENSE

DL: Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska; Tommie Harris, Oklahoma; Grant Wistrom, Nebraska; Brian Orakpo, Texas

LB: Derrick Johnson, Texas; Dat Nguyen, Texas A&M; Rocky Calmus, Oklahoma; Teddy Lehman, Oklahoma

DB: Roy Williams, Oklahoma; Terence Newman, Kansas State; Derrick Strait, Oklahoma; Michael Huff, Texas

SPECIAL TEAMS

All-purpose: Darren Sproles, Kansas State

K: Mason Crosby, Colorado

P: Daniel Sepulveda, Baylor

Here's how it breaks down by team:

1. Oklahoma: 7
2. Texas: 6
3. Nebraska: 4
4. Kansas State: 2
4. Oklahoma State: 2
6. Baylor: 1
6. Colorado: 1
6.Missouri: 1
6. Texas A&M: 1
6. Texas Tech: 1
11. Iowa State: 0
11. Kansas: 0

Who got snubbed? Who doesn't belong?

Oklahoma State Cowboys

Record: 5-0 (1-0 Big 12)

The Cowboys entered the season as one of the Big 12's wildcards, with a new offensive scheme, a new quarterback, four new offensive linemen and former All-American at running back finally healthy. All have exceeded expectations and help land Oklahoma State in the top 20 after a spotless start. Kendall Hunter opened the season with an eye-popping 257-yard debut against Washington State and has topped 100 yards in three of four games since to rank fifth nationally in rushing, with 700 yards. Meanwhile, they've discovered two new stars in receiver Justin Blackmon and quarterback Brandon Weeden. When all three get going, like they did in the second half against Texas A&M, Oklahoma State's offense is one of the nation's best. The Cowboys know the road will get tougher as they hit the bulk of their conference schedule, including games against Texas, Oklahoma and Nebraska, but outside of a few turnovers against Troy and Texas A&M -- both wins -- it's hard to ask for much of a better start.

Offensive MVP: WR Justin Blackmon – The sophomore had just 20 catches last year, and surpassed his output as a freshman in less than three games this year. Through five games, he's emerged as a legitimate threat to win the Biletnikoff Award, leading the nation in touchdown catches, with 11, and ranking in the top three in yardage and receptions. The 6-foot-1, 207-pounder earned Weeden's trust early in one-on-one situations, and his ability to catch balls over defenders is drawing comparisons to Michael Crabtree and Randy Moss. Best yet, he's still getting a lot better. He'll take on Texas Tech in Lubbock on Saturday coming off a career high 13-catch, 190-yard performance in a win over Louisiana-Lafayette.

Defensive MVP: LB Orie Lemon – Lemon missed all of last year with a knee injury, but returned this year as one of the most experienced members of the defense that returned just four starters. He drew rave reviews from defensive coordinator Bill Young in his spring return, and he's lived up to them so far. One of the defense's biggest hitters, Lemon has 45 tackles and also leads the team with 4.5 for loss, with 1.5 sacks.

Bro, when you tack on mass, you sacrifice flexibility. That's just a straight-up fact.

• Cool story here: Todd Archer of the Dallas Morning News went to all four college football games and the Texas Rangers' playoff game in the Dallas metroplex on Saturday.
• An art teacher in Yutan, Neb., painted a 400 square-foot mural of Nebraska coach Bo Pelini on the side of a restaurant in town. Yes, here are photos.
• Tyler Hansen, Dan Hawkins and Cody Hawkins talk about Saturday night's quarterback change with Graham Watson in the Boulder Daily Camera.
• Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon is drawing comparisons to former Texas Tech star and two-time Biletnikoff winner Michael Crabtree from offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen, reports Bill Haisten of the Tulsa World. Or is it Randy Moss?
• Kellis Robinett of the Wichita Eagle examines the future of a Nebraska-Kansas State series in nonconference play.
• For as good as Oklahoma's freshman class has been, its most impressive member will be making his debut on Saturday, writes Jake Trotter of The Oklahoman.
• Texas running back D.J. Monroe comes and goes quickly in different ways, writes Alan Trubow of the Austin American-Statesman.
• Kansas coach Turner Gill took some time out on Saturday to contact a local high school player who had his leg amputated after an injury, reports Matt Tait of the Lawrence Journal-World.
• Missouri is hitting the toughest stretch of its schedule with a banged-up Blaine Gabbert, reports Vahe Gregorian of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
• Tommy Tuberville says his team is better than it looked, writes Don Williams of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Receiver Alex Torres also talks about his return, after missing the first month with a back injury.

Curtis Brown couldn't get away from it. He had become an unfortunate footnote -- the answer to a trivia question about one of the most memorable plays in college football history.

Whose tackle did Michael Crabtree break on the last play of the game to beat undefeated and No. 1 Texas in 2008?

"I felt like I let the team down," said Brown, a Texas cornerback. "It hurt."

Crabtree, a two-time Biletnikoff Award winner, slipped out of Brown's tackle, raced into the end zone and the celebration in Lubbock was on.

The 39-33 loss to Texas Tech killed the Longhorns chances at a national title and allowed Oklahoma to slide into the Big 12 and national title games. Texas was sent to the Fiesta Bowl.

"Every time I've seen that play, it's just made me want to work harder," Brown said. "We just put it behind us. We couldn’t change anything that happened. Everybody got a sense of we just had to buckle down and get work done."

A play earlier, safety Blake Gideon let a tipped ball on the sideline slip through his arms, dropping what would have been a game-ending interception.

Gideon hasn't watched a replay of his dropped interception or of the game since the 2009 season began. He didn't have any plans to revisit it. But with this week's looming trip to Lubbock -- the first since the 2008 game -- he knew it was coming. Earlier this week, a reporter in Austin asked Gideon for his fairy-tale Saturday night scenario.

"Come away with a win," the junior said. "That would be the perfect ending."

Gideon isn't haunted by any dropped passes or missed tackles. The scoreboard favoring the Red Raiders is all he says stuck with him.

"Especially with the position I play, you have to have a short memory," Gideon said. "For me to harp on any individual mistake I made would be selfish, for me to not be able to move on. That wouldn't help my team to be able to move on and play in the here and now."

And here and now is a Texas Tech team with a different coaching staff but a similar style. Texas' secondary has allowed a respectable 330 yards passing -- fifth in the league -- but opponents have completed more than 65 percent of their passes. The secondary led the nation in interceptions a year ago with 25 picks, but have come up with none so far. Linebacker Keenan Robinson has the team's only interception.

"We’ve played OK. We just haven’t played to the standard we’ve set around here the last few years, but we played the first few games and got jitters/communication errors out," Gideon said.

Gideon says the Red Raiders always tests the secondary and that this Saturday will be no different.

"We know what kind of athletes they have on outside as well as inside with their running backs, and obviously they're always going to have a great quarterback that's going to be able to direct things at Tech. They're kind of interchangeable," he said, noting that Tech's high tempo adds an additional challenge for defenses. "The past few years, they'll have certain plays called and we'll have the perfect coverage called for it, and just their receivers and quarterbacks' ability to make changes and adjustments on the move are the main thing that's tough about Tech."

Preparing for 2010's game is enough work without looking back to 2008. Time has meant improvement for the Longhorns who made the last trip to Lubbock. They're hoping the work put in since that game pays off for this year's trip to the plains.

"The only thing I’m looking forward to is going out there and playing a big game. All that stuff is behind us," Brown said. "All I can do is play my game."

Back in Dallas from my visits to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. More coverage of both teams is on the way, but I'll be dropping by all 12 schools this spring, so hold your complaints, North fans. Only two North teams, Colorado and Missouri, are currently practicing.

• A former player at San Diego State is suing Kansas offensive coordinator Chuck Long, among others, for their handling of an alleged beating the player suffered in November 2008.
• Dez Bryant and Michael Crabtree aren't the only players Deion Sanders is mentoring in what he feels is his new calling, writes ESPN The Magazine's Seth Wickersham.
• Is now the time for a Big 12 television network? The Kansas City Star's Sam Mellinger explores the issue.
• BCS head Bill Hancock says Congress has "better things to do" than try to change the way the BCS operates, but will respond to a question-filled letter from two U.S. Senators.
• Tully Corcoran of the Topeka Capital-Journal runs down how the Jayhawks did in their pro day on Wednesday.
• Dave Matter of the Columbia Daily Tribune says the search for Missouri's next vocal leader is underway.
• The Tulsa World's Bill Haisten breaks down the Cowboys' pro day performances.