We also get interesting numbers and stats from our crack ESPN Stats & Information team. If you've forgotten them, you'll be reminded quickly. Let's get started.
Did you know ...
- Landry Jones didn't throw a single interception when targeting Ryan Broyles last year. He threw all 15 while targeting other receivers. On passes not targeting Broyles, his 128.4 passer rating would have ranked 84th nationally among quarterbacks with at least 100 attempts.
- Baylor's seven-game home winning streak is the longest in the Big 12 and fifth-longest in the nation, behind Northern Illinois (15), Michigan State (14), Arkansas (11) and Michigan (8).
- Tavon Austin gained 941 of his 1,186 receiving yards after the catch. That's the most of any player on a ranked team entering the season. Over 60 percent of those yards came on screen passes.
- On throws longer than 15 yards last year, Geno Smith threw 15 touchdown passes and one interception, including eight scores to Stedman Bailey.
- Smith was 17-of-31 last year when targeting Bailey more than 15 yards downfield.
- In Big 12 play last year, Texas was 1-of-11 passing on third down in the red zone. That's the lowest percentage of any Big 12 team in the past eight years.
- Longhorns quarterback David Ash completed 33.9 percent of throws longer than 10 yards last season. In losses, he was 6-of-24 for no scores and five interceptions.
- Oklahoma State's average starting position last year was its own 36-yard line, thanks to forcing 27 of its 44 turnovers on drives that began on its opponents' side of the field.
- The Big 12 has more Heisman winners (5) than any other conference since the league began in 1996. In 11 of those 16 seasons, the Big 12 has had a finalist finish in the top four in votes.
- Last season, Baylor set or tied 101 school records for offense.
- The Bears were the nation's only team to finish in the top 10 in rushing and passing offense.
- Texas Tech has 20 new players on its two-deep. Ten redshirted last season and 10 are new additions to the team since last year.
- Baylor is just 7-9 in season openers in Big 12 history.
- Since leaving for the Big 12, Baylor has never lost to a former Southwest Conference opponent. It's 2-0 against SMU and 3-0 against Rice.
- Iowa State's next win will be the 500th in school history.
- Gary Patterson's next win at TCU will make him the school's all-time wins leader, with 110.
- Kansas State has had nine 10-win seasons. Eight have come under Bill Snyder.
- Oklahoma has had 33 10-win seasons. Ten have come under Bob Stoops.
- Tommy Tuberville has won bowl games at three different schools. Only four other coaches have ever duplicated the feat.
- Texas Tech beat Northwestern State 75-7 in the only meeting between the two teams, back in 2007.
- SMU leads the all-time series versus Baylor, 36-35-7. Baylor won the last meeting back in 2005.
- Iowa State is 8-1 in its last nine season openers. The Cyclones have met Tulsa just once, back in 1961 in Tulsa. ISU won, 27-6.
David Ubben | email
College Football- ESPN.com Big 12 blogger
- Joined ESPN.com in 2010
- Wrote for The Oklahoman
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Richard Durrett
Richard Durrett joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009. He writes about colleges, the Dallas Stars and the Texas Rangers. Richard spent nine years at The Dallas Morning News covering the Rangers, Stars, colleges, motorsports and high schools.
Tim MacMahon
Tim MacMahon joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009. Tim covers the Cowboys and Mavericks. He has covered the local sports scene from high schools to colleges to pros during his six-year tenure at The Dallas Morning News. MacMahon is a graduate of UNT.
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Play Podcast Kirk Herbstreit joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to discuss Bob Stoops' recent comments about the SEC and the pending college football playoff, what appears to be an unpredictable Big 12 in 2013, how the Aggies will handle expectations and more.
Play Podcast Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin talks about the improvements being made to Kyle Field, what those improvements will to for the program, the success of last year, Johnny Manziel's offseason and the expectations for the Aggies in 2013.
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Play Podcast Baylor head coach Art Briles joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to discuss what kind of player the Cowboys are getting in Terrance Williams.
Play Podcast Arlington and Texas A&M product Luke Joeckel, the potential No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft, joins Ian Fitzsimmons and Richard Durrett to discuss the draft, coaches and advice from his dad.
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