ESPN College Football

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

	AP Photo/Dave Weaver
	Ndamukong Suh's interception return for a touchdown sealed Nebraska's victory.

Henery and Suh make Colorado blue

No. 18
Date: Nov. 28, 2008
Place: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Neb.
Score: Nebraska 40, Colorado 31

Nebraska was playing merely to better its bowl position. Colorado wanted to earn a bowl trip. Although the Big 12 North championship game berth wasn't being settled, it still didn't diminish the excitement of last year's game between the two traditional rivals.

Colorado came into the game as an 18-point underdog, but you couldn't tell from the way the Buffaloes scrapped. The Buffaloes produced a couple of big plays  -- a 68-yard touchdown pass from Cody Hawkins to Riar Geer and a 36-yard touchdown run by Demetrius Sumler -- in the first five minutes to jump to a quick 14-0 lead.

The Buffaloes' defense allowed the Cornhuskers to advance inside the Colorado 50 on every possession in the game. But a botched fake field goal led to a 24-24 halftime tie when Colorado's Jimmy Smith snatched an errant blind pitch from Jake Wesch and ran 58 yards for a touchdown.

The Buffaloes' defense kept the game within reach in the second half as Nebraska drove inside the Buffaloes' 33-yard line on each of its four possessions but came away with only nine points. Colorado went ahead 31-27 when Sumler knocked in a 4-yard touchdown late in the third quarter.

Colorado's defense made that stand for most of the rest of the game. Nebraska pulled within 31-30 when Alex Henery nailed a 37-yard field goal with 8:09 left.

After Nebraska got the ball back, the Cornhuskers were poised to score again after Roy Helu Jr. rambled 25 yards to the Colorado 25 with less than two minutes remaining. But Colorado safety Patrick Mahnke sacked Nebraska quarterback Joe Ganz for a 15-yard loss and Ganz threw incomplete on third down, setting up an improbable 57-yard field goal attempt by Henery.

Henery, with a 5 mph wind to his back, blasted the ball through the goal posts with 1:43 left to set the school record and provide Nebraska with a 33-31 lead.

But the Cornhuskers were only getting started. After picking up a first down on the Colorado 33, Hawkins' second-down pass was tipped by Zach Potter and intercepted by massive 305-pound defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.

En route to the end zone, Suh eluded a diving Hawkins and scampered 30 yards for the clinching touchdown. It was Suh's second interception return for a touchdown on the season and his third touchdown overall.

The numbers: Nebraska ran 29 more plays than Colorado and the Cornhuskers' 63 snaps in Colorado territory were 15 more than Colorado ran in the entire game. Colorado went more than 10 minutes of game time in the second and third quarters without running an offensive play. Helu rushed for 166 yards and Ganz passed for 229 yards and two touchdowns, becoming the top single-season passer in Nebraska history.

They said it, part I: "I love games like this. The crazier the better. I just wish we had ended it a little bit earlier," Nebraska coach Bo Pelini, reflecting on the wild finish with reporters after the game.

They said it, part II: "I don't remember watching it go through at all. I was pretty sure I made it. It was on target. I don't remember much after hitting it." Henery's thoughts after the game-winning kick to reporters after the game.

They said it, part III: "It doesn't surprise me. That guy's a stud," Pelini on Henery's kick.

They said it, part IV: ""He thinks he's Walter Payton." Pelini's comments to the Nebraska State Paper about Suh's game-clinching touchdown return.

The upshot: The victory, combined with Kansas' upset of Missouri the following day, gave the Cornhuskers a share of the Big 12 North title. The Tigers advanced to the championship game after a head-to-head triumph over the Cornhuskers earlier in the season.

But it really didn't matter after the Cornhuskers earned a Gator Bowl berth. They went on to upset Clemson to finish 9-4 for the season. After losing four of six games midway through the season, Nebraska finished with three straight victories to prime enthusiasm after Pelini's first season.

The loss cost Colorado a shot at making a bowl trip. The Buffaloes finished at 5-7, missing a bowl trip for the second time in three seasons under coach Dan Hawkins.

The countdown:

19. Stunning OSU rally leads to Stoops' first home loss.
20. It's never over for Texas Tech until it's over.
21. Reesing to Meier. Again and again.
22. A Texas-sized comeback -- Texas over Oklahoma State in 2004.
23. A Border War unlike any of the rest -- Missouri over Kansas in 2007.
24. Seneca Wallace's wild TD run vs. Texas Tech in 2001.
25. Baylor's "So Much for Taking a Knee" against UNLV in 1999.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

Coming into the Nebraska football offices every day for James Dobson is akin to a pianist heading into Carnegie Hall.

Dobson feels like he's carrying on a unique tradition for the Cornhuskers, who pioneered the concepts of a modern strength and conditioning program with Boyd Epley's ground-breaking work back with the programs in the late 1960s.

"This is a very unique place for strength and conditioning," said Dobson, who arrived from Iowa several weeks after Bo Pelini was hired. "Boyd got it started and Mike Arthur really developed strength and conditioning into what it is today here. It's very special to be a part of it."

Despite that lofty and storied history, Dobson has been able to place his own stamp on the Nebraska program after only one season directing the strength and conditioning program.

Charged by Pelini to help develop speed, particularly for players in the offensive and defensive lines, Dobson instituted a plan to help his players in the trenches lose weight.

The result was improved performance in both groups by emphasizing leaner, quicker athletes in his first season. It paid off with a 9-4 record last season, capped by a Gator Bowl victory over Clemson.

That strong finish helped catapult the Cornhuskers through a strong second season in Dobson's program, building on their work of the first year there.

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

I've gotten a couple of messages today wondering where all of the Big 12's free agents have ended up.

The most complete and accurate listing I've found is on the fine website nepatriotsdraft.com. (Hat tip to The Ralphie Report.com). Here's what they have as of late Monday afternoon.

• Texas A&M DE Michael Bennett -- Seattle Seahawks
• Kansas State DE Ian Campbell -- St. Louis Rams
• Missouri LB Brock Christopher -- Atlanta Falcons
• Oklahoma C Jon Cooper -- Minnesota Vikings
• Texas WR Quan Cosby -- Cincinnati Bengals
• Missouri QB Chase Daniel -- Washington Redskins
• Iowa State T Doug Dedrick -- Houston Texans
• Texas G Cedric Dockery -- New Orleans Saints
• Baylor T Don Gay -- San Diego Chargers
• Texas A&M CB Danny Gorrer -- New Orleans Saints
• Texas Tech QB Graham Harrell -- Cleveland Browns
• Oklahoma S Lendy Holmes -- Washington Redskins
• Colorado DT George Hypolite -- Jacksonville Jaguars
• Kansas LB James Holt -- San Diego Chargers
• Colorado DE Maurice Lucas -- Atlanta Falcons
• Nebraska I-back Marlon Lucky -- Cincinnati Bengals
• Missouri QB Chase Patton -- Chicago Bears
• Nebraska WR Todd Peterson -- Jacksonville Jaguars
• Nebraska DE Zach Potter -- New York Jets
• Oklahoma State S Ricky Price -- Kansas City Chiefs
• Kansas LB Mike Rivera -- Chicago Bears
• Kansas State K Brooks Rossman -- St. Louis Rams
• Colorado C Daniel Sanders -- St. Louis Rams
• Nebraska DT Ty Steinkuhler -- Cincinnati Bengals
• Nebraska WR Nate Swift -- Denver Broncos
• Colorado WR Patrick Williams -- Green Bay Packers

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

It's fitting and somewhat understandable that the NFL draft will have a distinctly Big 12 tinge Saturday as the early part of the first round plays out.

Keep an eye for Big 12 players to be very conspicuous in ESPN's broadcast of the draft. Four Big 12 players have been invited to watch the proceedings from the "Green Room" for Saturday's first day of the draft.

Baylor tackle Jason Smith, Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree, Kansas State quarterback Josh Freeman and Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo all will be at Radio City Music Hall in New York City for the draft.

Smith, Crabtree and Orakpo all could be taken among the draft's 10 or 15 picks. But Freeman, who could go as high as the middle of the first round or drop to the second round, could provide the most compelling drama of the draft's broadcast. Does anybody remember Brady Quinn or Aaron Rodgers in recent years?

The draft undoubtedly will showcase the Big 12's collection of talent that was continually highlighted last season.

Most mock drafts expect the Big 12 will have five or six first-round draft picks. Likely players to be selected include Orakpo, Smith, Missouri wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, Oklahoma State tight end Brandon Pettigrew, Freeman and Crabtree.

Look for the Big 12's burgeoning reputation as being on the cutting edge in terms of passing to be showcased this weekend. Most mock drafts have Crabtree and Maclin ranked as the top two receivers available. And Pettigrew is the top tight end on most draft boards.

If six Big 12 players are selected in the first round, it would match the league's previous high of six first-round selections set in 2003.

The most interesting potential selection will be Smith, a lightly-regarded recruit after a high-school career as a tight end. He blossomed after adding nearly 80 pounds of muscle over his college career.

Smith will become the Bears' first first-round draft selection since defensive tackle Daryl Gardener was picked by the Miami Dolphins in 1996.

Most prognosticators expect Smith will be picked among the first three picks in the draft. That would be the earliest a Baylor player has been chosen since quarterback Adrian Burk was the second pick in the draft by Baltimore in 1950.

The exposure for the Baylor program will be immense, according to Baylor coach Art Briles.

"We could get the smartest marketers in Texas and ask them how we could best market Baylor University, and they couldn't come up with a better scenario than what's going to happen Saturday in New York," Briles said. "Jason is a great person, and it's been nothing but positive for Baylor. We just have to take that and continue to climb as a football program."

Freeman is poised to become only the second quarterback in Big 12 history to be selected in the first round. He would join Vince Young, who was picked third by Tennessee in the 2006 draft.

Freeman also would be Kansas State's first first-round pick since Terence Newman was picked fifth in the first round by Dallas in 2003. He will also become the Wildcats' highest-selected quarterback, bettering the previous selection of Lynn Dickey, who was picked with the fourth pick in the third round by Green Bay in 1971.

Freeman's size (6-6, 250 pounds) and his rocket arm are his two biggest attributes, despite his lack of extended success in college. His abilities were clear to Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy and OSU coaches.

"The first time we saw Josh, because of his size, stature, the way he carried himself, and then his arm strength, we knew he had a chance to play," Gundy said. "He's just kind of arrived nationally -- people are just now starting to find out about him -- but we knew in our staff room that we was going to be first-round pick.

"You just don't find guys that are 6-6, 250, that can throw it and are as accurate as he is, and he's seemed to be very durable. We were impressed with him from day one."

Crabtree will become Tech's first first-round draft selection of the Big 12 era and the Red Raiders' first first-round pick since Gabe Rivera was picked with the 21st pick by Pittsburgh in 1983.

He will become the highest-selected Texas Tech wide receiver since Dave Parks was the first pick of the 1964 draft by San Francisco and the first one of Mike Leach's players to be picked on the first day of the draft.

Orakpo is poised to continue Texas' recent development as a factory for first-round selections.

Despite missing out last season, the Longhorns produced eight first-round picks in the previous four seasons and 13 over Mack Brown's coaching tenure.

In the process, Orakpo is hoping to counter-balance the so-called "Texas factor" that several analysts have mentioned this week to explain why some Longhorns have been disappointments once they started their NFL careers.

Brown angrily refuted those charges earlier this week.

"People can be more critical of us because we've had as many, or more, than anybody else in the draft," Brown told the Austin American-Statesman. "I don't really pay attention to (that), and I talk to enough general managers, coaches and scouts to know they don't either."

Maclin will become the first Missouri player selected in the first round since Justin Smith was picked by Cincinnati with the fourth pick of the draft in 2001. And Maclin also is poised to become the first Missouri wide receiver ever taken in the first round.

Here's my unofficial pegging of Big 12 draft status during the weekend draft.

Sure first-round picks: Baylor OT Jason Smith, Texas Tech WR Michael Crabtree, Texas DE Brian Orakpo, Missouri WR Jeremy Maclin,

Likely first-round picks: Kansas State QB Josh Freeman

Maybe first-round picks: Missouri DT Evander "Ziggy" Hood, Oklahoma State TE Brandon Pettigrew

Likely second-round picks: Oklahoma G Duke Robinson, Missouri S William Moore.

Likely third-round picks: Oklahoma WR Juaquin Iglesias, Oklahoma T Phil Loadholt, Missouri TE Chase Coffman.

Likely picks inside the first five rounds: Texas A&M QB Stephen McGee, Texas Tech S Darcel McBath, Texas Tech DE Brandon Williams, Texas DT Roy Miller, Texas A&M RB Michael Goodson, Texas A&M DE Mi
chael Bennett, Oklahoma S-LB Nic Harris, Texas Tech G Louis Vasquez, Nebraska DE Zach Potter, Nebraska T Lydon Murtha.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

When I was a little kid, one element among my favorites of going to a football game was collecting a game program. I loved nothing better than to scan rosters and check the heights and weights of players as I looked at them through my father's binoculars.

It led me to collecting many programs that probably still are around my parents' house somewhere. I guess I just wanted to add to the clutter of my bedroom.

If I had known then what I know now, I might not have been so diligent about all of the effort. Little boys don't know those heights and weights for their football heroes aren't always correct.

The best way to analyze the discrepancy is by comparing the heights and weights of some of the Big 12 players who attended the recent NFL combine and compare them with what they were listed at during their college careers.

The before is their listed height and weight during last season. The after is what they were measured over the weekend by the NFL.

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

Missouri backup quarterback Chase Patton had hoped to wow pro scouts with a big performance at the Texas vs. the Nation All-Star Game in El Paso.

Patton struggled in brief playing time in the final major college all-star game of the season, completing two of six passes for 15 yards. He was one of four quarterbacks who saw action for the Texas All-Star team, which included all of the Big 12 players who saw action in the game.

The Nation won the game, 27-24.

Here's how other Big 12 players fared in the game.

• Texas running back Chris Ogbonnaya, rushed for 12 yards on five carries with a long carry of 7 yards.
• Texas A&M's Justin Brantly punted six times for 49.3 yards with a long kick of 56 yards.
• Texas A&M defensive end Cyril Obiozor had one solo tackle and three assists.
• Nebraska defensive tackle Zach Potter had two solo tackles, an assist, a game-high three quarterback hurries, 1.5 tackles for losses and one pass broken up.
• Texas linebacker Rashad Bobino had one solo tackle and two assists.
• Kansas linebacker James Holt had one solo tackle, two assists and a shared tackle for a loss.
• Texas defensive end Henry Melton had an assist and a quarterback pressure.
• Texas A&M defensive back Danny Gorrer had an assist and a pass broken up.
• Kansas State defensive end Ian Campbell produced an assist.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

Here's the official list of 41 Big 12 players who have been invited to the NFL combine Feb. 18 through Feb. 24 in Indianapolis.

Oklahoma led all Big 12 teams with eight players invited to the combine, followed by Texas, Missouri and Nebraska with six players each and Texas Tech with five players.

All Big 12 schools were represented with the exception of Colorado, Iowa State and Kansas.

All players are expected to attend with the exception of Texas wide receiver Jordan Shipley, who was granted an extra season of eligibility and will remain in college. Shipley recently underwent shoulder surgery and will not be able to participate when spring practice begins for the Longhorns later this week.

NFL officials have calculated that players invited to the NFL combine typically are drafted 64 percent of the time. So these players would appear to have the best chance of being picked among eligible players from the Big 12.

Here's a list of invited players listed by their schools.

Baylor: T Dan Gay, T Jason Smith.

Colorado: None.

Iowa State: None.

Kansas: None.

Kansas State: QB Josh Freeman, DE-LB Ian Campbell.

Missouri: TE Chase Coffman, QB Chase Daniel, DT Ziggy Hood, WR-KR Jeremy Maclin, S William Moore, DE Stryker Sulak.

Nebraska: LB Cody Glenn, RB Marlon Lucky, T Lydon Murtha, DE Zach Potter, G Matt Slauson, WR Nathan Swift.

Oklahoma: C Jon Cooper, S Nic Harris, S Lendy Holmes, WR Juaquan Iglesias, WR Manuel Johnson, T Phil Loadholt, G Duke Robinson, G Brandon Walker.

Oklahoma State: P Matt Fodge, TE Brandon Pettigrew.

Texas: WR Quan Cosby, DT Roy Miller, RB Chris Ogbonnaya, DE Brian Orakpo, CB Ryan Palmer, WR Jordan Shipley.*

Texas A&M: DE Michael Bennett, P Justin Brantly, RB Michael Goodson, QB Stephen McGee.

Texas Tech: WR Michael Crabtree, QB Graham Harrell, S Darcel McBath, G Louis Vasquez, DE Brandon Williams.

*  Note: Shipley has elected to stay for a sixth season of eligibility with Texas. He will be available for the 2010 draft.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

We've had the East-West Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl.

But we're still not through with college all-star games yet. The Texas vs. the Nation All-Star game Saturday in El Paso will showcase many Big 12 players who can help their draft cause with a big performance.

Most of the players at the El Paso game are ticketed as second-day draft choices or potential free agents. That's why strong efforts in workouts this week or in Saturday's game can help their cause so much.

Thirteen Big 12 players are set to participate in the game, which will be telecast on the CBS College Sports Network beginning at 3 p.m. ET and also be available online.

Organizers have grouped all of the Big 12 players on the Texas roster. Here's a look at those players who will be playing, with their uniform numbers in the game in parenthesis.

Texas roster -- Texas RB Chris Ogbonnaya (No. 3), Texas A&M CB Danny Gorrer (No. 4), Missouri QB Chase Patton (No. 14), Texas A&M P Justin Brantly (No. 16), Texas DE Henry Melton (No. 37), Kansas LB James Holt (No. 42), Nebraska LB Cody Glenn (No. 43), Texas LB Rashad Bobino (No. 44), Texas A&M DE Cyril Obizor (No. 49), Missouri T Colin Brown (No. 61), Nebraska T Lydon Murtha (No. 76), Nebraska DT Zach Potter (No. 98), Kansas State DE Ian Campbell (No. 99).

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

Some interesting topics popped up across the conference this morning. Feel free to digest them with your lunches this afternoon.

• Austin Meek and Kevin Haskin of the Topeka Capital Journal report that outgoing Kansas State president Jon Wefald said he would be willing to provide the university's next president a head start at picking the school's new athletic director.
• Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops told the Tulsa World's Dave Sittler he "likes the quarterbacks we have," in regards to reports linking the Sooners with former Miami quarterback Robert Marve.
• The Oklahoman's Berry Tramel proposes giving players a chance to return to school after they are selected in the NFL draft if they don't sign with an agent or a pro franchise.
• Blair Kerkhoff of the Kansas City Star reports on the tumultuous year of Kansas State athletic director Bob Krause, who was re-assigned Tuesday to a new role at the school's Olathe campus.
• Lincoln Journal-Star columnist Steve Sipple reports that six former Nebraska players -- Matt Slauson, Nate Swift, Lydon Murtha, Marlon Lucky, Zach Potter and Cody Glenn -- have received invitations to the NFL Scouting Combine next month in Indianapolis.
• Boulder Camera beat writer Kyle Ringo remembers the playing career of former Colorado quarterback Bernard Jackson, who was sentenced to more than five years in prison last week along with former teammate Lionel Harris last week.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

Nebraska coach Bo Pelini is careful to say that developing a program is "a process," cautioning Cornhusker fans not to get too overly excited about last season's 9-4 record and Gator Bowl triumph over Clemson.

But there's no doubt the Cornhuskers' quick finish after Pelini's first season has provided a boost of enthusiasm heading into the offseason.

The loss of starting offensive linemen Lydon Murtha, Mike Huff, Matt Slauson has made finding depth and some new starters along the front one of the Cornhuskers' two primary offensive needs.

Nebraska also needs to find two starting receivers after Nate Swift and Todd Peterson had their eligibility expire. Swift and Peterson combined for 125 receptions and 14 touchdowns last season.

The Cornhuskers lose starter Joe Ganz at quarterback, but appear to have replacements either inside the program or already a part of their recruiting class. Zac Lee, Patrick Witt, Kody Spano and maybe even incoming freshman Cody Green all could battle for playing time in the spring. It will be one of the most highly scrutinized quarterback battles in the nation during the off-season.

Even with All-Big 12 Ndamukong Suh coming back at defensive tackle, the Cornhuskers need to find more players to build depth in the trenches. The loss of Zach Potter and Clayton Sievers at defensive end makes it imperative that more players are found in case Barry Turner's recovery from a broken bone in his left leg is protracted.

The loss of starters Tyler Wortman and Cody Glenn at linebacker has caused depth to be a concern there. But the Cornhuskers also need to add numbers in the secondary to enable them to play the nickel and dime pass packages that Pelini prefers to play against the heavy passing attacks in the conference.

Another season of strong recruiting should enable Pelini to put more of his stamp on the program. And if his first season is any indication, the Cornhuskers certainly are headed in the right direction.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

Coming into its game against Kansas State, Nebraska hoped to make quick work of the Wildcats by taking control of the game early in Ron Prince's first home game since his dismissal last week.

And despite some early struggles, the Cornhuskers have taken control as they have cruised to a 35-14 halftime lead.

Almost like Prince would have ordered, the Wildcats produced an early turnover that resulted in a 57-yard interception return by Courtney Herndon for a touchdown barely 4 minutes into the game for an early lead.

But since then, the Cornhuskers have dominated as Joe Ganz has thrown a pair of touchdown passes and Roy Helu and Quentin Castille have both been strong running the ball.

A Nebraska defense that was awarded its Blackshirts earlier this week played like it throughout the first half. The Cornhuskers have limited Kansas State to minus 7 yards rushing and 107 total yards in the first half.

Prince left himself open for a lot of second-guessing on Kansas State's final possession of the first half. After Nebraska defensive end Zach Potter was flagged for a helmet-to-helmet personal foul on Kansas State quarterback Josh Freeman, the Wildcats advanced to the Nebraska 12-yard line late in the first half.

But Prince disdained an easy field goal to go for a touchdown on the final play of the first half. And Freeman's pass for Brandon Banks was short, leaving Kansas State with no points on the drive.

Nebraska is playing for better bowl positioning and Prince's team will have its bowl hopes snuffed out with a loss.

After the first half, it looks like the Cornhuskers postseason hopes appear much more alive than the Wildcats'.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

Nebraska (3-3, 0-2 Big 12): The Cornhuskers are struggling through a three-game losing streak and are off to their worst start after six games since 1961. But the fans haven't left coach Bo Pelini as they have gravitated to his aggressive defensive style and the sass and vigor he has brought to the team -- even after his own critical penalty that helped seal the Virginia Tech loss. Pelini's biggest concern has been his team's lack of discipline (tied for 114th nationally in penalties) and its inability to create turnovers (tied for 107th).

Offensive MVP, Joe Ganz: The Cornhuskers' offense has been humming thanks to the seamless work of Ganz, who passed for three 300-yard games, ranking 15th nationally in pass efficiency and total offense. The senior has passed for 11 touchdowns and been intercepted six times. But his most important trait has been his confidence running the offense that served as a foundation for Pelini's program to take hold.

Defensive MVP, Zach Potter: Before the season, the Cornhuskers' defensive line was expected to be its biggest weakness, but Potter has helped the group evolve into the team's biggest strength midway through the season. Potter has notched 21 tackles, including seven for loss and two sacks and an interception. He's also blocked two kicks, giving him four for his career.

What's next: The Cornhuskers have a clear path to a bowl game, which would be a good first step for Pelini after missing on postseason action last year. To get there, they will need to split the remaining six games beginning with a critical game at Iowa State on Saturday. The Cornhuskers need to run the ball better, stay away from foolish penalties and hope that some of Pelini's turnover magic starts rubbing off on a team which has struggled making big plays earlier this season.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

Here's a group of representative letters I received this week. Hope I answered them to everybody's satisfaction.

Heck from Austin writes: Can you or anybody else please tell me why Colt McCoy is riding behind all of the Big 12 quarterbacks? Colt matches numbers with Sam Bradford and Chase Daniel very well. The guy up at Tech is just a Tech quarterback. Colt is being treated like Rodney Dangerfield by the media because they can't believe how hard he is to stop. I hope somebody is surprised after this. I am firmly confident it won't be me.

Tim Griffin: Heck, I think that Colt still is being penalized by some national writers because of his struggles down the stretch last season. Most still remember that and also are factoring in Texas' less-than-stellar array of opponents in Florida Atlantic, UTEP, Rice, Arkansas and Colorado. That group currently is ranked 101st, 103rd, 115th, 87th and 61st in total defense in the NCAA's most recent statistical rankings.

If McCoy has big games and the Longhorns knock off Oklahoma and Missouri the next two weeks, I'm firmly convinced will be talking about McCoy as the Heisman frontrunner in two weeks. But that's a fairly big if, in my opinion.

John from Broken Arrow, Okla. writes: What chance do you give Oklahoma State this weekend against Missouri?

Tim Griffin: I think it's going to be very tough for them, particularly defensively. The Cowboys haven't faced any offense nearly as prolific as Missouri's, which hasn't had a three-and-out all season with Chase Daniel in control.

Oklahoma State is going to need to really dominate in special teams, which is a tough chore with Jeremy Maclin and Jeff Wolfert playing for the Tigers.

That being said, I still think that the Cowboys' offense will be troublesome. This will be a great game to watch on television and I think it will likely become a shootout. First team to 60 will win.

Will from Austin writes: I believe you had zero Texas Longhorns on your preseason All-Big 12 conference list. Are you ready to blow the whistle on yourself and say you vastly underrated this team?

Tim Griffin: Yes I will. I labored on whether to include Brian Orkapo on my original team. He was coming off knee surgery and everything I had heard from people in the North Division was that Ian Campbell was ready for a huge season for Kansas State. Guess that's what I get for listening and asking opinions.

But I still think the only Longhorns who are deserving first-team status so far are Orakpo and defensive tackle Roy Miller and maybe Cedric Dockery. I can see Chykie Brown developing into that kind of player, but just not this season.

As well as Colt McCoy is playing, there's still some debate whether you could pick Chase Daniel, Sam Bradford or even Graham Harrell at quarterback. I think the All-Big 12 team will be determined by how teams finish the season rather than how they started.

Smokey Bear from Loganville, Ga., writes: In the first two quarters of the game, a Missouri player hit the Nebraska player very late and no flag was called. And it was a serious hit. The hit with (Nebraska defensive Zach) Potter and Chase Daniel was barely a hit. What gives?

Tim Griffin: Smokey, I don't know what your definition of hit really is, but if you saw the helmet-to-helmet hit on Chase Daniel was pretty brutal. I was surprised that Daniel got up as quickly as he did.

That being said, I was also very surprised by the discrepancy in penalties in that game. Very rarely do you see something as one-sided as a 14-1 edge like Missouri had over Nebraska.

But it definitely gave Bo Pelini some teaching points in his bid to eradicate sloppy football out of his Nebraska program. And he's got the kind of job on that would make the Pied Piper flinch before he got all of the rats out of Hamelin.

Sandy from Austin writes: Tim, I appreciate your articles on the Big 12. Despite living in Austin I graduated from Texas Tech. What do you think that the Red Raiders' record will be when all the dust settles?

Tim Griffin: I've seen Tech play twice this season and have been impressed with the Red Raiders' defensive development, their improved running game and a new mean streak that seemed to be missing since Dwayne Slay left the program.

But I still think that the Red Raiders will lose in Oklahoma and it wouldn't be surprised if they lose to Texas in Lubbock. That would put them 10-2 and likely have them in the Holiday Bowl.

John from Denver writes: There are a lot of Kansas State fans like me out there like me who, at this point in the season, are realizing that Prince's program has jumped the shark. I've actually been rooting for the Cats to lose since last season when I couldn't see anything in Prince's future besides (at BEST) marginal, sporadic bowl appearances. Unfortunately, the Texas A&M, Iowa State and Colorado could mean victory notches for KSU, which would allow a non-losing season. If they win three conference games this season, do you think Prince will be in Manhattan next year?

Tim Griffin: John, I think it would be hard for the Kansas State athletic director Bob Krause to fire Prince if the Wildcats make a bowl trip. But I'm not sure there are three wins out there for the team I saw last weekend against Texas Tech. Their defense was sporadic at best and will assuredly struggle against Iowa State. Texas A&M could give them problems if the Aggies can get a lead and are able to run the ball, which every other team in the league should be able to do. I think it's going to be a tough season for Ron Prince and the Wildcats down the stretch.

If they don't make a bowl trip, it would be two seasons in a row without a December game. And it would be much easier to jettison Prince after that scenario.

The atmosphere around KSU last weekend struck me as something I had never experienced during my history of covering them. I've been going to Manhattan since the earliest days of the Big 12.

It just seemed very uninspired to me, which was surprising to me on Harley Day, usually one of the most boisterous games of the year. You could almost sense it when I was talking with some tailgaters on my way into the stadium. There was very little traffic coming over from Kansas City. It was the easiest drive I've ever had heading for Manhattan. And it got worse after the game got started. I bet there were less than 5,000 fans still remaining in the stadium at the end of the game. Several press box wags were describing the scene as reminding them of the pre-Bill Snyder days of the late 1980s when Stan Parrish was still coaching there.

That apathy can't remain. And I'm betting that Krause would make a change if it gets worse before it gets better.

Alvino from Corpus Christi writes: Tim, do you think Texas has a chance against a very good OU team? OU has shown some weakness in the offensive line.

Tim Griffin: Alvin, I think that Texas has a puncher's chance of stealing an upset against the Sooners. The Sooners
' offensive line struggled against TCU and they will face more imposing athletes this week in players like Orakpo and Miller.

I think the secret for Texas will be to develop another running threat besides McCoy and to dominate the special teams. This is be a game where Chris Ogbonnaya, Fozzy Whittaker or Cody Johnson needs to step up. Texas can't beat Oklahoma if McCoy leads the Longhorns in rushing.

The Sooners have been susceptible to long kickoff returns. They will need some big effort and I think this could be the area that determines the game. If Oklahoma plays Texas to a push in the special teams, I think the Sooners win.

Chris from St. Louis writes: Before the year, everyone seemed to think that the toughest four-game stretch all year was Georgia with LSU, Florida, Kentucky, and Auburn. If you ask me, I think it's pretty clear that that torch has now been passed to Texas. According to this week's coaches' poll, the Longhorns will be playing #1 Oklahoma, #2 Missouri, #17 Oklahoma State, and #7 Texas Tech in a row. Their combined record? 20-0. Do you agree that this is the toughest four-game stretch for any team in the nation?

Tim Griffin: Yes I do, which is why I think that McCoy could zoom ahead in the Heisman with a sweep. But I'm betting the Longhorns will likely go 2-2 in those games. When it all shakes out, I predict their wins will come over Oklahoma State and Texas Tech.

Again, thanks for all the correspondence and keep the questions coming. I'll be interested. Enjoy the games this week.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

Nebraska coach Bo Pelini blames himself and his staff for the Cornhuskers' early problems with penalties.

Nebraska ranks 115th nationally with an average of 9.2 penalties per game and 110th nationally with an average of 74.8 penalty yards per game. Included in the barrage have been eight personal foul penalties, including a helmet-to-helmet hit by Nebraska defensive end Zach Potter on Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel in the Tigers' victory on Saturday night.

"We have to play with more discipline," Pelini said. "That comes from me and from the staff. Some of them I can't comment about because I can't talk about officiating. But we just need to play smarter."

Pelini said he's been aggravated by sloppy false start penalties and being flagged for offsides as much as the 15-yard penalties.

"We need to be more disciplined and take care of things," Pelini said. "There are just too many penalties."

Trying to eliminate penalties has been something that Pelini's staff has emphasized for the last several weeks in practice -- apparently to no avail.

"You just stress it and you keep stressing it," Pelini said. "But they are calling it. It's hard to simulate those things in practice, but it's an either-or situation that we aren't always doing. We've got to do a better job."

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

Missouri's spread offense tests a defense in many ways. And often produces memories that stay with an opposing defense for a long time.

Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and his teammates are preparing for the immense challenge of an offense that hung 606 yards against them last season in a humiliating 41-6 defeat in Columbia, Mo.

"That was a horrible, horrible experience," Suh said. "I know myself I never want to see anything like that again. It motivates you to play hard and I'm eager to get after them."

Missouri even rubbed the victory in the nose of their traditional nemesis late in the game when they scored a touchdown on a fake field goal early in the fourth quarter while nursing a 34-6 lead.

"I've forgotten most of the game, but I remember how crazy their fans were," Nebraska defensive end Zach Potter said. "They kept playing to the end. They have their fakes and they put it on film. It happened to be our bad luck it came against us."

After the game, Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel ridiculed the repeated 3-3-5 strategy that former Nebraska coordinator Kevin Cosgrove ran against his team as something he would have faced in high school.

Soon thereafter, the Cornhuskers' proud tradition of awarding Blackshirts to their defensive starters was mothballed.

Against that backdrop, it's understandable why many Nebraska fans are howling for revenge as they hope to see the Cornhuskers stretch their 15-game home winning streak over their traditional rivals.

"This is just another game, with a little more hype with how well they're playing," Potter said.

Even after struggling against a basic offense in Virginia Tech, Nebraska coach Bo Pelini is intent on playing his attacking, aggressive defense against the Tigers. It will be much different than the read-and-react strategy Cosgrove unsuccessfully used last season.

The Cornhuskers rank 96th nationally in pass defense and 75th in turnover margin. Most harrowing, the Cornhuskers allowed 377 yards in a 35-30 loss to Virginia Tech, a team that came into the game ranked 112th in total offense.

Some might wonder if a more basic approach would be in order against the Tigers, who rank second nationally in scoring, total offense and passing.

But Pelini is determined to try to contain the Tigers with his typical defensive strategy.

"I've never gone into a game making concessions and I won't start this week," Pelini said. "We're going to do that this week and we're going to try to shut them out."

Pelini says it will be difficult for his team or any to notch many sacks against Missouri because of Daniel's quick release. But the senior quarterback can be hounded in different ways that will keep him occupied.

"He gets rid of the ball quick, but that doesn't mean you can't attack him," Pelini said. "You won't sack him a lot, but it doesn't mean you can't affect his rhythm. You have to disrupt it. You can't let him sit back there. You have to disguise things, give him a lot of different looks and mix it up."

The Cornhuskers played strongly late during the Virginia Tech game, but not consistently well enough to win. Critical penalties, including two in Virginia Tech's clinching drive by Suh and Pelini, helped salt away the Hokies' victory.

"There were just too many mistakes and not good enough execution," Pelini said. "We're not where we want to be. We're just a work in progress.

"That's just a reality. The kids are working hard and I like the passion they are playing with. But we aren't executing consistently. You're seeing progress, but there's just a number of errors. And against a team like Virginia Tech or Missouri, they hurt you and it's hard to overcome."