ESPN

OKLAHOMA SOONERS

2012 record: 10-3

2012 conference record: 8-1 (tied for first, Big 12)

Returning starters: Offense: 7; defense: 4; kicker/punter: 1

Top returners

RB Damien Williams, FB Trey Millard, WR Jalen Saunders, WR Sterling Shepard, C Gabe Ikard, DE/DT Chuka Ndulue, LB Corey Nelson, CB Aaron Colvin

Key losses

QB Landry Jones, WR Justin Brown, WR Kenny Stills, OT Lane Johnson, DE David King, CB Demontre Hurst, FS Tony Jefferson, SS Javon Harris

2012 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Damien Williams* (946 yards)
Passing: Landry Jones (4,267yards)
Receiving: Kenny Stills (959 yards)
Tackles: Tony Jefferson (119)
Sacks: Chuka Ndulue* (5)
Interceptions: Javon Harris (6)

Spring answers

1. Playmakers abound: The Sooners might have lost leading receivers Kenny Stills and Justin Brown, but there’s plenty of firepower back to support whoever wins the starting quarterback job. Jalen Saunders was actually Oklahoma’s most efficient receiver the second half of last season and seems primed to take over as the go-to target. The Sooners also have several talented up-and-coming receivers who had good springs, led by slot extraordinaire Sterling Shepard. The backfield is even deeper, with leading rushers Damien Williams and Brennan Clay back, to go along with Trey Millard, one of the top all-around fullbacks in the country.

2. Cortez will flank Colvin: The secondary was decimated by graduation and Tony Jefferson’s early entry into the NFL draft. One of those voids was cornerback, where Demontre Hurst had started the previous years. That void at least, however, appears to have been filled. Arizona transfer Cortez Johnson seized the job from the first day of spring drills, and has given the Sooners every indication to believe they’ll have a big, physical corner to pair with All-American candidate Aaron Colvin in the fall.

3. The linebackers will play: In a desperate move to slow down the high-powered passing attacks of the Big 12, defensive coordinator Mike Stoops pulled his linebackers off the field. The plan backfired, as opposing offenses ran at will over the linebacker-less Sooners. This spring, Stoops has renewed his commitment to the linebacker, which, ironically, could be the strength of the defense. Corey Nelson, Frank Shannon and Aaron Franklin are all athletic and capable of generating negative plays, something Oklahoma’s defense sorely lacked last season.

Fall questions

1. Who the QB will be in October: Bob Stoops said he would wait until the fall before naming a starter, and so far, he’s made good on his word. Junior Blake Bell took a lead in the competition during the spring, as expected. But sophomore Kendal Thompson and redshirt freshman Trevor Knight, who both got equal reps as Bell, played well at times, too. It’s hard to see Bell not starting the first game. But if he struggles against a tough September schedule, it’s not unthinkable one of the younger QBs would be given a shot.

2. How the new offense will fare: Looking to utilize the skill sets of their mobile quarterbacks, the Sooners will be running a very different offense from the one Sam Bradford and Landry Jones both operated. Offensive coordinator Josh Heupel kept most of these new plays - including loads of read option -- in his hip pocket during the spring game. But it will be interesting to see how the Sooners -- and just as important, opposing defenses -- adjust to this new era of offense in Norman.

3. Defensive line play: The Sooners went into spring ball with just three defensive tackles on the roster, and little experience at defensive end. The unit showed strides during the spring, with Chuka Ndulue making a smooth transition from end to tackle, and tackle Jordan Phillips coming up big in the spring game. But that was the spring. The defensive line will have to continue to grow rapidly in the fall for the Sooners to have any hope of improving from last year defensively.

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 peek 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.

On with the show ...

No. 14: Trey Millard, FB/RB/TE, Oklahoma

2012 numbers: Caught 30 passes for 337 yards and four touchdowns. Rushed 33 times for 198 yards.

Most recent ranking: Millard was ranked No. 20 in our preseason list of the Big 12's top 25 players.

Making the case for Millard: He's a chief candidate for a player whose numbers don't tell anything close to the full story. Millard does a little bit of everything for Oklahoma and certainly has a case as the Sooners' best overall player. He's an outstanding blocker, which is probably where his future lies in the NFL, but the 6-foot-2, 256-pounder was a key piece of the Belldozer package, even though he didn't get the formation named after him. Millard can catch passes out of the backfield, grab some tough yardage that no other Sooner back could get and had a penchant for breaking free in some big spots. Just ask Texas, which saw Millard have his biggest game and produce Oklahoma's biggest highlight of the season when he hurdled one defender and stiff-armed another in mid-air. He's faster than a lot of people realize and has great speed for his size, but what puts him this high on this list is how he can be so outstanding in so many different roles. Oklahoma coaches are wowed by it, too, and the Sooners' resident "Slash" certainly deserves any accolades he collects.

How many guys in the league have everyone who follows the program screaming to get him more touches?

The rest of the list:

• No. 15: Cyril Richardson, OL, Baylor
• No. 16: Joseph Randle, RB, Oklahoma State
• No. 17: Tony Jefferson, S, Oklahoma
• No. 18: Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma
• No. 19: Lache Seastrunk, RB, Baylor
• No. 20: Jake Knott, LB, Iowa State
• No. 21: James Sims, RB, Kansas
• No. 22: Aaron Colvin, CB, Oklahoma
• No. 23: Josh Stewart, WR, Oklahoma State
• No. 24: Nick Florence, QB, Baylor
• No. 25: Quinn Sharp, K/P/KOS, Oklahoma State

Every year, 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 continue our look with the Sooners up in Norman.

1. Figure out if Blake Bell is their guy. All indications are that the BellDozer is about to become the BellThrower, moving his dozing to more of a part-time gig. That said, when he's thrown out of the formation in the last two years, the results haven't been super promising. Still, Bell has a big arm and is likely the heir to Landry Jones as the next Sooners quarterback. Drew Allen's already transferred, but Bell might face some heat this spring from youngster Trevor Knight, who drew rave reviews for his acting work as Johnny Football on the scout team leading up to the Cotton Bowl. Bell is probably the Sooners' future at the position, but he's got to prove it this spring.

2. Fill about a zillion holes on defense. Oklahoma's defense is depleted, though cornerback Aaron Colvin does return. Safety Tony Jefferson and linebacker Tom Wort left for the draft early, and three starters along the defensive line, including Jamarkus McFarland and David King, are gone. Safety Javon Harris grew up a bit this year, but is gone, too. Defensive coordinator Mike Stoops had his defense in great shape early in the season, but the wheels fell off late against WVU, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M. Can he find suitable replacements for all the whole and keep re-establishing his defense in Norman to get the Sooners back into national prominence?

3. Figure out an offensive identity. Regardless of who wins the quarterback job, Oklahoma made it clear that the quarterback running game will be a part of the offense next season. Both Mike and Bob Stoops saw firsthand how maddening it is for a defense that has to cover a dual-threat quarterback who is a true dual threat when it comes to his arm, too. Oklahoma has traditionally been married to pocket passers, but that's going to change. Both Bell and Knight can run, and we saw some zone read from Bell in the Cotton Bowl. Trey Millard is the perfect foil for it. Oklahoma's still going to want its quarterbacks to be pass first, but how much running will be required? That probably depends on who wins and how good they are at executing the quarterback run game.

More offseason to-do lists:

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

Colleague Travis Haney took a look at the 10 teams who will lose the most talent in the country from 2012 to 2013.

There's only one Big 12 team on his list, and it's the 2012 preseason favorite: Oklahoma, which is sitting at No. 3 on a list you probably don't want to see your team on.

Landry Jones is the biggest name gone, but Haney says this might be Bob Stoops' biggest rebuild project ever in more than a decade in Norman.

The team's three most talented players -- Jones, receiver Kenny Stills and safety Tony Jefferson -- are the biggest losses, but don't overlook guys like tackle Lane Johnson and defensive linemen David King and Jamarkus McFarland. Defensive backs Demontre Hurst and Javon Harris won't be easy to replace, either.

Oklahoma was fortunate to keep cornerback Aaron Colvin and do-everything offensive Swiss army knife Trey Millard, who I'd expect to get a whole lot more touches next season. He was criminally underused in the Sooners' offense this past season. Just ask Texas if Millard should get more touches.

Oklahoma's offensive renaissance should be interesting. There won't be major changes, but Stoops is always going to build around what his personnel does best, and next season, likely with Blake Bell at the helm, you can expect the quarterback running game to be featured. It's still likely going to be a pass-first offense, but with Millard and Bell, next season's team might be a little more physical between the tackles.

I'd agree with Haney in that the top of the Big 12 looks really weak for 2013, which may provide opportunity for the Sooners to make a Big 12 title run, despite all the losses.

The season is done, but ask any coach and he'll tell you the 2013 season already has begun. That's true on this blog, too. So, how would I slot the Big 12 heading into the fall? With a month before national signing day and a couple of months before spring football kicks into high gear, here's my first crack at slotting the conference.

To me, it looks as if we have four legitimate contenders for the conference title and three possible dark horses. We'll see how the latter three develop, but I'm sold on the top four as teams that could realistically win the league next season.

1. Oklahoma State: The Cowboys will be loaded, and that's especially true if running back Joseph Randle comes back. Cornerback Justin Gilbert is returning, but we saw this season that they can win with any one of their three quarterbacks. That's a recipe for success in this league. The defense was a bit streaky; this season was the first under defensive coordinator Bill Young that the Cowboys didn't finish in the top 15 in turnovers forced. If they can get back to forcing turnovers in bunches next season, another Big 12 title could be headed to Stillwater.

2. TCU: The Frogs are growing up fast, but their spot here is assuming that quarterback Casey Pachall will be back on the field this spring to reclaim his job. The defense looks likely to be the best in the Big 12, and as much offense as this league has, you can't win it without a solid defense. TCU's offense will win it some games; its defense might win it a Big 12 title. Look out for Devonte Fields' encore.

3. Oklahoma: The Sooners look like they may lack a true star on next season's team, but they are still solid across the two-deep and will be good enough to be in the mix for a title even without quarterback Landry Jones. A wealth of losses on the defensive end is a bigger concern, but receivers Jalen Saunders and Sterling Shepard also will have to navigate a transition to a new QB after three-plus years with Jones. The Sooners ought to feature fullback Trey Millard a bit more in the offense next year.

4. Texas: Believe it or not, but David Ash is the Big 12's most experienced passer. Can he look the part on the field? We'll see, but the biggest problem for Texas is continuing its defensive improvements. Jackson Jeffcoat could be back, and Jordan Hicks will be one of the league's biggest talents if he is able to recover from a hip injury. The time is now if the Longhorns' trio of backs are going to mature into true impact players.

5. Baylor: I'm a believer in the late-season run for these guys translating to 2013. The defense made big strides, and we'll see if those continue, but the offense will be fine. I buy Bryce Petty as a big talent and the next in the long line of Art Briles' quarterback disciples. Lache Seastrunk will help him out early, too. Don't be surprised if he surpasses Randle next year as the Big 12's best back.

6. Texas Tech: The Red Raiders are a huge wild card and might have the biggest upside of any team in the bottom half of these rankings. Michael Brewer is a promising QB, and he now has Kliff Kingsbury -- the former Texas A&M offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach who helped the Aggies far surpass expectations -- as his new head coach. Could Tech do the same? The Red Raiders have tons of talent on both sides of the ball, thanks to a couple of great recruiting classes from Tommy Tuberville (who left to become the coach at Cincinnati).

7. Kansas State: No Collin Klein and Arthur Brown? You know about that, but there's no Chris Harper, Travis Tannahill, Braden Wilson, and the entire defensive line is gone, including star DE Meshak Williams. Both starting cornerbacks are gone, too. Point is, K-State's probably a bowl team next season, but to come back from that mountain of losses and be in the top half of the Big 12 is going to be a tall, tall task.

8. West Virginia: The Mountaineers' trio of wide receivers Stedman Bailey and Tavon Austin and quarterback Geno Smith was outstanding this year. Not much else in Morgantown was. All three are gone, and that team only went 7-5. Coordinator Keith Patterson has got to fix this defense in the spring and apply some lessons learned in a disappointing Year 1 in the Big 12. The QB derby between Paul Millard and Ford Childress should be interesting.

9. Iowa State: Sam Richardson was severely ill while playing in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, but he still didn't inspire a lot of confidence in the future of the QB spot in Ames, despite a strong finish to the season. With linebacking pillars A.J. Klein and Jake Knott both headed to the NFL, the odds once again will be against Iowa State winning six games and getting to a bowl. Without consistency at the quarterback spot, it's going to be tough, especially with the defense likely to take a step back.

10. Kansas: Gotta prove something before the Jayhawks move out of the basement. Charlie Weis is bringing in tons of juco talent, but after the Dayne Crist experiment didn't work, BYU transfer Jake Heaps simply must be better for KU to begin its climb back to the postseason.

SEC

2. Texas A&M: The Aggies might have been the hottest team in the country at the end of the 2012 season. Maybe defenses will have a little better handle on Johnny Manziel the second time around, but Johnny Football will have a little better handle on defenses, too. If offensive tackles Luke Joeckel and Jake Matthews return for their senior seasons, look out. Losing Damontre Moore on defense will hurt, but the Aggies like their young talent.

Time to continue our series on the best and worst moments of 2012 for each team in the Big 12. Next up: Texas.

Worst moment: Disaster in Dallas

Another Red River Rout. This is getting old for the folks in Texas, and the No. 1 topic of conversation in Austin in the week that followed was Mack Brown's job security. The Longhorns gave up four rushing scores to the Belldozer and a 95-yarder by Red River rookie Damien Williams. They were outgained by 388 yards, the most since 1950, and provided the biggest highlight of their biggest rival's season. Just ugly, ugly stuff for the Longhorns, who fell to 1-2 in Big 12 play and ignited doubts about whether another season without a bowl was possible. Texas added some garbage time TDs late to turn a 56-8 fourth-quarter deficit into a 63-21 final score. It didn't help much. It was Texas' second consecutive loss to Oklahoma by at least 38 points and fourth blowout loss to the Sooners since the birth of the Brown-Bob Stoops rivalry.

Best moment: Slumpbustin' in Lubbock

Texas had lost nine consecutive games to teams in the top 20, but showed some potential in a win on the road against Texas Tech, which was ranked No. 18 at the time. The Longhorns beat Tech on the way down in retrospect, but it was still a satisfying win for the Longhorns, especially for Mike Davis and Johnathan Gray. Davis caught two touchdown passes and was hilariously flagged for holstering his guns in a parody of Tech fans' "Guns Up" hand sign. Gray ran for 100 yards for the second consecutive game and proved he could be counted on, even though he was a true freshman. It was also a big day for the defense. Tech reached the red zone and settled for field goals on four occasions. That's ultimately where Texas won this one, but the Longhorns moved to 7-2 and 4-2 with the win to keep their Big 12 title hopes alive at the time with their third consecutive win of a streak that would eventually reach four.

The season has come and gone, and brought with it an All-Big 12 team. But where do these guys come from? How easy is it for a no-name recruit to earn all-conference first-team honors?

Let's take a look at the All-Big 12 offense and see who surprises us.

You'll need ESPN Insider to see each player's recruiting page from back in the day, but I excerpted a bit of what the scouts had to say about each player coming out of high school.

OFFENSE

QB: Collin Klein, Kansas State

• Klein was graded as a 75 by ESPNRecruiting and the nation's No. 60 quarterback. He picked K-State over Colorado State, Utah and Air Force. Scouts take: Klein has prototypical size and a powerful arm. What you don't expect is how athletic he is and while he is a pocket passer, if he gets on the move, he can build momentum and create a few plays here and there with his legs. He can be unorthodox in his delivery and mechanics can be inconsistent, but he is very productive and has a lot of physical tools to mold at the next level.

RB: Joseph Randle, Oklahoma State

• Randle was the nation's No. 43 athlete from Wichita, Kan., and was also recruited by Arizona, Kansas State and Kansas, as well as Miami and Texas A&M. Scouts graded him at a 78 and gave him three stars. Scouts take: Randle looks good on the hoof in terms of size and has equally impressive athleticism. Tall, lean and very rangy; has some muscle-tone but we do question his narrow base as a future college running back. A really well-rounded back at the high school level; has perimeter speed, in-line strength, hands out of the backfield and can block in pass pro. Has a tight waist and good fluidity to elude defenders but we feel he is more productive now and will be in college when he squares up and gets north. Has the frame, with added bulk and speed, to develop into quality one-cut-and-go back.

RB: James Sims, Kansas

• The Irving, Texas, native was graded at a 76 and ranked as the nation's No. 76 running back, a three-star recruit. He was also recruited by Arkansas and Iowa State. Scouts take: Sims is a sturdy, good looking running back in the spread offense that will flash a nice downhill presence. He is also adept at exploiting cutback lanes and working comfortably within a zone blocking scheme. He has somewhat of an upright running style and good leg drive. Is a short-strider for a taller back, but has quick feet in the hole and shows a knack for jump cutting and making people miss in the hole. When he can hit the hole with authority, he shows good initial burst and top-end speed.

FB: Trey Millard, Oklahoma

• Millard was a three-star prospect and the nation's No. 59 athlete in the 2010 class. He graded out at 78, and was also recruited by Syracuse, Iowa, South Carolina and Tennessee. Scouts take: Millard is a thick inside linebacker prospect with good mobility and downhill burst between the tackles. We like his athleticism as a future tight end or H-back as well. Has a large upper-body and overall frame. Carries his weight well and has above average lateral agility for a defender with his thickness.

WR: Terrance Williams, Baylor

• Williams, a Dallas native, was the nation's No. 124 receiver and was given a grade of 74 by scouts. He was also recruited by Colorado State, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas A&M. Scouts take: Williams is smooth, well-rounded receiver prospect. He possesses a tall, lean frame that still has room to add good muscle while retaining current speed. Utilizes his size well in traffic shielding defenders and positioning his body for the difficult grab. Excels at snagging the ball in stride and transitioning quickly upfield. Is currently used more as a short-to-intermediate threat at the high school level but flashes good arm extension, coordination and adjustment to the deep ball.

WR: Tavon Austin, West Virginia

• Austin was the nation's No. 41 running back, and the Baltimore native was given a grade of 78 by scouts. He was also the No. 75 player in his region. Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina and Penn State also recruited him. Scouts take: Austin is a smallish but dynamic prospect who has the skills to be a good change-of-pace or scatback runner at the next level. He lacks great size, but he runs harder and bigger than his measurables suggest. He's dangerous on the perimeter and in space, but also very good between the tackles as a zone runner. Can pick and stab his way through traffic and decisively hit small cutback creases without losing much in transition. Shows good body control, vision and balance. Excels at changing gears and eluding defenders with sudden bursts and sharp cuts.

TE: Jace Amaro, Texas Tech

• Amaro was the nation's No. 28 tight end and the San Antonio native was the No. 83 player in the state of Texas. He was given a grade of 78 by scouts. Arizona, Baylor, Missouri and Texas A&M all recruited him. Scouts take: Amaro is a productive receiving tight end. He has good size and appears on film to have the frame to be able to add more good bulk with time in a college weight program. He will play and block from an in-line position, but at this point it seems the strength of his game is a receiver. He has good hands and displays the ability to consistently extend his arms and the catch the ball away from his body. Displays an adequate vertical, but will go up and try and highpoint the ball. Displays good concentration and can catch the ball in traffic and also displays good body control to be able to adjust to the ball.

C: Joe Madsen, West Virginia

• Madsen was not ranked by our scouting services, and the Chadron, Ohio, native drew interest from Bowling Green. The only notes from our scouts? Madsen was a Division II all-state selection in Ohio.

OL: Cyril Richardson, Baylor

• The Fort Worth, Texas, native was the nation's No. 64 offensive tackle and the No. 166 player in his region. He also was recruited by Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Texas Tech. Scouts take: Richardson is a very steady offensive tackle. He has great size and a large wing span which can be beneficial especially in pass protection. Shows strength in both the lower and upper body. Gets excellent movement when run blocking as long as pads stay low and power angles are maintained. Uses hands better in run game than when pass protecting. Wins most battles at the line of scrimmage when base and drive blocking. ... Richardson should develop into a very good tackle at the next level.

OL: Lane Taylor, Oklahoma State

• Taylor was the nation's No. 111 guard and was also recruited by KU, North Texas and SMU. Scouts gave him a grade of 69. Scouts take: Taylor is a tough-nosed battler at the guard position. He is not the biggest kid but has adequate size. He will need to continue to add bulk and fill his frame out. He plays hard and can create push. He does a good job of quickly getting into defenders. He delivers a good initial pop and brings his hands. He can get hands on but needs to watch his placement. He does not always get ideal placement and can struggle to maintain position and will at times wind up with his hands outside the defender's frame. He does display the ability to get under a defender's pads, generate power from the hips and drive a defender off the line of scrimmage. He does need to watch his pad level, and he will engage a defender with high pads and naturally struggles to get the push he can.

OL: Gabe Ikard, Oklahoma

• Ikard was the nation's No. 19 tight end and graded out at 78. He was also recruited by Notre Dame, Stanford and Oklahoma State. Scouts take: Ikard is a good football player and it is tough not to like him. He comes across as a smart, hard working, and productive player. He plays both defensive end and tight end in high school and is a legitimate recruit on both sides of the ball. He is a sound defensive end prospect.

OL: LaAdrian Waddle, Texas Tech

• Waddle was the nation's No. 19 offensive tackle in the 2009 class and was grade at 79 by scouts. He also had interest from Ole Miss and Houston, as well as Rice and TCU. The Columbus, Texas, native was the No. 43 player in his region. Scouts take: Waddle is a mountain of a man at offensive tackle. Over three hundred fifteen pounds with good height he looks massive in pads. Must be careful not to gain anymore weight until his foot agility improves. Is usually fairly quick off the ball but often takes a false step or understeps. Completely smothers smaller defensive linemen once in to them. Extremely powerful due to size and follows the initial contact with good leg drive. Sometimes gets beat underneath due to improper first step. Wipes out his side of the line of scrimmage on the down block. Comes off to second level with some authority and gets into linebacker but often can't sustain block due to being too high. Tends to lose some body control when his legs straighten out. Mauls opponent on the double team block with power and leg drive. Decent at pulling but needs to move quicker and lower.

I always enjoy looking these up. There wasn't a true superstar blue-chip recruit in this bunch, but what's even more interesting? Not a single juco recruit in this bunch, either. The only player you could consider a real diamond in the rough in this bunch was Madsen. There were plenty more in last year's group.

Congrats to all these guys for turning in fantastic seasons. Naturally, there will be some snubs and some things that need to be explained. Check the blog later today for more thoughts.

Without further ado, here's the All-Big 12 team from ESPN.com.

OFFENSE

QB: Collin Klein, Kansas State
RB: Joseph Randle, Oklahoma State
RB: James Sims, Kansas
FB: Trey Millard, Oklahoma
WR: Stedman Bailey, West Virginia
WR: Terrance Williams, Baylor
WR: Tavon Austin, West Virginia
TE: Jace Amaro, Texas Tech
OL: Cyril Richardson, Baylor
OL: Gabe Ikard, Oklahoma
C: Joe Madsen, West Virginia
OL: Lane Taylor, Oklahoma State
OL: LaAdrian Waddle, Texas Tech

DEFENSE

DL: Devonte Fields, TCU
DL: Meshak Williams, Kansas State
DL: Calvin Barnett, Oklahoma State
DL: Alex Okafor, Texas
LB: A.J. Klein, Iowa State
LB: Arthur Brown, Kansas State
LB: Jake Knott, Iowa State
CB: Jason Verrett, TCU
CB: Aaron Colvin, Oklahoma
S: Ty Zimmerman, Kansas State
S: Tony Jefferson, Oklahoma

SPECIALISTS:

PK: Quinn Sharp, Oklahoma State
P: Quinn Sharp, Oklahoma State
KR: Tyler Lockett, Kansas State
PR: Tavon Austin, West Virginia

Honorable mention: Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia; Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma; Anthony Cantele, K, Kansas State; Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas; Justin Brown, PR, Oklahoma; Tanner Hawkinson, OL, Kansas; Jake McDonough, DL, Iowa State; Lane Johnson, OL, Oklahoma; John Hubert, RB, Kansas State; Travis Tannahill, TE, Kansas State; Durrell Givens, S, Iowa State; Cody Davis, S, Texas Tech

Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones became the Big 12's all-time leading passer a week ago, but his understudy, Blake Bell, powered his way into the end zone on fourth down with seconds to play to force overtime in an eventual 51-48 win against rival Oklahoma State.

The man at the middle of the Belldozer formation sat down with ESPN.com this week to talk about that game and a variety of other subjects.

Take me through the fourth-down play at Bedlam, from when you got the call to go in through the end of the play and after.

BB: It was one of those deals. We had 3rd-and-1 and called a passing play, and I thought we scored. Landry threw it to Sterling (Shepard), but they ended up calling it incomplete and so they threw us out there. 4th-and-1, 10 seconds to go, it was just one of those "do or die" type of moments. That's why you play the game. That's why I came to Oklahoma, to be in situations like that. The guys up front obviously did a great job getting on their man and the fullbacks, Trey (Millard) and Rip (Aaron Ripowski), did a good job of coming through and getting on a guy, and I got through a little bit. I met a guy at the goal line, but it was awesome.

What was it like for to you have your number called in that situation?

BB: It was awesome. We work on it every day in practice and all week, stuff like 3rd-and-1, 4th-and-1 on the goal line, stuff like that. So, when they called me out there, it was just another play, and we had to get it. My mentality going out there was "We need this. This is a win or lose situation."

I don't know if I've ever heard your opinion on the "Belldozer" moniker. Where do you stand on it, or do you have any other favorite names for it?

BB: (Laughs) You know, it kind of went back to the fans once we started the package. They came up with three or four nicknames, and asked me which one I liked, and I said 'Hey, that's up to you guys,' and they seemed to want to stick with the Belldozer. I like it. It's fun. It gives the fans, they like the name, and it's not just me. It's a package deal. They call it the Belldozer, but it's kind of cool.

What have you learned from Landry during your time so far that's going to really stick with you once he's gone on to the NFL?

BB: Shoot, I've learned so much for the guy. Probably just the way he handles himself and the way he reads defenses and the way he studies in the film room, the way he practices and things like that. But really, I'm just trying to soak up as much information as I can before he leaves. Like I said, just on how he sees things, the way he's reading on certain plays. Mostly, just the guy, he's been through ups and downs through his career, and it's good seeing how he handles stuff and what it's like.

What's your attitude toward the quarterback competition next year once Landry does leave?

BB: You know, I'm not worried about that right now. We've got a few more games right here. We'll have TCU this week and then the bowl game, so with spring coming around, we'll get that going. As of now, I'm just working on worrying about the season.

Have coaches indicated anything to you about your future at the position?

BB: Nope. Coach (Josh) Heupel will call me in at the end of the season and we'll sit down and talk and figure out what the plan is going into spring ball. I'm staying at quarterback, obviously, and I want to try and win the job.

You're a Kansas kid, but what have you learned about the rivalry and the state of Bedlam at this point with your two experiences in the game?

BB: It's awesome. The first thing that stands out is just the atmosphere. In the state of Oklahoma, this is a big deal. The state shuts down for that game and you've just got so many different fans. A lot of OSU fans and a lot of OU fans. It's a great atmosphere and a fun game to play in, especially in a situation like that going into overtime and having that last play and then all the fans being there and the whole deal afterwards, too. It's an amazing experience.

How would you compare that crowd on Saturday night to ones you've seen in your career?

BB: You'd have to put that one up there as one of the best, just the way our fans were into it. It was Bedlam, and they bring energy, too. They love this matchup and the rivalry, and I'd put this one up there with Notre Dame and College Gameday, and even one I went to back when I was getting recruited, the Texas Tech game back in 2008 when Tech was No. 2. That crowd was unbelievable, too.

What was the most memorable part of that postgame celebration?

BB: Celebrating with the teammates. We work so hard every week for games like this. But celebrating with teammates, and then they played that "Jump Around" song and we just got to celebrate with our teammates.

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

SoonerNation's Jake Trotter and ESPN.com Notre Dame football writer Matt Fortuna answer questions about No. 8 Oklahoma's matchup with No. 5 Notre Dame this weekend:

1. Who is under more pressure to win?

Jake Trotter: There's a ton of pressure on Notre Dame to win. Outside of the Brady Quinn years, the Irish haven’t really been a factor in the national title picture in almost 25 years. This is their chance. But there might be even more pressure on the Sooners. The game is at home, and Oklahoma has a reasonably legitimate shot at getting to the national title if it can get past this game. The fan base is getting antsy. Another 10-2 or 9-3 season will only augment that.

Matt Fortuna: Weird as it may sound, I think Notre Dame is playing with house money at this point. The Irish have seven wins already -- which no one saw happening -- and have games left against Pitt, Boston College and Wake Forest. Ergo, they are likely a 10-win, BCS-bowl bound team at the worst right now. Steal one in Norman, and now we're looking at an 11-0 Notre Dame team going into its regular-season finale at USC.

2. Can OU run the ball on Notre Dame?

Trotter: The Sooners have been running the ball well since inserting junior college transfer Damien Williams into the starting lineup. If they’re able to run the ball on Notre Dame, too, the game is basically over. More likely it’ll be tough sledding against a front seven loaded with future pros. But if Williams and fullback Trey Millard can keep the Irish honest as threats to run, that should take enough pressure off quarterback Landry Jones and the passing game.

Fortuna: If the Sooners can, the Irish can kiss their upset hopes goodbye. But Notre Dame has been outstanding against the run and has not allowed a rushing touchdown all season (nine straight games dating back to last season). Oklahoma needs to establish a ground threat early to open things up for Landry Jones and the passing game, which is where the Sooners have the biggest advantage.

(Read full post)

Oklahoma hammered Kansas 52-7 at Owen Field on Saturday night to set up a top-10 battle with Notre Dame next weekend. The Sooners improved to 5-1 overall, 3-1 in the Big 12. The undefeated Fighting Irish will enter the game at 7-0 with wins over Michigan, Michigan State and Stanford.

How the game was won: With the arm of Landry Jones. The Jayhawks came out with a game plan to stop Damien Williams and OU’s running game. That left plenty of opportunities for Jones, who took advantage from the start. He found six different receivers in the win, continuing the trend of spreading the ball around after tending to try to force it during the Sooners' first three games. It’s important for Jones to continue the trend for the remainder of the season.

Turning point: When Jones found Kenny Stills with a beautiful 44-yard touchdown pass on a post route. The late first-quarter score was an early sign that Jones was on point Saturday. He was 9-of-11 for 140 yards and one touchdown in the first quarter. When OU starts quickly, especially at home, the Sooners are tough to beat.

Stat of the game: The Sooners scored touchdowns on six consecutive possessions, starting with Blake Bell’s 1-yard touchdown run with 12:29 left in the second quarter and ending with Trey Millard’s 25-yard touchdown catch. The Sooners were dominant on Saturday, playing the way you’d expect a BCS title hopeful to play against an overmatched opponent at home.

Player of the game: Jones. He finished 20-of-29 for 300 yards and three touchdowns. The Jayhawks challenged him to beat them with his arm, and he did.

Unsung hero of the game: Tony Jefferson. The junior safety was all over the field and had eight first-quarter tackles. He consistently made plays around the line of scrimmage. Jefferson continues to be one of the Big 12’s best defenders. He will be crucial when Notre Dame comes to town.

Record performance: For the first time in OU history, the Sooners returned a kickoff for a touchdown and a punt for a touchdown in the same game. Justin Brown returned a punt 90 yards for a score, and Roy Finch returned the second half kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. The two 90-plus yards plays were also a first in OU history.

What it means: In conjunction with Notre Dame’s 17-14 win over BYU, the Sooners win sets up a huge top-10 battle in Norman next weekend. OU can gain momentum and firmly secure itself in the BCS landscape with a win, while the Fighting Irish could make their case as the nation’s top team with a road win at Owen Field.

Here's what I saw in the Big 12 last week:

Best offensive performance: Seth Doege, QB, Texas Tech. Doege taught the whole world how to Doege on Saturday, tossing for 506 yards and six touchdowns on 32-of-42 passing and making the most of his defense's big day. Doege bounced back from a rough week against Oklahoma and made West Virginia's defense look very, very bad. He was on the money all game and frustrated the WVU defense with his accuracy and decision-making.

Best defensive performance: Devonte Fields, DE, TCU. Fields continued his tear as a true freshman navigating the Big 12 for the first time. He made five tackles, had two tackles for loss with a sack, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble. Ridiculous. Honorable mention: Jake Knott, LB, Iowa State.

Best team performance: Texas Tech. The Red Raiders edge out Oklahoma by way of a five-touchdown win over one of two Big 12 front-runners on Saturday. Tech's defense figured out how to slow the West Virginia offense and forced Geno Smith into his worst outing of the season. Hard to do. In the process, Tech proved it can beat anybody and has a whole lot of upside. Honorable mention: Oklahoma.

Best play: Trey Millard, FB, Oklahoma. Leading 20-2, Landry Jones found Millard for a short pass on first down and Millard turned upfield. In one single bound, he leaped over one defender (his second hurdle of the game at that point) and another defender bounced off his legs as he stiff-armed. Millard stuck the landing as though the defense wasn't even there and rumbled down the left sideline for a 73-yard gain.

Worst quarter: Baylor's fourth quarter. The Bears trailed 28-21 and looked in position to make a run at the Frogs. However, Nick Florence threw a pair of interceptions and the Bears added another fumble as TCU ran away with Baylor's lunch money in the fourth, outscoring them 21-0 in the decisive quarter.

Best quarter: Oklahoma's second quarter. The Sooners ran the ball into the teeth of Texas' defense and the Sooners' defense looked very much like a brick wall in the quarter. Oklahoma outscored the Longhorns 23-0 to officially key the rout. Texas' offensive possessions resulted in three three-and-outs, a safety and an interception. Oklahoma scored three touchdowns on its first four drives of the quarter.

Here's some hardware for a job well done across the Big 12 on Saturday:

Trey Millard, FB, Oklahoma: Oklahoma dominated everywhere on Saturday, and with apologies to the Sooners' defense (who got a helmet sticker last week, I might add), I'm going with the man who maximized every touch in Saturday's 63-21 victory over Texas. Millard caught a 73-yard pass and scored on a 25-yard reception. He finished with five catches for 119 yards and ran three times for 45 yards. His day included one hurdle over a defender and another play in which he hurdled one defender while a second defender bounced off of his legs. Ridiculous.

Collin Klein, QB, Kansas State: Klein had a very Collin Klein-like day in Saturday's clutch 27-21 win at Iowa State. On the final scoring drive for K-State, with the Wildcats clinging to a 24-21 lead, he converted third downs of 8, 5 and 2 yards to extend the drive and milk eight minutes off the clock. He finished with 187 yards on 16-of-24 passing and rushed for three scores and 105 yards on 25 carries. Great day on what looked to be -- and was -- a tough matchup for the 'Cats.

Texas Tech's defense: Geno Smith wasn't sure what went wrong on Saturday, but everything went right for the Texas Tech D, who held the West Virginia quarterback to just one touchdown pass and forced stops deep in its own territory all game long. West Virginia had 408 yards of offense, but went just 2-of-7 on fourth down in the Red Raiders' 49-14 dismantling. The Texas Tech D constantly stymied the Mountaineers offense, and Smith had his lowest completion percentage of the season by far, at just 52.7 percent (29-of-55). That's a good of an offense as you'll see in the country, and Tech held it to 14 points. Did anyone think that was possible before Saturday? Coordinator Art Kaufman has these boys rollin'.

Quinn Sharp, P/K, Oklahoma State: Sharp provided the winning margin in OSU's wet, sloppy, storm-delayed 20-14 victory over Kansas by booming field goals of 42 and 49 yards and drawing a roughing-the-kicker penalty on a late punt that prevented KU from getting one more shot to win the game. He also boomed a 73-yard punt, put one inside the 20-yard line and averaged 53 yards on his five punts for the night.

Trevone Boykin, QB, TCU: Boykin threw for one fourth-quarter touchdown and ran for another, redeeming himself for a rough outing against Iowa State a week ago on just one day's practice at quarterback the week of the game. Boykin finished the Horned Frogs' 49-21 victory at Baylor with four touchdown passes and 261 yards on 22-of-30 passing. He also ran for 56 yards and a touchdown.

Not everybody gets their just deserts in college football, but it's time to do my part to change that. Sometimes, it's the team they play for. Sometimes, it's an underappreciated position. Other times, it's a combination of several things. Either way, here are the Big 12's most underrated players heading into 2012.

Tevin Reese, WR, Baylor: Reese is undersized at 5-foot-10, 165 pounds, sure. Who cares? He's productive, and should only be more so without Kendall Wright in Waco this season. Reese will likely be the second option behind Terrance Williams, but the speedster at inside receiver managed to rack up 877 receiving yards, eighth-most in school history, as the third option for RG3 last season.

Toben Opurum, DE/LB, Kansas: Opurum used to be a running back, but he's learned his new position well, playing the "Buck" spot last year for the Jayhawks. Opurum's a high-motor type of player, and ranked 10th in the Big 12 last season with 10.5 tackles for loss and made four sacks.

Trey Millard, FB/TE, Oklahoma: Millard is a jack of all trades for the Sooners, and played three positions last year. He's invaluable for the Sooners, and may be even more so this season. Look for him to grab some touches at tailback this season, probably in short yardage situations that require a power back.

Alex Elkins, LB, Oklahoma State: Elkins was second on the team with 90 stops, including five tackles for loss. The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder is a solid tackler, but too often, the former walk-on who didn't play football until junior college gets written off as one of the league's top linebackers.

James White, RB, Iowa State: White looked like a non-factor last season, but after Shontrelle Johnson went down with a neck injury, White ascended to starter status. He finished with 743 yards and eight scores, including the game-winner against Iowa in triple overtime.

Seth Doege, QB, Texas Tech: Doege's offense put up big numbers last year, but he didn't have much of a chance to win big last season. Doege's name never comes up among the league's best passers, but despite having no running game and tons of injuries on the offensive line, Doege topped 4,000 yards and threw for 28 touchdowns with just 10 picks. If Tech starts winning (which wasn't much of Doege's fault in 2011), his name might come up in the debate for the Big 12's best passer.

Jaxon Shipley, WR, Texas: Shipley's instincts and great hands are two things you simply can't coach. Now, he'll only get better as a sophomore, and his numbers will balloon if his quarterback improves and Shipley can stay healthy. Even with the revolving door at QB last year and an injury that caused him to miss three games, he finished with 607 yards and three scores on 44 catches.

K.J. Morton, CB, Baylor: Baylor's defense caught big criticism last year, but Morton was a big bright spot late in the season. The Bears were +10 in turnover margin over the last six games, and Morton was a big reason why. All four of his interceptions came in the final three games of the regular season. Now, he's got to improve his coverage skills.

John Hubert, RB, Kansas State: You know about Collin Klein, but it seems like nobody's paying attention to Hubert, who just so happens to be the Big 12's No. 3 returning rusher with 970 yards on just 200 carries.

Eric Ward, WR, Texas Tech: Texas Tech's 2011 season was rough, but Ward emerged as the most consistent target for a receiving corps racked by injuries. It wasn't fun last year, but now, the Red Raiders have some serious depth, and Ward gets no attention, despite catching 84 balls for 800 yards and 11 touchdowns.