2010 Big 12 Football Preview

It was quite the offseason for the Big 12, with the focus on school defections to other conferences. While Nebraska and Colorado will leave the league after this season, Commissioner Dan Beebe was able to keep the core of the conference together for the near future. Texas and Oklahoma made that stability happen, and the league will have a different look after 2010 with only ten schools.

As far as stories on the field, the Longhorns and Sooners will be favored once again to win the South Division. Oklahoma will have another high-powered offense led by quarterback Landry Jones, while Texas will break in new starter Garrett Gilbert. Texas A&M may have the best signal caller in the league in Jerrod Johnson, and the Aggies could play spoiler if their defense can rise to the occasion. Oklahoma State and Texas Tech should contend for postseason play, while Baylor will look for continued improvement under Art Briles.

Nebraska, in their final Big 12 season, will be heavily favored to repeat in the North Division. The top candidate to challenge Bo Pelini’s squad is the Missouri Tigers, who will be led by emerging star quarterback Blaine Gabbert. Kansas State and Kansas should fight it out in the Sunflower State, with the Jayhawks starting the Turner Gill era in Lawrence. Paul Rhoads will look to build on last year’s momentum at Iowa State, and Colorado will finish their last Big 12 season before the Buffaloes move to the Pac-10.

2010 Big 12 Games of the Year

Sept. 4 – SMU at Texas Tech
The Tommy Tuberville era begins in Lubbock against an improving Mustang squad led by June Jones. This instate battle will have huge meaning for the Red Raider fan base.

Sept. 11 - Florida State at Oklahoma; Georgia Tech at Kansas
Two ACC foes visit Big 12 territory in the season’s second week. The Sooners hosting the Seminoles will be the marquee contest, but the first FBS (Division 1) game in Lawrence for new coach Turner Gill will also draw national attention.

Sept. 18 – Texas at Texas Tech
We all remember the last time the Longhorns visited Lubbock, as Michael Crabtree ruined Texas’ national title aspirations. New UT quarterback Garrett Gilbert will be tested in a tough environment.

Oct. 2 – Oklahoma vs. Texas (Cotton Bowl)
The Red River Rivalry will have as much importance as ever. The winner should be the South Division leader and a national championship contender.

Oct. 9 – Arkansas vs. Texas A&M (Cowboys Stadium)
These former Southwest Conference rivals started this new, annual tradition a year ago. Look for tons of points with two All-American quarterbacks--Arkansas’ Ryan Mallett and Texas A&M’s Jerrod Johnson—leading the way.

Oct. 16 – Texas at Nebraska
Emotions will be sky-high in Lincoln after last season’s bitter Big 12 Championship Game loss. Add in the offseason defection and Tom Osborne’s comments on why the Cornhuskers will head to the Big Ten in 2011, and this one will be must-see TV.

Oct. 23 – Oklahoma at Missouri
The Sooners will face a tough test in Columbia, with Mizzou quarterback Blaine Gabbert looking like the new superstar signal caller in the Big 12. Oklahoma will counter with the formidable tandem of quarterback Landry Jones and All-American wide receiver Ryan Broyles.

Oct. 30 – Missouri at Nebraska
Gary Pinkel’s Tigers have a brutal schedule in the middle of the season, and it gets no easier with a visit to Lincoln. The winner should have the upper hand in the North Division race.

Nov. 6 – Oklahoma at Texas A&M
The Sooners destroyed the Aggies last year in Norman by the score of 65-10. Mike Sherman’s crew will look for an inspired performance this season in front of a great crowd at Kyle Field.

Nov. 20 – Nebraska at Texas A&M
The Cornhusker defense will get a stern test in College Station as they try to shut down Jerrod Johnson and company. A victory could wrap up the North for Nebraska.

Nov. 25 –Texas A&M at Texas
Last year’s Thanksgiving clash saw the most points (88) in series history, as the Longhorns prevailed 49-39. Will the Aggies put up another good fight after a brutal November?

Nov. 27 – Oklahoma at Oklahoma State
The Bedlam Series has provided many dramatic moments over the years. The Cowboys will look to spoil another Sooner season in Stillwater.

South Division

Baylor – The Bears have improved in recruiting under Art Briles, but the results have not been there yet on the field. Last season was marred by the season-ending knee injury to quarterback Robert Griffin. Baylor will need a solid year from Griffin and defensive improvement if they want to go to their first bowl game since 1994.

Oklahoma – Expectations were huge a year ago as the Sooners looked for a return trip to the National Title Game. The season quickly went south with injuries to All-Americans (and NFL first-round picks) Sam Bradford and Jermaine Gresham. Despite the disappointment, new quarterback Landry Jones was able to gain valuable experience last year and should lead a high-powered offense in 2010. A tough schedule stands in the way of a solid season and another Big 12 title, with games against Florida State and Texas plus trips to Cincinnati, Missouri, Texas A&M and Oklahoma State.

Oklahoma State – It will be a very telling season for Cowboys Coach Mike Gundy. Only six starters return from a club that has gone 9-4 in each of the last two seasons. First-round NFL selections Russell Okung and Dez Bryant have moved on, but OSU has recruited well recently. How Oklahoma State fares in 2010 will show if Gundy has built a solid program in Stillwater.

Texas – The Longhorns are loaded with talent and looking for a repeat Big 12 crown and BCS Championship Game appearance. It may seem like Texas lost a lot with the departures of Colt McCoy, Jordan Shipley, Earl Thomas and Sergio Kindle, but Mack Brown has taken advantage of the instate recruiting pool to make sure the ‘Horns reload every season. The two-game stretch in October of Oklahoma and Nebraska will define the season for Texas.

Texas A&M – The Aggies should be solid on offense with the trio of quarterback Jerrod Johnson, running back Christine Michael and receiver Jeff Fuller. However the problem is on defense, where A&M ranked 105th in the nation and last in the conference a year ago. Mike Sherman’s crew must improve drastically on that side of the ball if they are going to close the gap on Oklahoma and Texas.

Texas Tech – Much of the Red Raider fan base is still not happy that Mike Leach is not the coach in Lubbock. He took Tech to ten straight Bowl games and had one of the most exciting passing attacks in the nation. Leach’s controversial termination will equal raised expectations (in many fans’ eyes) for Tommy Tuberville, who has quite the coaching resume himself.

North Division

Colorado – This could be the last year for Coach Dan Hawkins (16-33 at CU) if things don’t improve in Boulder, and it is definitely the last season for the Buffaloes in the Big 12. Many starters return from last year’s three-win club, but the schedule will be difficult with games against Ca and Georgia before the conference slate.

Iowa State – There wasn’t much buzz about the hire of Paul Rhoads last year after Gene Chizik bolted for Auburn. However, the rookie coach led the Cyclones to a solid season and a bowl win over Minnesota. With non-conference games against Iowa and Utah, it may be hard to reach the postseason again, but senior quarterback Austen Arnaud should pose a dual threat to opponent’s defenses.

Kansas – The Jayhawks had a lot of success under former coach Mark Mangino, but his coaching methods and lack of ‘people skills’ cost him his job during a tumultuous 2009 season. Kansas brought in a familiar face for Big 12 fans in former Nebraska star Turner Gill, who did a solid job as the Buffalo head coach.

Kansas State – Bill Snyder is finding it hard to repeat his success in Manhattan the second time around. The Wildcats will need much quarterback play this season, but they do have an All-American candidate at running back in Daniel Thomas. A fairly weak non-conference schedule will give K-State a decent shot to reach the postseason for the first time since 2006.

Missouri – The Tigers look to have another star quarterback in Blaine Gabbert, who passed for over 3,500 yards and 24 touchdowns a year ago. The offense should be fine in Columbia, but Coach Gary Pinkel will need better defensive play if Mizzou wants to challenge Nebraska for the North crown. Pinkel and staff have recruited well, and the Tigers should add to their current streak of five bowl games in a row.

Nebraska – The Cornhuskers missed out on a Big 12 Title upset by just one second a year ago. They should be right back in the thick of the league (and possibly national) race this season with their running game and defense. The schedule is favorable and the two biggest games—Texas and Missouri—will be in Lincoln. Nothing would make  Big Red fans happier than winning a league crown this season before heading to the Big Ten.
 

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