ESPN College Football

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

MIAMI -- Hello from the baseball press box in Land Shark Stadium, where baseball season has ended and the infield is no longer visible. Word on the starting lineup will come later, but I'm told Randy Phillips is expected to dress, but not play.

Here's the early take on this game: It's going to come down to how Miami's offensive line fares against what could be one of the best defensive lines in the country. And if it plays the way it did against Virginia Tech last weekend, the Sooners will have the edge -- literally. The challenge will be to protect Miami quarterback Jacory Harris from defensive ends Jeremy Beal and Auston English.

I'm expecting a low-scoring game, but I think Harris will play better than he did last week against Virginia Tech. The Hurricanes' defense will have to rattle Landry Jones, and they're capable of doing that.

If Miami pulls off the win, it's a chance for the Canes to play their way back into the top 10. If Oklahoma wins, it keeps its hopes at the national championship alive. Neither team, though, can afford another loss and expect to stay in the BCS title race.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

Oklahoma’s defense already had supreme confidence long before the Sooners lost starting quarterback Sam Bradford and were forced to insert redshirt freshman Landry Jones into the starting lineup.

That quarterback switch didn’t prompt an attitude change from the Sooners’ single-minded defensive purpose. It was already there.

	Boyd Ivey/Icon SMI
	Gerald McCoy and the Sooners are looking forward to facing Miami on Saturday.

“Regardless of who is playing quarterback, we’ve wanted to be pretty good as a defense and we know our mindset,” Oklahoma sophomore linebacker Travis Lewis said. “If they can give us a field goal, we think we can win any game.”

That assurance would have been expected to be tested by Bradford’s injury. But it didn’t heighten an existing attitude from a group returning nine starters from last season.

“We believe in our offense and whoever plays, we think they will play well,” Oklahoma junior defensive tackle Gerald McCoy said. “But even though we believe that, we still have to hold our own and do what we have to do. And as of late, we’ve been able to do that.”

The Sooners come into Saturday’s game at No. 17 Miami (ABC, 8 p.m. ET) after notching back-to-back shutouts for the first time since 1987. They have a current scoreless streak of 123 minutes, 3 seconds that ranks as the longest in the nation since allowing a late touchdown against BYU.

The defense’s recent surge coincided when Jones took over. They started it with a strong performance in a 64-0 conquest of Idaho State, as the Bengals did not advance inside the Oklahoma 49 and produced only 44 total yards.

The Sooners continued against Tulsa, which led the nation in total offense the past two seasons and was averaging 41 points a game before meeting Oklahoma. The Sooners notched six sacks and forced three turnovers in a 45-0 statement.

Those efforts have enabled the Sooners to lead the nation in rushing defense (40.7 yards per game), scoring defense (4.7 points per game) and tackles for losses (11.3 per game).

It’s a big turnaround from last year's struggling Oklahoma defense. The Sooners finished 68th in total defense and 58th in scoring defense, which were the worst ratings in Bob Stoops’ coaching tenure. Particularly galling were late collapses in the Sooners’ two losses against Florida and Texas that marked bitter disappointment that carried into this season.

“We didn’t come up with key stops against Texas and Florida when we needed them,” Lewis said. “After last year, we decided we’ve got to be more consistent. Last year we were content to hold them to a couple of touchdowns. That’s totally changed now. We don’t want to give anything up.”

Miami’s athleticism will be the biggest test for the Sooners. And the Hurricanes' struggles at Virginia Tech were an anomaly caused by the wet conditions that helped negate their speed edge.

“It’s going to be a major challenge to go up against a team that in the first couple of games was very explosive and productive,” Stoops said. “I think it’s fair to say that their situation and the circumstances in the Virginia Tech game were difficult to handle. They played in a monsoon, basically, and that changes things.”

The wet conditions caused Miami quarterback Jacory Harris to have trouble with Virginia Tech coordinator Bud Foster’s defensive packages. Harris was sacked three times last week by the Hokies after he was sacked only once in Miami’s first two games.

They will face similar pressure from a balanced Oklahoma defense that has featured eight different players responsible for its 12 sacks so far this season.

"Our goal every week as a defensive line is to be disruptive, get in the backfield, and make quarterbacks feel uncomfortable,” senior defensive end Auston English said. “Those goals won't change this week. We need to continue to build on what we've started this year and hopefully do the same thing this week."

And while Stoops has hinted this season that his current group can become special, the Sooners are focused on more immediate task.

“We want to be a physical defense,” junior free safety Quinton Carter said. “But as far as being compared to defenses from in the past, I guess we have to wait until we get to the end of the season and see what our final legacy is going to be."

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

Being in the middle of Oklahoma's biggest question mark isn't something that Ben Habern shies away from.

In fact, the Sooners' freshman center is excited about the opportunity to prove something to the doubters who are wondering about Oklahoma's young offensive line heading into the upcoming season with four new starters.

	J.P. Wilson/Icon SMI
	Oklahoma's Ben Habern has some big shoes to fill as he replaces Jon Cooper at center.

It's made Habern wish his team's Sept. 5 opener against BYU was only a couple of weeks away.

"There are a lot of people who don't think we have enough talent to make it through the Big 12 or to a big bowl game," Habern said. "But a lot of people aren't here during our practices. We've seen how athletic we are."

Some of the doubt started earlier when Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops called out the unit before spring practice even began. Stoops was disappointed in the group's lack of dedication during preseason conditioning drills and didn't hesitate to make his comments known.

The words stung, particularly for a group that was looking to build some confidence before heading into practice. But Stoops' point got across and helped the group coalesce.

"We lost a lot of senior leadership and have a lot of guys to replace," Habern said. "It was a big step and a challenge to get everything settled. But I feel like we handled it pretty well."

One of the biggest reasons for the group's fast growth has been the development of Habern, who has claimed the starting job after strong work during the spring to replace Jon Cooper.

Jason Hannan, who was once considered the nation's No. 1 center prospect and Cooper's eventual replacement, couldn't beat out Habern for the job, leading Hannan to transfer earlier this spring.

"Habern has been doing a wonderful job," Oklahoma offensive line coach James Patton told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "He's got a chance to be a really good one. Jon was a great leader and Ben" is from "that same kind of mold."

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

Some Big 12 position groups are clearly above others as far as raw talent and athleticism. Here's a look at some of the most dominant in the conference.

Oklahoma's front seven: The Sooners go two-deep in talent in the defensive line and linebackers. Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy anchors the defensive front and is an Outland Trophy candidate. Adrian Taylor and Cordero Moore also are capable players. The Sooners have the best collection of defensive ends in college football with Frank Alexander, Jeremy Beal, R.J. Washington and Auston English. Travis Lewis could develop into one of the finest linebackers in Oklahoma history and Mike Balogun, Brandon Crow and Keenan Clayton all are expected to contribute. If heady team leader Ryan Reynolds comes back from his knee injury, this group could rival any in the country -- if it doesn't already.

Texas' secondary: After producing only six interceptions last season, Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp ratcheted up competition among defensive backs. The results were seen in the spring, when the group was the best defensive backfield group I saw in the conference. Aaron Williams and Chykie Brown have emerged as starters at the corners with Curtis Brown and Deon Beasley providing backup. Safeties Blake Gideon and Christian Scott both are emerging, but the key player might be sophomore safety Earl Thomas, who played the nickel position with tenacity and abandon. It's not a stretch to say that two Thorpe Award winners could emerge out of this group in the next several years.

Colorado's running backs: The Buffaloes seemingly have a back for every situation with the deepest backfield in the conference. Darrell Scott appears intent on making a comeback after a disappointing freshman season. Rodney Stewart looks recovered from a broken leg sustained last season that kept him from rushing for 1,000 yards. Sophomore Brian Lockridge appears to be the fastest back and 215-pound Demetrius Sumler is the biggest back with the best inside running ability among the group. This group will serve as the backbone for the Buffaloes' hopes of returning to a bowl game and perhaps their dark horse challenge for the Big 12 North title.

Kansas' wide receivers: Dezmon Briscoe missed all of spring practice for an undisclosed violation of team rules, but is back to serve as one of the nation's most explosive deep talents. Coach Mark Mangino hopes to be able to permanently switch Kerry Meier to receiver for his senior season after a breakout season in 2008. Meier and Briscoe were two of the nation's top-15 receivers last season when they combined for 189 catches, 2,452 yards and 23 touchdown grabs. And Wilson emerged as quarterback Todd Reesing's go-to receiver in the spring when Briscoe was gone, notching six catches in the spring game. Add Rod Harris, Tertavian Ingram and Raimond Pendleton and it might be among the most potent pass-catching groups in the nation.

Nebraska's running backs: With unproven Zac Lee starting at quarterback, look for Shawn Watson to lean heavily on a pair of talented returning backs. Quentin Castille trimmed about 20 pounds to get into better shape and leading returning rusher Roy Helu Jr. boosted his weight by 24 pounds to become a more powerful rusher between the tackles. Together, it wouldn't be a stretch that the two backs could combine for 2,000 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns if both can stay healthy.

Iowa State's running backs: With new offensive coordinator Tom Herman taking over with a spread offensive attack, a talented array of running backs still will have frequent opportunities to contribute. Leading returning rusher Alexander Robinson could be poised to become one of the most underrated rusher/receiver combination backs in the conference. But Robinson will have to fight for playing time with a stacked group that also includes bruising redshirt freshman Jeremiah Schwartz and heralded University of Florida transfer Bo Williams. Herman will be able to utilize all three backs in a variety of roles.

Missouri's defensive ends: The Tigers appeared loaded before spring practice with Brian Coulter and Jacquies Smith back, but redshirt freshman Aldon Smith has developed into an immediate contributor. Converted offensive tackle Brad Madison and redshirt Marcus Marlbrough also had strong springs, leading Gary Pinkel to say it was his best group of defensive ends he's ever had at Missouri.

Texas Tech's wide receivers: Even after losing two-time Biletnikoff Award winner Michael Crabtree and Eric Morris, the Red Raiders developed several potential playmakers during the spring. Edward Britton appeared to have crawled out of Mike Leach's doghouse with strong late production. New quarterback Taylor Potts should have many productive targets including Detron Lewis, Tramain Swindall, Lyle Leong, walk-on flanker Adam Torres, 6-foot-7 Adrian Reese and redshirt freshmen Austin Zouzalik and Eric Ward. The Red Raiders won't have two players grab the majority of balls like Crabtree and Morris did in recent seasons. Instead, they will feature a more balanced attack featuring eight to 10 receivers capable of thriving in a tag-team approach.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

A host of key Big 12 players battled through a variety of maladies this spring as they missed practice in preparation for the upcoming season. Here's a look at some of the more notable players and what they need to do in order to bounce back strong when practice begins this summer.

Baylor WR David Gettis: Bothered by recurring hamstring pulls in the spring, Gettis needs to be healthy to fulfill his lofty promise that arrived before him. If not, he'll have trouble keeping pace with Kendall Wright, Ernest Smith and Justin Fenty in the Bears' developing rotation of wide receivers.

Colorado QB Tyler Hansen: Looked to be competing at a near equal basis with Cody Hawkins before he broke his right thumb in the spring game. He'll have to recover quickly from post-spring surgery if he wants to renew the competition when the Buffaloes report in August.

Iowa State T Scott Haughton: Didn't participate in spring practice while he addressed some academic issues. His return in the fall is critical for the Cyclones after making 11 starts last season.

Kansas RB Jocques Crawford: Heralded former national junior-college rushing leader fell into coach Mark Mangino's doghouse after he was suspended for an undisclosed violation of team rules. Jake Sharp and Rell Lewis have jumped far ahead in the rotation as Crawford's role for the Jayhawks remains uncertain.

Kansas State RB-S Logan Dold: After switching to defense late in practice, Dold was hampered by an undisclosed injury and did not appear in the Wildcats' spring game. He needs to be healthy to make a challenge for earning playing time either on offense or defense.

Missouri WR Jared Perry: Missed all contact work as he recovered from post-season shoulder surgery. His absence, along with that of Danario Alexander's recovery from knee surgery, might explain why Blaine Gabbert struggled in the Tigers' spring game.

Nebraska QB Kody Spano: His knee injury snuffed out any hopes of competing with Zac Lee for the starting job. Now, Lee appears entrenched and Spano will be facing big odds to move up the depth chart.

Oklahoma DE Auston English: English was the best speed pass-rusher in the Big 12 for most of the 2007 season before injuries cut his productivity. He still has that promise -- even as his struggled last season and missed the spring with a knee injury. But other talented defensive ends like Jeremy Beal and Frank Alexander have caught the attention of coaches, making it tougher to English to win his way back into the starting lineup.

Oklahoma State WR Dez Bryant: His knee injury turned around the Cowboys' Holiday Bowl loss to Oregon. He's expected to return as normal after missing all of spring practice, although there is always a concern about a recovery from any kind of knee surgery.

Texas RB Cody Johnson: Appeared ready to claim the starting lineup midway through spring practice before injuring his left hamstring. He needs to return healthy and in shape to be able to hold off heralded freshman Chris Whaley and the other contenders among Texas running backs.

Texas A&M QB-WR Ryan Tannehill: His expected challenge against Jerrod Johnson for playing time at quarterback never materialized as Tannehill's spring practice was limited by a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder. His lack of playing time at quarterback this spring could mean he heads back to receiver while also serving as Johnson's backup at quarterback.

Texas Tech DE McKinner Dixon: After the departure of Brandon Williams to the NFL, Dixon was counted to be the Red Raiders' top pass-rushing threat. But he got crossways with coach Mike Leach after falling behind academically. Leach said Dixon's return is doubtful, making the Red Raiders' biggest defensive concern that much more tenuous.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

After spring practice, there's been a little movement in my pre-spring power rankings. Here's where I think schools are slotted heading into the summer.

	Kenny Felt/Icon SMI
	Sergio Kindle was switched to defensive end this spring and dominated early practices.

1. Texas: Colt McCoy is back bigger and stronger than ever. But the real improvement during the spring for the Longhorns came in the secondary, where they have legitimate two-deep talent. Sergio Kindle was a natural at defensive end and incoming freshman Alex Okafor was better than advertised as a prime pass-rusher. The running game is still a question and depth at defensive tackle could be iffy. But the Longhorns still remember how 2008 played out -- at least if the asterisk-marked Big 12 championship hung in their team room is any indication. February pre-spring ranking: 1.

2. Oklahoma: Gerald McCoy talks about the Oklahoma defense being the best in the nation and they could be with nine returning starters. And the Sooners could improve even more if Auston English and Ryan Reynolds make strong comebacks from injuries. The biggest question remains the four new starters along the offensive line who will be charged with blocking for Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford. That turnover remains the primary question that could stymie the Sooners' hopes of an unprecedented fourth straight Big 12 title. February pre-spring ranking: 2.

3. Oklahoma State: Mike Gundy looks to have the conference's most balanced offense -- even as Dez Bryant recovered from knee surgery this spring. The big question remains the defense. New coordinator Bill Young started work on the defensive line as his first order of business before branching out to the rest of the unit. The Cowboys can score with anybody, but Young's work improving the defense will determine whether OSU can contend for its first Big 12 South title and be a legitimate factor in the BCS race. February pre-spring ranking: 3.

4. Nebraska: Quarterback Zac Lee's early grasp of the offense looked impressive this spring, but he'll have to build on that quick study if the Cornhuskers are to contend for Bo Pelini's first North title. There are still some holes at wide receiver and along the right side of the offensive line, but the Cornhuskers are improving their talent level -- particularly on defense. I make them a slight favorite in the North Division, mainly because of a more favorable schedule of cross-division rivals. February pre-spring ranking: 4.

5. Kansas: Anticipation is soaring for the Jayhawks, who finish the spring with legitimate hopes of their first undisputed Big 12 North title. Todd Reesing is the North's best quarterback and the return of Dezmon Briscoe from his suspension would give Reesing his best offensive weapon. The line will have less experience than any team in the conference, but has some heralded talent in place. The biggest defensive question will be replacing three starting linebackers who were the heart of last season's defense. Mark Mangino has hinted at a 4-2-5 defense that may be better suited for combating the Big 12's explosive offenses. Their hopes will depend on navigating the North's toughest stretch of South Division opponents. February pre-spring ranking: 5.

6. Texas Tech: Coach Mike Leach has a new five-year contract but will be facing some heavy lifting. This will be his most significant offensive rebuilding job during his coaching tenure as he replaces the prime weapons of last season's South Division tri-champion. Taylor Potts won't be as productive as Graham Harrell, but he has more experience coming into the position than most of Leach's previous starting quarterbacks. The star power at wide receiver will be lacking without Michael Crabtree, but the spring showed the Red Raiders still have much talent and should be deeper throughout the receiver rotation. McKinner Dixon's spring suspension, coupled with Brandon Williams' defection to the NFL, makes pass rushing iffy. And the Red Raiders are looking for two new safeties from an inexperienced group. It all adds up to a challenging rebuilding job for Leach. February pre-spring ranking: 6.

7. Colorado: The Buffaloes remain the Big 12's mystery team and Tyler Hansen's thumb injury only accentuates that uncertainty. New offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau will be taking over this summer. And while he's been around the program for three years, it's still a concern taking the top job. The offense looked fine in the spring game, particularly a bruising rushing game keyed by Darrell Scott and Rodney Stewart. The defensive line remains the biggest question on the other side of the ball and we won't know how that group will play until the season begins. Dan Hawkins confidently picked the Buffaloes to go 10-2 after last season. They'll be better than last season's 5-7, but I'm not sure they will live up to their coach's optimism. February pre-spring ranking: 8.

8. Missouri: It was tough to get a handle on the Tigers during the spring. Blaine Gabbert had some moments, but his numbers weren't that impressive. But those struggles were understandable considering he was throwing to some inexperienced receivers while Danario Alexander and Jared Perry recovered from injuries. The turnover in both coordinators from last season will be interesting to watch. And with all of the thoughts about the huge personnel losses on offense, the Tigers also will lose a lot on defense. I still think the Tigers will go bowling this year, but will be better suited for a run at the 2010 North title than this season. February pre-spring ranking: 7.

9. Baylor: Optimism is flowing along the Brazos with Bears backers -- with good reason if Robert Griffin can duplicate his freshman success. The biggest offensive question remains his protection with two new offensive tackles. On defense, the Bears have a lot of talent returning and Phil Taylor looks like the real deal at
defensive tackle -- their biggest defensive need. Art Briles is changing the culture at Baylor, but it will be interesting to see if he can really push them into bowl contention -- not an easy task in the Big 12 South. February pre-spring ranking: 9.

10. Texas A&M: Credit Mike Sherman for thinking outside the box. The idea to move Von Miller to the "jack" position on defense was a master stroke -- if Miller can hold up to the pounding he'll face in the trenches. It was hard to get a gauge on A&M's running game with so many injuries in their offensive line. When healthy -- and with the arrival of heralded freshman Christine Michael -- the Aggies should be much better than last season. Same for a secondary that appeared overmatched in the spring, but was crippled by injuries at cornerback. It will be a long road back to Big 12 contention, but look for A&M to be more respectable this season. February pre-spring ranking: 11.

11. Kansas State: I wonder if Bill Snyder has ever had second thoughts since returning to coaching. His rebuilding job with this team pales next to what he originally faced back in 1989, but the Big 12 is a more difficult challenge than that old Big Eight was. Carson Coffman claimed the starting job with a late push in the spring, but will be challenged by Grant Gregory and Daniel Thomas later in the summer. The running game needs somebody to emerge as Keithen Valentine and Jarell Childs alternated spring work. The defense has a long way to go, although Vic Koenning's 4-2-5 appears to better suit the talent on hand. Snyder's acumen should help them in some close games, but it still will be a huge challenge to get them back into bowl contention. February pre-spring ranking: 10.

12. Iowa State: Paul Rhoads is a realist. It's hard not to be after he took a look at his defensive players and realized how far the Cyclones have to come in order to be a force in the North. Look for them to make steps this season thanks to his enthusiasm, but still facing a huge climb in order to be competitive with all of the explosive Big 12 offenses. The Cyclones should be productive on offense with new coordinator Tom Herman. Backup quarterback Jerome Tiller looks like he's ready to push Austen Arnaud after a strong spring game. And Alexander Robinson could emerge as one of the Big 12's most underrated players as a versatile run-catch option. February pre-spring ranking: 12.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Forget record-setting offenses and a slew of top quarterbacks. The Big 12 is becoming just as well known for its pre-game flyovers as anything else.

Texas fans made their presence well known tonight. A plane flew over the stadium a couple of hours before the kickoff with the banner "Enjoy the BeatbyTexas.com Bowl." Texas had beaten both teams by double-digit margins earlier this season.

The Web site Longhorn Nation revealed the rationale behind the flyover, which comes after similar spectacles at Austin and Stillwater during games last week. Another flyover lampooned Mack Brown on Thursday over the Texas campus.

It will be interesting if any other airplanes come by during the rest of the game. An even more dramatic point could be made if one of the groups decided to rent a blimp for its message delivery.

Here are some other late factors as we get ready for kickoff, about 30 minutes away.

WHAT'S AT STAKE: The conference's championship and an automatic bid to the Bowl Championship Series will be contested. Oklahoma can likely cement a chance to play in the BCS championship with a triumph. It would be a record third-straight Big 12 championship for the Sooners and would also provide Bob Stoops his sixth Big 12 championship. No other coach in league history has won more than one title.

And despite disappointment from a 9-3 season, Missouri can claim their first Big 12 title and also their first BCS berth in school history with an upset tonight. They would be headed for the Fiesta Bowl with the win.

The loser of the tonight's game could slide all the way to the Alamo Bowl, although Oklahoma might be able to squeeze its way into the Cotton Bowl if it should lose tonight.

One other item to note. Missouri is the biggest underdog in Big 12 conference history.

WEATHER: It's going to be cold tonight at Arrowhead Stadium, but not as frigid as for some previous Big 12 title games. Temperatures are in the mid-30s with a wind chill of 29 degrees and will slide below freezing as the game continues. The wind will be coming from the northwest at about 10 mph, so it could be a factor. There is no chance of precipitation.

Most importantly, the Arrowhead Stadium field looks to be in good shape. After turning soupy during the rain and snow at the end of last week's Missouri-Kansas game here, the Kansas City Chiefs' ground crew has done a masterful job of getting the turf back in shape. It looks like it's ready to go.

INJURIES: The biggest concern for Oklahoma is the loss of starting linebacker Austin Box, who sprained his knee against Oklahoma State last week. Construction-worker-turned-Sooner Mike Balogun apparently will get the start, although Travis Lewis might get more snaps in the middle and linebacker Nic Harris could switch from safety. Top Oklahoma pass rusher Auston English has looked sturdy in pre-game warm-ups and could return to the game for up to 20 to 25 snaps. And Sam Bradford's damaged thumb ligament on his non-throwing hand has been stabilized with a splint. He has been passing normally during the pre-game throws I've seen.

Missouri will be missing starting cornerback Castine Bridges, who sustained a season-ending knee injury last week against Kansas. Undersized senior replacement Tru Vaughns will get the first start of his career tonight in his place.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

Oklahoma 52, Missouri 31 -- The first rematch in Big 12 title game history from the previous season will take place at Arrowhead Stadium. And the streaking Sooners appear to be ready.

Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford has the offense humming as the Sooners have scored at least 61 points in each of their last four games. They have the balanced kind of attack that will pose problems to a Missouri defense that has struggled this season despite returning 10 starters from last season. The Sooners' offensive balance will prove difficult for Missouri defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus to contain.

Bradford has a torn ligament in his non-throwing hand that will be braced for Saturday's game. That injury could affect the Sooners' rushing game as he could be forced to take the majority of his snaps from shotgun formations like he did last week against Oklahoma State after the injury. But Bradford should be effective against a banged-up Missouri secondary that will be missing its best cornerback after Castine Bridges went down with a season-ending knee injury last week.

Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel has struggled recently with interceptions, throwing at least two in three of his last four games. He can't afford that in Saturday's game as he must be more patient and avoid throwing the ball into tight Oklahoma coverage. The Tigers are going to have to do a good job of keeping Daniel from being pressured against an Oklahoma defense that should be getting top pass-rushing threat Auston English back from injury for spot duty.

The Tigers needs to exploit their advantage in the special teams and will need some big plays for Jeremy Maclin to nab the upset. And they also have an advantage at kicker, where Jeff Wolfert is more consistent and has better range than Jimmy Stevens.

But when everything is considered, the Sooners have too many weapons. And the controversy about their legitimacy of playing in Saturday's game should spur them to a strong performance. A victory will provide them with a shot at a history-making third straight conference title and a likely berth in the BCS Championship Game next month.

My record for last week: 4-1 (80 percent)
My record for the season: 83-13 (86.5 percent)

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

STILLWATER, Okla. -- Here are a few late factoids with kickoff of Oklahoma-Oklahoma State about 30 minutes away.

WHAT'S AT STAKE: An Oklahoma victory will force a three-way tie for the Big 12 South Division title that will be decided by the BCS standings tomorrow. It also likely wraps up a BCS bowl berth for Oklahoma, no matter if the Sooners play in the championship game or not.

Oklahoma State is gunning for a victory that would boost them to a 10-win regular season for the first time in school history.

The Sooners have won five-straight games in the series and Bob Stoops is 3-1 in previous games against the Cowboys in Stillwater. But none of those margins of victory are more than six points.

And Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy is 3-13-1 in his career against Oklahoma, as a coach, assistant coach and player.

WEATHER: It's a cold, cloudy night with temperatures in the mid-40s. Humidity is 52 percent and there is no wind. Even though a front is expected to blow through late this evening, there is only about a 10 percent chance of precipitation.

INJURIES: Oklahoma is still missing top pass rusher Auston English (sprained knee) and starting defensive end Alan Davis (sprained knee). Their lack of depth at the position will mean that starters Frank Alexander and Jeremy Beal will play more snaps than usual. And Ryan Reynolds, the Sooners' steady middle linebacker, has been lost since the Texas game with a knee injury.

Oklahoma State's biggest injury question is tailback Kendall Hunter, the Big 12's leading rusher, who sustained a quadriceps injury against Colorado in the Cowboys' most recent game. But after eyeing him during workouts, Hunter appears ready to go. If he's hampered, Keith Toston would replace him.

Earlier this season, the Cowboys lost free safety Lucien Antoine with a knee injury. He's been their only other major injury this season.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

Here are a few last-minute tidbits before tonight's Texas Tech-Oklahoma game.

WHAT'S AT STAKE: Something has to give tonight. The Sooners have a nation-best 23 game winning streak. But Texas Tech is 10-0 for the first time since 1938 and will carry a 12-game winning streak that is the longest in the country to start the day.

A Texas Tech victory would give the Red Raiders their first birth in the Big 12 championship game against Missouri on Dec. 6.

An Oklahoma victory would throw the South Division into a three-way tie for the lead. Next week, Oklahoma travels to Oklahoma State, Texas hosts Texas A&M on Thanksgiving night and Baylor will visit Texas Tech. If there's a three-way tie at the end of that day, the Bowl Championship Series standings will be used to determine which team will advance to the championship game.

INJURIES: Oklahoma's banged-up defense will have some replacements. Starting defensive ends Auston English and Alan Davis both are out with sprained knees. That will mean that redshirt freshman Frank Alexander and Jeremy Beal will get the starts, with converted linebacker J.R. Bryant and Pryce Macon thrust into key reserve roles. Steady middle linebacker Ryan Reynolds has been out since the Texas game with a torn ACL. Redshirt freshman Austin Box will get the start in his place. Tight end Brody Eldridge (ankle) and wide receiver Manny Johnson (dislocated elbow) both are expected to play.

Texas Tech is in pretty good shape in terms of injuries. The extra week gave Michael Crabtree time to rest and he told reporters earlier this week he's ready to play at 100 percent.

WEATHER CONDITIONS: It's an almost ideal football night at Owen Field, with one exception. A gusting south wind of up to 20 mph could play havoc with teams' passing strategies and the kicking game. But other than that, you couldn't ask for a better night in mid-November. Temperatures will start at kickoff in the mid-40s and should slide into the high-30s by the time the game finishes up.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

NORMAN, Okla. -- Mike Leach comes back to Norman tonight. It's a place where he's never had much success in four previous losses with Texas Tech.

The challenge of stopping Oklahoma has flummoxed the best of the Big 12 team over the years. Hence Bob Stoops' 59-2 record here. His only losses came to Les Miles and Oklahoma State in 2001 and Gary Patterson's TCU team in the season opener in 2005.

But Leach said earlier this week that he thought his team's performance in 2006 -- a game where they reeled off 17 straight points and made the Sooners work in an eventual 34-24 victory -- has given them confidence that they haven't had in previous games here.

"We came in and played them pretty well," Leach said. "It's a game that we could have won with a break or two."

That confidence seems to have been passed along to his team, which might have a chance to stun the Sooners and claim their first appearance in the Big 12 title game with a victory tonight.

But even more than confidence, here's another reason why the Red Raiders might be poised to make some history here tonight.

Namely, this Texas Tech team might be the best that has ever come to challenge the Sooners in the Stoops era.

Leach has his best quarterback in Graham Harrell. He has his best player in Michael Crabtree. His offensive line is a veteran group that has helped him balance his offense with a semblance of a running game.

Texas Tech is only the third top-10 team to play here during Stoops' era. The No. 3 Sooners stunned No. 1 Nebraska 31-14 in 2000. And No. 2 Oklahoma blew out No. 9 Iowa State, 49-3, here in 2002.

Texas Tech's team is the biggest challenge the Sooners have faced since then. It will be interesting to see how they fare against the Sooners' home field mystique.

Here are some other items that will be important tonight.

• How Oklahoma's injury-ravaged defense holds up. The Sooners are missing top pass rushers Auston English and Alan Davis. Six of their seven starters among the linebackers and defensive backs have never started against Texas Tech's defense before. Checking what is suddenly a balanced -- for Tech anyway -- offensive attack will be difficult for that inexperienced Sooners group. Oklahoma has yielded at least 28 points in each of the past five games -- something that they have never done in the history of the program.
• Heisman ramifications. Graham Harrell and Sam Bradford are both among the top candidates for what they've accomplished -- particularly in recent weeks. The winner of the game should have a huge leg up on the field a few days after Heisman ballots have started arriving at the homes and offices of balloters. Whoever wins tonight's nationally televised game will have a big advantage over the field. At least until the next round of games next week.
• The turnover margin. Oklahoma leads the nation with eight turnovers lost. Texas Tech has only 14 giveaways. I don't think either team will be prone for a big mistake. Whoever gets advantage -- particularly if it's early -- will have a huge advantage.
• Oklahoma's quick starts. In the past three games, the Sooners have charged from the opening kickoff, scoring 11 touchdowns on their first 14 possessions in the last three games. In their first six conference games, Oklahoma has outscored opponents 126-24 in the first quarter. And on average, they are already 17 points ahead by the start of the second quarter.
• Special teams. Both teams have liabilities here. Tech leads the nation with nine kicks that have been blocked (five field goals, three punts and an extra point) and must do a better job protecting their kickers. And Leach's lack of confidence in Donnie Carona resulted in the mid-season call-up of Matt Williams from the Tech student section as the Red Raiders' extra-point kicker. Carona likely will kick long field goals while Williams will be used from intermediate distances and close ones.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

There are only two games in the Big 12 on Saturday, the lightest scheduling day of the season. But there's still plenty to watch for, highlighted by this week's "Game of the Century" involving Texas Tech and Oklahoma.

Here are some items I'll be watching tomorrow.

1. The performance of Oklahoma's banged-up defense: The Sooners will be playing without top pass-rusher Auston English (sprained knee), starting middle linebacker Ryan Reynolds (season-ending torn ACL) and defensive end Alan Davis (sprained knee.) The Sooners have struggled with those personnel losses, allowing at least 28 points in the last five games for the first time in the 114-season history of the program. And they should be supremely challenged by Tech's explosive offense, which leads the nation in passing.

Even with those dire circumstances, the Sooners have been effective in other ways since the Texas loss. Oklahoma has forced 15 turnovers over the last four games which is the most in the nation over that span, even including a bye week. And in their last game, the Sooners caused four turnovers as they shackled Texas A&M, limiting the Aggies to 278 yards.

2. Oklahoma's much-maligned special teams: The Sooners have struggled covering kicks all season, ranking 108th among teams in kickoff coverage and allowing three touchdowns. Bob Stoops has worked on improving his unit during the team's week off and believes it will be ready. But can the unit come up with enough big plays that will keep the Red Raiders bottled up in poor field position?

3. Michael Crabtree's health: Tech's top receiver has been hobbled with a sprained ankle during the last several weeks and has been noticeably slowed since he was hurt returning a kickoff against Texas A&M. He's told reporters this week that the extra week of rest has rejuvenated him and he'll be ready to go at kickoff. He blistered the Sooners for 12 catches and 154 yards last season. The Red Raiders will need another big game from him on Saturday.

4. Sam Bradford's shot at retribution: Last year's loss to Tech is a blur for Bradford, who sustained a concussion and missed most of the game after throwing only three passes. His departure paved the way for Tech's 34-27 victory, which ended the Sooners' BCS title game hopes. That disappointment has sparked Bradford to a huge sophomore season, as he's leading the nation with 38 touchdown passes coming into Saturday's game. Those struggles last season have left him with extra determination to play well in Saturday's game.

5. Huge stakes for the Red Raiders: The Red Raiders are the nation's hottest team with a nation-best 12-game winning streak and are 10-0 for the first time since 1938. But most importantly, they can wrap up their first Big 12 title-game appearance and a chance to meet Missouri in the conference championship game with a victory over the Sooners on Saturday.

6. Heisman ramifications: Ballots were sent out to 926 voters earlier this week. Bradford, Crabtree and Tech quarterback Graham Harrell all are among the favorites. Whoever has the biggest game Saturday night in the nationally televised game will go a long way toward perhaps hoisting the trophy when it's presented in New York City on Dec. 13.

7. Senior night for Oklahoma's seniors: Saturday will be the final game for Oklahoma's senior class, which lost its first game back in 2005 and hasn't lost at home since -- a nation-best winning streak of 23 games that is the longest among all FBS teams. The Sooners haven't lost a home conference game since falling in the regular-season finale against Oklahoma State on Nov. 24, 2001. Bob Stoops is 59-2 at home in his coaching tenure with the Sooners.

8. Mike Leach squares off with his mentor: Leach worked with Bob Stoops during the 1999 season -- Stoops' first coaching the Sooners -- before assuming the Tech job the following season. Since then, he's never won at Owen, going 0-4 in those games. But he has turned the rivalry around a little, winning two of the last three games in the series. Tech is 1-6 in previous games at Owen Field, notching its only win there in 1996. And Stoops needs a big win to regain some of his luster. "Big Game Bob" started his career with an 8-1 record against top 10 opponents, but is only 3-7 against top 10 foes since then.

9. Ron Prince's finale: Kansas State's coach finishes his career with the Wildcats against Iowa State. A victory would keep Kansas State out of a tie for the Big 12 North Division cellar with the Cyclones. Something has to give in Saturday's game between two teams already eliminated from bowl eligibility. The Wildcats have lost five-straight games -- longest since Bill Snyder's final season in 2005 -- and Iowa State enters the game with a 16-game road losing streak that is the longest in the nation after UAB's win at Tulane last week.

10. Austen Arnaud's strong finish: The sophomore Iowa State quarterback is coming off a big game after passing for 326 yards and setting the school's single-game record with 36 completions last week against Missouri. He'll be playing against a struggling Kansas State defense that ranks 114th in total defense, has been singed for at least 30 points in eight of its last nine games and has allowed an average of 51.8 points in its last four games. A big effort could provide Arnaud with confidence heading into next season.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

Only two games this week, but one of them will be as big as any gets in college football this season. Here are my picks.

Oklahoma 45, Texas Tech 42 -- Two teams with legitimate Big 12 title hopes and Bowl Championship Series aspirations will meet in the biggest game at Owen Field since 2000 . The Oklahoma defense is banged-up without key producers like Auston English and Ryan Reynolds. And Texas Tech has been on this stage for the last several weeks and still hasn't blinked. But I still like the home-field advantage to provide the slimmest of margins to the Sooners, who are 59-2 at home, have the nation's longest active home winning streak at 23 games and haven't lost there since the opening game of the 2005 season. Keep an eye on the Sooners' kick coverage after Bob Stoops has had an extra week to work out the kinks. The difference will be an aggressive Oklahoma defense that leads the nation in turnover margin and will come up with a couple of big plays that will boost them to a victory. I'm still a little dubious about Texas Tech's ability to make a clutch long field goal when it really needs one. And despite offensive weapons like Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree, I believe the Oklahoma defense will rise up with a strong performance that powers them to the win. The Sooners' victory will mean we will carry the regular-season excitement over for one more week. Would we really have it any other way?

Kansas State 38, Iowa State 28 -- Something's got to give at Bill Snyder Family Stadium as Kansas State brings a five-game losing streak and Iowa State will try to stem a nation's-worst 16-game road losing streak. It will be Ron Prince's final game as Kansas State's head coach and it will be interesting to see how his team reacts. The Wildcats were atrocious defensively last week against Nebraska and even Josh Freeman floundered enough to get himself benched early in the second half. Even with those struggles, the Wildcats still will have an edge against Iowa State's weak pass defense. The clincher could be their propensity to make big plays on the special teams. Look for Prince to go out a winner in his final game with the Wildcats.

My picks last week: 5-0 (100 percent)

My picks for the season: 77-12 (86.9 percent)

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

Here are a few tidbits from around the Big 12 this week.

The biggest change in recent weeks is that Nebraska coach Bo Pelini is trusting in his scheme and the players who are operating it. Earlier this season, Pelini crafted a gimmick defense when he played Missouri. Now, he's more willing to let his talent play. Of course, the recent surge by the Nebraska front four is helping him feel that way, too. The Cornhuskers have notched nine sacks in their last two games after producing only five in the first five Big 12 conference games.

Two recent losses to Texas A&M has Texas coach Mack Brown searching for ways to better prepare for his traditional rival. One change that will help will be enthusiasm from his young players. Brown has been pleased with the contribution of young players in recent weeks. The list includes safety Christian Scott, center David Snow, defensive tackle Kheeston Randall and defensive ends Sam Acho and Eddie Jones. All had big games in the Longhorns' 35-7 triumph over Kansas last week. And the excitement of playing next week for a possible BCS berth should do the trick, too.

Oklahoma will be scrambling against Texas Tech's massive offensive line without two key pass rushers this week as defensive ends Auston English and Alan Davis both will be out with knee sprains. To build depth at the position, Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has moved converted linebacker J.R. Bryant to one backup spot and seldom-used Pryce Macon will serve at the other position behind starters Frank Alexander and Jeremy Beal. The Sooners are also bracing to use the nickel formation as their base against Tech's collection of wide receivers. That would mean extensive use for backup safety Quinton Carter, who made his first career start against Kansas last month. And Nic Harris will likely remain at safety with redshirt freshman Austin Box continuing to start at middle linebacker for Ryan Reynolds, out for the season with a knee injury.

Chase Coffman is unquestionably one of the most valuable receivers in the conference, but does the Missouri system play just a little part in his success? Freshman backup Andrew Jones produced seven catches last week against Iowa State as the Cyclones hardly missed Coffman, who was out with a sprained toe.

Iowa State has gotten to the final game without quarterback Austen Arnaud sustaining an injury, with only freshmen Jerome Tiller and Brett Bueker behind him as backups. If Arnaud should become injured against Kansas State, coach Gene Chizik has a plan. Chizik said he would insert freshman wide receiver Darius Darks, a converted high school quarterback and the team's leading receiver last week against Missouri, into the quarterback position. Chizik also said that the Cyclones have worked on an emergency package that includes direct snaps to the tailback. He remains adamant about saving the redshirts for both Tiller and Bueker after not playing either of them this season after the midseason departure of former backup quarterback Phillip Bates.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

Here are some trends I'll be watching in tomorrow's Big 12 games.

1. Texas Tech handling prosperity: Last week's emotional victory over Texas was the biggest in Tech's school history. And now, the Red Raiders must rebound and play in another big game this week against Oklahoma State. Only once since 1965 has a team been able to beat a No. 1 team one week and defeat another top 10 foe the next week. Oklahoma stunned Nebraska and then beat No. 3 Oklahoma State the next week in 1984. The Red Raiders' South Division title hopes will be riding on it.

2. Texas' secondary the week after the Tech collapse: The Longhorns' young secondary had a difficult learning experience against the Red Raiders, allowing Michael Crabtree to get behind them for the game-winning touchdown on the game's final play from scrimmage. They can't afford to mope on Saturday, as they will be facing the challenge of containing multi-talented Baylor freshman quarterback Robert Griffin.

3. Missouri's senior day: 23 Missouri seniors will play their final home game at Faurot Field Saturday -- including key players Chase Daniel, Chase Coffman and William Moore. But I'm just as interested to see who wears the Tigers No. 25 jersey in honor of the late Aaron O'Neal, who died after a 2005 conditioning drill and would have been a member of this senior class. It will be an emotional moment for Gary Pinkel and his program.

4. Oklahoma State's defense against Texas Tech: The underrated Cowboys unit has done a good job against other top teams earlier this season, holding Missouri 30 points under its scoring average, Baylor is 26 under its average and Texas is 20 under its average. They will be facing a similarly difficult test against the Red Raiders, who are third in the nation with a 47.0 scoring average per game.

5. Oklahoma State and Kansas try to stem long road losing streaks: The Cowboys will be trying to snap a nine-game losing streak in Lubbock, last beating the Red Raiders there in 1944. And the Jayhawks will be aiming for their first triumph in Lincoln since 1968, snapping a 19-game losing streak to the Cornhuskers. Both teams desperately need triumphs in order to keep their divisional title hopes alive.

6. Bo Pelini's sideline decorum: The bombastic Nebraska coach's bench antics have been called into question after several celebrated television shots during the Cornhuskers' 62-28 loss at Oklahoma last week have already become YouTube viewing staples. He'll be facing another challenge to cool his jets as his struggling defense will attempt to contain Kansas quarterback Todd Reesing and running back Jake Sharp, who is coming off a career-best 181-yard rushing effort last week against Kansas State.

7. The pillow fight in Boulder: All those fans who are looking for defensive stops in the Big 12 might turn to Versus Saturday afternoon for some moderation in scoring. Iowa State and Colorado are the bottom two teams in the Big 12 in terms of scoring offense, averaging a combined 44 points per game between them. That scoring average is topped by five individual Big 12 teams this season. And it means the first team to 21 points in the popgun battle between the Cyclones and Buffaloes likely will be the winner.

8. Oklahoma's pass rush against Jerrod Johnson: The Sooners lost preseason Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Auston English with a knee injury that likely will keep him out of action until a bowl game. Replacement Frank Alexander has made a remarkable recovery after he was stabbed after the Sooners' first-game victory over Chattanooga. He's looked good in the last several games. But he'll be challenged against Texas A&M's resurgent offense keyed by sophomore quarterback Jerrod Johnson.

9. Kansas State reacts to the dismissal of Ron Prince: The Wildcats learned earlier this week their coach would not return after the end of the season. What kind of emotional factor will that produce as the Wildcats look to beat Missouri for the first time under Prince? It wasn't always a problem, as Bill Snyder won his last six games in Columbia as part of an overall 13-game winning streak over the Tigers when he retired. And the Wildcats can becoming bowl-eligible by winning two of their last three games.

10. Darrell Scott's big chance: The heralded Colorado freshman running back's season has been marked with injuries and disappointment. But he will be poised for his first career start Saturday against Iowa State. After Rodney Stewart's season likely ended last week when he broke his fibula, Scott will be the Buffaloes' prime offensive threat -- something they desperately need considering their season-long offensive struggles.