College Football Nation: Chris Brown
National signing day is in the books. And though it was not without its surprises for Notre Dame, we won't know the true impact of Wednesday's additions until years from now.
With that, we take our best shot at predicting the future while recapping what went down.
Biggest surprise: There's only one choice to make here, and it's the flip of Deontay Greenberry to Houston on Wednesday morning. Notre Dame's 17-man class seemed all but set entering the day, but Greenberry changed that with the last-minute decision. Having his cousin, Tee Shepard, already enrolled at Notre Dame certainly makes this more surprising.
Player you'll see next season: Shepard figures to see playing time in the secondary upon his arrival. Brian Kelly called him the best cornerback in the country, and with the lack of depth there currently on the Notre Dame roster, Shepard will have the chance to earn extended minutes with an impressive spring and summer.
Dark horse contributors: Chris Brown and Nicky Baratti are both three-star prospects, but Kelly thinks they are both steals. Neither has a physique that will help him stand out on the field, but Brown is a versatile threat with the ball in his hands, short or deep. Baratti, labeled an "athlete," projects as a safety but displays the kind of adaptability and attitude that Kelly loves.
With that, we take our best shot at predicting the future while recapping what went down.
Biggest surprise: There's only one choice to make here, and it's the flip of Deontay Greenberry to Houston on Wednesday morning. Notre Dame's 17-man class seemed all but set entering the day, but Greenberry changed that with the last-minute decision. Having his cousin, Tee Shepard, already enrolled at Notre Dame certainly makes this more surprising.
Player you'll see next season: Shepard figures to see playing time in the secondary upon his arrival. Brian Kelly called him the best cornerback in the country, and with the lack of depth there currently on the Notre Dame roster, Shepard will have the chance to earn extended minutes with an impressive spring and summer.
Dark horse contributors: Chris Brown and Nicky Baratti are both three-star prospects, but Kelly thinks they are both steals. Neither has a physique that will help him stand out on the field, but Brown is a versatile threat with the ball in his hands, short or deep. Baratti, labeled an "athlete," projects as a safety but displays the kind of adaptability and attitude that Kelly loves.
While we wait on you, West Coasters ...
February, 1, 2012
Feb 1
11:19
AM ET
By
Matt Fortuna | ESPN.com
John Turner kicked things off for Notre Dame's 2012 recruiting class shortly after 7 a.m. today, becoming the first of what is expected to be 14 high schoolers to fax in his signed letter of intent.
The names trickled in after — Romeo Okwara, Mark Harrell, Justin Ferguson, C.J. Prosise, Chris Brown, William Mahone, Scott Daly, Jarron Jones, Nicky Baratti and Elijah Shumate.
Gunner Kiel, Tee Shepard and Sheldon Day have already enrolled.
We'll speak to coach Brian Kelly in less than two hours, by which time the Irish hope their three verbal pledges from the West Coast -- Deontay Greenberry, Ronnie Stanleyand KeiVarae Russell -- make their new homes official.
The names trickled in after — Romeo Okwara, Mark Harrell, Justin Ferguson, C.J. Prosise, Chris Brown, William Mahone, Scott Daly, Jarron Jones, Nicky Baratti and Elijah Shumate.
Gunner Kiel, Tee Shepard and Sheldon Day have already enrolled.
We'll speak to coach Brian Kelly in less than two hours, by which time the Irish hope their three verbal pledges from the West Coast -- Deontay Greenberry, Ronnie Stanleyand KeiVarae Russell -- make their new homes official.
Happy New Year?! Well, not quite. But it is national signing day, a chance for fans of every team to celebrate the promise of the future.
For Notre Dame, that future is brighter than most. The Irish are expected to sign the No. 9 recruiting class for the Class of 2012, according to ESPNU. And barring anything unforeseen, the class might just stand at 17 prospects when the day is done.
Brian Kelly will hold a news conference at 1 p.m. today, but until then, here's a recap of who you should expect to see in a Notre Dame uniform next season. (*indicates early enrollee already on campus)
OFFENSE
*Four-star QB Gunner Kiel (Columbus, Ind./Columbus East)
Four-star WR Justin Ferguson (Pembroke Pikes, Fla./Flanagan)
Four-star OT Jarron Jones (Rochester, N.Y./Aquinas)
Four-star WR Deontay Greenberry (Fresno, Calif./Washington Union)
Four-star OT Ronnie Stanley (Las Vegas/Bishop Gorman)
Four-star RB William Mahone (Youngstown, Ohio/Austintown Fitch)
Four-star OT Mark Harrell (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Catholic)
Three-star RB KeiVarae Russell (Everett, Wash./Mariner)
Three-star WR Chris Brown (Hanahan, S.C./Hanahan)
Two-star LS Scott Daly (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South)
*Four-star CB Tee Shepard (Fresno, Calif./Washington Union)
*Four-star DT Sheldon Day (Indianapolis/Warren Central)
Four-star S Elijah Shumate (Ramsey, N.J./Don Bosco)
Three-star S C.J. Prosise (Woodberry Forest, Va./Woodberry Forest)
Three-star DE Romeo Okwara (Charlotte, N.C./Ardrey Kell)
Three-star ATH Nicky Baratti (Spring, Texas/Klein Oak)
Three-star S John Turner (Indianapolis/Cathedral)
For Notre Dame, that future is brighter than most. The Irish are expected to sign the No. 9 recruiting class for the Class of 2012, according to ESPNU. And barring anything unforeseen, the class might just stand at 17 prospects when the day is done.
Brian Kelly will hold a news conference at 1 p.m. today, but until then, here's a recap of who you should expect to see in a Notre Dame uniform next season. (*indicates early enrollee already on campus)
OFFENSE
*Four-star QB Gunner Kiel (Columbus, Ind./Columbus East)
- 6'3", 215, No. 3 QB, No. 52 overall, 82 Scout Grade, Signed Jan. 17, 2012
Four-star WR Justin Ferguson (Pembroke Pikes, Fla./Flanagan)
- 6'1", 205, No. 14 WR, No. 85 overall, 81 Scout Grade, Committed May 2, 2011
Four-star OT Jarron Jones (Rochester, N.Y./Aquinas)
- 6'6", 295, No. 11 OT, No. 102 overall, 80 Scout Grade, Committed April 12, 2011
Four-star WR Deontay Greenberry (Fresno, Calif./Washington Union)
- 6'2", 185, No. 17 WR, No. 106 overall, 80 Scout Grade, Committed May 27, 2011
Four-star OT Ronnie Stanley (Las Vegas/Bishop Gorman)
- 6'6", 285, No. 34 OT, 79 Scout Grade, Committed Dec. 15, 2011
Four-star RB William Mahone (Youngstown, Ohio/Austintown Fitch)
- 5'10", 206, No. 16 RB, 79 Scout Grade, Committed Sept. 30, 2011
Four-star OT Mark Harrell (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Catholic)
- 6'5", 260, No. 41 OT, 79 Scout Grade, Committed May 19, 2011
Three-star RB KeiVarae Russell (Everett, Wash./Mariner)
- 6'0", 175, No. 26 RB, 79 Scout Grade, Committed Dec. 29, 2011
Three-star WR Chris Brown (Hanahan, S.C./Hanahan)
- 6'2", 170, No. 66 WR, 78 Scout Grade, Committed Sept. 18, 2011
Two-star LS Scott Daly (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South)
- 6'3", 228, No. 3 LS, 73 Scout Grade, Committed April 16, 2011
*Four-star CB Tee Shepard (Fresno, Calif./Washington Union)
- 6'0", 180, No. 9 CB, No. 90 overall, 80 Scout Grade, Committed March 2, 2011
*Four-star DT Sheldon Day (Indianapolis/Warren Central)
- 6'2", 280, No. 14 DT, No. 143 overall, 80 Scout Grade, Committed Aug. 3, 2011
Four-star S Elijah Shumate (Ramsey, N.J./Don Bosco)
- 6'0", 205, No. 14 S, 80 Scout Grade, Committed Jan. 7, 2012
Three-star S C.J. Prosise (Woodberry Forest, Va./Woodberry Forest)
- 6'1", 190, No. 22 S, 79 Scout Grade, Committed May 27, 2011
Three-star DE Romeo Okwara (Charlotte, N.C./Ardrey Kell)
- 6'4", 223, No. 96 DE, 77 Scout Grade, Committed July 10, 2011
Three-star ATH Nicky Baratti (Spring, Texas/Klein Oak)
- 6'1", 190, No. 87 ATH, 77 Scout Grade, Committed April 16, 2011
Three-star S John Turner (Indianapolis/Cathedral)
- 6'0", 194, No. 62 S, 76 Scout Grade, Committed June 28, 2011
With national signing day less than a week away, here's a look at what Notre Dame needs from its 2012 recruiting class:
Running backs: The reliable Cierre Wood has one more year left, and the answers behind him remain a mystery. We have not seen nearly enough of George Atkinson III or Cam McDaniel to know how they will turn out, and who knows where Theo Riddick will line up once the 2012 season kicks off? Help is on the way, however, in the form of William Mahone (Youngstown, OH/Austintown Fitch) and KeiVarae Russell (Everett, Wash./Mariner), ESPNU's No. 16 and No. 26 running backs, respectively. Throw in USC transfer Amir Carlisle, and things are looking bright in the Irish backfield moving forward.
Wide receivers: You can't expect to replace Michael Floyd, who re-wrote the school record books. But the drop-off after Floyd is noticeable, and finding targets for the plethora of quarterbacks on the roster is a must. Fortunately for the Irish, they may have those coming in Justin Ferguson (Pembroke Pines, Fla./Flanagan), Deontay Greenberry (Fresno, Calif./Washington Union) and Chris Brown (Hanahan, S.C./Hanahan) — ESPNU's 14th, 17th and 66th best receivers from this class, respectively.
Cornerbacks: Two new starters will take the field next year. Bennett Jackson and Lo Wood saw playing time as reserves this past season, but the unit is pretty thin, with the inexperienced Josh Atkinson and Jalen Brown behind them. ESPNU No. 9 cornerback Tee Shepard (Fresno, Calif./Washington Union) enrolled early and could provide immediate help, but depth could be an issue at this position.
Safety: Speaking of the secondary, Notre Dame will have to replace captain Harrison Smith and, soon enough, co-starters Zeke Motta and Jamoris Slaughter, too. Austin Collinsworth could be a starter next season, and Eilar Hardy figures to see the field after redshirting this past season. ESPNU No. 14 safety Elijah Shumate (Ramsey, N.J/Don Bosco), No. 22 C.J. Prosise (Woodberry Forest, Va./Woodberry Forest) and No. 62 John Turner (Indianapolis/Cathedral) are on the way, as is No. 87 athlete Nicky Baratti (Spring, Texas/Klein Oak). Chris Badger returns from a Mormon mission, too.
Running backs: The reliable Cierre Wood has one more year left, and the answers behind him remain a mystery. We have not seen nearly enough of George Atkinson III or Cam McDaniel to know how they will turn out, and who knows where Theo Riddick will line up once the 2012 season kicks off? Help is on the way, however, in the form of William Mahone (Youngstown, OH/Austintown Fitch) and KeiVarae Russell (Everett, Wash./Mariner), ESPNU's No. 16 and No. 26 running backs, respectively. Throw in USC transfer Amir Carlisle, and things are looking bright in the Irish backfield moving forward.
Wide receivers: You can't expect to replace Michael Floyd, who re-wrote the school record books. But the drop-off after Floyd is noticeable, and finding targets for the plethora of quarterbacks on the roster is a must. Fortunately for the Irish, they may have those coming in Justin Ferguson (Pembroke Pines, Fla./Flanagan), Deontay Greenberry (Fresno, Calif./Washington Union) and Chris Brown (Hanahan, S.C./Hanahan) — ESPNU's 14th, 17th and 66th best receivers from this class, respectively.
Cornerbacks: Two new starters will take the field next year. Bennett Jackson and Lo Wood saw playing time as reserves this past season, but the unit is pretty thin, with the inexperienced Josh Atkinson and Jalen Brown behind them. ESPNU No. 9 cornerback Tee Shepard (Fresno, Calif./Washington Union) enrolled early and could provide immediate help, but depth could be an issue at this position.
Safety: Speaking of the secondary, Notre Dame will have to replace captain Harrison Smith and, soon enough, co-starters Zeke Motta and Jamoris Slaughter, too. Austin Collinsworth could be a starter next season, and Eilar Hardy figures to see the field after redshirting this past season. ESPNU No. 14 safety Elijah Shumate (Ramsey, N.J/Don Bosco), No. 22 C.J. Prosise (Woodberry Forest, Va./Woodberry Forest) and No. 62 John Turner (Indianapolis/Cathedral) are on the way, as is No. 87 athlete Nicky Baratti (Spring, Texas/Klein Oak). Chris Badger returns from a Mormon mission, too.
Irish make presence felt in Carolinas
November, 4, 2011
11/04/11
10:15
AM ET
By
Matt Fortuna | ESPN.com
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — What's one implication of playing Wake Forest inside 31,500-seat BB&T Field, almost 50,000 seats fewer than Notre Dame Stadium? How about exposure.
No, Notre Dame doesn't lack for drama or attention, but maybe the Carolinas do. And the Irish have made it a point of making their presence felt in that area.
Just take a look at these numbers:
"It's started to grow in terms of its significance in the recruiting grand scheme of things — even when I was at Cincinnati we started to get in there because the high school football was growing and that population growth in that area, as you know, made that the reason for it," Brian Kelly said Sunday. "So it's been on our radar. We've just really worked hard at it, and we've obviously got some players from that area that have allowed us to continue to build those relationships."
"Yeah, North Carolina, South Carolina has been an area now that we've had a number of coaches on our staff, it's not just one coach, that are in there recruiting it hard. So getting down and playing Wake Forest, you know, obviously we're gonna be able to have a number of kids come up — they won't be our guests obviously, but they're certainly gonna check us out."
Irish cornerback Robert Blanton, from Matthews, N.C., said he will have a dozen family members in attendance.
"It's about an hour and 15 minutes [northeast] of Charlotte, and it takes about 45 minutes if you drive fast," Blanton said of his hometown, laughing.
Linebacker Prince Shembo, from Charlotte, will get to see his father, Maurice, in the stands for just the second time since the elder Shembo suffered a brain aneurysm Sept. 16.
On Tuesday, Kelly again cited population growth for the number of recruitable football players in the Carolinas, a place he said he recruited wide receivers and defensive backs from while at Central Michigan from 2004-06.
In addition to Blanton, Kelly's other starting cornerback Saturday, Gary Gray, hails from the area, having played high school ball at Richland Northeast in Columbia, S.C.
"Just have always felt that that's been — when I was at Central and Cincinnati — kind of an under-the-radar state or states," Kelly said. "It's not that anymore. So I've always felt the importance of it because it was a big growth area demographically. And then I think Notre Dame has always been in that area, and we've just kind of carried that on from my beliefs that it's a very good football state."
No, Notre Dame doesn't lack for drama or attention, but maybe the Carolinas do. And the Irish have made it a point of making their presence felt in that area.
Just take a look at these numbers:
- Seven current Notre Dame players hail from North Carolina or South Carolina.
- Three more, Mark Harrell and Romeo Okwara (both North Carolina) and Chris Brown (South Carolina), have committed to play for the Irish next season.
- Eight ESPNU 150 players hail from either North Carolina or South Carolina, which, together, puts the area sixth behind Florida, Texas, California, Georgia and Alabama.
"It's started to grow in terms of its significance in the recruiting grand scheme of things — even when I was at Cincinnati we started to get in there because the high school football was growing and that population growth in that area, as you know, made that the reason for it," Brian Kelly said Sunday. "So it's been on our radar. We've just really worked hard at it, and we've obviously got some players from that area that have allowed us to continue to build those relationships."
"Yeah, North Carolina, South Carolina has been an area now that we've had a number of coaches on our staff, it's not just one coach, that are in there recruiting it hard. So getting down and playing Wake Forest, you know, obviously we're gonna be able to have a number of kids come up — they won't be our guests obviously, but they're certainly gonna check us out."
Irish cornerback Robert Blanton, from Matthews, N.C., said he will have a dozen family members in attendance.
"It's about an hour and 15 minutes [northeast] of Charlotte, and it takes about 45 minutes if you drive fast," Blanton said of his hometown, laughing.
Linebacker Prince Shembo, from Charlotte, will get to see his father, Maurice, in the stands for just the second time since the elder Shembo suffered a brain aneurysm Sept. 16.
On Tuesday, Kelly again cited population growth for the number of recruitable football players in the Carolinas, a place he said he recruited wide receivers and defensive backs from while at Central Michigan from 2004-06.
In addition to Blanton, Kelly's other starting cornerback Saturday, Gary Gray, hails from the area, having played high school ball at Richland Northeast in Columbia, S.C.
"Just have always felt that that's been — when I was at Central and Cincinnati — kind of an under-the-radar state or states," Kelly said. "It's not that anymore. So I've always felt the importance of it because it was a big growth area demographically. And then I think Notre Dame has always been in that area, and we've just kind of carried that on from my beliefs that it's a very good football state."
If two straight losses to start the season didn't hurt Notre Dame in recruiting, a convincing win against the defending co-Big Ten champions had to have helped, right?
The Fighting Irish walked away from Saturday with win No. 1, 2012 commit No. 15 and 2013 verbal No. 1.
Chris Brown, a three-star receiver out of Hanahan (S.C.) High School, became the Irish's third receiver to join the Class of 2012. The 6-foot-2, 170-pounder is ranked as the 58th best wideout in his class and runs a 4.44 40. He committed Sunday.
Steve Elmer, meanwhile, will add some meat to Notre Dame's offensive line two years from now. He became the Irish's first commit for the Class of 2013 before their 31-13 win against Michigan State on Saturday. The 6-foot-6, 305-pound tackle from Midland (Mich.) High School is one of the top prospects from Michigan in his class. According to our guy Jared Shanker, it would take a major meltdown in South Bend over the next two seasons for the big fella to change his mind.
The only thing missing from this past weekend might have been a commitment from William Mahone, but good things might be on the horizon. Shanker said Mahone, a four-star running back out of Austintown-Fitch (Ohio) High School, loved his visit to Notre Dame so much Saturday that he will pay his way back for the Irish's Oct. 22 primetime showdown against USC.
That weekend will be a huge one for Notre Dame on the recruiting front, especially since it has only one more home game, Oct. 8 against Air Force, before then. Don't be surprised if things are a little quiet for the next month. The week leading up to the Irish's game against the Trojans, however, should be a busy one.
The Fighting Irish walked away from Saturday with win No. 1, 2012 commit No. 15 and 2013 verbal No. 1.
Chris Brown, a three-star receiver out of Hanahan (S.C.) High School, became the Irish's third receiver to join the Class of 2012. The 6-foot-2, 170-pounder is ranked as the 58th best wideout in his class and runs a 4.44 40. He committed Sunday.
Steve Elmer, meanwhile, will add some meat to Notre Dame's offensive line two years from now. He became the Irish's first commit for the Class of 2013 before their 31-13 win against Michigan State on Saturday. The 6-foot-6, 305-pound tackle from Midland (Mich.) High School is one of the top prospects from Michigan in his class. According to our guy Jared Shanker, it would take a major meltdown in South Bend over the next two seasons for the big fella to change his mind.
The only thing missing from this past weekend might have been a commitment from William Mahone, but good things might be on the horizon. Shanker said Mahone, a four-star running back out of Austintown-Fitch (Ohio) High School, loved his visit to Notre Dame so much Saturday that he will pay his way back for the Irish's Oct. 22 primetime showdown against USC.
That weekend will be a huge one for Notre Dame on the recruiting front, especially since it has only one more home game, Oct. 8 against Air Force, before then. Don't be surprised if things are a little quiet for the next month. The week leading up to the Irish's game against the Trojans, however, should be a busy one.
Mossis Madu ran for 114 yards and three touchdowns in the 2008 Big 12 championship. As a junior in 2009, he accounted for just 86 yards of total offense.
Madu has moved back to running back this spring in hopes of recapturing his performances in 2008, when he ran for 475 yards and scored six touchdowns.
Last spring, he moved to receiver with DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown slated to get the bulk of the carries in the running game. Oklahoma coaches wanted the playmaker to get the ball, and they saw opportunities at receiver for the 6-foot, 200-pounder.
Although he showed progress through fall practices after moving from slot receiver to wideout, Madu never found a place in a Sooners receiving rotation that struggled for much of the 2009 season. Madu caught just seven passes. With Brown gone and Murray being held out of heavy contact this spring, Madu has returned to the backfield and is getting plenty of touches in the spring.
"I could be selfish and say that last year was a lost year,” Madu told The Oklahoman. "But it was one of those things that they asked me to do. They told me beforehand that I had an opportunity to start there. But in the end it was just harder for me to adapt to.”
Madu and fellow senior Murray are the most experienced running backs in Norman, but the Sooners have plenty of young running backs that will be itching for carries of their own when the season arrives.
Sophomore Jermie Calhoun will be in the mix this spring, but Jonathan Miller won't be active this spring after knee surgery. Freshmen Brennan Clay and Roy Finch could redshirt, but they won't arrive at fall camp with plans to sit out their first season.
[+] Enlarge
John Rieger/US PresswireMossis Madu rushed for 114 yards and three TDs in the 2008 Big 12 championship game.
John Rieger/US PresswireMossis Madu rushed for 114 yards and three TDs in the 2008 Big 12 championship game.Last spring, he moved to receiver with DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown slated to get the bulk of the carries in the running game. Oklahoma coaches wanted the playmaker to get the ball, and they saw opportunities at receiver for the 6-foot, 200-pounder.
Although he showed progress through fall practices after moving from slot receiver to wideout, Madu never found a place in a Sooners receiving rotation that struggled for much of the 2009 season. Madu caught just seven passes. With Brown gone and Murray being held out of heavy contact this spring, Madu has returned to the backfield and is getting plenty of touches in the spring.
"I could be selfish and say that last year was a lost year,” Madu told The Oklahoman. "But it was one of those things that they asked me to do. They told me beforehand that I had an opportunity to start there. But in the end it was just harder for me to adapt to.”
Madu and fellow senior Murray are the most experienced running backs in Norman, but the Sooners have plenty of young running backs that will be itching for carries of their own when the season arrives.
Sophomore Jermie Calhoun will be in the mix this spring, but Jonathan Miller won't be active this spring after knee surgery. Freshmen Brennan Clay and Roy Finch could redshirt, but they won't arrive at fall camp with plans to sit out their first season.
The Big 12 had two national championship teams and five others that played in the BCS title game in the decade.
The two championship teams were the best of the conference's last 10 years. Some of the other BCS title participants were good, but not necessarily among the very best teams during the conference's recent history.
Here's how I rank the Big 12's top 10 teams over the last decade.
1. 2005 Texas: A star-studded team paced by All-Americans Michael Huff, Jonathan Scott, Rodrique Wright and Vince Young ran off 13 straight victories, capping the season with a BCS title-game victory over USC. The team averaged 50.2 points per game en route to a then-NCAA record 652 total points, earning Texas’ first undisputed national championship since 1969. It was the greatest team that Mack Brown ever coached and arguably the best team in the rich football history of Texas.
2. 2000 Oklahoma: Bob Stoops claimed a national championship in his second season coaching the Trojans behind Josh Heupel, who finished second in the Heisman race that season. All-Americans Heupel, linebacker Rocky Calmus and J.T. Thatcher helped the Sooners notch the first undefeated season and national championship in Big 12 history. After winning three of their final four regular-season games by less than five points, the Sooners dominated Florida State in a 13-2 triumph in the Orange Bowl for the national championship.
3. 2008 Oklahoma: Sam Bradford won the Heisman Trophy with this team, which overcame a midseason loss to Texas and still claimed the Big 12 title in a 12-2 season that was marred by a 24-14 loss to Florida in the national championship game. The Sooners rolled-up a record 702 points as Bradford passed for 50 touchdowns, Chris Brown and DeMarco Murray each rushed for 1,000 yards and Juaquin Iglesias topped 1,000 yards receiving. The Sooners scored 35 points in each regular-season game and finished the regular season with five straight games of at least 60 points before the BCS title-game loss.
4. 2004 Oklahoma: The Sooners charged to 12 straight victories before a dropping a 55-19 decision to USC in the Orange Bowl for the national title. Freshman running back Adrian Peterson rushed for an NCAA freshman record 1,925 yards to finish second in the Heisman. Jason White claimed the Heisman the previous season and his numbers were down with Peterson's arrival, but he still passed for 3,205 yards and 35 touchdowns. This group had strength in the trenches with All-Americans like Vince Carter, Dan Cody, Jammal Brown and Mark Clayton as it claimed Bob Stoops’ third Big 12 title.
5. 2009 Texas: After streaking to a school-record 13-0 mark through the Big 12 title game, the Longhorns dropped a 37-21 decision to Alabama in the national title game in a contest that changed when Colt McCoy was hurt on the fifth play of the game. McCoy became the winningest quarterback in NCAA history during this season, repeatedly hooking up with favorite target Jordan Shipley, who snagged a school-record 116 receptions, 1,485 yards and 13 touchdowns. The Longhorns led the nation in rush defense, and All-American safety Earl Thomas tied a school record with eight interceptions. Lamarr Houston and Sergio Kindle also added playmaking abilities to the defense.
6. 2004 Texas: The Longhorns overcame a midseason 12-0 loss to Oklahoma to finish the season with seven straight victories in a season capped by a dramatic 38-37 victory over Michigan in the Rose Bowl. The Longhorns ranked second nationally in rushing offense and seventh in total offense as Young gradually found his confidence as a passer late in the season. Cedric Benson rushed for 1,834 yards and 19 touchdowns, and Young chipped in with 1,079 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. This team showed a knack for comebacks, overcoming an early 35-7 deficit against Oklahoma State and also coming from behind in an early-season victory at Arkansas.
7. 2007 Oklahoma: Bradford led the first of two consecutive Big 12 championships on a team that enabled the Sooners to become the first Big 12 school to win back-to-back titles. The Sooners dropped road games to Colorado and Texas Tech but still overcame Missouri in the Big 12 title game behind a huge defensive effort keyed by Big 12 defensive player of the year Rufus Alexander. Bradford led the nation in passing efficiency, but the Sooners' bowl struggles continued in an embarrassing 48-28 loss to West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl.
8. 2003 Kansas State: Don’t let the Wildcats’ 11-4 record fool you. After an early three-game losing streak to Marshall, Texas and Oklahoma State (by a combined margin of 15 points), Bill Snyder’s team won its final seven regular-season games by a combined margin of 271-66. That streak was culminated by a stunning 35-7 upset victory over Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game -- the last victory by a North Division team in the title game. The Wildcats ranked in the top 10 nationally in rushing, scoring, total defense, scoring defense and pass defense as Darren Sproles rushed for 1,986 yards and 16 touchdowns. The Wildcats dropped a 35-28 Fiesta Bowl loss to Ohio State in a game they fell into an early 21-0 deficit and had a chance to tie on the final play of the game after a frantic comeback directed by Ell Roberson.
9. 2007 Missouri: Chase Daniel led Missouri into the Big 12 title game for the first time in school history, taking the team to No. 1 nationally heading into the conference championship game. The Tigers lost twice to Oklahoma during a 12-2 season that was capped by 38-7 beatdown over Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl. Tony Temple made that game memorable by rushing for a record 281 yards and four TDs that pushed Missouri to No. 4 nationally at the end of the season. A star-studded collection of talent including Daniel, Jeremy Maclin, Chase Coffman, Martin Rucker and Sean Weatherspoon helped the Tigers rank among the top-10 teams nationally in passing, total offense and scoring and 11th in turnover margin.
10. 2007 Kansas: The Jayhawks earned Mark Mangino the national coach of the year award by running to an 11-0 start before losing to Missouri in the regular-season finale. The Jayhawks rebounded for a 24-21 victory over Virginia Tech in their first BCS bowl appearance in school history, finishing a 12-1 season that set a school record for victories. Todd Reesing passed for 33 touchdowns to highlight a high-powered offense that scored 76 points against Nebraska and scored at least 43 points in eight games. The Jayhawks were a balanced team that ranked second nationally in scoring offense, fourth in scoring defense and in the top 10 nationally in eight different team statistics. Anthony Collins and Aqib Talib earned consensus All-America honors.
The two championship teams were the best of the conference's last 10 years. Some of the other BCS title participants were good, but not necessarily among the very best teams during the conference's recent history.
Here's how I rank the Big 12's top 10 teams over the last decade.
1. 2005 Texas: A star-studded team paced by All-Americans Michael Huff, Jonathan Scott, Rodrique Wright and Vince Young ran off 13 straight victories, capping the season with a BCS title-game victory over USC. The team averaged 50.2 points per game en route to a then-NCAA record 652 total points, earning Texas’ first undisputed national championship since 1969. It was the greatest team that Mack Brown ever coached and arguably the best team in the rich football history of Texas.
2. 2000 Oklahoma: Bob Stoops claimed a national championship in his second season coaching the Trojans behind Josh Heupel, who finished second in the Heisman race that season. All-Americans Heupel, linebacker Rocky Calmus and J.T. Thatcher helped the Sooners notch the first undefeated season and national championship in Big 12 history. After winning three of their final four regular-season games by less than five points, the Sooners dominated Florida State in a 13-2 triumph in the Orange Bowl for the national championship.
3. 2008 Oklahoma: Sam Bradford won the Heisman Trophy with this team, which overcame a midseason loss to Texas and still claimed the Big 12 title in a 12-2 season that was marred by a 24-14 loss to Florida in the national championship game. The Sooners rolled-up a record 702 points as Bradford passed for 50 touchdowns, Chris Brown and DeMarco Murray each rushed for 1,000 yards and Juaquin Iglesias topped 1,000 yards receiving. The Sooners scored 35 points in each regular-season game and finished the regular season with five straight games of at least 60 points before the BCS title-game loss.
4. 2004 Oklahoma: The Sooners charged to 12 straight victories before a dropping a 55-19 decision to USC in the Orange Bowl for the national title. Freshman running back Adrian Peterson rushed for an NCAA freshman record 1,925 yards to finish second in the Heisman. Jason White claimed the Heisman the previous season and his numbers were down with Peterson's arrival, but he still passed for 3,205 yards and 35 touchdowns. This group had strength in the trenches with All-Americans like Vince Carter, Dan Cody, Jammal Brown and Mark Clayton as it claimed Bob Stoops’ third Big 12 title.
5. 2009 Texas: After streaking to a school-record 13-0 mark through the Big 12 title game, the Longhorns dropped a 37-21 decision to Alabama in the national title game in a contest that changed when Colt McCoy was hurt on the fifth play of the game. McCoy became the winningest quarterback in NCAA history during this season, repeatedly hooking up with favorite target Jordan Shipley, who snagged a school-record 116 receptions, 1,485 yards and 13 touchdowns. The Longhorns led the nation in rush defense, and All-American safety Earl Thomas tied a school record with eight interceptions. Lamarr Houston and Sergio Kindle also added playmaking abilities to the defense.
6. 2004 Texas: The Longhorns overcame a midseason 12-0 loss to Oklahoma to finish the season with seven straight victories in a season capped by a dramatic 38-37 victory over Michigan in the Rose Bowl. The Longhorns ranked second nationally in rushing offense and seventh in total offense as Young gradually found his confidence as a passer late in the season. Cedric Benson rushed for 1,834 yards and 19 touchdowns, and Young chipped in with 1,079 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. This team showed a knack for comebacks, overcoming an early 35-7 deficit against Oklahoma State and also coming from behind in an early-season victory at Arkansas.
7. 2007 Oklahoma: Bradford led the first of two consecutive Big 12 championships on a team that enabled the Sooners to become the first Big 12 school to win back-to-back titles. The Sooners dropped road games to Colorado and Texas Tech but still overcame Missouri in the Big 12 title game behind a huge defensive effort keyed by Big 12 defensive player of the year Rufus Alexander. Bradford led the nation in passing efficiency, but the Sooners' bowl struggles continued in an embarrassing 48-28 loss to West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl.
8. 2003 Kansas State: Don’t let the Wildcats’ 11-4 record fool you. After an early three-game losing streak to Marshall, Texas and Oklahoma State (by a combined margin of 15 points), Bill Snyder’s team won its final seven regular-season games by a combined margin of 271-66. That streak was culminated by a stunning 35-7 upset victory over Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game -- the last victory by a North Division team in the title game. The Wildcats ranked in the top 10 nationally in rushing, scoring, total defense, scoring defense and pass defense as Darren Sproles rushed for 1,986 yards and 16 touchdowns. The Wildcats dropped a 35-28 Fiesta Bowl loss to Ohio State in a game they fell into an early 21-0 deficit and had a chance to tie on the final play of the game after a frantic comeback directed by Ell Roberson.
9. 2007 Missouri: Chase Daniel led Missouri into the Big 12 title game for the first time in school history, taking the team to No. 1 nationally heading into the conference championship game. The Tigers lost twice to Oklahoma during a 12-2 season that was capped by 38-7 beatdown over Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl. Tony Temple made that game memorable by rushing for a record 281 yards and four TDs that pushed Missouri to No. 4 nationally at the end of the season. A star-studded collection of talent including Daniel, Jeremy Maclin, Chase Coffman, Martin Rucker and Sean Weatherspoon helped the Tigers rank among the top-10 teams nationally in passing, total offense and scoring and 11th in turnover margin.
10. 2007 Kansas: The Jayhawks earned Mark Mangino the national coach of the year award by running to an 11-0 start before losing to Missouri in the regular-season finale. The Jayhawks rebounded for a 24-21 victory over Virginia Tech in their first BCS bowl appearance in school history, finishing a 12-1 season that set a school record for victories. Todd Reesing passed for 33 touchdowns to highlight a high-powered offense that scored 76 points against Nebraska and scored at least 43 points in eight games. The Jayhawks were a balanced team that ranked second nationally in scoring offense, fourth in scoring defense and in the top 10 nationally in eight different team statistics. Anthony Collins and Aqib Talib earned consensus All-America honors.
An array of memorable moments from the past decade in the Big 12 still resonate. Here are some of the most unforgettable to me.
- 1. Vince Young's game-winning touchdown in the 2006 Rose Bowl: Anyone who was there or saw it will never forget Young's 8-yard touchdown run with 19 seconds left that led Texas to a 41-38 triumph over USC and the 2005 national championship.
- 2. Michael Crabtree's last-second grab stuns Texas: Crabtree's game-winning 28-yard catch with one second left did more than merely wrap up the biggest victory in Texas Tech history, a 39-33 win over Texas. It heralded a national coming-out party for Crabtree and the rest of the Tech program, setting the stage for the wild three-way South Division tie in 2008.
- 3. Superman's leap: Roy Williams' dramatic blitz forced Chris Simms to throw an interception to Teddy Lehman, who returned it for the game-winning touchdown in Oklahoma's 14-3 triumph over Texas in 2001.
- 4. Torrance Marshall's theft saves the season: Texas A&M was driving, but Marshall's 41-yard fourth-quarter interception return provided a game-winning touchdown and a 35-31 triumph over the Aggies at Kyle Field. The big play preserved Oklahoma's victory in the Sooners' toughest challenge en route to the 2000 national championship.
- 5. Eric Crouch's catch cements Heisman bid, beats Oklahoma: Crouch's 63-yard TD reception on a throwback pass from freshman receiver Mike Stuntz was Crouch's signature moment on his path to the 2001 Heisman Trophy and sparked a 20-10 triumph over Oklahoma.
- 6. Darren Sproles sparks Kansas State's stunning 2003 Big 12 title game upset: Darren Sproles rushed for 235 yards -- the most gained against an Oklahoma defense ever to that point -- and Ell Roberson added four touchdown passes to help Kansas State claim its first Big 12 title in a 35-7 upset over No. 1 Oklahoma.
- 7. Hunter Lawrence's kick pushes Texas into national title game: Despite a sputtering performance by Colt McCoy that included nine sacks and three interceptions, Texas held on for a 13-12 victory over Nebraska in the 2009 title game on a 46-yard field goal by Hunter Lawrence on the final play of the game. Lawrence's game-winning kick came only after McCoy nearly squandered the opportunity by throwing the ball out of bounds on the previous play as the clock originally appeared to have expired. Officials put time back on the clock, setting the stage for Lawrence's heroics.
- 8. Chris Brown gashes the Cornhuskers: Colorado running back Chris Brown ripped Nebraska for 198 yards and six touchdowns, boosting the Buffaloes to a wild 62-36 victory over Nebraska that snapped a nine-game losing streak against the Cornhuskers. Brown's big game sent the Buffaloes to the 2001 Big 12 title game, which they won the following week against Texas.
- 9. Postgame clash of the titans: Oklahoma State's 49-45 victory over Texas Tech in 2007 produced one of the most memorable games in Big 12 history. The teams compiled 94 points, 62 first downs and 1,328 yards. But all of the action on the field was upstaged in a wild postgame battle of soundbites when Mike Leach questioned the toughness of his defense and Mike Gundy berated an Oklahoma City columnist who he felt had unfairly portrayed quarterback Bobby Reid.
- 10. Kyle Field's nod to patriotism: Texas A&M's 21-7 victory over Oklahoma State wasn't what was so memorable. It was that the Aggies fans decked out Kyle Field in red, white and blue in the first game after the 9/11 attacks on the country in 2001. Thousands of fans transformed the old stadium into a patriotic rainbow in a memory that endures to this day.
Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin
Here's a look at this week's power rankings.
1. Texas: The offense isn’t playing as well as expected, but the defense is coming up salty when the Longhorns need it to. Will Muschamp’s group produced five turnovers against Oklahoma and has limited opponents to an average of 7.3 yards rushing per game over the last four games. During that span, opponents are averaging 0.3 yards per carry. Colt McCoy needs to rebound and boost some production offensively, but the Longhorns’ defense is the reason they are playing like the Big 12’s best team.
2. Oklahoma State: A nice job by their bench players have done more than just keep the Cowboys afloat. The play of Keith Toston and Herbert Anyiam has made the loss of Dez Bryant and Kendall Hunter not quite as severe. But the Cowboys beat Missouri because of defensive coordinator Bill Young’s adjustments to Blaine Gabbert. In the second half, Missouri produced only three first downs and 80 net yards. A victory at Baylor on Saturday can boost the Cowboys into the key South showdown against Texas on Halloween night.
3. Texas Tech: The Red Raiders delivered a statement with a 31-10 victory at Nebraska, despite producing only 255 yards -- their lowest output since Mike Leach’s first game in 2000. The Red Raiders won because they limited Nebraska to 285 yards and produced five sacks. Steven Sheffield had a workmanlike game and appears to have claimed the starting job by nailing down his third straight victory. But the biggest reason for the Red Raiders' recent surge has been defensive improvement.
4. Kansas: After concerns about the defense the past several weeks, the unit’s struggles finally bit the Jayhawks in their loss to Colorado -- even after wholesale personnel changes. The Jayhawks fell into a huge early hole, rallied to claim the lead and then excruciatingly lost the game when a last-second pass to Dezmon Briscoe fell incomplete. The Jayhawks must run the ball better after producing minus-8 yards against Colorado. The loss at Colorado interrupted a chance for Kansas to jump into the lead in the North.
5. Oklahoma: With Sam Bradford’s college career likely over, Landry Jones will be the Sooners’ starter at quarterback again. The biggest immediate priority will be to get DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown back after the Sooners produced minus-16 yards rushing against Texas -- the worst total in school history. The Sooners’ defense played well enough to win, but couldn’t overcome late struggles with turnovers. The Sooners are 3-3 with their season on the brink. It will be interesting to see how Bob Stoops gets his team to respond to the rest of the season after its fourth loss to Texas in the past five seasons.
6. Nebraska: What a difference a week makes. We’re not hearing about Nebraska’s offensive comebacks, or Ndamukong Suh’s Heisman Trophy chances after the Cornhuskers’ stunning 31-10 home loss to Texas Tech. Now, we’re hearing about a potential change at quarterback to Cody Green, why the Cornhuskers can’t run the ball and if their offense really can consistently produce against Big 12 defenses. The Cornhuskers’ schedule turns easier with games against Iowa State and Baylor in the next two weeks, but they need to build some continuity before November games that will decide the North title.
7. Missouri: Since a strong performance in the opening game, the Tigers’ offense has been maddeningly inconsistent. Take Saturday night for example. Missouri posted 313 yards and 17 points in the first half against Oklahoma State; 80 yards and no points after intermission. The loss overshadowed another strong performance by wide receiver Danario Alexander, who produced nine catches for 180 yards to key the offense. The Tigers' defense played well in the second half, but were undone by a slew of turnovers. After the Tigers’ 4-0 nonconference start, few thought they would fall into the Big North basement so quickly.
8. Kansas State: How about a round of applause for the North Division’s surprise leaders. The Wildcats exploded for 59 straight points to start the game en route to a 62-14 victory over Texas A&M. Amazingly, it came only a week after the Wildcats endured a 52-point loss at Texas Tech. KSU’s defense had a huge game against Texas A&M, producing six sacks to double its previous season total. The Wildcats also piled up 420 yards of total offense and took advantage of another Brandon Banks kickoff return for a touchdown that gave them a lift in special teams. A bowl bid still will be a tough chore, but after Saturday’s game, they might have a chance.
9. Iowa State: The Cyclones snapped an 11-game Big 12 losing streak with their most impressive defensive effort of the season in a 24-10 triumph over Baylor, allowing the Bears’ only touchdown with nine seconds left. Austen Arnaud started and Jerome Tiller took over when Arnaud hurt his hand. It didn’t matter who was playing as the Cyclones rolled up 454 yards of total offense. The Cyclones clicked on 12 of 18 third downs and played one of their best offensive games of the season. Coach Paul Rhoads needs to win two of his next five games to earn ISU’s first bowl eligibility since 2005. It won’t be easy.
10. Colorado: Tyler Hansen pumped some life into the Buffaloes and the result was their impressive 34-30 victory over Kansas, which caused fans to charge the playing field at Folsom Field in celebration after the game. The Buffaloes nearly squandered a 21-point lead late in the first half in the process, but held on for the victory when Todd Reesing’s pass on the final play of the game fell incomplete in the end zone. A key has been Colorado’s rushing defense. The Buffaloes have allowed Texas and Kansas a total of 36 yards rushing on 47 attempts the last two weeks. And amazingly as it seems, the Buffaloes still have their goal of winning the North Division in front of them after their struggling start in nonconference play.
11. Baylor: The Bears’ bowl hopes were dealt a huge blow with their loss at Iowa State. Neither Blake Szymanski nor Nick Florence could get the offense moving for the injury-riddled Bears in their 12th straight Big 12 road loss. Their sputtering offense has struggled in losses at Oklahoma and Iowa State. And the defense has allowed an average of 520 yards in those games as the Bears have been outscored by a combined margin of 57-17. Szymanski was intercepted three times in the second half, which led to his replacement. It matched the number of interceptions thrown by Robert Griffin in his career. Ernest Smith set a career high in receptions and yardage for the second straight week, but it was of the Bears' few bright spots against the Cyclones.
12. Texas A&M: Weren’t the Aggies 3-0 and brimming with confidence just three weeks ago? Since then, A&M has been humbled on defense as opponents have blistered the Aggies for averages of 48.3 points and 435.3 yards per game. And it won’t get any easier this week with traditional nemesis Mike Leach and Texas Tech on tap. Jerrod Johnson stretched his streak of passes without an interception to a conference-record 225 attempts and then threw three in 25 attempts against Kansas State. Some of the problems were caused by a struggling offensive line that allowed a season-worst six sacks and made throwing a harrowing experience for Johnson's protection.
Here's a look at this week's power rankings.
1. Texas: The offense isn’t playing as well as expected, but the defense is coming up salty when the Longhorns need it to. Will Muschamp’s group produced five turnovers against Oklahoma and has limited opponents to an average of 7.3 yards rushing per game over the last four games. During that span, opponents are averaging 0.3 yards per carry. Colt McCoy needs to rebound and boost some production offensively, but the Longhorns’ defense is the reason they are playing like the Big 12’s best team.
2. Oklahoma State: A nice job by their bench players have done more than just keep the Cowboys afloat. The play of Keith Toston and Herbert Anyiam has made the loss of Dez Bryant and Kendall Hunter not quite as severe. But the Cowboys beat Missouri because of defensive coordinator Bill Young’s adjustments to Blaine Gabbert. In the second half, Missouri produced only three first downs and 80 net yards. A victory at Baylor on Saturday can boost the Cowboys into the key South showdown against Texas on Halloween night.
3. Texas Tech: The Red Raiders delivered a statement with a 31-10 victory at Nebraska, despite producing only 255 yards -- their lowest output since Mike Leach’s first game in 2000. The Red Raiders won because they limited Nebraska to 285 yards and produced five sacks. Steven Sheffield had a workmanlike game and appears to have claimed the starting job by nailing down his third straight victory. But the biggest reason for the Red Raiders' recent surge has been defensive improvement.
4. Kansas: After concerns about the defense the past several weeks, the unit’s struggles finally bit the Jayhawks in their loss to Colorado -- even after wholesale personnel changes. The Jayhawks fell into a huge early hole, rallied to claim the lead and then excruciatingly lost the game when a last-second pass to Dezmon Briscoe fell incomplete. The Jayhawks must run the ball better after producing minus-8 yards against Colorado. The loss at Colorado interrupted a chance for Kansas to jump into the lead in the North.
5. Oklahoma: With Sam Bradford’s college career likely over, Landry Jones will be the Sooners’ starter at quarterback again. The biggest immediate priority will be to get DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown back after the Sooners produced minus-16 yards rushing against Texas -- the worst total in school history. The Sooners’ defense played well enough to win, but couldn’t overcome late struggles with turnovers. The Sooners are 3-3 with their season on the brink. It will be interesting to see how Bob Stoops gets his team to respond to the rest of the season after its fourth loss to Texas in the past five seasons.
6. Nebraska: What a difference a week makes. We’re not hearing about Nebraska’s offensive comebacks, or Ndamukong Suh’s Heisman Trophy chances after the Cornhuskers’ stunning 31-10 home loss to Texas Tech. Now, we’re hearing about a potential change at quarterback to Cody Green, why the Cornhuskers can’t run the ball and if their offense really can consistently produce against Big 12 defenses. The Cornhuskers’ schedule turns easier with games against Iowa State and Baylor in the next two weeks, but they need to build some continuity before November games that will decide the North title.
7. Missouri: Since a strong performance in the opening game, the Tigers’ offense has been maddeningly inconsistent. Take Saturday night for example. Missouri posted 313 yards and 17 points in the first half against Oklahoma State; 80 yards and no points after intermission. The loss overshadowed another strong performance by wide receiver Danario Alexander, who produced nine catches for 180 yards to key the offense. The Tigers' defense played well in the second half, but were undone by a slew of turnovers. After the Tigers’ 4-0 nonconference start, few thought they would fall into the Big North basement so quickly.
8. Kansas State: How about a round of applause for the North Division’s surprise leaders. The Wildcats exploded for 59 straight points to start the game en route to a 62-14 victory over Texas A&M. Amazingly, it came only a week after the Wildcats endured a 52-point loss at Texas Tech. KSU’s defense had a huge game against Texas A&M, producing six sacks to double its previous season total. The Wildcats also piled up 420 yards of total offense and took advantage of another Brandon Banks kickoff return for a touchdown that gave them a lift in special teams. A bowl bid still will be a tough chore, but after Saturday’s game, they might have a chance.
9. Iowa State: The Cyclones snapped an 11-game Big 12 losing streak with their most impressive defensive effort of the season in a 24-10 triumph over Baylor, allowing the Bears’ only touchdown with nine seconds left. Austen Arnaud started and Jerome Tiller took over when Arnaud hurt his hand. It didn’t matter who was playing as the Cyclones rolled up 454 yards of total offense. The Cyclones clicked on 12 of 18 third downs and played one of their best offensive games of the season. Coach Paul Rhoads needs to win two of his next five games to earn ISU’s first bowl eligibility since 2005. It won’t be easy.
10. Colorado: Tyler Hansen pumped some life into the Buffaloes and the result was their impressive 34-30 victory over Kansas, which caused fans to charge the playing field at Folsom Field in celebration after the game. The Buffaloes nearly squandered a 21-point lead late in the first half in the process, but held on for the victory when Todd Reesing’s pass on the final play of the game fell incomplete in the end zone. A key has been Colorado’s rushing defense. The Buffaloes have allowed Texas and Kansas a total of 36 yards rushing on 47 attempts the last two weeks. And amazingly as it seems, the Buffaloes still have their goal of winning the North Division in front of them after their struggling start in nonconference play.
11. Baylor: The Bears’ bowl hopes were dealt a huge blow with their loss at Iowa State. Neither Blake Szymanski nor Nick Florence could get the offense moving for the injury-riddled Bears in their 12th straight Big 12 road loss. Their sputtering offense has struggled in losses at Oklahoma and Iowa State. And the defense has allowed an average of 520 yards in those games as the Bears have been outscored by a combined margin of 57-17. Szymanski was intercepted three times in the second half, which led to his replacement. It matched the number of interceptions thrown by Robert Griffin in his career. Ernest Smith set a career high in receptions and yardage for the second straight week, but it was of the Bears' few bright spots against the Cyclones.
12. Texas A&M: Weren’t the Aggies 3-0 and brimming with confidence just three weeks ago? Since then, A&M has been humbled on defense as opponents have blistered the Aggies for averages of 48.3 points and 435.3 yards per game. And it won’t get any easier this week with traditional nemesis Mike Leach and Texas Tech on tap. Jerrod Johnson stretched his streak of passes without an interception to a conference-record 225 attempts and then threw three in 25 attempts against Kansas State. Some of the problems were caused by a struggling offensive line that allowed a season-worst six sacks and made throwing a harrowing experience for Johnson's protection.
Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin
It's a simple truth that seemingly is as old as the Red River Rivalry itself.
Even with the proliferation of passing games across the conference -- including at Texas and Oklahoma -- the importance of the running game in their annual matchup at the Cotton Bowl can't be overstated.
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| Doug Benc/Getty Images | |
| DeMarco Murray and Oklahoma's other backs will be tested against the Longhorns' stout run defense. |
That history will place huge pressure on both teams trying to run the ball against defenses that rank among the nation's top three in stopping the run.
Texas will be coming into the game with big questions at running back. Co-starters Vondrell McGee and Tre' Newton have been taken off the depth chart because of injuries.
That's on top of the Longhorns' struggles last week against Colorado, where they produced only 46 yards on 25 carries. It was the least productive rushing performance since they produced the same yardage total against Kansas State on Oct. 19, 2002.
“We have not consistently run the ball this year,” Brown said. “OU is one of the best at stopping the run in the country. So that's a big concern for us. We ran it so poorly Saturday night, that if that's the case, we've got a lot of work to do before Saturday."
If McGee and Newton can't go, look for the oft-injured Fozzy Whittaker to get the first crack at a Sooner defense that is third nationally against the run.
“You just kind of have to go with who's healthy,” Texas running backs coach Major Applewhite said. “You have to really rely on your doctors and your players for information and their input and how they feel and get a good read on those players.”
Despite the recent struggles, Applewhite remains confident in his running game.
“I was very optimistic about what I saw today. I feel good about that," Applewhite said. "When you've got guys like Vondrell and Tre' who have taken a lot of reps, it's good to get somebody else some reps to get them worked in the routine and those guys can get mental reps.”
The Longhorns were able to control the line of scrimmage last year against Oklahoma, gaining 161 rushing yards compared to 48 for the Sooners. Texas held the ball for more than 37 minutes, icing the victory when Chris Ogbonnaya exploded for a 62-yard run that set up the clinching touchdown in a 45-35 triumph.
"The Texas-OU game makes everyone healthy, because everybody wants to play," Brown said. "This is a game that gets you well fast."
Oklahoma is in a similar predicament, although the Sooners' running game picked up last week at Baylor late in the game.
The Sooners struggled for much of the game last week, producing only 52 rushing yards midway through the third quarter as Baylor committed to stopping the run.
Eventually, the running of DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown wore down the Bears and Oklahoma finished with 197 yards -- their best performance this season against an FBS opponent.
Murray first made his name in the Texas-Oklahoma rivalry with a breakthrough game two years ago. Murray rushed for 128 yards, including a 65-yard jaunt that catapulted the Sooners to their last victory in the series.
That was a marked contrast from last season, when he produced only 6 yards on seven carries as he was still slow to heal from a fractured kneecap suffered late the previous season.
But his rebound last week has given him confidence, even playing with an inexperienced Sooner offensive line that lost starting guard Brian Simmons last week with a knee injury. Oklahoma will be tested against a Longhorns defense that leads the nation in run defense and has permitted opponents to produce an average of 15 yards per game and 0.6 yards per carry over the last three games.
"We've been running the ball pretty good and we need to keep being physical, just like we've been doing,” Murray said. “I have a lot of confidence in this group and I think we'll be fine."
The history of this game demands patience. It's why you'll likely see both teams set an example early that they will try to run the ball.
“Running yards in this game have been hard,” Brown said. “You have to pick and choose. People can say Saturday night it was hard to run. It will be harder this Saturday than last Saturday.”
Posted by ESPN.com’s Heather Dinich
MIAMI -- A quick overview of the game:
Turning point: With about four minutes left, Oklahoma got as close as Miami’s 22-yard line and threatened with the go-ahead score, but Miami’s defense stopped Chris Brown twice for a loss of a yard. DeMarco Murray, who had put Oklahoma in position to score on that drive, was held to a 1-yard catch on third-and-12 and Miami held the Sooners to a field goal and clung to the 21-20 lead.
Stat of the game: Miami had 12 penalties for 115 yards.
Player of the game: Miami quarterback Jacory Harris. He regrouped after his two early interceptions on the Canes’ first two possessions and put Miami in position to win. He controlled the clock on the final possession in the fourth quarter and redeemed himself for his performance against Virginia Tech.
Unsung hero of the game: Oklahoma defensive end Jeremy Beal. He came into the game with just three sacks, and had two sacks, a pass breakup behind the line of scrimmage and got pressure on Harris all night. He sacked Harris in the first quarter and later in the third for a loss of 4 yards, which eventually forced the Canes to punt.
What it means: Miami is a top-10 team. The Canes have knocked off three ranked opponents in four tries, including the No. 8 team in the nation in Oklahoma. Aside from getting a win over Virginia Tech last weekend, there’s not much more the Canes could do to get some national respect. It also means that Oklahoma is more than likely out of the running for the BCS national title, as two losses is usually an eliminator. (The 2007 season was the only exception to that in the BCS era.)
Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich
MIAMI -- This is a chance for Miami to separate itself from the rest of the ACC against one of the nation's powerhouse teams. Instead, it's blending right in with the muddled mass of mediocrity.
I know, I know, it's only been one quarter, but there have been some big plays -- all in the Sooners' favor. Just when it looked like Miami could get some help with field position, Oklahoma running back Chris Brown took off 48 yards from the 1-yard line, and all of a sudden the Sooners are creeping up in the red zone again.
Landry Jones is treating his first collegiate road trip like a business meeting, and Miami apparently didn't get the memo.
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.
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| 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."
Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin
The Sports Nation poll that went with my Big 12 spring wrapup had a few of the bigger questions involving the conference during the upcoming season.
I've gotten a bunch of e-mails from readers wondering how I think on the questions.
Here's a look at the results and my take on whether I agree or disagree with you, the readers.
1. Which Big 12 quarterback will be tougher to slow down in 2009
SportsNation results (15,721 votes)
Sam Bradford -- 41 percent
Colt McCoy -- 40 percent
Robert Griffin -- 10 percent
Zac Robinson -- 6 percent
Todd Reesing -- 4 percent
My take: I agree and by roughly the same margin.
It's a close decision for me, but I would think that Bradford will be the most productive quarterback - by a slim margin over McCoy. Bradford will be playing behind a rebuilt line with a new set of wide receivers. And McCoy will largely have the same returning cast from last season - with the exception of versatile wide receiver Quan Cosby. But I think that both will have big offensive seasons. We likely could see both in New York City again in early December at the Heisman Trophy presentation.
2. Which is the team to beat in the Big 12 this season?
SportsNation results (10,118 votes)
Texas -- 52 percent
Oklahoma -- 48 percent
My take: Agree.
Again, by a slight margin I favor the readers. I think Texas should be slightly favored because of a productive two-deep secondary, McCoy, Jordan Shipley and one of the nation's best offensive lines. Oklahoma has Bradford, DeMarco Murray, Chris Brown, Ryan Broyles, Jermaine Gresham and nine starters back on defense headed by Gerald McCoy and Travis Lewis. But I think the snub of not making the national championship game, along with Oklahoma's green offensive line , ill be the biggest differences in the two teams.
3. Will Baylor make a bowl game this season?
SportsNation results (10,315 votes)
Yes -- 63 percent
No -- 37 percent
My take: Disagree.
The Bears will be better this season with Griffin back for another season, the return of top rusher Jay Finley, leading receiver Kendall Wright and the arrival of massive transfer defensive tackle Phil Taylor. The Bears have starpower on defense with linebacker Joe Pawelek and safety Jordan Lake back. But they are playing in the Big 12 South. They haven't won at Texas A&M since 1984. Their game against Texas Tech -- a likely pick 'em contest if it had been played in Waco -- has been moved to the new Dallas Cowboys' Stadium in Arlington where Tech will have more fans. They lose experienced tackles Jason Smith and Dan Gay, who combined for 71 career starts. And their non-conference schedule is a tough one with games at Wake Forest and at home against Connecticut. Baylor could be significantly better than last season and still only have a 5-7 record to show for it. So I'm guessing they don't snap a bowl drought that dates to 1994 -- tied for the longest among teams in BCS-affiliated "Big Six" conferences.
4. Which of these teams has the best shot at moving up in the Big 12 standings?
SportsNation poll (10,060 votes)
Baylor -- 53 percent
Texas A&M -- 18 percent
Colorado -- 18 percent
Kansas State -- 11 percent
My take: Disagree.
As mentioned above Baylor will have a hard time jumping past Texas Tech if they don't beat them. My pick as the Big 12's surprise team among the four listed is Colorado, which could be just below Nebraska and Kansas among Big 12 North contenders if they can remain healthy. I'm not buying their 10-2 record that Coach Dan Hawkins predicted at the end of last season, but it wouldn't surprise me to see the Buffaloes winning seven or eight games and returning to a bowl game.
5. Which Big 12 defender will have the biggest impact in 2009?
SportsNation results (9,851 votes)
Nebraska DT Ndamukong Suh -- 44 percent
Oklahoma DT Gerald McCoy -- 34 percent
Texas DE Sergio Kindle -- 23 percent
My take: Agree.
I think that Suh and McCoy are virtual equals at defensive tackle and easily the two best inside players in the conference. I give Suh a slight edge because of overall production. He'll also play some offense and likely stand out more for the Cornhuskers because his surrouunding teammates on defense won't be as good as McCoy's are with the Sooners.
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