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Guess what, suddenly you're 60 years old, wandering toothless and alone in a post-apocalyptic wasteland!

• A year ago, the Big 12 was being left for dead. Now, it holds in its hands the fates of the Big East and ACC, writes Matt Hayes of Sporting News.
• Yahoo! Sports' Pat Forde has a series of humorous realignment emails from administration in this piece of historical fiction.
• Texas' newest quarterback commit wants to be the next Vince Young.
• As realignment spins, new Kansas coach Charlie Weis doesn't have to worry about uncertainty, writes Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star.
• Tommy Tuberville's business associate has been indicted, but Tuberville was not listed on the indictment.
• Skip Holtz's son -- and, thus, Lou Holtz's grandson -- is walking on with the Texas Longhorns, reports Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times.
• Charlie Weis is changing things at KU, but he doesn't like the term "change of culture," writes Kevin Haskin of the Topeka Capital-Journal.
• Just when you thought the State Fair of Texas couldn't get any more delicious ...

We're looking at coaches you love to hate this week, and today, it's all about the guys who left programs with a bad taste in its mouth.

Mike Leach and Mark Mangino certainly had contentious exits from Texas Tech and Kansas, but they're hardly hated by the schools they left behind. Dennis Franchione and Ron Prince simply didn't win enough and left programs frustrated, but far from angry.

In the Big 12, there's really only one coach that fits the bill.

Are you "All In" on making Gene Chizik the lone man on the list?

Chizik earned a reputation as one of the nation's best defensive coaches as the coordinator at Auburn first, and then moved to Texas under Mack Brown.

That earned him enough accolades for Iowa State to take notice, and the Cyclones hired him in November 2006 to take over for the legendary Dan McCarney. McCarney went to five bowl games in his final seven seasons, including a top 25 finish in 2000. That's unheard of in Ames.

Chizik? Well, it didn't go well.

He won three games in his first season, including two conference games and a win over Iowa, and improved the defense. The next season, though?

Nightmare. Iowa State began the year 2-0 and proceeded to lost its final 10 games, leaving Chizik with a 5-19 record in two seasons. Chizik fired two assistants and demoted his offensive and defensive coordinators, and looked like he was digging in his heels for the long haul.

Nope.

Auburn fired Tommy Tuberville (now at Texas Tech) after the 2007 season and gave Chizik a call. He took it, and eventually took the job of replacing his former boss at his former stop in Alabama. Auburn caught lots of flack for hiring a coach with a 5-19 career record, but it has paid off.

Chizik made a struggling Iowa State program flounder even more, and making matters even more infuriating, Chizik won a national title at Auburn in 2010.

That seemed pretty hard to believe for the Cyclones, but it's not all bad at Iowa State. They've found a match made in heaven with Iowa native Paul Rhoads, another former defensive coordinator at Auburn. He's 18-20 in three seasons and put Iowa State in a bowl twice, winning once. That's a whole lot more than Chizik ever accomplished, and Rhoads signed a mammoth contract extension for 10 more years in December.

Thanks for coming to this week's chat. Here's the full transcript.

Got more to say? Here's where you can reach me.

Justin (Stillwater, OK): Any Big 12 coaches on the hot seat heading into next season? What about any assistant coaches who are due a head coaching gig?

David Ubben: No, not really. Texas Tech's Tommy Tuberville is the closest thing, but Tech should be better, and he's not legitimately on the hot seat yet. As for assistants, both of Texas' coordinators could have some opportunities at season's end. Those are the two most likely guys to move up in the near future. Josh Heupel at OU could get some attention, too.

Nemo Cowbell (Pasture, TX): The chatter about FSU coming to the Big 12 certain has picked up a lot of momentum lately, do you think there is any merit to it or is it a bunch of smoke?

David Ubben: No official talks yet, but it's pretty clear there's at least some interest on both sides. Only a matter of time before they at least discuss the possibility. Absolutely idiotic for both not to at some point. Then see where it goes.

Ken (Elkhorn, NE): David, it has been a long time since I have asked you a question, due to Nebraska heading off to the Big Ten. I definitely miss Nebraska being included in the blog. Anyway, why does the best quarterback in the history of the Big 12 (Tommie Frazier, for those unfortunate enough not to know who I'm talking about) keep getting snubbed by the HOF? What gives?

David Ubben: No idea. It's stupid. Frazier was a stud, and with apologies to one Timothy Tebow, maybe the best option quarterback ever.

TCU Fan (Lubbock, TX): Why do you think FSU is responding so publicly to this potential conference realigment, instead of playing it close to the vest the way we have seen A&M, Mizzou, TCU, the SEC, and the BE do it?It is strange to see so many high level admins at FSU (Board of Regent, President, Head Coach) carry on this public debate about a rumor that started on a internet message board.

David Ubben: Good points, TCU fan. This saga's played out quite a bit differently than the others. Mizzou had some folks comment, but nothing to this scale, especially this early in the process. It may speak to the illegitimacy of the whole deal.

Poke (Columbia): How much do the OU suspensions hurt them. Given OU's success post-Broyles, that has to hurt pretty badly. I think the top of the league just got more even, no?

David Ubben: It's not a death blow, but yeah, it evens things up a lot. The new receivers heading to Norman have a lot of pressure now. Bob Stoops has to be pretty frustrated. Jaz Reynolds can't seem to stay out of trouble.

Ike (PA): If FSU goes to Big 12, how do you rate the expansion scorecard:WVU, FSU, TCU vs. Neb, Colorado, A&M, Mizzou. Pretty tight

David Ubben: On the field, it's pretty close, Ike. I'd probably give the edge to the Big 12. FSU would help with the tradition and large fan base area, but the Big 12 still probably lost out on that one. A&M and Nebraska have enormous followings.

Max (Jacksonville, Fl): Im an FSU guy that is frustrated with the ACC. Started with the lame conference schedule and biased (in my opinion) officiating. So now Im excited with the possibility of joining the Big 12. I hear Texas controls the shots in the Big12.....my question: Take money from the equation, is it any better in the Big12?

David Ubben: First off, chill with the officiating. Spoiler alert: Every conference thinks their officiating is the worst. And I don't know a ton about the ACC dynamics, but if you feel the ACC is too NC-centric, I doubt you'd find the Big 12 any less Texas-centric.

Mean Green (Denton): With all the controversies this off season and all the suspensions taking place, do you think TCU acted too quickly in immediately expelling the four players involved in the scandal from the team? Should they have followed the path as everyone else and indefinitely suspend them and give em shot later in the fall?

David Ubben: No. Everyone else doesn't matter. TCU had players on its team with lots of evidence supporting the notion that they were drug dealers. That can't be tolerated or given a second chance. Good bye. TCU did what it had to do.

Jesse (Americaaa!) [via mobile]: Is Bill Sny the Football Guy the best coach in Big12 history, if not the NCAA? Some will argue titles make the coach, but if he had half the talent these other perrenial powers had... well, you catch my drift. Your thoughts?

David Ubben: That case is to be made. If you put any of the coaches some consider to be better than Snyder in his situation at K-State, how many of them could do what he did? Any of them? One of them?

Steven (H ): Been saying it all along, Tuberville needed two years. heck, Leach needed two years also before he got relevant w/TTU. This is Tub's breakout season, no doubt in my mind, and when it happens, all hail will break loose to you Mr Ub's

David Ubben: Probably, but Texas Tech fans already let loose a whole bunch on me when I picked them to finish sixth in the Big 12 South in 2010. Then they finished fifth. Whoops.

Josh (San Antonio): Best coach in the history of the Big 12?

David Ubben: Gotta be Stoops or Snyder. Stoops revived a floundering national power and has sustained it for more than a decade. Snyder did the impossible. Two different tasks. Two amazing feats.

Earlier this week, the Sporting News ranked the Big 12 coaches from top to bottom, but later on, it released its rankings of the nation's coaches from top to bottom.

How'd the Big 12 stack up?

Better than the rest of the competition.

Alabama's Nick Saban topped the list -- argue with that at your own risk and UMass' Charley Molnar brought up the bottom.

Where do the Big 12 boys rank?

• No. 5: Bob Stoops, Oklahoma
• No. 7: Gary Patterson, TCU
• No. 10: Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State
• No. 11: Bill Snyder, Kansas State
• No. 16: Mack Brown, Texas
• No. 40: Charlie Weis, Kansas
• No. 41: Art Briles, Baylor
• No. 44: Dana Holgorsen, West Virginia
• No. 48: Paul Rhoads, Iowa State
• No. 50: Tommy Tuberville, Texas Tech

That's everybody well above the top half of the line.

From the Sporting News:

• The Big 12 coaches have by far the best average ranking: 27.2, which crushes the second-best SEC’s average ranking of 43.3. Next in line: the Pac-12 (43.8), ACC (45.6) and Big Ten (46.8).
• In our top 25 are five coaches apiece from the SEC and Big 12, four apiece from the Big Ten and Pac-12, and two apiece from the ACC and Mountain West.

What do you think?

For me, Stoops is where he needs to be. I might bump Patterson down a few spots, and Snyder up a few, just outside the top five. If someone can explain to me exactly how Weis should be above Briles, I'm all ears.

Briles has built a legitimate program in a place where it looked impossible. Weis' history as a head coach is taking a place where it should be impossible to lose, and eventually declining it until he was fired. Briles should be near the top 25.

I'd definitely move Paul Rhoads up about 10 spots, too. You could probably move Mack Brown down a couple spots, based on the hiccup in Texas' run lately. It's still to early to get a great feel for where Holgorsen should be.

What would you change?

I haven't been judged by this many people since I forgot my canvas bags at Whole Foods.

• Mike Gundy doesn't sound like he'll make an exception to his program's rule and allow true freshman quarterback Wes Lunt to speak with the media.
• Texas coach Mack Brown says he took his players' recent arrests seriously, and took "very stiff action," reports Cedric Golden of the Austin American-Statesman.
• Florida State and the Big 12 have not discussed the Seminoles' possible future membership, reports Chuck Carlton of the Dallas Morning News. Florida State, meanwhile, says it's "committed to the ACC."
• A stipend from the NCAA could have prevented this week's player arrests at West Virginia, writes Bob Hertzel of the Times West Virginian.
• Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville says he's hopeful Eric Stephens will be running full speed by June, and gives an update on discipline for TE Jace Amaro and RB Kenny Williams.
• Louisville seems like it wants out of the Big East. Is there room in the Big 12?
• Kansas coach Charlie Weis opened up about his player dismissals at a recent stop in Salina, Kansas.
• Will Baylor replace Texas A&M as the biggest thorn in Texas' side?
• K-State fans: Your opening-week opponent kicked its starting QB off the team.
• Could a Big 12 coach take the job at Arkansas? Stewart Mandel of SI.com addresses the possibility.
• Kansas fan in Missouri? You could soon get a Jayhawk on your license plate.

2011 overall record: 5-7
2011 conference record: 2-7
Returning starters: Offense (9), Defense (10), P/K (1)

Top returners: QB Seth Doege, S Cody Davis, WR Alex Torres, S D.J. Johnson, S Terrance Bullitt, RB Eric Stephens, WR Eric Ward, WR Darrin Moore

Key losses: DE Scott Smith, TE Adam James, DB Brett Dewhurst

2011 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Eric Stephens* (565 yards)
Passing: Seth Doege* (4,004 yards)
Receiving: Eric Ward* (800 yards)
Tackles: Cody Davis* (93)
Sacks: Scott Smith (5.5)
Interceptions: D.J. Johnson* (2)

Three spring answers

1. An answer in the middle: When you recruit junior college talent, you never quite know what you're going to get. That was a good thing for Texas Tech this spring, which found a starting middle linebacker in Will Smith. He's already the team's best at the position, according to coach Tommy Tuberville. They found him while recruiting running back SaDale Foster in California, but Tech found a hidden gem that made a huge impact.

2. Depth developing at running back: Texas Tech was thin at running back during the spring with DeAndre Washington and Eric Stephens sidelined by knee injuries. Stephens' return in 2012 isn't guaranteed, but the spring gave Tech a nice chance to see what it had at running back. Newcomer SaDale Foster played well, as did Kenny Williams. The position's in good shape, even though Ronnie Daniels transferred.

3. Familiar unfamiliarity on defense: Art Kaufman arrived in Lubbock this spring to install his 4-3 defense, which on its own wouldn't be all that notable. What makes it notable? He's the fourth defensive coordinator in four years at Texas Tech. The biggest task in front of him is building depth and developing his linebackers, who were among the Big 12's worst in 2011, ranking dead last nationally in rush defense.

Three fall questions

1. Will Eric Stephens be back in time? Stephens' dislocated knee against Texas A&M looked ugly, but the impact was even bigger than anyone could have imagined. Stephens had tons of experience, and was not only the team's best runner, but was the best pass-blocking back (a huge deal in Tech's offense) and pass-catching back. Tech is hopeful he'll be back by the beginning of the season, but he'll be limited in fall camp.

2. Who's the top receiver? Is Eric Ward the most talented receiver on the team? I'd vote more for Alex Torres and Darrin Moore. Still, you can't deny Ward's production in Torres' and Moore's absence with injuries in 2011. They'll be in a derby this fall to catch passes from Doege, and look out for guys like Tyson Williams and Marcus Kennard, too. Hyped freshmen Dominique Wheeler and Reginald Davis are on the way, too.

3. Can Texas Tech stay healthy? Nothing's hurt Tech more the past two seasons than injury. They've been everywhere on defense, and last year, the team's top two receivers and running backs both suffered big injuries. There hasn't been a clear reason Tech seems to have been snake bitten so badly, but the injuries exposed the lack of depth in 2011. Reasons aside, Tech has to stay healthy to get back into a bowl after ending a nearly two-decade streak of winning seasons with the 5-7 campaign in 2011.

Time to continue our series breaking down each team's best and worst positions entering the 2012 season. Texas Tech is up next.

More spring superlatives:

• Baylor
• Iowa State
• Kansas
• Kansas State
• Oklahoma
• Oklahoma State
• Texas
• TCU

Strongest position: Quarterback

Seth Doege had a really strong start last year, pacing himself alongside the Big 12's best quarterbacks and setting the NCAA single-game record for completion percentage against New Mexico. Offensively, Doege can make it all run. Last year, it all just crumbled around him. His top two running backs got hurt. His best receivers couldn't stay healthy and receiver Alex Torres suffered a major knee injury late in the year.

When it was all over, Doege was third in the Big 12 in passing yards per game and topped 4,000 yards. Not bad, even though Tech stumbled to a 5-7 season. OC Neal Brown was really happy with what Doege did, the Red Raiders just had to rely on him too much. Putting up 28 touchdown passes to 10 interceptions is nothing to shrug off.

Weakest position: Linebacker

The good news? Tech knows who its best linebacker is. The bad news? He's a lightly recruited juco transfer named Will Smith who came in and made a huge impact. The Red Raiders found a good one in Smith, who could start for a lot of teams, but he illustrates the point that Tech had the league's worst linebacking unit in 2011.

New coordinator Art Kaufman is charged with revitalizing the unit. Coach Tommy Tuberville is moving back to the 4-3, where he's more comfortable, and moving away from the 4-2-5. We'll see if Daniel Cobb can help Smith, who won the middle linebacker job in the spring, make the defense look a lot better in 2012.

Now, that's what I call a SuperMoon.

• Bob Bowlsby's the Big 12's new man, and he talks a big game, but will he be Texas' man, too? Kirk Bohls of the Austin American-Statesman examines the issue. Bowlsby earned plenty of praise after his introductory news conference on Friday. If you want the Big 12 to stabilize, you better hope it's deserved praise, writes Kevin Haskin of the Topeka Capital-Journal.
• The Big 12 just got a new commissioner, but the Big East sounds like it's now on the market for a new head man.
• Matt Hayes of Sporting News ranks the Big 12 coaches from top to bottom. I'm sure you'll all agree.
• New Oklahoma State quarterback Wes Lunt is trying to keep life as normal as possible. Gina Mizell of The Oklahoman explains how.
• NFL.com takes you behind the scenes of Justin Blackmon's draft night. Cool stuff here.
• Cole Manbeck of the Manhattan Mercury introduces you to the newest QB at K-State who impressed at the spring game: Tay Bender.
• A judge refused to dismiss a civil suit against Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville.
• Matt Tait of the Lawrence Journal-World offers an update on the tight competition at receiver at Kansas. He also catches up with ex-Jayhawk tight end Tim Biere, who maneuvered his way through the world of undrafted free agency into a contract with the hometown Chiefs.
• Receiver Michael Harrison's future at OSU (or not) looks like it's getting even cloudier.
• Oklahoma offensive lineman Donald Stephenson is living a dream after being drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs.
• This story is insane.
• Loud noises!
• Texas Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt offers his thoughts on the new Big 12 commissioner.
• Could a new stadium revitalize tourism in Waco?

Next Monday, start the countdown.

Big 12 commissioner Chuck Neinas will have two months left as the boss of a league that's seen plenty of tumultuous times over the past two years.

"We were kind of saved by the bell by Chuck Neinas. He kept it going in terms of getting us on the right track and getting everybody involved, all the teams in the conference," Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville said during the Big 12 coaches teleconference this week. "We had lost two teams each of the last two years, which has been devastating to this league, but with Chuck’s leadership, it’s come on pretty good."

TCU and West Virginia replaced Texas A&M and Missouri to bring the Big 12 back to 10 members, but now it's Neinas who must be replaced.

He agreed to stay on in an interim role through June 30, but his replacement could be named before then. What do the league's coaches want to see?

"The answer is very obvious. You’d like to have a good person. You’d like to have a very honest, forthright person, with a balance in how he operates the conference itself, with the idea that everybody is treated equally and what he would do would be in the very, very best interest of the 10-12 teams that would make up the conference itself," Kansas State coach Bill Snyder said. "Somebody that’s highly respected across the country and well-known across the country as well, has a reputation that would be very, very prominent as it relates to conference commissioners across the country."

For Tuberville, the new guy needs experience.

"Hopefully we get a strong-personality guy that can work with everybody, put their touch on it, somebody with experience, somebody that has maybe been a commissioner or a deputy commissioner for one of the other leagues," Tuberville said. "I think experience is going to be key for us, somebody that’s been there, done that, seen all the problems. It’s no different than coaching a football team in that experience usually pays off for you."

He added: "We’ve obviously had some setbacks the past few years, if we can get somebody who understands our league, maybe somebody from another conference looking from the outside in, understanding what’s going on and bringing their philosophy in would really help us."

For Texas coach Mack Brown, it's simple: He wants someone who can maintain stability, and unity is the first way to help establish it.

"We’ve been through so much turmoil over the past two years in the Big 12. I think what I would like to see is stability. I’d like to see someone come with confidence and new ideas and making sure that it sounds like our league is really stable at 10. I know some are looking at the possibility of 12," he said. "I’d like to see somebody who can really lead the group and get everybody on the same page, because it’s a wonderful conference. I love the additions that we’ve made, and I think it can be again, one of the top conferences in the country because the teams are all winning. But you gotta have a boss."

Thanks for all the mail this week. Here's where you can reach me.

On to your mail ...

Aaron in Plain City, Ohio, writes: In my mind I see Oklahoma as the clear favorite for the Big 12. But is there really a clear second place team in the Big 12? For that matter, is there really a favorite? I was just curious about your thoughts for the Big 12 this season. Thanks

David Ubben: I definitely think Oklahoma's the clear favorite, but by "clear" I only mean it's clear Oklahoma's the best team to start the season. Last year, it looked like the gap between the Sooners and A&M/Oklahoma State was pretty wide. Injuries and OSU being better than most everyone thought (and I thought they were a 10-win team) changed that up.

OU's the favorite, but not by much. Nobody in the Big 12 is going undefeated next year, but there's definitely no clear second-place team.

West Virginia is probably the second-best team on paper, but will they handle the transition? There are many variables to the transition with no way to figure out the values until the season starts in the fall. The same is true for the Horned Frogs, who I think will have a tougher time with the transition in the immediate future, and also aren't quite as good as WVU on paper. Those defensive losses, mostly Tanner Brock and Devin Johnson, are huge. You need lots of depth and lots of playmakers on defense to win in the Big 12.

As for Kansas State? You saw it last year. They get it done, but they don't do it in impressive fashion. I've mentioned it a couple times, but will K-State get better and still win games when they're close? Part of me says no.

The other half says this is a Bill Snyder-coached team we're talking about and one that returns just about everybody from last year's 10-win team. Pressure me for a guess? I think K-State could be a better team than last year and still only win nine games in a Big 12 that's absolutely loaded in the top half, with some pretty good teams in the bottom half too, like Baylor, Texas Tech and Iowa State.

So yeah, Oklahoma's the best team in the league. That doesn't mean they'll win it, and the race for No. 2 heading into the season could go one of three ways.

---

Curtis in Boone, Iowa, writes: I tweeted you, but i figured id take another approach as well. Do you agree with me that Brandon Weeden is the No. 3 QB in the draft, NOT tannehill? and what are the chances that Cleveland takes both Justin Blackmon AND Weeden with the 4th and 22nd picks, respectively. Colt Mccoy isn't the answer in cleveland, and Weeden could step right in and produce, especially with a top talent like Blackmon.

DU: I do, but I also understand why a) Tannehill has surged and b) teams are unwilling to spend first-round money on Weeden.

For the record, I think they're both early second-rounders. Tannehill is a big risk, and you're asking for trouble if you're a struggling team with a top 5-10 pick that needs a lot of other things to be successful. Tannehill could be good in the league, but I don't think I buy him as an immediate franchise guy you can build around.

Weeden will be more successful in the immediate future, but I also understand that he's an 8-10-year guy vs. a 14-16-year guy like most normal rookies. That's a whole lot of games. Putting Blackmon and Weeden on the same team? Oh man, that would be all kinds of fun.

It'd also be pretty humorous to see Oklahoma's best QB ever throwing to Oklahoma State's best receiver ever out in St. Louis.

---

Cyclones in Ames writes: Hey Ubben, just thought that I would bring it up to your attention but of the 10 coaches next year in the big 12 there will be 4 coaches with connections to the state of Iowa. Mack Brown was an OC at ISU, Dana Holgorsen was born and raised in Iowa along with Paul Rhoads, and Bob Stoops played football at the University of Iowa. A lot of connections to the state of Iowa in the conference.

DU: You're right about that, Mr. Cyclones, but those are far from the only ones. What about the man some consider the greatest coach of them all: Bill Snyder? He spent almost a decade as the offensive coordinator under Hayden Fry at Iowa.

For what it's worth, two different Iowa State coaches served as defensive coordinator under Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville. Gene Chizik (sorry for the mention, Iowa State) and Paul Rhoads both got valuable experience under Tuberville at Auburn before moving to Ames.

Iowa doesn't have the greatest reputation when it comes to football culture, but that's a staggering amount of connections for a state with just two major programs within its borders.

---

Jason in Charleston, W. Va., writes: Dave, I just have to ask... what were your expectations before coming to WV versus what you actually found when you got here?

DU: Honestly, it was pretty much exactly what I expected. The actual stuff in the town was a little more expansive than I thought it would be, in terms of restaurants and nightlife, etc. In terms of having a fun weekend, Morgantown will be right in the middle in the Big 12. Folks will enjoy the trip out, and it'll be a new experience for everyone.

The scenery and rolling hills basically looked the exact same as they do in photos, but it was kind of hard to get around. I like hitting open roads with the windows down, and that's pretty tough to do in West Virginia because of all the hills and winding roads. Alas, you could find a much stiffer criticism of a city.

I like Morgantown a lot.

Your kid forgot his cereal. There's a surprise in every box. Spoiler alert: it's diabetes.

• Mike Gundy says he has no plans to play more than one quarterback next season, writes Berry Tramel of The Oklahoman. He also has some thoughts on OU's defense in the spring game.
• Gundy also says OSU would have beaten LSU or Alabama in the national title game if it played well, writes Steve Greenberg of Sporting News.
• Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville stopped by South Carolina's practice lately. Colleague Chris Low has some color from Tuberville's visit with the Head Ball Coach.
• Tight end Travis Tannahill has stood out this spring at Kansas State, writes Kellis Robinett of the Kansas City Star.
• Two Texas reserves elected to transfer on Tuesday.
• Those 44 touchdowns Barry Sanders scored in his Heisman season? The ones he scored in the bowl game will all count eventually, writes Gina Mizell of The Oklahoman.
• Competition is heating up along the offensive line at Kansas State, writes Austin Meek of the Topeka Capital-Journal.
• Oklahoma receiver Kenny Stills answers a few questions about the Trayvon Martin shooting and his thoughts on how it affects him.
• The ESPN Bus paid a visit to Morgantown on Tuesday.
• Kansas defensive coordinator Dave Campo is still trying to figure out which players on his defense he can count on, writes Matt Tait of the Lawrence Journal-World. Side note: Very odd to see him in a KU coaching shirt.
• The Oklahoman's Anthony Slater has an update from Markelle Martin's post-knee surgery pro day on Tuesday.
• Greg Tepper of Dave Campbell Texas Football takes a look at two instant impact freshmen at Baylor and Texas.

Recruiting season got started in earnest on Tuesday with the release of the ESPN 150, so it's time to offer our first real check-in on where the Big 12 recruiting classes sit with a little less than 10 months before players can officially sign.

Remember, this card is in pencil. Players are free to switch commitments until they sign a letter of intent with a school.

1. Texas Longhorns

Total commits: 13
ESPNU 150 commits: 7
Key commits: QB Tyrone Swoopes, WR Ricky Seals-Jones, C Darius James, OT Jake Raulerson
Class notes: Texas' top three commits are all the best at their positions, and 10 of the class' 13 commitments are four stars or higher. That's nothing new in Austin, but Swoopes looks like the quarterback of the future in Austin, though he hails from a smaller school in Whitewright, Texas. Seals-Jones is a physical presence at 6-foot-5, 220 pounds.

2. Oklahoma Sooners

Total commits: 4
ESPNU 150 commits: 3
Key commits: RB Greg Bryant, RB Keith Ford, DE D.J. Ward
Class notes: Oklahoma's class is still pretty small for now, but the Sooners are getting some much needed help at running back, where numbers are suddenly thin following a rash of transfers after the season. Ward joins fellow DE Matt Dimon in the class, too.

3. Baylor Bears

Total commits: 6
ESPNU 150 commits: 1
Key commits: QB Chris Johnson, RB Johnny Jefferson, WR Quan Jones
Class notes: No surprise here: Baylor's new class is loaded with skill position talent. Johnson is the nation's No. 2 dual-threat passer and Jefferson is the nation's No. 36 running back. It seems like almost every year, Baylor reels in a huge prospect. For now, 2013 is no different, and coach Art Briles looks like he can continue his QB lineage. Johnson is a four-star, and Jefferson and Jones are three-star recruits.

4. Texas Tech Red Raiders

Total commits: 5
ESPNU 150 commits: 0
Key commits: ATH Devin Lauderdale, WR Dylan Cantrell, CB Will Barrow
Class notes: Texas Tech has landed top-25 recruiting classes in each of Tommy Tuberville's first full seasons in Lubbock, and the Red Raiders are off to another nice start in 2013. Super recruiter Robert Prunty's developed a penchant for reeling in ESPN 150 talent, so keep an eye on the newest major player on the recruiting scene. Lauderdale is a four-star recruit.

5. Kansas State Wildcats

Total commits: 3
ESPNU 150 commits: 0
Key commits: ILB Tanner Wood, DE Jordan Willis, WR LeAndrew Gordon
Class notes: Two of Kansas State's three commits are three-star recruits. The Wildcats won 10 games in 2011, but another solid year in 2012 could help spur recruiting efforts even further.

6. Oklahoma State Cowboys

Total commits: 1
ESPNU 150 commits: 0
Key commits: WR Fred Ross Jr.
Class notes: Ross is a four-star and the nation's No. 21 receiver, but OSU could climb this list quickly, riding the success from its first Big 12 title in 2011. It's a slower start than you'd envision for OSU, but we'll see if the Cowboys can win some battles with Texas Tech, TCU and others.

7. TCU Horned Frogs

Total commits: 2
ESPNU 150 commits: 0
Key commits: OLB Sammy Douglas, OG Patrick Morris
Class notes: Douglas is a three-star recruit and the nation's No. 36 outside linebacker. That's a big position of need for TCU, but the Big 12 entrance and recent campus drug sting that resulted in four players being arrested will be battling for positive and negative pushes on the recruiting trail. We'll see which one wins out in 2012.

8. Kansas Jayhawks

Total commits: 3
ESPNU 150 commits: 0
Key commits: QB Montell Cozart, TE Ben Johnson, LB Kellen Ash
Class notes: Kansas doesn't have a nationally ranked recruit, but Weis sounds like he's high on Cozart, a highly recruited QB from the Kansas City area who had offers from West Virginia and Minnesota.

9. West Virginia Mountaineers

Total commits: 0
ESPNU 150 commits: 0
Key commits: None
Class notes: WVU is one of two teams without a commit yet in the 2013 class. We'll see if that picks up if WVU can validate its membership in the Big 12 with a strong debut season.

10. Iowa State Cyclones

Total commits: 0
ESPNU 150 commits: 0
Key commits: None
Class notes: Iowa State has started slow, too. Another bowl appearance would help, but it has to be a bit frustrating for the Cyclones to be behind the eight-ball for now. That's especially true considering what Kansas has done thus far.

Across our little blog village here at ESPN, we're taking a look at the top newcomers in college football this year. You (probably) don't know their names yet, but here's who you need to watch this fall in the Big 12.

Will Smith, LB, Texas Tech: The Red Raiders only found Smith while recruiting another possible impact transfer, running back SaDale Foster. The California juco transfer stepped on campus this winter and by the end of spring, coach Tommy Tuberville called him the team's best linebacker. He started playing outside, but Tuberville moved the 6-foot-2, 220-pounder to starting middle linebacker in the middle of camp so he'd be on the field even during passing downs. He'll be important to Tech's new 4-3 scheme. Think K-State's Arthur Brown, a Miami transfer who's almost the exact same size.

Dayne Crist, QB, Kansas: You probably know this name, but Crist started nine games in 2010 for Notre Dame and appeared in 17 career games. He began 2011 as the starter, but was benched and transferred to KU to play his final season of college football for Charlie Weis, the coach who recruited him to South Bend as the nation's No. 2 quarterback and No. 22 overall prospect in the 2008 class. He threw 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2010.

Brandon Moore, DT, Texas: Moore is part of a changing world in Austin, thanks to a revamped coaching staff with some SEC sensibilites. He and OT Donald Hawkins were the first juco transfers to sign with Texas since 2002 and Moore may be the lynchpin of the Big 12's best defense this year. Teammates have described the "full-grown man" as "unstoppable." Such is life at 6-6 and 330 pounds. Moore has to work on his conditioning, but he's going to wreak havoc on Big 12 offensive lines when he's on the field this year. Look for him to collapse a pocket or two early and often this season.

Trey Metoyer, WR, Oklahoma: Metoyer spent a year in military school after not qualifying academically, but he's already made an impact this spring after finally arriving at Oklahoma. He was the nation's No. 8 receiver in the 2011 class and offers the Sooners some much-needed sure hands. The unit came down with the dropsies late last season, and the FBS career leader for receptions, Ryan Broyles, is NFL-bound. Metoyer is exactly what the Sooners need to keep their offense on pace with the league's best, and he'll be catching passes from a Heisman candidate in Landry Jones.

Lache Seastrunk, RB, Baylor: Seastrunk's short-lived career at Oregon was marred by a recruiting scandal, but he's back home, 30 miles north of his hometown in Temple, Texas, and ready for a fresh start. Baylor needs a replacement for Big 12 rushing champ Terrance Ganaway, and Seastrunk, the nation's No. 6 running back and No. 40 overall prospect in the 2010 class, is battling Glasco Martin and Jarred Salubi for the chance to be the man.

West Virginia and TCU: Have y'all heard about this? It's gonna be kind of crazy. After losing four teams since June 2010, the Big 12 poached the Big East and added the former Southwest Conference-dwelling Frogs and the Mountaineers, badly in need of a home away from the weakened Big East. Here's how we welcomed the Frogs and did the same for WVU earlier this year.

Thanks for all the emails this week. Here's where you can reach me if you've got more to say.

Robert Powell in El Paso, Texas writes: David, Good article on Tech. Other than 'coaching cliche's', how can Leach's players not be near good enough for Tuberville's teams? Leach always had good/decent depth and playmakers. Now none of them can play (2011 season)? I know the defensive systems are different, but players play, no matter the system. Also, injuries happen, but Tech's apocalyptic injuries had to be among the most in all of CFB. How do Tech's number of injuries compare with other teams from '11 and in previous years? Keep up the great work!

David Ubben: Players play, yes, and the talent's been there on offense. Defensively, though? No way. Tuberville is right on. The Red Raiders' linebackers have been really underwhelming under Tuberville, because the upperclassmen haven't had the kind of talent you need to field a good defense in this league.

The corners have been bad, but they've been young, too. Tech hasn't had the kind of pass-rushers you need to compete in this league, and the best of the bunch, Scott Smith, missed most of 2010 and 2011 with a coach-imposed suspension. When was the last time under Leach that Texas Tech had a defender that really wowed you? For me, Colby Whitlock was the last I really remember.

Tuberville has stacked his team with some athletes like Leon Mackey and Delvon Simmons that haven't been at Tech for a long while. Those guys have to mature now.

Making matters worse have been the injuries. Tech's been hurt more by those the past two seasons than anyone else, especially on defense. Call it an excuse if you must, but it's the truth. I've been surprised at how slow the improvement on defense has been for Tuberville, who made his career on having great defenses, but there's no question he's been hamstrung by poor depth, and having that poor depth tested quickly by a ton of injuries.

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Daniel in Waco writes: What do u think about adding air force as a way to recapture the Denver market?

DU: Not a fan of that idea for several reasons. Chief among those, Air Force does not capture the Denver market. Neither did Colorado in the same sense that, say, Texas or Texas A&M captured a market.

Here's the bottom line: All the true home run expansion possibilities are gone. A&M and Nebraska have massive fan bases that move the needle and provide a lot for any league. None of that is around anymore, but West Virginia was somewhat along that line.

Bigger than that, though, is the reasons why WVU and TCU punched tickets to the Big 12: Greatness on the football field. You don't want to count on a big fan base carrying TV ratings. What carries even more TV ratings? Nationally relevant games. You get nationally relevant games by having top 25 teams playing. Air Force doesn't have that.

To me, teams like Louisville and BYU are big question marks in that area, though BYU has the biggest fan base left. Either way, Air Force won't fit either of those. Not a fan of the Falcons in the Big 12. Louisville should be No. 1 if the Big 12 looks to expand, and BYU supposedly comes with plenty of other complications in terms of wanting to do things its way in the boardroom. They love independence. WVU wanted out of the Big East, and TCU's dreams came true with a Big 12 invite. For now, the league should stand pat.

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Bob in Crab Orchard, W. Va., writes: Do you think that if Geno or Tavon Austin either one has standout seasons in the Big 12 that they have a shot at being front runners in the heisman running.

DU: Geno definitely does. I've written that a few times. Austin, though? He's going to have to do a lot in the special teams to truly differentiate himself. And even then, it's going to be tough. We've seen some amazing receivers come through this league, especially Justin Blackmon and Ryan Broyles the past two seasons. Neither had a real chance to win the Heisman. It's too difficult for receivers, and honestly, I think that's how it should be. Great players, yes, but receivers don't have the level of impact to win games like quarterbacks and running backs do. They just don't touch the ball enough. That said, Austin should be a candidate for the Biletnikoff Award.

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Joshua Atkins in Tyler, Texas, writes: Ubben! You're Famous! No wait, this photo is supposed to be about Justin Blackmon kissing his girlfriend!

DU: That was only the second-best photo of the Fiesta Bowl, behind this one. A few of you sent me that photo from The Atlantic on Twitter this week. It cracked me up. And you know I can't see a player lay a big one on a cheerleader and not write about it, right?

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Jack Thompson in Valdosta, Ga., writes: Hey David, Mountaineer till way after I die! I'm curious as to how well the other schools travel. I know we are well on our way to selling out every game this season and I know a portion of it can be attributed to the Big 12 folks coming to Morgantown. Really what I want to know is, if theres going to be a big ole (insert any B12 school ) motorcoach sporting team colors parking next to ours?!

DU: Well, that's a complex question. When Nebraska left, so did the only team in the Big 12 that completely swarms a city regardless of how big a game is. If it's a huge game, you'll see plenty of Big 12 fans in your city. Texas and Oklahoma obviously have the biggest fan bases, and they'll be, to quote one Big and Rich, comin' to your citaaay.

If I had to pick one team you could count on to travel regardless of the magnitude of the game, I'd probably say Kansas State. The Wildcats don't have the biggest fan base, but it's one of the most loyal. The Cats love them some Bill Snyder.

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Seth in Kansas City, Mo. writes: I've got a plan for you to follow. How about, until the 2012-2013 academic year starts, you continue to report on the Mizzou Tigers and A&M Aggies. You know, what your job entails? Maybe I am misunderstanding your position here. You are a college football reporter for the BIG12 for ESPN correct? And the realignment does not take effect until 2012-2013 correct? Now that you have a complete understanding of the situation maybe you'll start to do your job.

DU: Glad to see you're one of our most loyal readers, Seth! Thanks for checking us out every day!

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."