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One of the most promising developments this spring at Texas A&M was the way junior Floyd Raven took to the free safety position.

Raven was a backup at cornerback last season and moved to safety this spring. The Aggies thought about moving the 6-2, 190-pound Raven to safety last fall, but coach Kevin Sumlin said they didn’t feel as if he’d have enough time to get comfortable at safety.

“It was a heck of a lot easier to put him in and blitz and play man-to-man (as a corner),” Sumlin explained.

But with Steven Terrell departing, the Aggies were looking for a full-time free safety. Raven, with his size and athletic ability, made perfect sense.

He made a ton of plays this spring and helped to solidify the Texas A&M secondary, especially with junior Howard Matthews and senior Toney Hurd Jr., returning at safety.

“He’s a physical guy who just needed to learn the position and has tremendous range and the right size and the right attitude to be a really, really good safety,” Sumlin said. “For him to get all the reps he got this spring really helps us. With Howard Matthews coming back, and he played very well for us at the end of the year, that helps Floyd, too, to have some guys who it’s not their first time back there.”

Sumlin said the summer months will be equally valuable for Raven as he continues to develop the right rapport and communication with his secondary mates.

“Through the summer with players organizing 7-on-7’s, we look for him to get better and better as he goes, and certainly the consistency back there this spring with he and Howard at the safety position makes you feel a lot better as coaches now than we did at the beginning,” Sumlin said.

“We knew he had the talent and knew he had the skills, and after coming through the spring and seeing the way he practiced, we’re pleased with his progress.”

Let's take a closer look at the schedule for the Big 12's biggest brand and a team looking to turn the corner in 2013: The Texas Longhorns.

Full schedule:

• Aug. 31: vs. New Mexico State
• Sept. 7: at BYU
• Sept. 14: vs. Ole Miss
• Sept. 21: vs. Kansas State
• Oct. 3: at Iowa State (Thursday)
• Oct. 12: vs. Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas
• Oct. 26: at TCU
• Nov. 2: vs. Kansas
• Nov. 9: at West Virginia
• Nov. 16: vs. Oklahoma State
• Nov. 28: vs. Texas Tech (Thursday)
• Dec. 7: at Baylor

Non-con challenge: at BYU. The Cougars narrowly edge out a growing Ole Miss program, but going on the road this early in the season is always a scary proposition. BYU's defense was stout last season and will want to keep this game low-scoring and ugly. Defending Cougars quarterback Taysom Hill will be an early test for Texas' run defense and discipline. It feels odd to say, but considering the importance of this season for the Longhorns as an experienced team built for a run but with other programs in state growing, this feels like a bit of a must-win if Texas wants to regain its status as the best team in the state and a Big 12 power. It could make up for an early loss later in the season, but a loss in Provo is more likely a sign of things to come.

Gut-check game: Kansas State. On paper, there is zero reason Kansas State should win this game. The Longhorns will have been well-tested and return more starters than any team in the Big 12 from a nine-win team a year ago. They know their identity and know the importance of the season while Kansas State is rebuilding with just eight starters returning from last year's Big 12 title team. However, this is Kansas State we're talking about, whose odd mastery of the Longhorns (7-2 all-time vs. Texas in Big 12 play) is one of the league's great mysteries. K-State won the Big 12 at Texas' expense in last year's regular-season finale.

Chance to impress: Oklahoma. Oklahoma's not the best team in the Big 12, but the memory of ugly, ugly losses in Dallas will be fresh when Texas arrives at the Cotton Bowl, and this should be the biggest test of the season to date on a big stage for the Longhorns, who could very well be in the top five and 5-0 entering the annual rivalry game. A win against the Sooners would validate that start and validate Texas' status as a major contender for the Big 12 title.

Upset watch: at West Virginia. West Virginia will have figured out a whole lot offensively by the middle of November, when this game is slated to be played. The Big 12 is a deep league and WVU may be playing to keep its postseason hopes alive at this point in the season. WVU will definitely be more able to put up some points by this point in the year, and going on the road to a difficult atmosphere with plenty of pressure is always dangerous.

Eyeing revenge: at TCU. The Frogs delivered the most difficult and frustrating loss of Texas' season last year, and effectively eliminated the Longhorns from Big 12 title contention with a Thanksgiving night win in Austin. Texas will probably have to go through Fort Worth to win its first Big 12 title since 2009, but the good news is the Frogs didn't win a single Big 12 game at home last season.

Final analysis: I always think it's a good idea with a nine-game conference schedule to play a neutral site game so you never have to go on the road five times in a season, and that's what Texas does, though it's done that for a long time with the Red River tradition. All things considered, this is a very balanced schedule for the Longhorns, who play one Big 12 contender (Oklahoma State) at home, one on the road (TCU) and Oklahoma on a neutral site. The toughest matchups of the year don't ever come in back-to-back weeks, and less-heralded opponents break them up. Texas' schedule doesn't have any hugely notable stretches that will decide the season, but those big games will decide whether Texas is really "back."

HornsNation’s Max Olson and Midlands regional coordinator Damon Sayles join Phil Murphy to discuss the decommitment of Demetrius Knox, the latest with star defensive ends Solomon Thomas and Myles Garrett and a Big 12 school off to a surprising start in its 2014 recruiting.

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Before Casey Pachall left TCU's team to seek treatment for drug and alcohol addiction, there was no overwrought, grandiose conversation when both sides compromised to reach a fitting solution. There was no dramatic speech, no tear-filled pleas from either side of the table.

Gary Patterson's message to Pachall was simple: "We’ve got to change the direction you’re going," TCU's coach told ESPN.com in a recent interview.

During a February 2012 campus drug raid in which four football players were among 17 students arrested, Pachall admitted to police that he smoked marijuana and tried cocaine and ecstasy. Two weeks earlier, he had failed a team-wide drug test, and he shared a residence with linebacker Tanner Brock, who was kicked off the team after he was one of the players arrested in the sting.

The news of Pachall's admissions to police didn't surface until August. He spoke to media members and apologized for his "mistakes" but didn't take questions about the police report.

By October, the Frogs were 4-0 and in the top 15 and Pachall led the nation in quarterback rating. An October drunken driving arrest made it clear, however, that Pachall's substance abuse issues were not behind him.

"We really didn’t have a conversation. He didn’t have a choice in the matter. This was what he had to do if he wanted to have a chance to stay in school here," Patterson said. "The biggest thing for me was for him to understand he had hope that, if he did the things he had to do, that he had something to come back to, because playing college football and possibly having a chance to play in the NFL is really important to him."

Pachall was off the team and left to seek treatment, but Patterson made it clear in a news conference in the days that followed that if Pachall completed the program and left his supervisors and sponsors satisfied, he would still have a spot on the team.

"There were those who said I shouldn’t do anything, just suspend him a couple games. There were those who said you should get rid of him," Patterson said. "In this case, looking at all the information I had, I think this was one of those where we needed to help a young man out, not just because he’d been our starting quarterback. He’s not the first, nor will he be the last, that’s given help to. He just happens to be the most publicized."

Patterson didn't have much contact with Pachall during his in-patient treatment, but quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator Rusty Burns kept in touch with his quarterback, who stopped by to see Patterson after leaving in-patient care and beginning outpatient treatment.

"I’ve tried to lend support when needed but really tried to make sure you didn’t show or give him any weaknesses in the fences," Patterson said. "He has to fight his own demons."

By January, Pachall had completed his treatment and re-enrolled at TCU, rejoining the team for workouts and working toward regaining both his teammates' trust and his spot as the team's starting quarterback, ahead of Trevone Boykin, who filled in for Pachall over the season's final nine games.

Amid skepticism from just about everyone, Patterson maintains that the competition is close.

"He’s doing well in class and football, but you can tell he hasn’t thrown a football in a while. But he’s going to keep getting stronger," Patterson said. "For him, it’s now getting back in it, getting your arm stronger, catch up to the speed of the game. The other thing, he left and finds some new people to work with. Him and Josh [Boyce] were kind of an item and now Josh is not here, so he’s got to find who he throws to later on. Trevone already has a feel for that."

Patterson laid out the payoff for Pachall if he could change the direction of his life. To this point, Pachall has held up his end. His journey, however, is only beginning. For anyone who has battled addiction, the fight to stay away from the vices that previously restrained him is never ending.

The two haven't spoken about Pachall's time in treatment, and for Patterson, there's no guarantee that Pachall's struggles are permanently behind him. The focus, though, remains in the present.

"The biggest thing is he understands there are a lot of people paying attention, so he’s got to make sure he walks a straight line," Patterson said. "He’s been doing the right things, and you just take it one day at a time. I don’t think he’s any different than any other person who’s dealt with this."

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Gary Patterson can only smile when he thinks back to 2004, fresh off a 5-6 season in Conference USA and preparing to join the Mountain West Conference when he started telling people that, one day, TCU would be booking tickets to the BCS.

He would draw smiles and the verbal equivalent of a pat on the head usually reserved for a toddler boldly declaring his intentions of becoming an astronaut or the next Tom Brady. Most would tell Patterson they loved his passion but that he sounded like a crazy person in need of some more realistic goals, lest he disappoint fans and boosters of his program.

"Now you’ve been to two, and you’ve won a Rose Bowl," Patterson told ESPN.com in a recent interview.

Understandably, nobody's laughing much anymore when Patterson talks about the program's next goals, even after a seven-win debut in the Big 12 in 2012.

"Now we’re talking about someday winning a Big 12 championship and someday playing for a national championship," Patterson said.

TCU's best chance is now, with a wide-open Big 12 devoid of a preseason national title contender and the Frogs looking likely to tote a status as one of the league's favorites in the 2013 season. The dividends could be enormous, and Patterson doesn't have to look far to see proof.

"You just look at A&M. Nobody said they were going to do very well, but it’s helped them in recruiting because they surprised people with what they did in their first year in the SEC," Patterson said. "There’s not any doubt that if you can go win big early, you can reap the benefits faster."

The line of thinking is this: TCU has been in the Big 12 for only a season, just like A&M hadn't seen a season in the SEC. Early success means few, if any, examples of failing at the higher level of competition. Show that to recruits and it's a convincing sell. Those convincing sells mean signed letters of intent from players who might otherwise not be heading to your campus, and suddenly you've snowballed into a power based on a big splash in a new, bigger pond.

Texas A&M looks headed for that territory. TCU would love to do the same in the Big 12. At least that's the plan, even though Patterson makes it clear he's treating this season like any other. In fact, with a more experienced team, he's implemented the exact same practice plan as he did for the 2010 season when the Frogs went undefeated and knocked off Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl.

"Do we have good players? Yes. Do we have the depth we need? No, but we’ve grown in it at some positions," Patterson said. "If we can stay healthy, unlike we did a year ago, who knows what could happen?"

A Big 12 title could definitely happen, and history tells us if you win the Big 12, you won't be far out of the national title race. Catch a couple breaks and you might end up playing on college football's biggest stage. For TCU, that could mean taking big advantage of the natural assets the program was unable to capitalize on without major conference membership.

"We’ve always known who the best players were in the state," Patterson said. "There’s a lot more kids that walk in our doors now that maybe didn’t walk in our doors before. We recruited them but couldn’t get them."

There's no guarantee, but it's hard to see Patterson's sell being a lot harder to turn down if he walks into a recruit's living room with a Big 12 title ring on his hand and a claim that he's won the league 50 percent of the times he's tried to do it. Add to that the offer of playing for a title just a short drive away from home and the weight of what's on the table for TCU in 2013 becomes clearer.

"Like Devonte [Fields], he’s got about 30-35 family members who come watch him play every game," Patterson said of his star defensive end.

Fields won the Big 12's Defensive Player of the Year honor as a true freshman in 2012 after signing with TCU as the nation's No. 73 overall prospect and the No. 11 player in Texas.

"Then everybody’s bought in," Patterson said. "It’s not just your mom and dad come up from Houston. You’ve got everybody that’s here."

There's no guarantee TCU can count on winning Big 12 titles in 50 percent of the seasons it plays. Oklahoma has done that over the past decade, though, and Patterson is not in the business of lowering the ambition of the goals he sets for his program.

"The key is can you grow and become a top-20 or top-15 team and top-10 team and in the Big 12 and keep it, not do it once every seven to eight years?" Patterson said. "You’ve got teams in this conference who have been able to do it every other year. We’ve got to make decisions that put us in a position to do that. That’s our whole mindset."

Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops isn't much of a complainer, but in terms of environment equality, it's hard to draw up worse scenarios than Stoops has found his teams playing in during three of their four trips to the national title game.

Stoops' Sooners found success in 2000 when they knocked off Florida State in Miami, which is anything but a short drive, but it's not hard to find plenty of Seminole faithful in Florida.

The same thing happened in 2008 when Oklahoma faced off (and lost to) Florida in Miami. Perhaps the worst environment came in the 2003 BCS National Championship, when some guy named Nick Saban and tens of thousands of his biggest fans (at the time, anyway) made the 80-mile trek to New Orleans to see LSU deny Stoops his second national title and Oklahoma its eighth. Stoops has seen those kinds of crowds that can be "80/20" or "70/30" in favor of the other guys, and it's anything but enjoyable.

"You feel like you’re playing an away game and the other team’s playing a home game," Stoops said.

Very soon, Stoops may get a chance to let a few other coaches feel his pain. The College Football Playoff begins in 2014, and the first championship game will be played in Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, less than three hours from Oklahoma's campus.

It won't be the last title game in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, either.

"I think all of the schools in this region, to have Dallas as one of those sites is great for everybody in this region," Stoops said. "Obviously, everybody knows what a great and quality and an awesome stadium it is, and then the location for us is an advantage, or should be."

Oklahoma's played in the BCS National Championship more than any team in the Big 12, but if other nearby schools like TCU (20 minutes), Texas (three hours), Baylor (90 minutes), Oklahoma State (4.5 hours) or Texas Tech (five hours) reach the title game, the same advantage would be theirs.

Texas played in the game twice, facing Alabama in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., and got a taste of the Sooners' road-game treatment when it beat USC in the 2005 game in the same stadium, about 15 miles from the Trojans' stadium.

"If anyone in this region can be in that situation, it’ll be the same thing, that we get a chance to have the crowd on your side, plus even travel for fans and for everybody to be able to get to it, I think it’s a great thing for everybody with proximity to Dallas," Stoops said.

Simply having a major bowl game back in the Big 12 footprint is a welcome development for the league after the advent of the BCS meant the Cotton Bowl, despite its pageantry and history, was relegated to second-tier status, though the matchup, crowds and venue remained first rate.

Next season, it won't be able to get any better.

"I’m all for it. I’m all for a national playoff and all for it being in Dallas, because it’s a great stadium," Baylor coach Art Briles said. "I think it’s great and I believe football is best down here in the southwest, so let’s put the best game down here."

During a simulated scrimmage in Oklahoma's first practice of the spring in full pads, Blake Bell used his BellDozing legs to escape the pocket, but the right-hander was rolling to his left to escape the rush.

Bell, channeling his inner Brett Favre, tried to find a receiver on the right side of the field, throwing across his body to try and make the throw. The toss predictably floated and was intercepted.

"He just shook his head," Sooners coach Bob Stoops said. "A classic example where it has sting a little bit and you’ve got to learn. Hopefully he’s learned a valuable lesson since then, that you can’t be careless with the football."

That's the bad news.

The good news is Stoops has seen plenty of evidence to suggest Bell absolutely learned his lesson from that early throw. The proof was in every throw from that point forward.

"Since that day, you haven’t seen a mistake like that," Stoops said. "Just being smart with the football is such a big deal."

In fact, it's the biggest deal for Stoops. For a yet-undecided quarterback competition, Bell's ability to take care of the ball bodes well for him keeping his status as the likely heir to four-year starter Landry Jones.

"The important part for all of them will be decision-making," Stoops said. "Who can make the right reads and decisions and getting the football where it needs to be."

He outplayed his younger competition, Trevor Knight and Kendal Thompson, in the Sooners' spring game, completing 14-of-23 passes for 213 yards and a pair of scores, validating a strong spring that left him looking like the Sooners' best option. Most importantly, he didn't turn the ball over, and both Knight and Thompson couldn't say that after the Sooners' spring finale.

Those 213 passing yards are one short of doubling Bell's total passing yards in 2012, but most college football fans know him best as the BellDozer, bulling his way to 24 rushing touchdowns over the past two seasons in the Sooners' signature short-yardage package.

"He’s always been able to throw the football well, we’ve just chosen his role to this point has been short yardage and goal line, getting the extra blocker when you’re running your quarterback," Stoops said. "Plus, he’s a big strong guy to fall forward and get a yard when there isn’t one there. He throws a great deep ball."

Oklahoma's rarely employed a mobile quarterback, but that seems likely to change this season as the Sooners' personnel no longer fits the statuesque style of Jones or predecessors like Heisman Trophy winners Sam Bradford and Jason White who helped Oklahoma win eight Big 12 titles since Stoops' arrival.

"All our guys, when we recruit them, it’s all about how they throw, not how they run. We’re just fortunate that this group of guys, along with throwing the football, have the ability to run, too," Stoops said. "We’ll see what that other dimension can do for us."

After Texas' dramatic Alamo Bowl comeback, Mack Brown sat down and explained the significance of the win to his team. After winning eight games in 2011 following a five-win disaster in 2010, reaching nine wins in 2012 was important.

Sure, it signified progress. It also wasn't enough.

"Nine’s not enough at Texas. They understand that the last three years are not acceptable," Brown said. "They’re not the standard that we set forth for many, many years. They’re not who we want to be. We want to go back and win the conference championship and get back in the mix for the national championship, and at Texas, our expectations are obviously to win every game."

Brown is done calling his team "young" for a while. He still lacks a huge, experienced senior class, but quarterback David Ash, receiver Jaxon Shipley and running back Malcolm Brown have matured into juniors entering their third seasons as starters, and four starters return on the offensive line. Texas' 17 returning starters are the most in the Big 12.

"It’s been a fun couple of years and a tough couple of years for us getting it back on track, but I think we’re about to reap some rewards for those hard Saturdays," Brown said.

Brown would love to string together nine consecutive 10-win seasons, as he did earlier in his career, but has said on several occasions that while the losses aren't enjoyable, the process of rebuilding is more fun for him than trying to maintain an established team. Still, re-establishing the program and winning big is the end goal, and entering 2013 that looks like a realistic goal.

"That’s the reason (our players) came to Texas. That’s what they expect. They know that they want to please their fan base, and coaches understand as well that they didn’t come to Texas to win nine games," Brown said. "Everybody’s on the same page and everybody wants to win every game."

Lopsided losses to co-Big 12 champions Oklahoma and Kansas State showed how far Texas had to go to reclaim its status as a Big 12 title contender. The Longhorns can't afford close losses like they had to West Virginia and TCU last season, both at home.

The rebuilding job has been a success in filling the depth chart with quality talent and depth, but the Longhorns still have to prove they can be the best team on the field in every game (or close to every game) as they did for much of the 2000s, when Texas won a pair of Big 12 titles under Brown and played for a pair of national titles, winning one.

"We hope we’re getting ready to start that kind of run again," Brown said, "but it’s easier to build one than to keep one."

Our crack RecruitingNation team released their first ESPN 150 for the class of 2014 last week, a list that will shift a bit over the next nine months, but serves as a starting place for what the nation's top recruits look like and where they're hailing from.

You can see a further breakdown here, with lots of intriguing numbers. There are 16 ESPN 150 prospects in Texas, the second most of any state, but well behind Florida's 26. Making an impact in the state of Texas is how you win in the Big 12, but with Oklahoma State's emergence and TCU's new Big 12 membership, there are a few more hands in the pot for elite prospects than there used to be.

Two more ESPN 150 prospects are from Kansas and three other Big 12 states have one ESPN 150 member: Iowa, Kansas and West Virginia.

The biggest group of ESPN 150 members by position: wide receivers, with 18.

We're continuing our march across Big 12 country with your dream trek for 2013. Want to see the best of the best in the Big 12 this season? Come along with us.

We don't make the final decisions about where we spend our fall Saturdays, but I'm walking week by week through the 2013 season and forecasting where I'd like to be. Circumstances change as games happen, of course, but here's how I'd project the season. Road nonconference games count. Let's move on with the next week.

More 2013 Ultimate Big 12 Road Trip.

Here's the Week 10 schedule across the Big 12:

• West Virginia at TCU
• Iowa State at Kansas State
• Kansas at Texas
• Oklahoma State at Texas Tech

My pick: Oklahoma State at Texas Tech

Not a fantastic slate of games in Week 10 across the Big 12, but heading out to Lubbock where many a Big 12 title bid has died a difficult death should be really fun. West Texas was the beginning of the end for West Virginia last year, and the Red Raiders developed a reputation for being the only team in the Big 12 who could beat Oklahoma and Texas when the league's two national programs were at the height of their respective powers.

OSU has taken care of business during its last two trips to Lubbock in 2010 and 2011, but Kliff Kingsbury's talked over and over about returning the "swagger" to Texas Tech that seemed to have exited with Tommy Tuberville's arrival. That means not being afraid of anyone, and OSU could come to Lubbock atop the Big 12 standings. You should see plenty of great offense in this game, and two teams that love to play as fast as anyone in the league. First team to 100 offensive snaps wins?

Recruiting is a year-round game, and it's time to take our monthly look at how this year's recruiting classes are progressing. Getting off to a quick start can get things rolling for any class. Here's how I'd rank the classes thus far. Click on each team to see the full class, though you'll need ESPN Insider to see it.

1. Texas

Total commits: 14
ESPN 150 commits: 2
Class notes: The Longhorns added seven commits since our last update and debuted at No. 1 in our ESPN 2014 class rankings released last week. Jermaine Roberts, the nation's No. 14 cornerback, and Houston native Otaro Alaka (No. 9 OLB) headline a very busy month for the Longhorns. Texas also got a commit from the nation's No. 2 center, Terrell Cuney, though it lost Demetrius Knox, the nation's No. 14 offensive guard, on Monday. Texas is the only Big 12 team with multiple commits in the ESPN 150.

2. Texas Tech

Total commits: 9
ESPN 150 commits: 0
Class notes: The Red Raiders made a big move since our last update, adding five commits and jumping ahead of Oklahoma for the No. 2 spot in our conference recruiting rankings. Four of Texas Tech's five commits made their pledge over the weekend while the spring game took place, including quarterback Patrick Mahomes and skill position talents DeMarcus Felton (RB) and Cameron Batson (WR). Kliff Kingsbury is doing some serious work on the recruiting trail. Tech doesn't have a huge commit that will turn heads, but this is a strong start for a class that already looks pretty deep.

3. Oklahoma

Total commits: 4
ESPN 150 commits: 1
Class notes: The Sooners grabbed a huge pickup on the weekend of their spring game with quarterback Justice Hansen from nearby Edmond, Okla. The nation's No. 3 dual-threat quarterback gave Oklahoma its lone ESPN 150 commit, and two days later, the nation's No. 30 receiver, Dallis Todd, followed suit with a commit.

4. TCU Horned Frogs

Total commits: 5
ESPN 150 commits: 0
Class notes: TCU is bringing two quarterbacks to Fort Worth in this class, including its latest commit. Fort Worth native Foster Sawyer (future All-Name Teamer, folks) joins Grayson Muehlstein to give the Frogs a pair of pro-style passers who combine to have four last names.

5. Oklahoma State

Total commits: 3
ESPN 150 commits: 0
Class notes: Oklahoma State added a pair of commits who rank in the top 15 nationally at their position to jump ahead of Baylor in these rankings. The nation's No. 15 running back, Devon Thomas, and No. 14 OLB Gyasi Akem both pledged to be future Cowboys.

6. Kansas State

Total commits: 5
ESPN 150 commits: 0
Class notes: Outside linebacker Elijah Lee (No. 41 at the position) is the biggest pickup for the Wildcats since our last update, but four of K-State's five commits are in the top 50 nationally at their respective positions. Defensive end C.J. Reese also committed to K-State since our last update.

7. Baylor Bears

Total commits: 4
ESPN 150 commits: 1
Class notes: The Bears have the Big 12's top overall commit in ATH Davion Hall, the nation's No. 73 overall prospect, but don't have another player ranked nationally at his respective position. Offensive guard Devonte Jones joined the Bears' class over the weekend. One player, a recruiting class does not make, which is why the Bears have been passed up by three teams since our last update.

8. West Virginia

Total commits: 2
ESPN 150 commits: 0
Class notes: West Virginia launched itself ahead of Iowa State on this update with a big pickup over the weekend. The nation's No. 12 dual-threat passer, Baltimore's William Crest, pledged to Dana Holgorsen and the Mountaineers. He went to the same high school as Tavon Austin.

9. Iowa State

Total commits: 1
ESPN 150 commits: 0
Class notes: Iowa State doesn't have a commitment since December, but the nation's No. 33 receiver, Allen Lazard, is a nice pickup from inside state lines. Opinions on Lazard differ widely between recruiting services. I've already heard from a number of ISU fans about Lazard's modest ranking. Don't shoot the messenger, folks.

10. Kansas

Total commits: 1
ESPN 150 commits: 0
Class notes: Kansas hasn't added anyone since our last update, but still has a pledge from running back Traevohn Wrench, a 6-foot-1, 190-pounder from Gardner, Kan.

Last week, I got an interesting email from a reader who wondered if the Big 12 was feeling the sting of regret by not inviting an eager Louisville program into the Big 12 -- and then promptly watching the Cardinals win a national title in basketball and a BCS bowl game in the same calendar year, a feat duplicated by only Florida and, yes, Kansas.

It's a complicated debate, if only for the number of different scenarios in which Louisville might have been a Big 12 member. Could the Big 12 have done so and left out West Virginia or even TCU? Could it have invited all three and been an 11-team league? It sounds awkward, but the Big Ten operated with that arrangement for two decades until recently inviting Nebraska.

Today, that discussion gained a bit more relevance with the news that the ACC has agreed to a grant of rights through 2026-27, effectively ending any idea the Big 12 had of making Louisville a member anytime soon. (And Florida State, Clemson or Notre Dame, for that matter). The Cardinals will be locked up just like the rest of the Big 12 has been since executing a six-year grant of rights before extending it to 13 years last fall.

Writes colleague Brett McMurphy:

The ACC's grant of rights guarantees if a school leaves for another league in the 14 years, that its school's media rights, including revenue, for all home games would remain with the ACC and not its new conference.

"That ends expansion right there," a source said.

My take on the Louisville issue is here, and it inspired a whole lot of response from plenty of you. I'm intrigued by what you think.

It's easy to be enticed by the recent success, but difficult to convince me that Louisville's modest historical success on the football field produces enough attention and success to warrant inclusion. It's not out of the question, but it's not a slam dunk, either. TCU made a whole bunch of sense with its history among Big 12 members as a member of the old Southwest Conference, proximity and growing football tradition, brand and stadium, and West Virginia was the Big East's biggest, most recognizable (and valuable) football brand.

Still, what do you think? Should the Big 12 have brought in Louisville in any capacity? I'm accepting all votes here: A "Yes" as the the Big 12's ninth, 10th or 11th member counts as a "Yes." No is no.

Cast your votes.

 

College football is preparing to enter a brave new world in 2014 with the advent of a four-team playoff, and that also means bowl alliances will be shifting.

For the Big 12, that could mean more bowl games within driving distance, in part inspired by Iowa State fans' mass exodus to last year's Liberty Bowl. Over 14,000 Cyclones fans bought tickets from the school to the bowl game, and around 25,000 showed up to the stadium in Memphis on game day. ISU only landed in because nine Big 12 teams made bowls and the league only had eight bowl tie-ins, but the Big 12 sounds intriuged by the prospect of adding more bowl games in Tennessee, as well as Florida, which had been previously reported.

From the Associated Press:

"I think that probably did cause us to think about bowls closer to home," (Big 12 commissioner Bob) Bowlsby said in a recent phone interview.

Bowlsby declined to talk about specific bowls being targeted by the Big 12, but a person familiar with the conference's plans told The Associated Press league officials are interested in striking a deal with at least one of the Tennessee bowls games -- the Liberty Bowl or the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl in Nashville.

...

Ames, Iowa, is about a six-hour drive from Memphis.

Most of the other nine Big 12 schools are within seven to 10 hours of Memphis -- not a short trip but doable in a day.

"Our guys said we'd be well advised to have some bowl that we can drive to," Bowlsby said.

I'd be hesitant to make major decisions based on Iowa State here, because simply going to a bowl game means a lot more to that program than many in the Big 12, but getting away to Memphis or Nashville during the holiday season is definitely attractive and cost-effective.

New York, meanwhile, sounds fun. It's proven to be a headache for Big 12 fans and teams who have endured travel troubles, practice inconveniences (everybody loves holding practices in hotel ballrooms, right? West Virginia and Kansas State had to do it in 2012 and 2010, respectively) and low attendance, and the report says what's long been assumed among most everyone in the Big 12: The relationship between the league and the New Era Pinstripe Bowl is likely to end soon.

While the Big 12 looks toward Florida for a game, the Big Ten wants more games in California, which could mean the Big 12's alliance with the Holiday Bowl could end, too. Bowl executive director Bruce Binkowski said the bowl game is looking at all its options for now.

We could see some more movement and more comments on the record after this week's BCS meetings, but a little bit of variety in the Big 12 bowl lineup would be a welcome change, I'm sure.

Texas Tech played the first spring game of the Kliff Kingsbury era on Saturday. Here's a closer look:

What happened:

• Michael Brewer completed 26-of-43 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Davis Webb completed 17-of-30 passes for 224 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Brewer took two sacks but had 15 yards rushing on five carries.
• Kenny Williams and Quinton White rushed a combined 30 times for 130 yards.
• Jace Amaro led all receivers with 11 catches for 80 yards and a touchdown.
• The defense topped the offense, 34-28.
• For all you recruitniks out there, hyped receiver K.D. Cannon was in attendance, and called the experience "outstanding. He's the nation's No. 58 player and No. 5 receiver.

What we learned:

• It's still Brewer's job to lose. Kingsbury has been slowplaying who his starting quarterback will be in the fall, but the long-held assumption by most is that Brewer would easily win the job on a roster with not much competition. Davis Webb has made things interesting, but Brewer's performance on Saturday -- just the third open practice of the entire spring -- made it look like it's hard to believe he won't be the guy come fall. Kingsbury, though, says the competition is "close." "It’s good competition and I think that’s good for everybody,” Kingsbury told reporters. “We’ll go through the summer, go into fall camp and get a starter named." I do think it's closer than most people realized, but I don't buy the prospect of Brewer legitimately not winning this job just yet. It might be "close," but there's a clear frontrunner. Webb did have a huge play on an 83-yard score to Dereck Edwards, but also threw an ugly interception after being flushed from the pocket.
• The defensive progress looked like it's continuing. I expect Texas Tech's offense to still be stellar next fall, but the defense opened up a 23-0 lead early on. That's got to be encouraging, even though it's still just one practice. There's a lot of firepower on Tech's offense, but this is the same team who was -13 in turnover margin last season, the worst mark of any Big 12 team in the last three years. The defense forced three turnovers on Saturday, and Kingsbury's been continually encouraged. It did all of that despite playing a pretty vanilla defense. "We addressed that going into this game," DC Matt Wallerstedt told reporters. "We just wanted to see guys run and hit, play your assignment, be aggressive, play with emotion and take the football away. I think we accomplished those things." Will Smith led the defense with 10 tackles and Branden Jackson made three tackles for loss, with a sack. Pete Robertson also had six tackles and a sack.
• The receivers are who we thought they were. Eric Ward sat out for good reason (he's got nothing to prove), but Amaro showed up big and Tech got some nice showings from unheralded receivers like Brent Mitcham (8 rec. 98 yards, TD) and Brad Pearson (six rec, 60 yards), while Jakeem Grant had a somewhat quiet day. He hauled in a short touchdown pass and a 22-yard grab.
• Tech is serious about The King. Only about 16,000 fans showed up on Saturday, but no autograph line in the Red Raiders' postgame meet-and-greet was longer than Kingsbury's. You don't have to look long for more evidence that he's got the people's vote in Lubbock these days. That was just another reminder.

Miss Oklahoma State's spring game? It was probably the Big 12's most interesting thus far (postgame, anyway). We've got you've covered. Let's have a look.

What happened:

• Clint Chelf worked with the Orange team and completed 17-of-34 passes for 204 yards and a touchdown with no picks, leading them to a 17-7 win.
• J.W. Walsh and Wes Lunt split reps with the White team. Walsh finished with 123 yards, a touchdown and an interception on 13-of-23 passing. Lunt finished with 122 yards and an interception on 15-of-27 passing.
• Linebacker Caleb Lavey returned an interception 52 yards for a touchdown with just over a minute left to lock in the win.
• Cornerback Justin Gilbert swiped two interceptions and defensive lineman Jimmy Bean made two sacks and scooped up a fumble.

What we learned:

• It's going to be an intriguing few months in Stillvegas. Mike Gundy made it clear after the game that he won't be updating the quarterback spot until the season opener. "There's really no reason to talk about what our quarterback situation is. We've been very open about it through the spring, but I don't know if there's anything else we can say other than we're fortunate to have three that are really good," Gundy said. Well, no, he could say who's going to start against Mississippi State, but that would certainly be a lack of gamesmanship. At this point, I'd say the smart money is on Chelf getting the ball to start the season, but this isn't the first time we've seen a coach handle a quarterback competition this way. Nebraska's Bo Pelini waited until starting lineups were announced on opening day to reveal his pick between Cody Green, Zac Lee and Taylor Martinez, but the young, speedy freshman ended up beating the odds and his competition. I'm sure you'll hear a number of anonymously sourced reports between now and then with updates on who's winning, but by now, if it's anyone but Chelf, it'll be a surprise. OSU wants to go faster, and that experience gives him the ability to do so. Not turning the ball over (something that's continually been a huge problem for Lunt) in Saturday's game doesn't hurt, either.
• Welcome back, Justin Gilbert. I wrote on Friday that I was intrigued to see the cornerback play, and Gilbert made it happen. He went 13 games without an interception last season after nabbing five in 2011. He grabbed two on Saturday. Interceptions aren't necessarily a fair representation of cover skills, but Saturday was a welcome development for everyone involved, minus the quarterbacks, of course. "Justin played very average last year, and he would be the first to admit that," Gundy told reporters. "He's certainly very talented, and he was in position to make plays today, and that's what he needs to do for us. He needs to be a guy who has several interceptions and runs the ball back. As fast he as he is, if he's in the right area, he can get the ball off a tip -- and that's what he did today." OSU really needs that to carry over into the fall, and that position battle opposite Gilbert between Ashton Lampkin and Kevin Peterson should be interesting to watch in the fall, too. Ultimately, both will be in the rotation. The defense as a whole was really, really impressive, and we know what this offense is capable of. Lots to be encouraged about for Pokes fans after Saturday.
• Don't worry about the run game. The offense as a whole was pretty underwhelming on Saturday, with all three quarterbacks having lower completion percentages than I'm sure they'd like and starting running back Jeremy Smith being held to just two yards on six carries. "I think our run game is going to be fine," Gundy told reporters. "It's all based on how a defense wants to defend us. We're going to rush the football and we're going to throw it. We're not going to change what we do. Obviously, Jeremy has to be the guy now, and Desmond (Roland) backs him up." I buy Gundy here. It's a bit of a red flag for now, and I don't think Smith is quite as talented as a lot of the other backs that have come through OSU in the past few years, but I expect OSU to have a seventh consecutive 1,000-yard rusher this season.
• Another problem finding a solution? Blake Jackson's unreliable hands were one of the bigger frustrations for OSU in 2012, but he definitely showed some progress on Saturday, catching five balls for 34 yards. "It's a pleasure to show the fans that I'm better than I was last year, and really getting to come out here and show how hard I've been working. It was definitely a fun time for me. The hard work won't stop."