ESPN College Football

The best offense in the Big 12 is a badge of honor. Chances are, if you're the best in the Big 12, you've got a case as the best in the nation. Anybody want to dispute Oklahoma State or Baylor as the nation's best offense last year? I don't want to hear about Houston.

So, what can we expect next year? Which offense do you think will take the title as Big 12's best? Here are my five candidates:

Oklahoma

The Sooners bring back plenty, namely their three-year starter and Heisman candidate at quarterback, Landry Jones. His top target will likely be Kenny Stills, but freshman Trey Metoyer leads a talented set of newcomers who could make an impact in the fall. Running back Dominique Whaley should be healthy next year, and Roy Finch and Brennan Clay give the Sooners great depth at the position.

West Virginia

The first of two newcomers on the list, Dana Holgorsen brings his high-speed, high-production offense back to the Big 12 with another Heisman candidate at quarterback, Geno Smith. He brings back the Big 12's two returning receiving leaders, Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey. Dustin Garrison will return from a knee injury he suffered in Orange Bowl practice, but Shawne Alston is handling the load in the spring.

TCU

TCU, like West Virginia, boasts two big-time targets for its big-time quarterback. Casey Pachall gets Josh Boyce and Skye Dawson back, and sophomore Brandon Carter's loaded with potential, too. And, oh yeah, TCU has three 700-yard rushers returning. Not bad.

Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State loses Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon, but nobody thought OSU could rebound from losing Zac Robinson and Dez Bryant. OSU has a few candidates to emerge as the new top target -- Josh Stewart, Isaiah Anderson and Tracy Moore, for starters -- and whoever wins the quarterback job will get the keys to an offense with a great offensive line and two running backs in Joseph Randle and Jeremy Smith that have a case as the league's best backfield.

Baylor

Baylor loses the league's Heisman winner (Robert Griffin III), top rusher (Terrance Ganaway) and top receiver (Kendall Wright), but the Bears may be back at it this fall. Nick Florence is an experienced backup who's ready to play. Terrance Williams has an NFL future, and Tevin Reese joins him as the No. 1 and No. 2 top receivers from the Big 12 in 2011 who return to the Big 12 in 2012. RG3 spread the love, and the Bears have plenty of talent in the backfield. Jarred Salubi, Lache Seastrunk and Glasco Martin will battle for carries.

So, who will be the best?

Oklahoma ended a disappointing year on a high note, winning its third consecutive bowl game to record back-to-back seasons of 10 or more victories. Iowa's bowl magic vanished despite a plucky effort as the mistake-prone Hawkeyes lost in the postseason for the first time since 2006.

Let's take a closer look at the Insight Bowl:

How the game was won: Oklahoma's pressuring defense flustered Iowa and forced enough mistakes to buy time for Landry Jones and the offense to get going. The Sooners led 14-0 at halftime despite mounting only one productive drive, but their defense never backed down or broke down. OU made Iowa work for everything, and the Hawkeyes repeatedly shot themselves in the foot with penalties, dropped passes, poor throws, questionable play calls and other mistakes. Junior quarterback James Vandenberg and the Iowa offense established a rhythm midway through the third quarter and closed to within 21-14 with 6:56 left, but Oklahoma's power game, led by quarterback Blake Bell, responded to seal the victory.

Player of the game: Sooners cornerback Jamell Fleming. The senior set the tone early with an interception return to the Iowa 10-yard line, setting up the first of three Bell-dozer touchdown runs. Fleming also contained Iowa's All-Big Ten wide receiver Marvin McNutt, who had just four catches for 46 yards and appeared frustrated for much of the game.

Stat of the game: Oklahoma ran eight offensive plays in the first quarter, and had 12 yards and no first downs. But the Sooners led Iowa 7-0.

Candid camera: There was a scary moment late as ESPN's Skycam fell onto the field and nearly struck McNutt on a bounce. It delayed the game several minutes with 2:22 left to clear the wiring.

Second guessing: It's seems odd to question a Kirk Ferentz decision to go for a fourth-and-short situation, but Iowa really could have benefited from points following a 13-play, 68-yard drive midway through the first quarter. Down 7-0, the Hawkeyes marched to the Oklahoma 6-yard line before failing on third-and-4. Rather than kick the short field goal, Ferentz went for the touchdown and Iowa lost 3 yards on fourth down. Iowa didn't score until early in the fourth quarter.

What it means for Oklahoma: The Sooners ended on a positive note and showed they could be motivated to win a bowl despite a disappointing regular season. After being shredded by rival Oklahoma State, the Oklahoma defense responded very well against Iowa, controlling play for the first two and a half quarters. For a unit that endured inconsistent play in October and November, this was a good ending. The victory sends the Sooners into a crucial offseason, which begins with Jones' decision on whether to stay for his senior season or enter the NFL draft. Oklahoma loses some key seniors but still should enter the 2012 season as one of the top contenders for the Big 12 title.

What it means for Iowa: Hawkeyes fans can't be disappointed with the effort, but a team that repeatedly made mistakes away from its home field couldn't survive them again Friday night in Tempe, Ariz. The defense played very hard for retiring coordinator Norm Parker, but Iowa needed a cleaner performance to upset Oklahoma. Iowa sees its wins total drop for the second consecutive season, and the team now enters a critical offseason. Ferentz soon will name a new defensive coordinator, and he needs to put a stop to the revolving door at running back. Iowa loses key parts but should be more experienced at several spots. However, Hawkeyes fans expect more from their program and its well-paid coach, and they should. The Big Ten is only getting harder, and Iowa should be mirroring what Wisconsin and Michigan State have done rather than falling back into the pack. Not much has gone right for this program since the 2010 Orange Bowl victory.

Brandon Weeden hadn't watched the TV broadcast of his finest moment since it happened: A thorough, 44-10 undressing of rival Oklahoma, which had tormented Oklahoma State for eight consecutive years -- with the previous two Sooners victories even coming as underdogs.

But nearly three weeks after an epic evening in Stillwater, the Cowboys quarterback sat down to take it all back in. His assessment?

"Satisfying as hell," he said.

Weeden and his teammates, though, are far from satisfied.

"We’ve accomplished things no one’s ever done here," Weeden said of his fellow seniors. "We’ve won 10, won 11, won a conference championship. We've done a lot of things, and one thing we still haven’t done is win 12 and win a BCS bowl game, so there’s still a lot of feats that we’d like to go out on and go out on a high."

Some like to believe that the team that wants to play in its bowl game more wins its bowl game. Oklahoma State's beatdown of Oklahoma opened up the possibility that the Cowboys could jump SEC power Alabama and play LSU, which beat Alabama in its home stadium back in November, for the national title.

Voters didn't oblige the Cowboys, who settled for a Jan. 2 date against Andrew Luck and Stanford in the Fiesta Bowl.

There was disappointment, but it hasn't outweighed the elation from a second consecutive historic season with Weeden at the helm.

The Cowboys are a bit like the kid who asked for a Ferrari for Christmas and found a brand-new Corvette in the driveway.

"Guys were still extremely excited about the opportunity we had," Weeden said. "We’ve never played in the national championship, much less a BCS game, so I think the opportunity just to play in one of the four or five biggest bowl games there is a huge deal and I think guys are extremely excited about it."

Not to mention a great matchup and a team that demands attention, unlike an ugly beatdown Oklahoma delivered against eight-win Big East champion Connecticut in last season's Fiesta.

Oklahoma State will line up against fellow one-loss team Stanford, the nation's No. 4 team and one boasting what will almost certainly be the No. 1 pick in next April's draft, Cardinal quarterback Luck.

"The thrill of winning the Big 12 championship and the thrill of beating Oklahoma, all that went down on the third [of December], there’s nothing to be disappointed about," Weeden said. "We’re going to a heck of a bowl and as much as we wanted to play in the national championship game, we realize this is a sweet bowl as well."

The experienced, senior-laden Cowboys understand that, and those same seniors who have lifted Oklahoma State to new heights know what else is at stake in the Arizona desert.

"You always want to win the last one. That’s the most important. I think there’s still a lot of opportunity ahead for us," Weeden said. "We realize where we’re at, we realize there’s some bowl games that are a lot of fun, but they don’t quite mean as much as what we’re about to play in, we realize it. ... A lot of people are going to be watching. It’s going to be a lot of fun."

Iowa Hawkeyes (7-5) vs. Oklahoma Sooners (9-3)

Dec. 30, 1o p.m. ET (ESPN)

Iowa take by Big Ten blogger Adam Rittenberg: Iowa football hasn’t had much go its way in the past 11 months aside from a dramatic victory against Missouri in the 2010 Insight Bowl. The Hawkeyes will return to Tempe, Ariz., later this month looking for another boost after an up-and-down 2011 campaign.

Kirk Ferentz’s teams typically save their best for the postseason, as Iowa is 6-3 in bowls during his tenure as coach, including victories in each of the past three years (2010 Insight, 2010 Orange, 2009 Outback). But extending the win streak will be tough against Oklahoma, the preseason No. 1 team. Both teams struggled down the stretch, each dropping two of the final three games.

Iowa is led by its big three on offense: receiver Marvin McNutt, running back Marcus Coker and quarterback James Vandenberg. Coker burst on the scene as a freshman at the 2010 Insight Bowl, setting an Iowa bowl record with 219 rushing yards. McNutt also has been fabulous, while Vandenberg struggled away from Kinnick Stadium but can put up big numbers.

The Hawkeyes' defense was in rebuilding mode for most of the season, as the NFL losses along the defensive line and at safety stung. Oklahoma isn’t nearly as dangerous on offense without star receiver Ryan Broyles, who is out for the season with a knee injury. But Iowa can’t let Landry Jones settle into a rhythm and must pressure the Sooners junior quarterback.

Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops faces his alma mater in Iowa, which goes up against the Sooners for just the second time after dropping a 1979 game in Norman.

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Oklahoma State take from Big 12 blogger David Ubben: The "Chase For Eight" quickly went awry for the Sooners, who lost a 41-38 game at home to five-win Texas Tech. The Red Raiders didn't win again the rest of the season. The Sooners' defense fell to powerful offenses late in the season, too. Baylor bested the Sooners on a last-second touchdown from Robert Griffin III, and Oklahoma State receivers ran free in a Cowboys blowout.

Injuries played a huge role. That's undeniable, but this season, with the expectations that came with it, is nothing but a disappointment. The Sooners suffered two losses after losing Broyles and Dominique Whaley. Blake Bell's Tebow-esque "BellDozer" formation was pretty effective late in the season, but Oklahoma is bested only by Texas A&M as the Big 12's most disappointing team.

Southern Miss coach Larry Fedora might be a Big 12 coach a month from now, but he's already done the league a big favor by knocking off Houston in the Conference USA title game.

Southern Miss beat the Cougars 49-28 in Houston, knocking the Cougars out of any contention to play in a BCS bowl. Houston entered Saturday No. 6 in the BCS standings and would have secured a BCS bowl berth with a win.

Could that berth be filled by Kansas State or the loser of Bedlam, which kicks off in about four hours?

There's definitely a chance. Two-loss Kansas State leads, 23-20, in the fourth quarter and still needs to take care of business against Iowa State, which is holding its own in Manhattan, Kan.

The margin of victory between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State certainly matters, and a two-loss Oklahoma State team would probably be more likely to qualify than a three-loss Oklahoma team.

There's no guarantees, and the bowl picture is definitely cloudy, but there's one spot freed up on college football's biggest stage.

As what many consider the game's second-best conference, the Big 12 ought to have an opportunity to fill it.

AMES, Iowa -- So what happens now?

We've spent the past few weeks wondering what would happen to the BCS national championship race if No. 2 Oklahoma State lost to No. 5 Oklahoma in the Dec. 3 Bedlam game in Stillwater, Okla.

We've pondered what would happen if No. 1 LSU lost to No. 6 Arkansas in Baton Rouge, La., on the day after Thanksgiving, or maybe even against No. 14 Georgia a week later in the SEC championship game.

If the Cowboys lost to the Sooners, which they'd done in each of the past eight seasons, would No. 3 Alabama play LSU again in the Jan. 9 Allstate BCS National Championship Game?

If not Alabama, then what about No. 4 Oregon? The Ducks lost to the Tigers 40-27 in their Sept. 3 season opener and haven't lost since.

Or, even better, what would happen if LSU and Oklahoma State both lost?

Well, let the debate begin.

To read Mark Schlabach's full column, click here.

SoonerNation breaks down Oklahoma's season thus far:

Jake Trotter writes: The Sooners still a have realistic chance of sliding into the No. 2 spot in the BCS standings. Here’s how.

Trotter writes: The Fiesta Bowl has its eyes on pairing Oklahoma with Nebraska if the Cornhuskers are eligible for a BCS bowl at-large berth, SoonerNation has learned.

Bob Przybylo : Looking back at the Week 11 performances from Oklahoma’s top commits

First Glance: Breaking down Baylor

SoonerNation has more on Oklahoma recruits and Saturday's game against Texas Tech.

Jake Trotter writes : Will Roy Finch get more touches in the second half of the season?

Bob Przybylo writes : Junior wide receiver prospect Jake Oliver has a brother that attends OU and he’s been doing some recruiting for the Sooners.

Brandon Chatmon writes : Matchups to Watch: Texas Tech at Oklahoma

SoonerNation Picks : Texas Tech at Oklahoma

In the heat of the moment, Kenny Stills paid tribute to former teammate Austin Box, who passed away suddenly in May from an accidental overdose. "I felt like that was for him," Stills said of his touchdown catch that clinched the Sooners' 23-13 win over the Seminoles. "As much as people want to say we are focused on the game, Austin is always on our minds." Read more from Brandon Chatman on SoonerNation.

Jake Trotter's Mailbag : How much will Brandon Williams play?

SoonerNation Picks : Oklahoma-Texas

Bob Przybylo writes: Wylie (Texas) East junior receivers Marcell Ateman and Quan Jones talk about their season and recruitment.

Jake Trotter writes: Five storylines to watch for OU-Texas

Ted Emrich, Carter Strickland, and William Wilkerson get you set for the 106th edition of Texas-Oklahoma. Can the Longhorns pull the upset with a roster full of players who have never experienced the Red River Rivalry?

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Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops comments on the Sooners' 4-0 start, looks ahead to the 106th annual Red River Shootout against the Texas Longhorns and more.

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Landry Locker of ESPN Dallas is joined by Jake Trotter of SoonerNation and Carter Strickland of HornsNation to preview the storylines of this weekend's Red River Shootout, including: Texas' quarterback rotation, the challenge ahead of Texas first-year defensive coordinator Manny Diaz and how much of a factor Oklahoma's significant advantage in experience will come into play.

Big 12 Blogger David Ubben makes his Oklahoma-Texas prediction in the video above.

Also, Ivan Maisel writes: The Red River Rivalry will be played for the 106th time on Saturday. For Texas and Oklahoma, it's an enduring marriage.

SoonerNation looks back at a memorable game and takes a close look at Norman, Okla.

Jake Trotter writes: Bob Stoops, Brent Venables, Derrick Strait and Roy Williams talk about Williams’ famous “Superman” play that won the 2001 OU-Texas game.

Brandon Chatmon writes: Two Sooners from California talk about the allure of playing football in Norman, Okla.

Bob Przybylo : Desoto running back Dontre Wilson, who will be attending the Red River Rivalry as a guest of Texas, talks about his interest in Oklahoma.

SoonerNation examines lineman Gabe Ikard's position move, and some notes on Oklahoma's recruiting needs.

Brandon Chatmon writes: Oklahoma Sooners lineman Gabe Ikard is ready to move to his 'natural position' in place of injured center Ben Habern.

Chatmon writes : Breaking down the Oklahoma Sooners recruiting needs for the class fo 2013.

Bob Przybylo writes : Breaking down the top recruits in the state of Oklahoma for the class of 2013.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- It was a much better game than it was a year ago because Florida State is a much better team. There's no question the Seminoles closed the gap between Florida State and the No. 1 program in the country, just not enough to beat the Sooners. Here's a quick recap of Saturday night's 23-13 loss:

How the game was won: In the end, it was a veteran quarterback and one of the nation's top receivers against a rookie backup quarterback, and the veterans got the last word. Landry Jones' 37-yard touchdown pass to Kenny Stills went over the head of Greg Reid for a 20-13 lead with seven minutes remaining. Oklahoma's defense was stifling for most of the game, and the Seminoles struggled to generate any offense. Their backup quarterback, Clint Trickett, gave them legitimate hope despite a shoulder injury to EJ Manuel. But the offense couldn't answer Jones' final touchdown pass, and Trickett was intercepted with about 5:30 left to play. It was one of three turnovers for Florida State that was costly.

Turning point: With the score tied at 13 in the fourth quarter, on third-and-12, Jones found Ryan Broyles for a 22-yard completion and the first down. Jones found receiver Stills on the next play for a 37-yard touchdown that put the Sooners ahead for good.

Player of the game: Oklahoma receiver Stills. He had a big game, finishing with seven catches for 125 yards and a touchdown. It seemed like every pass he caught was for a first down, and his touchdown reception put the Sooners up 20-13.

Unsung hero of the game: Trickett. Florida State's backup quarterback hadn't thrown a pass in a collegiate game until this season. Against the No. 1 team in the nation, he put the Seminoles in position to win. Heading into this game, Trickett had a career stat line that included 7-of-8 passes for 176 yards and three touchdowns. Against Oklahoma, he led the Noles on two scoring drives, one a field goal and another an impressive touchdown pass. He was poised and the offense didn't miss a beat without Manuel. On third-and-28 with just under 10 minutes remaining in the game, Trickett threw a 56-yard touchdown pass to Rashad Greene to tie the game at 13. The Seminoles had struggled all night to generate some offense, and the rookie quarterback came up with the biggest offensive play of the game.

What it means: Oklahoma can finally claim an important road win with Jones at quarterback, and Florida State and the ACC will have to wait until next year for more national title talk. The Sooners entered this game with a 15-10 record in true road games since 2005 and Jones entered this game with a 3-5 road record. This was one they needed to start to reverse that trend.

Heather Dinich and Pat Forde break down Saturday’s showdown between Oklahoma and Florida State from Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee.