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2012 record: 8-5
2012 Big 12 record: 4-5
Returning starters: Offense: 6; defense: 7; kicker/punter: 1

Top returners: OL Cyril Richardson, RB Lache Seastrunk, S Ahmad Dixon, WR Tevin Reese, LB Eddie Lackey, DE Chris McAllister, LB Bryce Hager, K Aaron Jones

Key losses: WR Terrance Williams, QB Nick Florence, WR Lanear Sampson, S Mike Hicks, C Ivory Wade, DT Gary Mason Jr.

2012 statistical leaders (*returners)

Passing: Nick Florence (4,309 yards)
Rushing: Lache Seastrunk* (1,012 yards)
Receiving: Terrance Williams (1,832 yards)
Tackles: Bryce Hager* (124)
Sacks: Chris McAllister* (6)
Interceptions: Eddie Lackey* (4)

Spring answers:

1. Bryce is the guy. It was going to take a lot for Bryce Petty to lose his starting spot, but he looked like a guy who suited up for his fourth spring this year and cemented his status as the heir apparent to a crazy-good quarterback tradition under Art Briles. He'll follow Robert Griffin III and Florence, who both set school records for passing yards.

2. Defense changes its identity. The Bears didn't have a ton of speed in the secondary last season, and as a result, relied heavily on zone and didn't play a lot of tight coverage. To start fixing the problem, Dixon moved back to traditional safety, and as the defense's most physically skilled talent, that was a wise decision. Baylor wants to play more man and play tighter this year, and we'll see if it pays off in the fall.

3. Offense finds its playmakers. Williams is gone and so is Sampson, two of the team's top three receivers. Reese returns, but Antwan Goodley and Jay Lee emerged to win starting spots this spring, and both look like big-time targets for one of college football's best offenses. Count on those guys and Clay Fuller to keep the tradition going.

Fall questions

1. Can the defense prove itself? The Bears were definitely one of the best defenses in the Big 12 over the last month of the season. The same unit, however, was also a big reason why Baylor limped to an 0-5 start in conference 12 play before ripping off four wins to end the season. The defensive line should be improved and young talents like Javonte Magee and Shawn Oakman could make names for themselves this fall.

2. Is the offensive line deep enough? Baylor's history under Briles at this position makes me pretty confident, and the Bears have a solid starting five. But losing Troy Baker this spring is a big knock, and the Bears only had 10 healthy offensive linemen this spring. Come fall, more injuries could force the Bears to force inexperienced players into the rotation. This was probably the biggest concern for Briles all spring.

3. Just how good is Petty? He looks good for now, and was productive and impressive during the spring. That's also the spring. RG3 and Florence broke school records for passing yards in consecutive seasons, though, so the bar is sky-high. There's every reason to believe in Petty, but expectations are high and reaching them won't be easy. The good news is he has a huge talent in Seastrunk and a solid receiving corps around him to support his efforts.

We'll take a look at some of the Big 12's breakout stars this spring, but we'll start a series today looking at guys who will be stepping into bigger roles this season and what they have to provide for their new teams. Some are emerging from role players into starters. Some are going from starter to star. Some from stars to bona fide superstars.

Let's start with Baylor.

Baylor's spring step forward: WR Tevin Reese

Reese was fantastic in 2012 and made a name for himself as a big-play threat for a dangerous Bears offense. His eight catches longer than 40 yards were more than all but two Big 12 receivers, and his 11 grabs longer than 30 yards were more than all but three. He's got a case as the league's fastest man, but this year, if he can show the ability to be much, much more than a home run threat, Baylor's offense will find it easier to continue its tear under Art Briles.

His 957 yards on just 53 catches are third most among returning receivers in the Big 12, and he was one of just three players a year ago to average better than 18 yards a catch. This season, he's got to mature into a more complete receiver. Can he be the guy to catch the quick hitch and turn it into 8 easy yards by not letting a cornerback bring him down immediately? Can he get open underneath and show some quickness that gives him the ability to use that speed to turn a 4-yard slant into a 25-yard game-changer?

He'll have a bigger role this spring and will try to prove he can do more than just beat a corner up the field and depend on his quarterback to find him deep. Reese will still do plenty of that this spring and in the fall, but Baylor's offense is going to be a whole lot better if the 5-foot-10, 165-pounder can be a complete receiver all over the field. At his size, that's somewhat of a risk coming over the middle among safeties and linebackers, but he's smart enough to protect himself. If his quarterback can make throws to lead him away from trouble, the Bears are going to be tough to stop yet again.

Big 12 offenses are among the most explosive in college football. Even though the conference is losing dynamic playmakers like West Virginia’s Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey, along with Baylor’s Terrance Williams, several explosive skill players will return to cause havoc for Big 12 defenses in 2013.

Here’s a look at the top five explosive playmakers returning this fall (returning players who finished atop the Big 12 in scrimmage plays of 30 yards or more):

WR Tevin Reese, Baylor

Explosive plays in 2012: Reese had 12 plays of 30 yards or more for the Bears in 2012. The definition of lightning in a bottle, Reese is a nightmare in the slot. His sheer speed can test the middle of a defense and his quickness makes it difficult to be physical with him at the line of scrimmage. The junior has 20 plays of 30 yards or more heading into his final season at Baylor.

Could Reese have more explosive plays in 2013? It could be difficult. With Williams and Lanear Sampson completing their eligibility and the Bears replacing their quarterback for the second straight season, Reese could become the focal point of Big 12 defensive game plans. But if Lache Seastrunk is able to help get BU’s running game clicking, Reese could be the biggest benefactor.

WR Mike Davis, Texas

Explosive plays in 2012: Davis had 11 plays of 30 yards or more for the Longhorns, including three receptions more than 60 yards. At 6-foot-2, 193 pounds, Davis brings terrific size and athleticism to the receiver position. He has the speed to test defenses deep, the open-field ability to catch a screen pass and break a big gainer along with the ball skills to outleap defenders in jump-ball situations. He has 17 plays of 30 yards or more during his UT career.

Could Davis have more explosive plays in 2013? As David Ash continues to mature, Davis’ explosive playmaking ability could become even more apparent. And with the Longhorns looking to turn up the tempo in 2013, more offensive plays should mean more opportunities to see Davis’ dynamic talent on display.

WR Tyler Lockett, Kansas State

Explosive plays in 2012: Lockett had eight plays from scrimmage of 30 yards or more and that doesn’t even include his 100- and 96-yard kick returns for touchdowns. Undersized but undeterred, Lockett has been a big play waiting to happen in his two seasons in Manhattan, Kan. At 5-foot-11, 170 pounds, Lockett consistently finds a way to make big plays, particularly in big games.

Could Lockett have more explosive plays in 2013? The Wildcats will need him to. With former quarterback Collin Klein no longer spearheading the offense, Lockett should garner added defensive attention. Expect KSU to continue to be creative in finding ways to get him the ball and he’ll do the rest.

WR Josh Stewart, Oklahoma State

Explosive plays in 2012: Stewart had eight plays from scrimmage of 30 yards or more but he’s not a deep threat with his 75-yard touchdown catch against Oklahoma standing alone as his only big play over 50 yards. Yet he consistently makes game-altering plays in OSU’s offensive attack with his willingness to go over the middle and ability to break tackles.

Could Stewart have more explosive plays in 2013? That depends on how seamlessly new offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich makes the transition into the program and the Big 12. Stewart is OSU’s top playmaker and can make defenses pay with his quickness and ball skills so Yurcich just needs to find ways to get him in the open field to work his magic.

HB Damien Williams, Oklahoma

Explosive plays in 2012: The lone running back on the list, Williams had seven plays from scrimmage of 30 yards or more including four touchdown gallops of 65 yards or more. He displays game-breaking speed when he gets into the secondary and can be difficult for defensive backs to bring down in the open field.

Could Williams have more explosive plays in 2013? It’s quite possible with the Sooners set to add more quarterback run game into their offense with mobile quarterbacks Blake Bell, Trevor Knight and Kendal Thompson battling for the starting job this spring. With a quarterback who can make defenses pay with his feet alongside him in the Sooners' backfield, Williams could find even more open running lanes this fall.

Each season, there's lots of turnover and change for every college program. What do the Big 12 teams need to do before next fall? Let's close the series with the Bears down in Waco.

1. Shore up the defense. Baylor saw some major growth late in the season, beginning with an eye-popping dominant performance against Kansas State. Phil Bennett's defense brings back a lot of talent from last year's team in linebackers Eddie Lackey and Bryce Hager, as well as talented safety Ahmad Dixon and defensive lineman Chris McAllister. The pieces are in place for some growth that would help Baylor make a lot more noise than it did in last year's eight-win season. You know about the offense, but developing and improving the defense over the offseason will be huge for this team's hopes in 2013.

2. Figure out what it has at quarterback. I think there's tons of promise ahead of Bryce Petty, but you never quite know for sure. You can't quite count out Seth Russell, who hailed from the same town as Nick Florence, but I'd be very surprised if Petty isn't clearly the guy once spring hits full speed. The bar is really high, though, after the last two seasons have seen Baylor's school record for passing yards fall. What can Petty do? What in this offense suits him best? How much do Lache Seastrunk and Glasco Martin need to carry the load while the junior gets used to handling this high-powered offense? Baylor needs to get a feel for that during the spring.

3. Find some help for Tevin Reese. Baylor's never had a shortage of weapons in this offense, but it needs to find some guys to fill in. The receivers aren't quite ready-made to step into a prime role like Terrance Williams was from 2011 to 2012. Reese is speedy, but he needs more help from the receivers underneath and in the intermediate routes in this offense. Baylor needs to find weapons, but incoming freshman Robbie Rhodes may make an impact come fall, too.

More offseason to-do lists:

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

I'd peg receiver as the Big 12's strongest position in 2012, with lots of elite talent and a whole lot of depth, too. We'll continue our postseason position rankings with the guys who catch it.

Here's what you've missed so far:

• Quarterbacks
• Running backs

1. Terrance Williams, Baylor: Williams led the nation in receiving yards, with 1,832 yards and 12 touchdowns on 97 catches. He can do whatever you want him to do. He's big enough to box out defenders and be a possession receiver who fights for the ball, but he's speedy enough to stretch the field and break the big play. NFL first-round talent.

2. Stedman Bailey, West Virginia: Bailey was a touchdown machine who racked up 25 scores this season, more than Justin Blackmon or Michael Crabtree did in any of the four Biletnikoff Award-winning seasons between them. He caught a league-high 114 balls for 1,622 yards and played through a painful ankle injury in the middle of the season.

3. Tavon Austin, West Virginia: Let me be clear about this: I think you could arrange the top three on this list in any order and have a really, really compelling case. Don't let me stop you. I think Austin is a better overall player than anybody on this list, but this is a ranking of guys as receivers. When we're talking pure receiving talent, I've got to go with Austin at No. 3. That's nothing to be ashamed of. The guys ahead of him were Biletnikoff finalists. He also caught 114 passes, for 1,289 yards and 12 scores.

4. Josh Stewart, Oklahoma State: I've written a lot about Stewart this offseason, but he was probably the most improved and underrated player in the league. OSU needed a No. 1 target, and that was Stewart last season. He finished with 101 catches for 1,210 yards and seven scores.

5. Darrin Moore, Texas Tech: Moore's probably the most physical guy on this list. The 6-foot-4, 216-pounder hauled in 13 touchdown catches and caught 92 balls for 1,032 yards to become the first Tech receiver to surpass 1,000 yards since Crabtree back in 2008.

6. Eric Ward, Texas Tech: Granted, Ward did that whole 1,000-yard thing in Lubbock, too. He caught 82 balls for 1,053 yards and 12 touchdowns. He's not quite as physically gifted as Moore, but he's been Tech's most consistent receiver throughout his career there.

7. Kenny Stills, Oklahoma: Stills was disappointed with his season -- and it was a touch underwhelming -- but he still had a solid showing in a receiving unit that lacked a truly elite target but had a handful of very good receivers for Landry Jones. Stills caught 82 balls for 959 yards and 11 scores before electing to leave for the NFL early. He had a good career at OU, but never cracked the 1,000-yard threshold.

8. Chris Harper, Kansas State: Harper's numbers don't tell you the full story. He's one of the best route-runners in the entire league and might have the best hands, too. K-State's offense limits his targets, but he still caught 58 balls for 857 yards and three touchdowns.

9. Tevin Reese, Baylor: Reese was the most dangerous deep threat in the league outside of teammate Williams. Austin did his damage after catching the ball, but Reese caught eight passes longer than 40 yards this season. That was third in the league, and he finished with 58 catches for 857 yards and three touchdowns.

10. Mike Davis, Texas: Davis broke out in his junior season and could be due for a big senior year after catching 57 balls for 939 yards and seven scores. His 16.5 yards per catch were third among receivers with at least 30 catches, and Davis clearly helped (and benefited from) David Ash's growth as a passer and confidence to stretch the field.

Honorable mention: Jalen Saunders, Oklahoma; Josh Boyce, TCU; Tramaine Thompson, Kansas State; Jaxon Shipley, Texas; Justin Brown, Oklahoma; Tyler Lockett, Kansas State.

We're continuing our countdown of the Big 12's top 25 players from the 2012 season. Here's more on my criteria for the list. You can take a look at how the preseason list looked here.

The official list is locked away in a vault in an undisclosed location, but we'll be revealing one player a day moving forward.

Let's keep this train rolling.

No. 24: Nick Florence, QB, Baylor

2012 numbers: Completed 286 of 464 (61.6 percent) passes for 4,309 yards, 33 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Ran 139 times for 568 yards and 10 touchdowns. Also punted twice for an average of 46.5 yards.

Most recent ranking: Florence was unranked in our preseason list of the Big 12's top 25 players.

Making the case for Florence: It feels a little wrong to have the Big 12's leading passer this low on the list, a guy who averaged over 9.0 yards a pass attempt this season. He had tons of help in the form of the Big 12's best two deep threats, Terrance Williams and Tevin Reese, but Baylor needed someone to fill the shoes of Robert Griffin III. Florence was outstanding. He struggled at times early in the conference season, but he was a big part of Baylor's late-season surge and four-game winning streak to close the season. His questionable decision-making at times kept him from finishing higher on this list, but it's clear that Art Briles did it again: He found, developed and started a fantastic quarterback to make his high-flying offense run. Florence finished second nationally in total offense, at over 375 yards a game. Only Johnny Manziel at Texas A&M averaged more, but last year RG III averaged only nine more per game. This season, Florence even broke Griffin's school record for passing yards, topping RG III by 16 yards with a strong performance in the Bears' bowl win over UCLA.

The rest of the list:

• No. 25: Quinn Sharp, K/P/KOS, Oklahoma State

We're going to go back and grade each Big 12 team's season in the coming weeks, and we'll start at the top of the alphabet with the Big 12's hottest team: The Baylor Bears.

OFFENSE: Art Briles and the Bears maintained all spring that the offense wouldn't lose a step without Robert Griffin III. It sounded far-fetched, and though it didn't translate to wins, Baylor wasn't blowing smoke. The Bears finished the season No. 2 in total offense, the same spot as last year, and averaged more than 572 yards a game, about 15 fewer than a year ago.

The Bears averaged 45 points a game last year, and this year, it was about 44. Nick Florence turned the ball over more than the Bears would want him to, but he finished second in the nation in total offense. Receiver Terrance Williams led the nation in receiving yards and was a Biletnikoff Award finalist. Fellow receiver Tevin Reese proved himself as a deep threat and the offensive line was one of the Big 12's best, led by Cyril Richardson. The Bears would have gotten an A-plus if they'd ridden Lache Seastrunk from the start of the season, and their record might be a little better, too. Still, his big finish makes 2013 very, very exciting for this offense. GRADE: A

DEFENSE: Just like last year, the story of the Bears defense was a surge in turnover margin that led to big wins and a great finish to the season. Baylor was minus-11 in turnover margin in its first four Big 12 games and lost them all, forcing zero turnovers in three of those games. In the 4-1 finish in Big 12 play, the Bears were plus-10 in turnover margin, forcing at least two turnovers in every game.

Baylor's defense really turned heads with fantastic performances against Kansas State and UCLA, holding both teams to just 362 yards of total offense, the two lowest totals all season. Those were the Bears' two biggest wins of the year, and the defense was the catalyst for both. You can't hide from giving up 800 yards to West Virginia, more than 550 in a loss to Iowa State and 560 in a narrow win over Louisiana-Monroe. But this unit showed some potential, despite more rough games than memorable ones. GRADE: C-

OVERALL: If we're grading the first half of the season, the Bears looked like they might not beat anybody and a bowl berth looked like an uphill battle. If we're grading the second half of the season, Baylor might have been the Big 12's best team. Ultimately, it's got to come somewhere in the middle. Still, though, relative to expectations, Baylor overachieved. It won 10 games a year ago and looked like a fringe bowl team to begin the year. Winning eight games and closing with a bowl win over a ranked, favored Pac-12 team was impressive. GRADE: B+

Let's take a look at three keys for tonight's Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl.

1. Win the ground battle. Johnathan Franklin is a more established force, but Lache Seastrunk proved he can be plenty productive on the ground late in the season. Simply put, the team that runs the ball more effectively in this game will win. Somebody's likely to break open a double-digit lead at some point, and if you can't run the ball consistently, that lead is going to disappear very quickly. Both of these offenses can hang points in a hurry, so you better be able to do so while also running the clock and minimizing risk.

2. Limit (or exploit) the big plays. Nobody in college football is more effective at throwing the ball downfield than Baylor. The Bears are at their best and very, very hard to beat when Nick Florence is hitting Biletnikoff Award finalist Terrance Williams downfield or finding Tevin Reese. Williams has 26 catches this season longer than 20 yards downfield and 14 grabs longer than 40 yards, both more than any other player in FBS. Florence's 19 touchdown passes longer than 20 yards lead the FBS (Robert Griffin III had 22 last season), and Baylor also had an FBS-best 19 touchdown drives of less than a minute this season. If Baylor can keep that pace, it's going to win. If UCLA slows down those quick strikes, Baylor's penchant for turnovers may surface on lengthy drives.

3. Battle of the UCLA backfield. Penetration and lots of bodies around the line of scrimmage is a good way to cover the zone read, and when Brett Hundley gets that going, the UCLA running game looks nearly impossible to stop. He rushed for a season-high 83 yards in a near upset of Stanford in the Pac-12 championship game. Ultimately, the zone read is all about the backside defensive end, but Baylor needs to slow that package down to keep UCLA's offense in check. Truthfully, I don't like Baylor's chances of slowing down Franklin much, but it's going to be a lot easier if the Bears get some help to that DE and keep UCLA running the ball in more traditional ways.

Every year, we crown an All-Big 12 team here at ESPN.com, but we also like to give some recognization to guys who don't get enough credit for just how good they really are. These are their stories.

QB: Nick Florence, Baylor

When was the last time the nation's leader in total offense struggled to even sniff a nod on an All-Big 12 team? The Big 12 quarterback pool is deep this year, but Florence deserves plenty of recognition for a huge season, even if it featured a few too many interceptions. He led the league in passing yards, too.

RB: Damien Williams, Oklahoma

Williams' home-run hitting was much needed for the Sooners, whose season may have looked very different without some huge runs from Williams in wins over UTEP and TCU. Not to mention his 95-yard highlight against Texas, which didn't necessarily change the outcome but provided an unforgettable moment.

RB: James Sims, Kansas

Sims just might be the best back in the Big 12 and didn't even receive a first-team nod from the league's coaches. KU has zero help or support by way of a passing game for Sims. Everybody in the stadium knows he's getting the ball, and yet, he remained productive this season, his best yet.

FB: Braden Wilson, Kansas State

Wilson's a quiet member of one of the league's best rushing attacks. How has Kansas State had Collin Klein and John Hubert each over 895 yards rushing in each of the past two seasons? Ask Bill Snyder to talk about Wilson some time. He'll stop about 45 minutes later.

WR: Josh Stewart, Oklahoma State

Stewart doesn't get the same respect as elite receivers in the Big 12 like Tavon Austin, Stedman Bailey or Terrance Williams, but he's really not all that far off. OSU throws it around to a lot of different receivers, but Stewart racked up 96 receptions this season. Only two other receivers in the league had more.

WR: Eric Ward, Texas Tech

Ward doesn't get the respect from media, fans or even defenses as other guys on his team, but he's been the most consistent receiver for the past two years for Ward. He led the Red Raiders in receiving last year and did it again this year with 974 yards and 11 scores. Look for him to hit 1,000 yards in the Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas.

WR: Tevin Reese, Baylor

Reese is one of the league's most dangerous deep threats, and that alone puts him on this list. He's got eight touchdown catches this season, and averaged 50.8 yards on those eight scores. Ridiculous.

OL: Tanner Hawkinson, Kansas

Hawkinson's calling card is his consistency. Not many guys have played four seasons without missing a game, but Hawkinson racked up 48 starts in four bowl-less seasons for the Jayhawks. He's been consistently one of the league's better linemen. There are more talented guys, but he's been solid and doesn't get the recognition because of KU's struggles.

OL: Lane Johnson, Oklahoma

My lasting memory of Johnson was an impactful one: He completely erased Devonte Fields from the season-ending, Big 12 title share-clinching win in Fort Worth over TCU. Fields, arguably the league's best pass rusher, made just two tackles and none for loss. Johnson has one of the most unbelievable stories in the league, transforming from junior college quarterback into Big 12 offensive tackle (with stops at tight end and defensive end along the way), but he's been solid for the Sooners this season.

OL: Le'Raven Clark, Texas Tech

Clark had a big impact on the Red Raiders' line in his first year as a freshman starter after redshirting in 2011. He was as good as any freshman lineman in the league, and his profile's going to rise quickly next season and beyond. He's got NFL written all over him.

OL: Mason Walters, Texas

Walters might actually be the best offensive player on Texas' entire team. Guys like Malcolm Brown and Johnathan Gray might have more potential or get more pub, but he's been unbelievably solid since earning a starting spot as a freshman. He's started 37 consecutive games for the Longhorns.

OL: Ivory Wade, Baylor

Wade has a decent case as the Big 12's best center, but got surpassed this season by guys like B.J. Finney at Kansas State and Joe Madsen in West Virginia. Regardless, all Wade did was have a really solid season alongside stud Cyril Richardson blocking for the nation's No. 1 offense.

The Pac-12 and Big 12 have three bowl games coming up -- including a BCS showdown in the Fiesta Bowl between a pair of top-five teams. David Ubben of the Big 12 blog and Ted Miller and Kevin Gemmell of the Pac-12 blog break down which of the three they are most looking forward to.

Ted Miller: It's not just that the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl matches top-five teams. And it's not just Oregon's and Kansas State's star power, with Wildcats QB Collin Klein, a Heisman Trophy finalist, and All American LB Arthur Brown on one side, and Ducks All-American RB Kenjon Barner and QB Marcus Mariota, a future Heisman finalist, on the other. Nor is it just the two coaches, old school Bill Snyder and new old school Chip Kelly, who many feel is headed to the NFL after this game.

Nor is it only that Pac-12 vs. Big 12 bragging rights hang heavily in the balance.

It's that you've got to love a game that has karmic significance.

Oregon and Kansas State were supposed to play this year. They had a home-and-home game contract. But then Oregon had a chance to play LSU to open the 2011 season and, well, then folks go all interpretive. Oregon fans see Kansas State as the Fraidy Cats, who took an opportunity to run away from a series instead of re-working it. Kansas State folks see logistical complications that forced their hand and, heck, it was the Ducks that first asked for an adjustment anyway.

Oregon is more than a touchdown favorite. You look at the two rosters, and it's not difficult to see a Ducks victory. And yet … who does karma favor?

Will the trash talk -- who me? -- between the fan bases come back to haunt Oregon? Will the Wildcats be vindicated? Let's just say the winner will provide more than the usual raspberries toward the other after the game.

And that is great fun.

David Ubben: I don’t know how you boys do it on the West Coast, but here in Big 12 country, we love offense. I didn’t put West Virginia 70, Baylor 63 on my best games of the year on accident. The last time Baylor got together with a Pac-12 team, I seem to remember all kinds of awesome stuff happening.

When Baylor and UCLA tangle in the Holiday Bowl, we can expect some similar fireworks, and some of them will even come courtesy of a player Pac-12 folks are surely familiar with: Lache Seastrunk. Baylor committed to him as its featured back down the stretch and he looked the part of the Big 12’s best back over the last month of the season, rushing for 693 yards and five touchdowns in his last five games. Everybody knows about Nick Florence (the nation’s leader in total offense) and Terrance Williams (the nation’s leading receiver), but this game may very well be about Seastrunk breaking out on a national scale. I’d like to see that. With apologies to offensive lineman Cyril Richardson, Seastrunk’s probably going to beat out receiver Tevin Reese as the best returning piece of this powerful offense.

Baylor doesn’t have a Heisman winner like RG3 who joined Terrance Ganaway in running away with that memorable Alamo Bowl win over Washington, but Seastrunk says he’s going to win it in 2013. I’m not going to be the one who says he can’t. UCLA’s Johnathan Franklin and Brett Hundley will be pretty fantastic foes for the Bears, but I can’t wait to see this showcase of offense.

Kevin Gemmell: Yes, David, we love our offense too. In fact, so much so that one of the most prominent offenses in football is named after the West Coast (which several Pac-12 teams run). But we can also play defense. And that is going to be the difference when Oregon State and Texas square off in the Valero Alamo Bowl.

The "Who's Going to Play Quarterback Bowl" finally has its starters -- Cody Vaz for the Beavers and David Ash for the Longhorns. But despite the fact that Oregon State has one of the most explosive wide receiver duos in the country in Markus Wheaton and Brandin Cooks -- I believe it's going to be the defense that carries the day for the Beavers. We know that Ash has had his troubles. And a struggling quarterback against an Oregon State secondary that ranks sixth nationally in interceptions doesn't bode well. Cornerback Jordan Poyer leads the way with seven picks this year -- that's second nationally.

Only two teams allowed more tackles for a loss this year than Texas and Oregon State is allowing opponents to convert third downs at just 29 percent. Say bonjour to Scott Crichton and Michael Doctor.

Yes, these two other games will be very offensive-centric. And that's going to make for a heck of a lot of holiday fun. This game will likely lack the offensive sizzle of the other two. There are no Heisman Trophy finalists (or players declaring they are going to win the Heisman next year). And that's OK, because there are those of us on the West Coast who still enjoy and appreciate a little bit of defense. And Oregon State's is nasty.

Baylor's never been short on confidence. It's not Art Briles' style. It wasn't Robert Griffin III's style, and he went out and won 10 games and a Heisman Trophy.

Baylor running back Lache Seastrunk is a long way from duplicating those feats, but in my book, he's outrunning RG3 by a long ways when it comes to self-confidence.

From Sporting News:

“I feel like there’s no back who can do what I do,” he told SN. “I know I’m the fastest back in the country. I know I’m the best back in the country. Nobody’s going to work harder.”

But that’s not all. Are you listening?

“I’m going to win the Heisman. I’m going to win it in 2013. If I don’t, I’m going to get very close.

Well, hello there. Not leaving much to the imagination with those words, which far, far overshadowed his own coach's ambitious thoughts earlier in the article.

“We think we certainly have the potential to win the Big 12 conference championship -- without question,” Briles told the publication.

I can't help but chuckle at Seastrunk's assertion later in the piece that talks about how his experiences at Oregon -- essentially, he didn't get on the field and transferred -- humbled him.

First things first: Seastrunk isn't crazy. A year ago, the idea of Johnny Football winning the Heisman Trophy was far, far more insane. He hadn't even played a snap.

Seastrunk strung together one of the best stretches to close the season -- 499 rushing yards in his final three games, 693 in his final five -- of any player in the Big 12. Baylor finally gave him the lion's share of carries and Seastrunk devoured them. He'll only get more next season, even with Glasco Martin returning.

I don't think Seastrunk's words do much more than make him a target for Big 12 defenses and opposing fans. RG3 had plenty of confidence publicly, but surely more privately. All of that endeared himself to his team and that confidence carried over to his teammates. Seastrunk's outlook of his 2013 season might be better off being shared with teammates, rather than a media outlet.

I truly believe he believes that. He might be right. I'm not going to say he's not.

What I know for certain? He injected a great storyline everybody's going to want to see play out in the 2013 season. Briles was plenty confident on his own, even though Seastrunk's thoughts will earn the biggest headlines.

Briles isn't crazy either. Baylor might not have the nation's No. 1 offense next season, but they'll have enough talent to come close with Tevin Reese, Bryce Petty and Seastrunk, along with a solid offensive line anchored by Cyril Richardson.

For Baylor, the story's going to be the same as it's been under Briles: Can the defense get them there?

It's been poor throughout Baylor's rise, which almost makes that rise even more remarkable. Winning 24 games in three seasons with that defense is no small accomplishment.

Is 2013 the year Phil Bennett's defense finally turns the corner? If it does, don't be surprised if Seastrunk and Briles look mighty prescient this time next year.

As the bowl season approaches, we're going to be looking a little closer at each game. We'll go down the Big 12 bowl schedule in chronological order. Let's start with the Baylor Bears' date with UCLA.

BRIDGEPOINT EDUCATION HOLIDAY BOWL

Baylor (7-5) vs. No. 17 UCLA (9-4)

Where: Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, Calif.

When: Thursday, Dec. 27, 9:45 p.m. ET

TV: ESPN

About Baylor: Nobody knew for sure what was in store for Baylor after not only losing Heisman winner Robert Griffin III, but also the Big 12's leading receiver and fellow first-round draft pick Kendall Wright, and the Big 12's leading rusher, Terrance Ganaway. What we learned was Art Briles truly is a master of offense and quarterback development. The Bears enter this game as the hottest team in the Big 12, fresh off a dominant win over then-No. 1 Kansas State and wins over Oklahoma State and Texas Tech. Baylor looked very unlikely to crack the postseason sitting at 4-5 with three solid teams ahead. Then the Bears proved us all wrong and finished the season with the nation's No. 1 offense.

About UCLA: The first season under Jim Mora Jr. has gone better than almost anyone could have figured. The Bruins drew chuckles when they hired a coach with just one season of college experience among his two-plus decades in coaching, and even that was only GA experience at his alma mater, Washington. The longtime NFL coach proved himself in his first season, helping UCLA reach the Pac-12 title game. A loss to Stanford denied the Bruins a Rose Bowl bid, but there's no question that Mora's first season has been a success.

Bears to watch: The headliner is quarterback Nick Florence, the nation's leader in total offense. He's shown a propensity to toss a pick or two (his 13 are more than all Big 12 QBs except Texas Tech's Seth Doege), but he's a lot more than the only Bear to keep an eye on. Running back Lache Seastrunk broke out late in the season, rushing for 693 yards and five scores in the final five games of the season, grabbing a starting role and looking like the hottest player in the league to end the season. Receiver Terrance Williams is an All-American, the nation's leader in receiving yardage and a Biletnikoff Award finalist. Defensively, linebacker Eddie Lackey grabbed a pair of Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors after returning picks for scores in each of Baylor's final two games.

Bruins to watch: UCLA loves the zone read and quarterback Brett Hundley was a breakout star in the Pac-12 this season. So was running back Johnathan Franklin, who racked up 1,700 yards to finish ninth nationally in rushing. That would have led the Big 12. Hundley threw for 26 touchdowns and ran for nine more. If Baylor's going to win this game, it starts with slowing down those two.

Did you know? Baylor's offense doesn't mess around. The Bears have nine touchdown drives this season that lasted exactly one play. That's ridiculous. Baylor also has 16 touchdown drives that lasted three plays or less. The biggest reason for that? Williams and fellow receiver Tevin Reese. Williams' 22 catches longer than 30 yards are eight more than any player in the country, and Reese is eighth nationally with eight grabs of 40 yards or longer. Another reason for BU's success? The Bears were a rousing minus-11 in turnover margin during their 0-4 start in Big 12 play. Since then, the Bears are plus-10 and went 4-1 in Big 12 play down the stretch.

Time for one more week of fun facts, courtesy of ESPN Stats & Info and various sports information departments around the Big 12.

We love you. You make your readers the smartest folks at their tailgate. Let's get to it!

Did you know ...

• Since Mack Brown and Bob Stoops have been at Texas and OU, only three teams have ever beaten both teams in the same season. All three, however, have been in the past two years (Oklahoma State and Baylor, 2011; Texas A&M 2010). With wins on Saturday, TCU and K-State could both add to that list.
• If Texas loses to K-State, it will be 11-15 in Big 12 play in the past three seasons. It will be the first time Texas has lost at least four games in league play in three consecutive seasons since 1935-38.
• Kansas State had given up zero points off turnovers in the first nine games and three quarters of its season. In the last five quarters, it's given up 21 points off turnovers, falling from first to third nationally in the stat.
• The Wildcats commit an average of 3.6 penalties a game, but had five in the first half against Baylor two weeks ago, not counting two that were declined.
• Kansas State averaged 213 rushing yards in its first nine games. It had 76 against Baylor.
• Bill Snyder is 4-2 vs. Mack Brown, and K-State is +14 in turnover margin in those six games.
• Three of those four wins came by double digits.
• Texas is giving up an average of 99.5 rushing yards per game ... after contact. That's the most in the Big 12.
• The Longhorns have missed 107 tackles this year, the most in the Big 12.
• Kansas State has missed 71 tackles this year, the fewest in the Big 12.
• Collin Klein attempted 17 passes longer than 15 yards in the loss to Baylor. He'd never attempted more than 10 in a game.
• He completed three of those 17 attempts to K-State teammates and three of those attempts to Baylor defenders.
• Of the 14 incompletions, 10 were overthrown.
• Klein had completed more than 60 percent of those throws on the season for eight scores and two picks. He completed 17.6 percent of those attempts against Baylor for three interceptions and no touchdowns, and was 0-of-6 on third-down pass attempts longer than 15 yards.
• Case McCoy is completing 70 percent of his throws longer than 10 yards this season with three touchdowns and an interception.
• David Ash is completing 49 percent of those same throws, for eight touchdowns and six interceptions.
• On those throws against TCU, Ash was 2-of-8 for two interceptions.
• McCoy is 3-1 on the road as starter in his career.
• When facing five or more pass-rushers, Landry Jones is completing 67.4 percent of his passes this season. That's up eight percentage points from 2011.
• K-State has beaten Texas in their last four meetings, and is 7-5 all-time vs. Texas. The Longhorns have played 23 different teams at least 10 times, and only three of those teams have winning records against Texas in those meetings: Notre Dame, Vanderbilt and K-State.
• Oklahoma has gone three-and-out just 16 times this season, second-fewest in FBS.
• TCU leads the nation with nine of its interceptions coming on throws longer than 20 yards downfield.
• Jones has thrown three interceptions on 60 attempts at this distance.
• TCU converted 44.7 percent of its third downs in its first seven weeks. Since then, it has converted just 25 percent of its third downs, 118th in FBS.
• Baylor receiver Terrance Williams has 22 catches longer than 25 yards and 14 catches longer than 40 yards this season. Both marks lead FBS.
• Baylor receiver Tevin Reese has six touchdown catches longer than 40 yards. Only USC's Marqise Lee has more, with seven.
• Since becoming a starter, Oklahoma State's Clint Chelf is completing 76.9 percent of his passes off play-action for three scores and no interceptions.
• Last week against Oklahoma, he was 11-of-14, including a 75-yard touchdown pass to Josh Stewart.
• That 75-yard touchdown was OSU's longest play from scrimmage this season.
• Baylor quarterback Nick Florence has 21 touchdown passes thrown longer than 15 yards downfield, the most in FBS.
• Baylor's 13 three-and-outs this season are the fewest in FBS.
• The Big 12 has 50 percent of its teams in the top 12 nationally in total offense.
• Baylor has had 400 yards of offense in every game this season, and over 600 yards in five games.
• Kansas has a rush of 55 yards or more in four consecutive games.
• Landry Jones owns all three 500-yard passing games in Oklahoma history.
• Since 2005, TCU is 48-1 when winning the turnover battle. That's the best mark in the nation.
• TCU is 4-1 on the road in Big 12 play, but 0-3 at home.
• Texas is now 51-23-2 when playing on Thanksgiving.
• Texas Tech receiver Darrin Moore's 146-yard first half against Baylor last week was the most in a half since Michael Crabtree had 152 at Oklahoma State in 2007.
• Jakeem Grant's kickoff return for a touchdown was Texas Tech's first since Vincent Meeks returned one against Oklahoma all the way back in 2002.

Time for another round of fun facts and tidbits about this weekend's games. As always, these come courtesy of our fantastic Stats & Information crew at ESPN, as well as various sports information departments across the Big 12.

We love you. You make your readers the smartest folks at their tailgates. Let's get to the facts!

Did you know...

• Kansas State now officially ranks first or tied for first in FBS in penalties per game, turnover margin, points off turnovers and average starting field position.
• The Wildcats have scored 111 points off turnovers and surrendered zero.
• TCU ranks second nationally in average starting position. Its drives start at an average of its own 38-yard line.
• Kansas State ranks in the top three in FBS in both kick-return average (30.0 yards per return) and punt-return average (24.9).
• TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin is 11-of-33 on throws longer than 20 yards since becoming the team's starter.
• Boykin hasn't completed more than 50 percent of those throws in any game this season.
• Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein has completed more than 50 percent of his throws longer than 20 yards in four consecutive games this season, and six overall.
• Before leaving the team, TCU quarterback Casey Pachall was 9-of-14 on throws longer than 20 yards.
• Klein averaged 24.4 carries a game last year. This year, he's down to 15.4 carries a game.
• Klein is averaging more than a full yard more per carry than he did last year. He's averaging 5.0 yards a carry this year, vs. 3.6 in 2011.
• Klein has accounted for 65.1 percent of Kansas State's offense this season.
• Klein has run the ball 66 times the past season and a half in goal-to-go situations. He's scored touchdowns on 33 of those carries, the best mark in the FBS.
• Baylor receiver Terrance Williams leads the nation with 24 catches longer than 20 yards this season, and 10 catches longer than 40 yards.
• Baylor WR Tevin Reese is fourth nationally with seven catches of at least 40 yards.
• Against Iowa State, Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones completed six passes longer than 20 yards, and four for touchdowns. Both of those were career highs.
• Before that game, Jones had just 10 such completions for two touchdowns all season.
• In the past two seasons, Jones has ranked in the FBS top five in completions longer than 30 yards.
• This season, Jones has 12 completions longer than 30 yards -- 49th in the FBS.
• Texas has scored 46 touchdowns on offense in nine games this year. It scored 40 in 2011.
• Texas' 91 missed tackles are now 18 more than any other Big 12 team.
• Kansas has 13 drives this season with at least 10 plays that did not result in points. No other FBS team has more.
• Texas Tech has 1,537 yards after catch, third most among AQ schools.
• Seth Doege has 21 touchdowns inside the red zone, the most in FBS.
• Oklahoma State has a touchdown drive of 2 minutes or less in 35 consecutive games.
• The Big 12's cumulative averages for punt returns (12.95) and kick returns (22.94) lead the nation.
• 35.8 percent of the Big 12's touchdown drives this season have taken five plays or fewer and covered at least 50 yards.
• Iowa State has only lost three games under Paul Rhoads when it wins the turnover battle. Oklahoma has two of those wins.
• Chris Canty against Akron in 1995 was the last K-State cornerback with three interceptions in a single game until Allen Chapman duplicated the feat against Oklahoma State last week.
• Bob Stoops can pass Bud Wilkinson on the all-time wins list this week. He's 12 wins short of tying Barry Switzer for the school record.
• Since 2004, Oklahoma is 20-0 following a loss.
• Oklahoma State receiver Charlie Moore has caught a touchdown in four consecutive games.
• TCU cornerback Jason Verrett already has five interceptions this season. No TCU player has done that since 2005.
• Texas Tech has played five consecutive ranked opponents. This week, it gets Kansas.
• West Virginia's last overtime game before last week came against Connecticut on Oct. 29, 2010. It lost, 16-13.

We're back again with this week's predictions. I'll be heading back to Manhattan, Kan., for Kansas State's game against Oklahoma State on Saturday, so that should be plenty of fun. There's a decent chance it's the last time this season K-State matches up with a top-25 team.

Let's get to this week's picks!

Last week: 2-3 (.400)
Overall: 39-14 (.736)

No. 12 Oklahoma 30, Iowa State 17: Nobody likes Oklahoma when it's angry, but the Sooners are slowed a bit by a gutsy performance from the Cyclones' defense, inspired by the loss of Jake Knott. It's close for three quarters, but Oklahoma goes on the road and gets a big win with a late fourth-quarter surge to put the game away. Trey Millard and A.J. Klein collide several times. The result is a danger to all in attendance.

No. 21 West Virginia 41, TCU 38: This was the toughest pick of the week for me, but after a rough stretch, West Virginia's offense finally rediscovers its mojo, and it needs every bit of it at home against the hungry Frogs. Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey both top 100 yards and West Virginia gets back on track for the rest of its season.

No. 18 Texas Tech 38, No. 23 Texas 24: I'm pretty much selling on the Horns at this point. The offense has inexplicably gone south and the defense has been bombed out all season. Texas Tech takes advantage and finally beats the Horns behind an electric crowd in Lubbock. The injuries at running back are catching up to Texas, too. Malcolm Brown is badly needed. Johnathan Gray is great, but he can't do it by himself.

Baylor 31, Kansas 28: The upset potential is strong here, and Kansas' running game has a lot of success and keeps the Bears offense off the field more than Baylor would like. Still, Terrance Williams is too much. Tevin Reese doesn't look like himself, but Williams picks up the slack, topping 200 yards receiving for the second time this season. Nick Florence finds him downfield all day.

No. 2 Kansas State 47, No. 24 Oklahoma State 31: I don't see the Cowboys' front seven slowing down Kansas State's running attack. That's obviously the matchup that decides this game. OSU ranks fourth in the Big 12 in rushing defense, but K-State is a whole new beast, and Arizona's dual-threat quarterback torched the Cowboys. Collin Klein does more of the same. This is my game of the week, too, so expect a video later today with more on this matchup.

SEC

Texas A&M 31, Mississippi State 27: The Bulldogs are yet again looking to prove themselves after a blowout loss to Alabama. That defense will have its hands full with Aggies quarterback Johnny Manziel, who went back to being Johnny Football against Auburn. A&M has struggled offensively against good defenses in the second half this season, but that changes Saturday. -- Edward Aschoff

Mississippi State 34, Texas A&M 30: Talk about a springboard game. The winner Saturday in Starkville has a chance to go on and have a big season. Both offenses are explosive, and while Mississippi State may still be smarting some from its loss at Alabama last week, the Bulldogs are a different team at home amid the cowbells. -- Chris Low