ESPN College Football

It wasn't the best of days for Nebraska linebacker Phillip Dillard at Thursday's Senior Bowl practice in Mobile, Ala.

The Scouts Inc. reporters at the scene for ESPN.com didn't paint the brightest of pictures for Dillard after watching him in the North team practice with helmets and shorts.

Here's their report:

"Dillard's lack of athletic ability really showed up on Day 4, since players were in shorts and helmets, Dillard's ability to be physical between the tackles was negated. He looked tight during drills and struggled to make sudden changes of direction, and he also lacked good closing burst and straight-line speed during drills. Dillard struggled to stay with running backs in coverage during 7-on-7 drills (he was consistently two or three steps behind), and he showed a lack of natural ball skills. In pads, Dillard can mix it up inside, but we saw on Day 4 that his athletic limitations likely will drop him into the later rounds."

And here are some nuggets from Thursday's practices for Big 12-related players.

• Baylor C J.D. Walton was getting adequate hand placement but has no real power base and struggled against mammoth Alabama DT Terrence Cody.
• Texas DT Lamarr Houston exhibited a strong upper body and extended his arms well, using that combination to keep Arkansas OL Mitch Petrus off his frame during the team period of practice.

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. -- Here are three keys for Texas if it hopes to pull its second upset at the Rose Bowl in four seasons and earn another Bowl Championship Series national title.

1. Producing yards on first down: The Longhorns have a better chance of achieving offensive success if they produce early in a series. Second-and-long and third-and-long will make the Crimson Tide’s defense much more difficult to crack. If Colt McCoy can make things happen on first down – particularly early in the game – it should boost the Longhorns' confidence and their chances at an unexpected victory.

2. Dominate special teams: The Longhorns had one of the nation’s most proficient special teams units all season. Alabama has struggled in kick coverages, ranking 116th nationally with an average of 25.7 yards per kick return, and have been blistered with two returns for touchdowns. With the likely return of D.J. Monroe to the kick return rotation, the Longhorns will add the No. 2 kick returner in the nation. Marquise Goodwin was strong while Monroe was suspended, and Jordan Shipley is a threat to score a touchdown every time he returns a punt. The Longhorns need to make several big plays in this phase of the game.

3. Protect Colt McCoy: The Longhorns have allowed 30 sacks this season, and nearly half came in tight victories over Oklahoma (four) and Nebraska (nine). If the Longhorns have hopes of claiming the national title, they must give McCoy enough time to pass and keep fearsome Alabama pass rushers like Marcell Dareus, Eryk Anders, Javier Arenas and Rolando McClain away from their senior quarterback. And it would be a good time for the center of Texas’ offense – guards Michael Huey and Charlie Tanner and center Chris Hall -- to keep massive defensive tackle Terrence Cody away from McCoy.

The Texas offense struggled through a miserable Big 12 championship game, when the Longhorns permitted nine sacks and were fortunate to escape with a 13-12 victory over Nebraska.

In the game, Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh waged a one-man assault against Colt McCoy, posting 12 tackles and a Big 12 championship game record 4.5 sacks against the beleaguered Texas front.

If the Longhorns struggled with the 6-foot-4, 305-pound Suh, many observers are predicting more bad moments in Thursday's Citi Bowl Championship Series title game against Alabama and mammoth 6-foot-5, 365-pound defensive tackle Terrence "Mount" Cody.

Cody isn't nearly as active or as fit as Suh. He often sits out third-down plays for more mobile defensive linemen. He's not as much of a producer as Suh, either. Cody has notched 25 tackles and no sacks this season. But he's caught the attention of Texas offensive linemen who struggled against Suh.

"He is what he is," Texas center Chris Hall said of the largest player the Longhorns will face this season.

There's actually less of him now than earlier in his career. Cody weighed 410 pounds while playing high-school football in Fort Meyers, Fla. College recruiters still tell the story of when Cody tackled current West Virginia running back Noel Devine in a high-school game, causing Devine to vomit when Cody landed on top of him.

Texas offensive coordinator Greg Davis sees the opportunity for similar catastrophic-producing moments Thursday night unless the Longhorns do a better job protecting McCoy from the middle of the Alabama defense.

And it's led Davis to see at least one similarity between Suh and Cody.

"They're like two monsters fighting in those old sci-fi movies," Davis told the Austin American-Statesman. "You see 'em covered up, then the offensive lineman gets discarded, and the monster eats your back up."

It won't be a good night Thursday for Hall and his mates along Texas' offensive line unless they account for Cody on every play.

The Big 12’s bowl games will start on Monday when Texas A&M and Georgia square off in the Advocare V100 Independence Bowl.

But as we get ready for those eight games, it's clear that several key players need to step up with big games in order to help their team's winning hopes.

Here's my list of 12 players or groups who need to have big games to bolster their team's bowl hopes.

• Texas quarterback Colt McCoy: His Heisman hopes sank after his nine-sack, three-interception performance in the Big 12 title game. But he has bigger aspirations if he can finish his career by leading his team to the national championship against Alabama in the Citi BCS National Championship Game.
• Oklahoma tackle Trent Williams: He could become the fourth starter at center for Oklahoma this season if Brian Lepak doesn't respond to treatment before the Sooners' Brut Sun Bowl game against Stanford. Williams has become one of college football's best offensive linemen at tackle and looked good in practice earlier this season at center. He'll face a big test against massive 315-pound Stanford nose tackle Ekom Udofi if he plays at center in the bowl game.
• Oklahoma State running back Kendall Hunter: After struggling with a nagging foot injury most of the season, Hunter has been diagnosed at "close to 100 percent" by Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy. The Cowboys had a strong running game and led the conference in rushing but still missed a true breakaway threat without Hunter in the lineup. His return will provide an infusion of speed that could be important for their hopes against Mississippi in the AT&T Cotton Bowl.
• Texas guards Michael Huey and Charlie Tanner and center Chris Hall: After their struggles against Ndamukong Suh in the Big 12 championship game, this trio will really be under the gun against Alabama All-American tackle Terrence Cody and All-American middle linebacker Rolando McClain. They must play better than they did against Nebraska if they have any hopes of bringing the national title home to Austin.
• Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson: After gamely trying to play against Oklahoma on a sprained ankle, Robinson says that he's healthy for Mississippi in the AT&T Cotton Bowl. Robinson's injury and a sputtering attack helped explain the Cowboys' difficulties in a 27-0 loss that ultimately cost them a shot at a BCS at-large berth. Robinson must run the offense better against a similarly strong Mississippi defensive front if the Cowboys are to pull off an upset victory.
• Texas Tech running back Baron Batch: Batch is one of the Red Raiders' most consistent receivers and top rushing threats. He'll be critically important in the Valero Alamo Bowl as he goes up against Michigan State All-Big Ten linebacker Greg Jones. Michigan State is being universally dismissed because of their suspension-wracked roster. All of that will make Jones and the defense eager to become involved early. Batch will be tested to keep Jones and the Spartans away from starting quarterback Taylor Potts.
• Missouri's defensive front: The grouping of defensive ends Aldon Smith and Brian Coulter, tackle Dominique Hamilton and nose tackle Jaron Baston played very well down the stretch as they allowed only 52.4 yards rushing per game during a strong 4-1 finish. But the Tigers' defensive front will be facing a huge challenge in stopping Navy's unique run-based offense in the Texas Bowl. The Midshipmen rank fourth nationally in rushing and are keyed by quarterback Ricky Dobbs, who averages 85.5 rushing yards per game and ranks second nationally with 24 rushing touchdowns. Keeping Navy in check will be a big challenge for the Tigers, particularly the defensive front.
• Iowa State cornerback Ter'ran Benton: The suspension of Kennard Banks will thrust Benton into the starting lineup for the Cyclones in the Insight Bowl against Minnesota. Benton is recovering after breaking his left leg Oct. 24 against Nebraska and missing the final four games of the season. Top Minnesota receiver Eric Decker is injured and will miss the bowl game, but Troy Stoudermire and Brandon Green will no doubt test Banks early and often in the Dec. 31 game.
• Iowa State running back Alexander Robinson: When Robinson is an effective ball-carrying threat, the Cyclones have a much better chance at winning. That's why it will be important to get him going early against a Minnesota defense that tends to wear down if it plays too much. Robinson's running will be an important part in trying to do just that.
• Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones: When he was on, Jones was one of the most effective passers in the Big 12, torching Tulsa for six touchdown passes, Texas A&M for five touchdown passes and Kansas State for four. But he also struggled with five interceptions against Nebraska. He'll need a big game against a similarly streaky Stanford team that ranked 95th in pass efficiency defense, 105th in pass defense and allowed 15 touchdowns in its last five games.
• Texas A&M safety Jordan Pugh: He'll be important in coordinating work in a secondary that features two sophomores and a freshman in the starting lineup. After A&M's struggles in a 49-39 loss to Texas in the regular-season finale, the group will be facing a similarly high-powered offensive threat from Georgia. Joe Cox and A.J. Green no doubt saw the Aggies' struggles against Texas and will be intent on duplicating them in the Independence Bowl. It will be important for Pugh to keep his young teammates focused -- particularly if they struggle early.
• Nebraska quarterback Zac Lee: His struggles running the Nebraska offense were apparent in the Cornhuskers' loss to Texas where they produced only five first downs and amassed only 105 yards in the game. The offense must perk up against Arizona in the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl and Lee will be most under the gun to make it happen. He showed flashes of a passing touch earlier in the season, but the Cornhuskers relied on a run-heavy game down the stretch to win the North Division. A couple of well-timed passes from Lee early in the game against the Wildcats could open up the Nebraska offense for the rest of the game.

AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas coach Mack Brown has taken note of the problems caused by Alabama's Terrence Cody and the veteran defensive line.

The concerns are even more pronounced after the Longhorns allowed nine sacks in their 13-12 Big 12 title game victory over Nebraska.

"Coaches are dealing with Alabama. We're not able to sleep," Brown said. "They've got three (Nebraska All-American defensive tackle Ndamukong) Suhs up front. That's the problem."

Brown joked Cody's domination will keep him from showing all of the game film to his team.

"Everywhere you look, they're knocking people down," Brown said. "We've been afraid to show it to our kids. We'll try to limit how much film we show them. Cut some plays out and go real slow with them. We're not going to feed them all of it at once."

AUSTIN, Texas -- The struggles of Texas' offensive line against Nebraska's dominant front is one of the biggest reasons why the Longhorns are an early underdog to the Crimson Tide.

The Longhorns offensive front struggled to keep Ndamukong Suh out of their backfield as the Cornhuskers racked up nine sacks, including 4.5 by the Cornhuskers' All-American defensive tackle.

Those problems likely don't bode well against Alabama, whose defensive front is keyed by massive 6-foot-5, 354-pound defensive tackle Terrence Cody.

"We're happy to be in this game," Texas senior tackle Adam Ulatoski said. "It's really exciting to be there. That's what we're focusing on."

Texas coach Mack Brown has thrown open competition at all positions heading into bowl practice, which he said could lead to some positional turnover for the bowl game. That was the main reason that he declined to release a depth chart, saying one would be ready after the remainder of the Longhorns' bowl practices in Austin.

"We didn't play as well on defense as we would have liked against Texas A&M and we didn't play as well offensively against Nebraska," Brown said. "We didn't finish as strongly as we would have liked. We're being hard on the guys and having tough physical drills. We're changing the depth chart daily and we'll present it when we got out there."

Despite the line's struggles against Nebraska, Longhorns players have put those struggles behind hem.

"We've moved on and we're working on this game," Ulatoski said. "We're worried about ourselves so we continue to get better. But we don't have to have a lot of motivation when you are playing for a national championship. Our goal is to go out there and play our best and win the game."

Texas center Chris Hall said he embraces the role of being an underdog against the No. 1 Crimson Tide.

"That's OK," Hall said. "That's not a problem. And if we were favored, it wouldn't be a problem either. It's two great football teams for sure. We'll have our hands full and it will be a fun one to play in."

But Texas defensive end Sergio Kindle said that placing any labels on his team would be overstated before the game began.

"It really doesn't matter," Kindle said. "Underdog, overdog, we just come to play."

Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh picked up back-to back-awards in a five-minute period as he claimed the Outland Trophy as the nation's best interior lineman and the Chuck Bednarik Award as the nation's best defensive player.

Suh continued a Nebraska tradition, becoming the eighth Cornhusker and first since Aaron Taylor in 1997 to earn the Outland Trophy, beating out Russell Okung of Oklahoma State and Idaho's Mike Iupati.

In the process, Suh has been a part of a stunning turnaround in the Nebraska defense.

"It's been a tough ride but got some strong guys back there. My class especially has been through some kind of hell," Suh said. "But having a great coaching staff and great defensive gurus like (Nebraska coach) Coach Bo (Pelini) and (Nebraska defensive coordinator) Carl Pelini. We learned the best from them. We want to continue to improve and get better as we do through the year."

Suh said he hopes to represent all of the offensive and defensive linemen as a finalist for the Heisman Trophy on Saturday night in New York City. He becomes the first interior lineman since Warren Sapp of Miami in 1994 to be nominated.

"That's a crazy feeling. I never expected it," Suh said. "After the Missouri game there was some Heisman talk. But I never expected to be there. I'm very proud of it. I talked to a couple of guys when I was at the Lombardi Award and hopefully want to represent those guys in the right way.

"All the guys up front -- the offensive linemen and defensive linemen -- I definitely want to be that person to represent them and happy to do it."

Earlier, Suh overcame Alabama defensive tackle Terrence Cody and Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes to become first Cornhusker and third Big 12 player to win the Bednarik Award.

No games tonight, but the annual Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards show will provide some entertainment.

It's always a lot of fun seeing college football's best dressed in their finest.

Here are a few stories from across the conference to get you ready.

• The Oklahoman’s Berry Tramel notes that despite some dubious clock management at the end of the Big 12 title game, Mack Brown is 21-4 in games settled by a field goal or less at Texas. Bob Stoops is 6-9.
• College Football News’ Pete Fiutak ranks Tommie Frazier and Vince Young as the two best skill-position players never to have won the Heisman and ranks the Heismans given to Eric Crouch and John David Crow among the five biggest Heisman mistakes.
• Fiutak also writes there’s no truth to the rumor that janitors at the Alabama practice facility were working overtime mopping up the drool as Terrence Cody watched Big 12 championship game tapes.
• Former Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer tells Lost Lettermen why he voted for Colt McCoy for the Heisman.
• But the Palm Springs Desert Sun’s John Mackovic explains that Ndamukong Suh is the nation’s best player. And the Omaha World-Herald’s Tom Shatel expects Suh to be lugging the Outland Trophy back to Nebraska after tonight.
• The Detroit Free Press’ Ben Schmitt and Shannon Shelton describe why Texas Tech will be facing a limited Michigan State team Jan. 2 in the Alamo Bowl.
• Several Buffalo players told Dugan Arnett of the Lawrence Journal-World that Turner Gill is carrying on with his usual routine and not talking about Kansas.
• Minnesota coach Tim Brewster tells the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s Kent Youngblood that he hasn’t been contacted by Kansas, isn’t a candidate for the Jayhawks’ open job and plans to remain with the Gophers “for a long time.”
• Colt McCoy is strongly in favor of a college football playoff, The Dallas Morning News’ Kate Hairopoulos reports.
• The cheapest tickets to the Jan. 7 national championship game between Texas and Alabama are going for $950 apiece on Stubhub.com, Michael Casagrande of the Columbus (Ga.) Ledger-Enquirer reports.

Texas (13-0) vs. Alabama (13-0)

Jan. 7, 8 p.m., (ABC)

The Longhorns nearly played their way out of the BCS title game Saturday night and were fortunate to beat Nebraska in the Big 12 title game.

That narrow victory should provide much emphasis over the next few weeks to the Longhorns, who earned their first BCS title game berth since 2005. Mack Brown’s program has become one of the most proficient in the postseason, winning five consecutive bowl games including three BCS bowl games during that streak.

The Longhorns offensive line struggled mightily against Nebraska’s defensive front, producing a season-low 18 rushing yards and allowing nine sacks against the Cornhuskers. It will be another challenge against Alabama’s defense studded with defensive All-Americans Rolando McClain and Javier Arenas and mammoth run-stuffer Terrence Cody. The game will also feature offensive starpower with Heisman contenders Colt McCoy of Texas and Mark Ingram of Alabama.

The Longhorns streaked to their first Big 12 title since 2005 thanks to an offense keyed by McCoy’s passing talents and a deep collection of receivers. It will be a challenge for them to make yardage against an Alabama defense that led the nation in pass efficiency defense and scoring defense and ranks second in rushing defense and total defense. In order to be successful in the title game, the Longhorns will have to show improvement over their struggling performance in the Big 12 title game.

Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh Thursday was named one of the five finalists for the 2009 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, announced by the Football Writers Association of America and the Charlotte Touchdown Club.

Other finalists named include TCU defensive end Jerry Hughes, Alabama defensive tackle Terrence Cody, Tennessee strong safety Eric Berry and Iowa linebacker Pat Angerer.

Suh leads the Cornhuskers with 31 solo and 25 assisted tackles. He has also produced 13 tackles for 47 yards in losses, including five sacks. He's also generated eight pass breakups, 19 quarterback hurries, forced a fumble and blocked three kicks. Nebraska ranks 10th nationally in total defense and 11th in rush defense.

The winner will be announced Dec. 7 during a banquet in Charlotte, N.C.

Additionally, the FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will present their third Bronko Nagurski Legends Award to former standout Missouri defensive back Roger Wehrli, a member of the 1968 FWAA All-America team.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

Two Big 12 defensive linemen are among the four finalists for the Lombardi Award, which will be presented by the Rotary Club of Houston.

Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and Oklahoma defensive tackle Gerald McCoy are among four finalists who will attend a banquet in Houston where the winner will be announced on Dec. 9. Other finalists include TCU defensive end Jerry Hughes and Alabama defensive tackle Terrence Cody.

The Big 12 has featured four winners in its history as a conference since 1996. Previous winners include Texas A&M linebacker Dat Nguyen in 1998, Nebraska defensive end Grant Wistrom in 1997, Oklahoma defensive tackle Tommie Harris in 2003 and Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo last season.

In the history of the award, more honorees have come from Big 12 schools than any other conference. Many of those winners came from schools in the old Big Eight and Southwest conferences.

It would appear that Suh is the early favorite for the award. But he will need a strong finish to stave off the others. Cody would appear to be Suh's biggest challenger, and the Alabama player should get much exposure as the Crimson Tide battle to claim the Southeastern Conference championship.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

Oklahoma State (Big 12 No. 3) vs. Alabama (SEC No. 3)

Oklahoma State's record against the SEC: 2-3
Alabama's record against the Big 12: 3-3
Previous series: Oklahoma State leads the series, 1-0
Most recent game: Oklahoma State won, 34-31, in the 2006 Independence Bowl

Distance between them (as the crow flies according to How Far Is It): 578 miles.
Where they should play: Little Rock, Ark. (283 miles from Stillwater, 295 miles from Tuscaloosa)

Who wins: Alabama.

Why: Nick Saban got his team to the brink of the SEC championship last season. And he clearly wants more this year.

Mike Gundy is hoping to take Oklahoma State into the uncharted area where the Cowboys are challenging for conference titles and BCS bowls. Alabama is just a little further along, and that experience would be the major difference if these two teams would play.

It would be an intriguing matchup of strength against strength as the Crimson Tide's nine defensive starters would be supremely challenged by OSU's vaunted offensive attack. But nose tackle Terrence Cody and linebackers Rolando McClain and Dont'a Hightower should be able to neutralize Kendall Hunter and the Cowboys' rushing game. Gundy also would be tested to get Dez Bryant and OSU's deep passing game involved against a talented athletic secondary keyed by starters Justin Woodall, Javier Arenas and Kareem Jackson.

While Alabama isn't nearly as talented offensively, neither is OSU on defense. Saban needs to find a replacement for Andre Smith up front, but James Carpenter and D.J. Fluker are poised to take over and would be strong against OSU's rebuilding defensive front. I'd look for new Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy to manage an efficient game, using Julio Jones just enough to boost the Tide to a tight victory.

The game also would be interesting to see the special-teams battle between Arenas and Bryant on punt returns. If either team could earn a substantial special-teams advantage, it might be enough to catapult them to the mythical victory. But I'm thinking that both teams would make big plays and likely even out, enabling Alabama to win.

Thursday: Oklahoma (Big 12 No. 2) vs. Mississippi (SEC No. 2).

The count: SEC, 6-4.

Note: Matchups are determined by the most recent rankings of Big 12 blogger Tim Griffin and SEC blogger Chris Low. All cumulative records go back to the 1996 season -- the first of competition in the Big 12.