Big 12 Football

Texas Longhorns Basketball NCAA Tournament

2012-02-22T08:17:00.001-08:00

The Texas Longhorns loss to Baylor was hard to take, I'll admit it. Baylor seemed to be on the fast track to self destruction in the first half, and Texas was rolling. I was quite happy about the lead Texas had at the half, more than happy - confident.

In the second half, Baylor stepped up and started taking care of the ball, switched from zone defense to man-to-man, and became far more aggressive on both ends of the court. And then... you know what happened.

With two losses this week, Texas now sits with the rest of the teams on the NCAA tournament bubble, close but so far away from the dance. Texas does get several more opportunities to improve their resume, but one wrong step and its game over for the Longhorns.

For months now, Texas has declined opportunities to turn itself into an NCAA tournament team. Despite their best efforts to watch the tournament from their couches, the Longhorns might still have a couple chances anyway.

Monday's loss to Baylor, in which they wasted a 12-point second-half lead and once again victimized themselves with poor late-game decision-making and lapses of judgment, left the Longhorns 17-11 overall and 7-8 in the Big 12. A few years ago, a record like that would have had Texas laughed out of the committee room for the tournament selection.

This year, though, it seems the Longhorns have a shot. What they don't have is a quality win over a highly rated opponent. If they beat both Texas Tech and Oklahoma to clinch a .500 record in the Big 12, the Longhorns have two more chance to make an impression on the committee.

The Longhorns cap off their regular season at Kansas, and their Big 12 tournament opener could be a rematch with Baylor. A Longhorns victory over either of those two nationally ranked foes wouldn't guarantee an invitation, but it sure would help.

Longhorns In Position to Dance

2012-02-13T10:50:00.001-08:00

After spending most of this Big 12 season playing catch-up, the Longhorns are finally in position to make the NCAA tournament. Now the Longhorns are being charged with protecting that position.

With the tournament's expansion to 68 teams, the Longhorns' current credentials are deceivingly sold. Their record clearly isn't spectacular as they sit at 16-9, 6-6 in the Big 12, but their come-from-behind victory over Kansas State set the Longhorns in at No. 45 in the Ratings Percentage Index.

Assuming that a 9-9 Big 12 record will allow the Longhorns into the tournament, the Longhorns simply need to win three of their final six games. Four of those six games come against the teams in the bottom four of the conference. The Longhorns' final stretch begins this week with games at Oklahoma on Tuesday and Oklahoma State on Saturday.

Kansas Missouri Basketball Enter Three-way Tie

2012-02-06T12:57:00.000-08:00

Missouri is not leaving unnoticed. The Tigers pulled their arch rival, Kansas, back into a three-way tie atop the conference race, beating them 74-71 Saturday.

The Tigers sit at 8-2 with Baylor and Kansas, and are heading into Missouri's Big Monday night game at Oklahoma.

The Jayhawks are chasing their eighth regular-season championship in as many years, but the upshot is that they are no longer in control. To put Kansas' string of Big 12 championships into perspective, take a look at the other conferences. The Big East has crowned four different regular-season champions in the past four years. Same in the Pac 12. The Southeastern conference has rotated divisional winners the past three seasons.

Keep an eye on this race - you can bet we will be!

Michigan State: The 'Why' Behind the Rank

2012-01-23T15:04:00.000-08:00

Michigan State is a cohesive, clear-cut leader in Draymond Green and a good core mix. Keith Appling and Travis Trice offer different looks at point guard. Branden Dawson is a future star. Favorable schedule could springboard the Spartans into a lot of early conference wins.

Michigan State is for sure a No. 3 and could likely battle Wisconsin for the No. 2 (at least in my rankings).

Wisconsin: The 'Why' Behind the Rank

2012-01-17T14:59:00.000-08:00

Jordan Taylor is a scorer, playmaker, defender and rebounded. The Badgers have guards who rebound and big centers and forwards who guard. Opponents will have extreme difficulty in defending. Those who leave center Jared Berggren alone on the perimeter will meet their demise. Sixth man Ben Brust and Josh Gasser are exceptional 3-point shooters.

Wisconsin deserves their #2.

Ohio State: The 'Why' Behind the Rank

2012-01-10T14:54:00.000-08:00

I picked Ohio State to finish atop the Big 12 this year in college hoops. Here's why:

Jared Sullinger may be the best player in college basketball. If that isn't enough, Aaron Craft is a brilliant sophomore point guard and William Buford and Deshaun Thomas are reliable scorers.

Ohio State is the clear favorite!

Big 12 Hoops Race

2012-01-04T14:47:00.000-08:00

Here are my picks for the Big 12 hoops race!

1. Ohio State

2. Wisconsin

3. Michigan State

4. Michigan

5. Illinois

6. Indiana

7. Northwestern

8.Purdue

9. Minnesota

10. Nebraska

11. Iowa

12. Penn State

Big 12 Schedule: 12/29 - 1/4

2011-12-29T14:05:00.000-08:00

12/29
Arkansas Tech at Texas A&M
Howard at Kansas
Oklahoma at Cincinnati

13/30
Missour at Old Dominion
Southeastern Louisiana at Texas Tech

12/31
Virginia Tech at Oklahoma State
Mississippi Valley State at Iowa State
Rice at Texas
Howard at Kansas State
Northwestern State at Oklahoma
North Dakota at Kansas

1/2
Texas A&M at Baylor

1/3
Oklahoma at Missouri

Big Ten and Pac 12 Unite

2011-12-29T14:01:00.001-08:00

The Pac 12 and the Big 10 announced that the two leagues would join forces for annual interconference games. The details are pending, but we do know the interconference games will not happen until 2017.

What are your thoughts on the interconference games?

Justin Blackmon and the NFL Draft

2011-12-22T13:08:00.000-08:00

Justin Blackmon appears to be leaving Oklahoma State for the NFL draft. Blackmon could have left after last season when he caught 111 passes and 20 touchdowns as a redshirt sophomore. He followed that with 113 receptions for 1,336 yards and 15 touchdowns this season as Oklahoma State won the Big 12.

Blackmon will be facing Andrew Luck and the Stanford Cardinals in the Fiesta Bowl. Both teams are 11-1.

Ranking the Big 12 Bowl Games

2011-12-22T09:28:00.000-08:00

1.
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
No. 3 Oklahoma State vs No. 4 Stanford
This just has to be No. 1

2.
Valero Alamo Bowl
No. 12 Baylor vs Washington
I want to see the impact RG3 makes in this game.

3.
AT&T Cotton Bowl
No. 8 Kansas State vs No. 6 Arkansas
Many would rank this No. 2, but these are lesser-publicized teams. That matters.

4.
Insight Bowl
No. 14 Oklahoma vs Iowa
If Iowa was ranked higher, I would have moved this to No. 3. They have upset potential.

5.
Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas
Texas A&M vs Northwestern
Northwestern is fun to watch, but Texas has home state advantage.

6.
Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl
No. 24 Texas vs California
Texas will be healthy.

7.
New Era Pinstripe Bowl
Iowa State vs Rutgers
Yankee Stadium is the perfect place to watch Iowa State stretch their offense.

8.
AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl
Missouri vs North Carolina
No comment.

2011-11-03T13:20:00.000-07:00

Now... you know I love Big 12 football, but I'm definitely a baseball guy. With the recent addition to WVU to the Big 12, we have to consider what this means for Big 12 baseball.

All of WVU's athletics appear to be a good fit for the Big 12 (except for the non-existent soccer program in the Big 12), with the possible exception for their baseball program. WVU is far down the interest rankings for most fans. Entering the big 12 will be a challenge that is the toughest on Greg Van Zank and the baseball program at WVU. WVU hasn't qualified for the NCAA tournament since 1996 (when I was 6 years old) and the Big East was not nearly as strong as the Big 12 has been in recent years.

Here are how the rankings shook out at the end of last season:

#7 Texas
#21 TCU
#30 Oklahoma
#31 Baylor
#44 Oklahoma State
#50 Texas Tech
#51 Kansas State
#74 Missouri *
#106 Kansas
#151 West Virginia

*only relevant if they stay

WVU baseball will enter as the lowest ranked team by far and, aside from Kansas, every other team in the league was ranked at least 100 spots higher. Yikes.

There will be no other athletic program coming in that has to overcome that kind of challenge.

WVU to Big 12

2011-10-25T12:22:00.000-07:00

It finally appears to be happening: West Virginia has had one foot out of the door with its athletic program in the Big East and not it seems they are abandoning ship and swimming over to the Big 12.

By making the move, WVU will be leaving a doomed conference and entering one with more Bowl stability as well as a shared interest in basketball. WVU's stadium size is appropriate for the Big 12 conference, whereas WVU may have been undersized had they gone to the SEC or Big Ten.

Because there are two sides to every story, there are negative aspects to WVU's move. While the Big 12 is a decent conference, they certainly aren't the ACC or SEC, from a geographically standpoint anyway. Travel for fans will not be easy in the Big 12. Further, there is the potential for future conference movement (ingress and egress) for the Big 12. Who knows what will happen in the future? Finally, success in the Big 12 could prove to be more difficult.

What are your thoughts?

Baylor Highest Ranked for Big 12 in Coaches poll

2011-10-20T12:22:00.000-07:00

The preseason coaches poll was released Thursday afternoon and it featured no Big 12 teams in the top-10.

Baylor was No. 12, Kansas No. 13, Texas A&M No. 19 and Missouri No. 25.

North Carolina, Kentucky, Ohio State, Connecticut and Syracuse made up the coaches' poll's top five.

Big 12 Conference Changes

2011-10-20T12:14:00.000-07:00

The Big 12 appears to be losing Missouri to the SEC in the next couple of days, but appears to already have a replacement in mind. The target team to replace the Tigers is West Virginia.

According to sources in the Big 12 and the Big East, the Big 12 expansion will hold at 10 teams for the time being. Though Missouri will leave for the SEC next season, West Virginia will not be available to the Big 12 until 2014.

The Big East is expected to offer invitations to Boise State, Southern Methodist, Houston, Central Florida, Air Force and Navy over the next several days.

Baylor and Texas A&M Battle of Hostility

2011-10-13T12:07:00.000-07:00

Robert Griffin III. AKA Robert Griffin !!!

He is a major reason why No. 20 Baylor heads into Saturday's showdown against No. @! Texas A&M as Texas' top-ranked team.

The Bears are sitting at 4-1 while Texas A&M is at 3-2.

The last time Baylor headed into a game as the state's highest-ranked college football team, it was 1991 and we were in the cyber boom.

Both teams are definitely preparing for a hostile environment. While A&M's move from conference to conference remained in limbo, a maroon billboard with white lettering surfaced in Waco, "Thou shalt not covet they neighbor's conference deal." College Station merchants began selling a T-shirt with the slogan: "It sucks to BU." The BU appeared in Baylor school colors.

Wow I can't wait to watch the game and see what happens!

Texas Iowa, Who Will Win?

2011-09-29T11:38:00.000-07:00

Texas is coming off its best win in recent memory, a 29-point revenge victory at UCLA while Iowa has done its fair share of thrilling wins as well, with three come-from-behind wins. Both teams are unbeaten through three games.

The Cyclones beat Texas last season at Austin, but the Longhorn team of this year looks greatly improved from last year's. The Longhorns seem to pack plenty of punch this year and appear to be on their way to the powerhouse of old.

I believe that trend will continue. I favor Texas in the upcoming game, though Iowa will keep pace and make it a good show for Big 12 fans.

Texas 34 @ Iowa State 27

Hate it? Love it? What are your thoughts?

Texas and Iowa State Hook up in Undefeated Big 12 Game

2011-09-29T11:15:00.000-07:00

The 17th ranked Texas Longhorns and the Iowa State Cyclones will be going head to head this weekend as two undefeated Big 12 Conference teams.

Texas is 3-0 on the young season, having beaten up Rice, BYU and UCLA. This marks the fifth straight year and ninth time in the 14 years under coach Mack Brown that the Longhorns have opened the season with at least three consecutive wins. Not only is that impressive, but after Texas' 2010 campaign in which it went 5-7 and won only two of its eight conference games.

The Cyclones have returned 16 starters from last year's team that went 5-7 overall and 3-5 in the Big 12, but sit perfect so far as well. The Cyclones are 3-0 for the first time since 2005! Their last 4-0 start was back in 2000.

Who do you have for the game? Both teams are coming off of disappointing 2010 seasons, but have started this season off great. Let me know what you think!

Big 12 Expansion Candidates

2011-09-22T12:52:00.000-07:00

The Pac 12 has decided to hold off on their expansion to 16 teams, meaning Oklahoma and Texas will remain in the Big 12 for now.

Texas A&M will not be returning to the SEC, leaving the Big 12 at nine teams for the 2012 season.

Here are some school that could be added to the Big 12:

Air Force; The Falcons are a popular contender when it comes to realignment. The Air Force has a prominent and nationwide fan base.

Boise State: The Broncos are a good fit if the Big 12 is serious about bringing in more talent.

BYU: The Cougars are in the first season of Independence, but would likely make a good fit for the Big 12. BYU has a strong fan base.

Houston: The Conference would have a shot at getting back into Houston, with Texas Tech leaving.

Notre Dame: Though it would be unlikely, a Notre Dame Big 12 expansion isn't out of the question.

Anyone we missed? Give us your thoughts on the potential conference expansion!

Big 12 Conference Play

2011-09-22T12:46:00.000-07:00

Big 12 Conference play kicks off this week and we couldn't be more excited!

One of the games will be played between top-ranked Oklahoma and Missouri. Last season, Missouri came out on top as they knocked off then No. 1-ranked Oklahoma at Columbia, but this time Missouri must travel to Norman. At home, Oklahoma holds a 37-game winning streak, which just happens to be the longest active home streak in college football.

My bet is that Oklahoma comes out on top on this one... What do you think?

Mizzou to Big Ten?

2011-09-15T12:46:00.000-07:00

There has been some speculation about the Big 12 basically dissolving its schools into other conferences. One of the focusses of that discussion has highlighted Mizzou.

Where would Mizzou go? What conference fits the Tigers the best?

The Big Ten. Hands down. The Big Ten, whether it feels the need to expand or not, would be the best fit for Mizzou both athletically and academically. All signs point to the Mizzou fitting in well with the Big Ten.

As for the Big Ten? Anytime MU has nudged the Big Ten, the conference has politely ignored the team. Perhaps the Big Ten isn't open for expansion?

Oklahoma and Texas and the Pac 12

2011-09-05T09:50:00.000-07:00

It's official that Texas A&M is looking to leave the Big 12. That means that this could be the end of the Big 12. We're looking at a 9 team conference and honestly, who can this conference add? They could add SMU, but that won't do anything to boost the conferences cache. There have been reports that Texas and Oklahoma have been looking into joining the Pac 12. I can definitely see this happening and won't be surprised if we're watching one of the last years of the Big 12 this year.

Texas A&M Week 1 Preview

2011-08-17T11:22:00.000-07:00

In their first game of the season, Texas A&M will play SMU. SMU is a very worth opponent. June Jones is entering his fourth year as the coach of this team. SMU has a powerful offense and returns 18 starters from last season. They return star quarterback Kyle Padron, who threw 31 touchdowns last season and just 14 interceptions.

SMU was 7-7 last season and played in their second consecutive bowl game.

Texas A&M, led by Ryan Tannehill, should be able to win this game easily, but SMU has a potent enough offense that they could really scare the Aggies in Week 1. The Aggies definitely shouldn't sleep on the Mustangs.

Texas A&M Could Move to SEC

2011-08-17T11:11:00.000-07:00

There have been reports that Texas A&M is very close to switching conferences and playing in the SEC as soon as the 2012-2013 season.

This would have a huge impact on the Big 12. The Big 12 conference could take one of two courses of action. They could either dissolve the conference all together or they could try to add different schools to the conference. This is extremely interesting and I think the conference would look to add some schools before dissolving all together. TCU would have been a really good candidate, but they are moving to the Big East. Maybe SMU could be asked to join the Big 12, but that wouldn't be a huge coup for the conference. They might try to pry away Arkansas from the SEC as well.

USA Today College Football Preseason Top 25

2011-08-09T11:35:00.000-07:00

Here's the preseason top 25 for college football. Take a look at all the Big 12 teams on there! We've got three teams in the top 10, but most importantly, we've got the number one team in the land. It would be huge for the conference if they could win the National Championship. However this does make me miss Nebraska a little bit since they are pretty highly rated.

1.	Oklahoma (42)
2.	Alabama (13)
3.	Oregon (2)
4.	LSU (2)
5.	Florida State
6.	Stanford
7.	Boise State
8.	Oklahoma State
9.	Texas A&M
10.	Wisconsin
11.	Nebraska
12.	South Carolina
13.	Virginia Tech
14.	Arkansas
15.	TCU
16.	Ohio State
17.	Michigan State
18.	Notre Dame
19.	Auburn
20.	Mississippi State
21.	Missouri
22.	Georgia
23.	Florida
24.	Texas
25.	Penn State

Oklahoma Star Travis Lewis Out 8 Weeks with Broken Toe

2011-08-09T11:23:00.000-07:00

The media recently released a poll of the college football top 25 and the Oklahoma Sooners were overwhelmingly rated the number one team in the country. They return most of a 12-1 team that beat Connecticut in the Fiesta Bowl. They return star quarterback Landry Jones and return most of team's offense besides running back DeMarco Murray. There is tons of pressure on this team to get to the title game.

Well, there hopes took a bit of a blow today when they found out that star linebacker Travis Lewis' broken toe will keep him out for at least 8 weeks. Head coach Bob Stoops had this to say about the broken toe:

"We’re disappointed for Travis. He has worked very hard and I know he’ll want to get back as quickly as possible."

It looks like Oklahoma won't have Lewis for the game at Florida State. That could be a huge blow for the team and it might cost them that game.

Baylor Bears Josh Gordon Suspended Indefinitely

2011-08-02T10:37:00.000-07:00

Baylor Bears Wide Receiver Josh Gordon was suspended indefinitely for a violation of team rules. This is huge for the Baylor Bears. They are expected to have a really good season this year because they return star quarterback and plenty of other starters from a competitive Baylor team last year. Gordon caught 7 touchdowns last year.

Gordon is also a huge NFL prospect. He's 6 foot 4 and weighs 215 pounds. He has the ideal size and weight for an NFL wide receiver. ESPN's Mel Kiper has him rated as the 3rd best junior Wide Receiver in college football.

Gordon was arrested last October when he was found outside a Taco Bell passed out. Marijuana was found in his car, but he did not miss any games for the incident last season. You can imagine that this previous incident had something to do with him being suspended indefinitely.

2012 Big 12 Football Recruiting Class Rankings

2011-07-26T12:18:00.000-07:00

ESPN recently updated their recruiting rankings for the class of 2012. Five Big 12 teams were ranked in the top 25. Not only are there five teams in the top 25, but there are 3 in the top 11 and all five are in the top 17.

1. Texas - Texas has the best recruiting class in the country so far. Pretty typical of Texas, they are right in the middle of a recruiting hot bed and kids grow up wanting to be Longhorns.

8. Texas A&M - This one comes as a bit of a shocker to me. Mike Sherman, the former coach of the Green Bay Packers, really has a program started at A&M.

11. Oklahoma - No surprises here. Oklahoma consistently gets a ton of talent to come to Norman.

13. Texas Tech - Another shocker. Also in a recruiting hot bed but it seems like Tommy Tubberville is really starting to get the handle of Texas recruiting.

17. Missouri - they have done a really good job keeping their in state talent home and they also advanced into Texas territory this year.

List of Juniors Listed by Mel Kiper as NFL Draft Prospects

2011-07-14T11:36:00.000-07:00

Mel Kiper also ranked the juniors as NFL prospects and this is a list of the juniors from the Big 12 who made the list.

Quarterbacks

No. 3: Landry Jones, Oklahoma
No. 4: Robert Griffin III, Baylor

Fullbacks

No. 2: Braden Wilson, Kansas State

Receivers

No. 2: Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State
No. 3: Josh Gordon, Baylor

Centers

No. 3: Ben Habern, Oklahoma

Defensive ends

No. 5: Brad Madison, Missouri

Outside linebackers

No. 1: Ronnell Lewis, Oklahoma
No. 3: Zaviar Gooden, Missouri

Punters

No. 2: Ryan Doerr, Kansas State
No. 3: Quinn Sharp, Oklahoma State

If you haven't noticed already, both Weeden and Blackmon made these lists, meaning that should be an unstoppable combination next season.

Where Big 12 Draft Prospects Were Rated by Mel Kiper

2011-07-14T11:20:00.000-07:00

Mel Kiper recently put a list ranking the upcoming seniors by position as NFL prospects. Here are the Big 12 players who made his lists.

Quarterbacks

No. 4: Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State
No. 5: Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M

Running backs

No. 1: Cyrus Gray, Texas A&M

Fullbacks

No. 1: Cody Johnson, Texas

Receivers

No. 2: Jeff Fuller, Texas A&M
No. 3: Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma

Tight ends

No. 1: Michael Egnew, Missouri

Offensive tackles:

No. 1: Levy Adcock, Oklahoma State
No. 3: Kelechi Osemele, Iowa State

Outside linebackers:

No. 2: Travis Lewis, Oklahoma
No. 4: Keenan Robinson, Texas

Safeties

No. 4: Markelle Martin, Oklahoma State

It's important to note that Weeden would be much, much higher if he were not 28 years old. NFL scouts just don't know how much he can improve because of how old he is. They are weary of spending a first round pick on someone who is going to be good when they're 33.

Texas Longhorn Network Broadcasting Two Games??

2011-07-06T11:53:00.000-07:00

The Texas Longhorn network won't be airing just Longhorn games, they are looking to broadcast another Big 12 game as well. Here's what Stephanie Druley, the vice president of the network had to say about it.

"We are thrilled to be able to bring not one but two games to Longhorn fans this year," said Druley. "The Texas-Rice game will be an exciting first for the network and demonstrate how we will provide the most comprehensive coverage of Texas football that fans have ever experienced."

Watch this thing morph into something bigger than the Big Ten Network. It's scary for University of Texas opponents because that school is going to have tons, and tons of money to build up their athletic programs from this network.

With Colorado and Nebraska Gone, Texas Teams will Keep More Recruits

2011-07-05T11:44:00.000-07:00

Although the Big 12 took a big blow when Nebraska and Colorado decided to leave them, there is one thing that I think should help a lot of the teams there. Texas kids will most likely not go to those schools anymore. Texas kids had been leaving to those schools, mostly Nebraska, and it isn't likely that as many of them will leave for those schools any time soon.

Kids from Texas like going to other Big 12 schools not in Texas if they want to get away from home, but are still able to go to Texas and play some games. This is huge because there are a lot of Texas teams in the state of Texas and it makes it really easy for their parents and family to watch all of the home games. With Nebraska now playing in the Big Ten, it makes it a lot harder for those players parents to watch them.

Texas is a recruiting hot bed in the United States. Some of the most talent athletes in the country hail from the state of Texas. It will be nice for teams such as Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor, and Texas A and M to be able to keep a few more of those players in state.

Big 12 Football Star Watch: Garrett Gilbert

2011-07-04T20:37:00.000-07:00

Remember in the 2009 National Championship Game between the Texas Longhorns and the Alabama Crimson Tide when Colt McCoy got injured? I do and I really wanted to turn the game off at that point, but I didn't. In came Garrett Gilbert, who had not played since week two and was asked to complete 3 quarters of a national championship game. Gilbert performed admirably by completing 16-40 passes for two touchdowns and four interceptions. Okay so they aren't great numbers but he almost led the Horns on a late comeback.

Fast forward to 2010. He is awarded the starting quarterback job in the Spring. He leads to the team to a 5-7 record.

Gilbert, your junior season is make or break for you. If he falters, he is in extreme danger of losing his job to Case McCoy, Colt's younger brother. I think he has a pretty good season though, the talent around him is simply too much.

Big 12 Football Star Watch: Steele Jantz

2011-07-01T12:03:00.000-07:00

Before I begin this article, lets all take a moment to appreciate how great of a name Steele Jantz is. Not only is Steele an amazing first name, one that I would recommend to any parent struggling to name their child, Jantz is solid last name. Jantz receives extra "great name points" for the "z" at the end. Just a solid twist to an already awesome name.

So who is Steele Jantz? He might be a super hero by night, but by day he is a really cool quarterback who is attending Iowa State next year. He went to Fresno City College and threw for 23 touchdowns and ran in 14 more. Okay don't expect to pull the classic Cam Newton and transfer to a Division 1 school and win the National title.

Nevertheless, Steele Jantz should be an intriguing dual threat QB who could put up some nice numbers in the Big 12 that has ten teams in it.

Big 12 Football Star Watch: Brandon Weeden

2011-06-24T11:03:00.000-07:00

Woah I did not look this up until I read this today but Brandon Weeden is 28 years old! He pitched in the Yankee farm system for five years and then went to Oklahoma State. This guys got a wife and kids, he's a grown man! This makes it kind of unfair to compare him to 19 year olds, but he is still a very good quarterback.

I was wondering why he wasn't get more NFL buzz, nonetheless this guy is a S-T-U-D

As a junior he threw 34 touchdowns to 13 interceptions. He also completed 67% of his passes. Got the prototypical arm strength and touch. He's 6-5 225, he's got perfect size for the position too.

Age doesn't really matter in the Big 12 like it will for his NFL prospects. He's going to put up huge numbers this year and build off his junior year campaign. Justin Blackmon is back in the fold and I can safely say that that is the most dynamic quarterback-wide receiver combination. Weeden should be able to throw at least 30 touchdowns this year.

Big 12 Football Star Watch: Taylor Martinez

2011-06-23T11:21:00.000-07:00

Nebraska's Taylor Martinez got off to a scorching hot start to last year's football season. People thought he was a Heisman candidate, but when the Huskers began to face stiffer competition, he really began to play poorly. So poorly in fact, that he got an earful from his Coach Bo Pelini and was also benched in favor of Zach Lee. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdqUD5PBWnE. Martinez did finish the season as the starting quarterback, but failed to regain his mojo from the beginning of the year. I think this has a lot to do with him having to carry so much of the load early on in the season.

Martinez, or T- Magic, is unbelievably quick. He had some games where he was rushing for well over 200 yards and the Huskers looked like the team to beat in the Big 12. If he can become an accurate quarterback and be reliable in the pocket, the Husker offense will be unstoppable. He's just too much of a threat to run the ball. Look for T-Magic to recover and have a really, really good season.

Star Watch: Landry Jones

2011-06-15T11:34:00.000-07:00

Landry Jones is the starting quarterback for the Oklahoma Sooners. Jones is a 6-foot-4 220 lb beast of a quarterback. Jones went to Artesia High School in New Mexico. Jones was left as the backup quarterback in 2009 after the other back ups transferred. He was just a red shirt freshman when Sam Bradford separated his shoulder during the first game of the season. Jones went on to play most of the rest of the 2009 season. While replacing Bradford, he played admirably. In his first start, he completed three touchdown passes in a 64-0 win over Idaho State. During his junior year he led the Sooners to a Big 12 Championship and a Fiesta Bowl win over Connecticut.

For Jones' junior year, expectations are through the roof. Many expect the Sooners to be the best team in the country, as they rated first in many preseason polls. The pressure will all by on Jones who has the experience necessary to lead this team to a National Title game and contend for the heisman. He is a highly touted prospect for the NFL as many expect him to hear his name called during the first 10 picks of the 2012 draft. He's got a rocket arm and is very accurate.

Justin Blackmon

2011-06-14T11:34:00.001-07:00

I've decided to start a little star watch section for the next couple of weeks for Big 12. The first star I've decided to profile is Oklahoma State Wide Receiver Justin Blackmon. Justin Blackmon was an absolute monster last season. Blackmon averaged 10.8 yards on receptions made at or behind the line of scrimmage. He also caught 63.6 percent of passes that targeted him 15 yards or more downfield. The ability to turn any throw into a big gain helped Blackmon lead FBS last season in receiving yards per game. Most notably, he dominated his matchup against Prince Akumara of Nebraska in their head to head.

What to expect for this next season? Expect more of the same from Blackmon. The Cowboys are returning their starting quarterback from last year, Bobby Weeden, who he has great chemistry with. Blackmon could potentially contentd for the Heisman and is surely a first round pick in the next years draft, barring injury.

Big 12 Percentage of Returning Lettermen

2011-06-08T12:04:00.000-07:00

In a world where the Big Ten has 12 teams and the Big 12 has ten, sometimes things are not as they seem. I thought, in preparation for this upcoming football year, we could take a look at the ten teams in the Big 12 in terms of their percentage of returning lettermen. The number following their percentage is where that team is ranked on the national scene.

1. Texas A&M -- 80.26% (5th)
2. Missouri -- 79.37% (8th)
3. Oklahoma -- 75% (25th)
4. Texas Tech -- 71.23% (52nd)
5. Texas -- 71.01% (54th)
6. Baylor -- 70.27% (62nd)
7. Oklahoma State -- 69.81% (64th)
8. Kansas State -- 68.18% (78th)
9. Iowa State -- 64.91% (102nd)
10. Kansas -- 63.08% (109th)

You may be as shocked as I am, especially in terms of Kansas.

Iowa State Cyclones Look to Make Waves

2011-06-08T11:54:00.000-07:00

With Nebraska jumping ship to the Big Ten and Colorado abandoning the Big 12 for the Pac-10, Iowa State will now play in a Big 12 that should really be named the Big Ten, but that name was taken and Big Ten II isn't pithy. Iowa looks at better odds to be on top this year.

While on tour through the state that has been bracing all spring for heavy floods, a little football talk was more than welcome. Head coach Paul Rhoads was a main attraction, signing autographs and chatting with fans.

Missouri has the smartest Big 12 Athletes

2011-05-25T10:35:00.001-07:00

The NCAA released its report on Academic Progress Rates (APR) this week, and every team in the Big 12 was in good standing for the 2009-10 school year.

The APR measures of eligibility and retention for Division I student-athletes for every sport on a term-by-term basis. It was developed as an early indicator of eventual graduation rates.

If any team scores below 925 out of 1,000 it will incur scholarship losses, practice restrictions and other penalties may follow. The rates are based on scores from the 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 academic years.

That 925 ranking equates to about a 60 percent graduation rate.

Here's where the Big 12's programs ranked. Nebraska and Colorado are included, for obvious reasons.

1. Missouri -- 967

2. Oklahoma -- 960

3. Nebraska -- 958

4. Kansas -- 952

5. Baylor -- 951

6. Texas Tech -- 944

7. Oklahoma State -- 942

8. Texas -- 941

9. Kansas State -- 940

9. Texas A&M -- 940

11. Iowa State -- 932

12. Colorado -- 929

2011 Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship Schedule

2011-05-24T09:25:00.001-07:00

2011 Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship Schedule
Wednesday, May 25
Game 1 No. 4 Oklahoma State vs. No. 5 Baylor [Big12Sports.com] 9:00 a.m.
Game 2 No. 1 Texas vs. No. 8 Missouri [Big12Sports.com] 12:30 p.m.
Game 3 No. 2 Texas A&M vs. No. 7 Texas Tech [Big12Sports.com] 4:00 p.m.
Game 4 No. 3 Oklahoma vs. No. 6 Kansas State [Big12Sports.com] 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 26
Game 5 Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser [Big12Sports.com] 9:00 a.m.
Game 6 Game 3 Loser vs. Game 4 Loser [Big12Sports.com] 12:30 p.m.
Game 7 Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner [Big12Sports.com] 4:00 p.m.
Game 8 Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Winner [Big12Sports.com] 7:30 p.m.

Friday, May 27
Game 9 Game 7 Loser vs. Game 5 Winner [Big12Sports.com] 3:15 p.m.
Game 10 Game 8 Loser vs. Game 6 Winner [Big12Sports.com] 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 28
Game 11 Game 7 Winner vs. Game 9 Winner [Big12Sports.com] 9:00 a.m.
Game 12 Game 8 Winner vs. Game 10 Winner [Big12Sports.com] 12:30 p.m.
Game 13* If necessary Game 7 Winner vs. Game 11 Winner [Big12Sports.com] 4:00 p.m.
Game 14** If necessary Game 8 Winner vs. Game 12 Winner [Big12Sports.com] 7:30 p.m.***

Sunday, May 29
Game 15 Championship Game [FSN] 1:00 p.m.

Big 12 Football Media Day 2011

2011-05-19T10:44:00.000-07:00

The talking fest known as media day is now set. Team’s have been assigned media days, and below is the schedule. Word is, it will be shown on ESPN News.

Monday, July 25

Texas A&M
Baylor
Oklahoma State
Missouri
Texas

Tuesday, July 26

Texas Tech
Kansas
Iowa State
Kansas State
Oklahoma

Former Texas A&M quarterback Jerrod Johnson taken first overall

2011-05-19T10:42:00.000-07:00

It is every players dream to go first overall in a football draft… just not necessarily the UFL football draft. That being said, former Texas A&M quarterback Jerrod Johnson, who went undrafted in the 2011 NFL draft, was able to live a part of that dream when he was taken first overall in the UFL draft.

Congrats Jerrod, hopefully you can show Big 12 football can tear it up not only in the NFL, but the UFL also.

Shot out to former Oklahoma football player and the charity work they are doing in Africa

2011-05-18T08:06:00.001-07:00

We at the Big 12 Football Blogspot would like to take the time and give a shot out to a group of former Oklahoma University and Big 12 football players who are doing an outstanding job showcasing that the Big 12 is bigger than jus being a football conference that entertains fans, it is an organization that develops outstanding athletes that are as much stars on the field as they are off.

Take a look at the charitable group started by former Oklahoma University standouts, Roy Williams, Adrian Peterson, Tommie Harris, Mark Clayton and Gerald McCoy. The group is called, “Pros for Africa”

The group has risen over $100,000 in 2010, and recently joined up with the Starkey Hearing Foundation, which fitted over 2,000 hearing aids for the nation, where hearing loss due to what would likely be a routine ear infection elsewhere is common.

Top 5 potential candidates to win Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year

2011-05-13T10:52:00.000-07:00

The current Big 12 offensive player of the year, Oklahoma States junior standout wide receiver Justin Blackmon will look to repeat.

Oklahoma wide receiver Ryan Broyles will be looking for the award also.

However, Texas A&M running back Cyrus Gray will be looking to intercept the award from those two receivers in the state of Oklahoma.

Then on the quarterback side of things, look out for Oklahoma QB Landry Jones and OSU QB Brandon Weeden to contend for the award considering who they are throwing too.

Comment below as to who you think will win.

Oklahoma is the favorite

2011-05-13T10:49:00.000-07:00

With yesterdays blog post showing the University of Oklahoma Sooners having the toughest non-conference schedule out of all the Big 12 it means they are looking towards not only a Big 12 title but a national title as well.

With how the idiotic BCS works, it all about strength of schedule, and by having a tough schedule the greater chance you have of going the national championship game.

With the amount of talent the Sooner’s have don’t be surprised if they clean house and win both titles.

That being said, there are many other teams with the potential to destroy Oklahoma’s dream of winning the Big 12 title.

Oklahoma state came close last season, so question can the finally knockoff their rivals.

Texas is the wildcard here. With so much talent, the longhorns are sure to rebound after a disappointing 5-7 season.

Also, Texas A&M was the hottest team in the league at the end of the regular season, but finished the year with a lopsided loss to LSU. Can the Aggies shake it off, as well as the loss of Von Miller, and win their first Big 12 title since 1998.

The Sporting News ranks toughest non-conference schedules

2011-05-12T11:09:00.000-07:00

Listed in most difficult to least difficult starting with OU

Oklahoma: Tulsa, at FSU, Ball State

Texas A&M: SMU, Idaho, vs. Arkansas

Texas: Rice, BYU, at UCLA

Iowa State: Northern Iowa, Iowa, at UConn

Oklahoma State: Louisiana-Lafayette, Arizona, at Tulsa

Missouri: Miami OH, at Arizona State, Western Illinois

Baylor: TCU, Stephen F. Austin, Rice

Kansas State: Eastern Kentucky, Kent State, at Miami

Kansas: McNeese State, Northern Illinois, at Georgia Tech

Texas Tech: Texas State, at New Mexico, Nevada

We got Gus Johnson

2011-05-12T10:42:00.000-07:00

In the past 10 years no sportscaster has a voice so iconic, so memorable and so entertaining quite like Gus Johnson.

And with The Big 12's new television deal with Fox allowed for games to be broadcast on FX, a network owned by Fox. Fox's newest acquisition means one of college sports' most recognizable voices will be behind the mic for regular games this year, as well as the Cotton Bowl.

Gus Johnson always adds to the game without ever taking away from it. Boy, oh boy am I excited for some Big 12 Football!

ESPN Post Spring Big 12 Rankings

2011-05-06T13:26:00.000-07:00

1. Oklahoma

2. Oklahoma State

3. Texas A&M

4. Missouri

5. Baylor

6. Texas Tech

7. Texas

8. Kansas State

9. Iowa State

10. Kansas

Von Miller Goes #2 Overall to Denver Broncos

2011-05-06T13:11:00.000-07:00

The highest selected player in the 2011 NFL Draft from the Big 12 was linebacker Von Miller from Texas A&M. He was selected behind Cam Newton, quarterback from Auburn by the Carolina Panthers. Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert went #10 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars who traded up to grab him.

NFL Draft Inches Closer, Blaine Gabbert #1?

2011-04-22T09:32:00.000-07:00

The NFL Draft is inching closer, as it is held at the end of the month. The Carolina Panthers hold the #1 pick and will be on the clock first. There have been hundreds of mock drafts and guesses as to what the Carolina Panthers will do. There is no consensus #1 pick, as there is in some draft classes. It seems the race for the #1 pick is between Cam Newton from Auburn, Blaine Gabbert from Missouri, Marcell Dareus from Alabama, and Patrick Peterson of LSU. Most mocks have Newton going #1, but others think Gabbert may sneak in there. Check out the NFL Draft to see if a Big 12 quarterback can go #1!

Spring Practices Underway in Big 12

2011-04-22T09:19:00.000-07:00

Spring practice is officially underway in the Big 12. Spring practice, as we all know, is when the programs have a few weeks to practice and showcase a scrimmage, titled the "Spring Game" in front of all the hometown fans. Some spring games get more than 70,000 + fans, including the Texas Longhorns. Spring practice gives the fans a chance to see the depth chart and who has the early lead at roster positions. It also gives the fans a chance to see a little football until August, when the college football season begins.

College Recruiting

2011-04-01T11:34:00.000-07:00

In recent weeks, we have seen some NCAA violations. With Oregon, Ohio State, Auburn, etc, violations keep getting reported at a rapid rate. Here's a new one, regarding Patrick Peterson who attended LSU: "Willie Lyles, a Texas-based football trainer who is under NCAA investigation after receiving $25,000 from Oregon, told Texas A&M it had to "beat" $80,000 if it wanted to sign star recruit Patrick Peterson in 2007, a former Texas A&M coach told ESPN on Wednesday." Peterson did not play at A&M and went to LSU where he starred and is now considered a Top Ten pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. The NCAA needs to clean up these money payments and rumors before it gets even worse.

Fiesta Bowl President Fired, Big 12 Comissioner Confident

2011-04-01T11:26:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week, the longtime President of the Fiesta Bowl was fired, putting the Fiesta Bowl in jeopardy. The Big 12 has a contractual agreement to send its champion to the Fiesta Bowl if that team is not playing for the national championship. Meaning, the Fiesta Bowl is rather important to the Big 12. The BCS issued a stern statement this week saying the Fiesta Bowl must prove it is worthy of remaining one of the four games that make up the system. BCS executive director Bill Hancock has said the BCS has the authority to revoke the Fiesta Bowl's BCS status even though the event has three years remaining on its contract.

Big 12 Near Huge Deal with FOX

2011-03-14T10:21:00.000-07:00

After almost folding last season, the Big 12 is on the verge of securing a big contract with FOX. The deal will pay the 10-team league more than $60 million a year, well up from the $20 million it now receives from its cable contract, industry sources say. This would provide even more exposure with FOX for the Big 12 and it's teams. Big 12 is a big conference and this just made it bigger.

2011 Big 12 Predictions

2011-03-11T13:07:00.000-08:00

Big 12 Winner: Oklahoma Sooners

Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year: DeMarco Murray/Bryan Bryoles, Oklahoma

Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year: David Crick, Nebraska

ASU-Missouri Will Battle in 'Friday Night Lights'

2011-03-11T13:02:00.000-08:00

When Missouri visits Arizona State on September 9th, 2011, it could feature two nationally ranked teams. The game has been moved to Sept. 9 and will be broadcast on ESPN at 10:30 p.m. ET. September 9th is a Friday night, a day earlier than the game's original date.

It will be the first time ever the Sun Devils have played on a Friday night.

The game will give exposure to both programs as they will be the only teams playing that night.

Get your Missouri Tigers tickets with Ticket King!

Big 12 Offensive Players at NFL Combine

2011-02-28T08:42:00.000-08:00

The Big 12 has many players at the NFL Combine hoping to impress scouts. Many analysts use the NFL Combine for how physically ready the players are for the NFL. Here's how some of the Big 12 Offensive Players have faired:

Quarterbacks:

Blaine Gabbert, Missouri
40-yard dash. 4.62 (5)
Broad jump: 10-0 (4)
Vertical jump: 33.5 inches (6)
Three-cone drill: 6.84 seconds (3)
20-yard shuttle: 4.26 seconds (10)

Jerrod Johnson, Texas A&M
40-yard dash: 4.8 (8)
Broad jump: 9-11 (6)
Vertical jump: 29 inches (15)
20-yard shuttle: 4.31 seconds (13)

Running backs

Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State
40-yard dash: 4.53 (9)
225-pound bench: 24 reps (7)
Vertical jump: 35 inches (12)
Broad jump: 10-2 (4)
Three-cone drill: 6.74 (3)
60-yard shuttle: 11.19 (2)

DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma
40-yard dash: 4.41 (5)
Vertical jump: 34.5 inches (14)
Broad jump: 10-4 (2)
20-yard shuttle: 4.18 (9)

Offensive linemen

Kyle Hix, Texas

40-yard dash: 5.46
Vertical jump: 32 inches (3)
Three-cone drill: 7.77 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.78
Broad jump: 8-8 (13)

Danny Watkins, Baylor
40-yard dash: 5.40 (9)
225-pound bench press: 29 reps (9)
Vertical jump: 26 inches
Three-cone drill: 7.61 seconds (15)
20-yard shuttle: 4.62
Broad jump: 7-8

Mack Brown Closes Spring Practice To Media

2011-02-25T07:59:00.000-08:00

Mack Brown is not happy with the Texas Longhorns 5-7 record last season. He is taking stephs to make sure that doesn't happen again. With Spring Practice starting Thursday, Mack Brown has decided to close the practices to the media. Brown has closed most of his team practices for several years, but said he decided to close them all this year because he doesn't want any distractions for himself, his players and his staff. It was the first losing season at Texas in 13 years. Mack Brown is keeping all of spring drills closed to the public until the annual team scrimmage on April 3.

Possible 1st Rounders from the Big 12

2011-02-18T11:42:00.000-08:00

Mel Kiper released his latest NFL Mock Draft the other day. He had four players from the Big 12 in the first round Mock Draft.

Arizona Cardinals, No. 5: Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M
Washington Redskins, No. 10: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
Jacksonville Jaguars, No. 16: Aldon Smith, OLB, Missouri
Baltimore Ravens, No. 26: Aaron Williams, CB, Texas

We will have to see how accurate Mr. Kiper's projections turn out to be.

Counterfiet Ticket Scandal

2011-02-18T11:35:00.000-08:00

I know this isn't "Big 12 Football" related but I thought I'd chime in on a certain issue. Recently, sports fans across the country have purchased fradulatent tickets. These tickets have been purchased through Craigslist and other various outlets. That's why purchasing from a reputable company like Ticket King is a safe, secure experience because our tickets come directly from season ticket holders and we verify the identity of all of our sources. Ticket King is truly a place that can be trusted and is the safest source for your ticket needs!

Team Texas Defeats Team Nation 13-7

2011-02-07T09:32:00.000-08:00

Team Texas defeated Team Nation 13-7, a game which features NFL Draft Eligible players. It went down to the wire, with linebacker Eddie Jones tackling Damien Berry at the 1-yard line on fourth down with 55 seconds to go, helping Team Texas hold on for a 13-7 victory over Team Nation. Texas Tech quarterback Taylor Potts guided scoring drives the first two times he appeared on the field, and that was enough for Team Texas. The offensive player of the game completed 9 of 15 passes for 107 yards. The game was played in San Antonio, Texas as an NFLPA All-Star Game.

National Signing Day

2011-02-02T10:42:00.000-08:00

Today is National Signing Day for college football. High school football prospects across the country will sign national letters of intent with their favorite colleges today, many in front of cameras or friends. Check out the Big 12 Teams and see if your favorite team got those big time recruits that might push them to the top of the Big 12 next season. Here's something to note: 21 of the 22 high school players who committed to sign with the Longhorns on Wednesday attend a Texas high school. The recruiting class of Texas includes seven players ranked in the ESPNU 150. That is very remarkable.

Can't Wait for 2011-2012 Season!

2011-02-01T12:15:00.000-08:00

I know next season is so far away but I still can't wait. In the offseason, that's where programs make their moves. Getting the good recruits and taking the bluechippers and getting more out of them is what every coach strives for. Pay attention to your team and follow what recruits are coming in. You never know who will be those impact players and who could be the next Heisman Trophy winner!

Texas Tech Backs Out of TCU Game

2011-01-31T10:20:00.000-08:00

The Texas Tech Red Raiders have backed out of its scheduled game at TCU this September. Instead, the Texas Tech Red Raiders have added a home game against Texas State. Tech then switched its home game against New Mexico to Albuquerque. This move by Texas Tech looks like one to dumb down their nonconference schedule. TCU has become a power in college football and Texas Tech should be ashamed if that's the case. Games like this help the Big 12, not hurt. Enjoy Texas State.

Will You Miss Nebraska?

2011-01-28T11:57:00.000-08:00

The Nebraska Cornhuskers are no longer in the Big 12. Last summer, there was much debate and controversy about what some of the schools were going to do for alligning conferences. The Nebraska Cornhuskers decided to leave the Big 12 for greener pastures in the Big Ten. So, as the season has wrapped up and the offseason around this time is usually quiet, I thought back and reflected on the Nebraska Cornhuskers leaving. The Nebraska Cornhuskers have been a mainstay in college football and I will miss them in the Big 12.

Former Texas Tech Coach Mike Leach Gets Appeal Denied

2011-01-25T10:05:00.000-08:00

According to ESPN, a Texas appeals court threw out former coach Mike Leach's breach of contract claim against Texas Tech on Friday. However, it said he could still pursue non-monetary claims against the school over his controversial 2009 firing. ESPN states "University attorneys had argued that Leach could not sue the school because Texas Tech is a state entity with sovereign immunity, meaning it can only be sued with permission from the state Legislature or a waiver based on a defendant's conduct." Paul Dobrowski, Leach's attorney, said he plans to appeal the issue to the Texas Supreme Court.

University of Texas and ESPN Reach Agreement For Network

2011-01-21T09:55:00.000-08:00

The University of Texas and ESPN reached a 20-year, $300 million contract with the sports giant. ESPN also agreed to help set up and run the Texas Longhorn Network. It is set to launch in September 2011. The University can expect a lot of money headed their way with this agreement. This shows the power that the University of Texas exhibits in the sports world. There will be 24 hour coverage of Texas Athletics on the new network.

Are the Oklahoma Sooners the Favorite in 2011?

2011-01-18T11:53:00.000-08:00

So it's a little premature - I get that. However, that being said, the Oklahoma Sooners are ESPN's #1 Team going into the 2011 rankings right now. ESPN writes "The Sooners might be the team to beat in 2011, with 14 players coming back who have starting experience on offense and 15 on defense. Quarterback Landry Jones gets back his favorite target, Ryan Broyles, who passed on entering the NFL draft to return to school, and all but one offensive lineman is expected back." Oklahoma Sooners fans, looks like you might have another potential championship team next season.

Justin Blackmon and Brandon Weeden Returning To Oklahoma State

2011-01-14T11:47:00.000-08:00

Two Oklahoma State stars are returning to school next season. Justin Blackmon, the wide receiver who tore apart the Big 12 competition this season, and Brandon Weeden, the quarterback who threw for 4,227 yards and 34 touchdowns are returning.
Justin Blackmon was the Biletnikoff Award winner as the nation's top receiver. Both of these players helped the Oklahoma State Cowboys to their first 11 win season and a #13 ranking at the end of the year. Welcome back 'Boys!

Blaine Gabbert Bolts For NFL Draft

2011-01-11T12:39:00.000-08:00

Blaine Gabbert, the junior quarterback for the Missouri Tigers, has declared for the NFL Draft. Gabbert has shot up NFL Mock Drafts recently and was just named the #1 quarterback by Mel Kiper Jr, the ESPN Draft Guru. The Carolina Panthers own the #1 pick and it's clear they need a quarterback. It was well documented that they had intended to select Andrew Luck, quarterback out of Stanford. Luck decided to return to school so now that leaves a question mark with the #1 overall pick. Who knows, maybe it could be Gabbert?

2011 Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma Sooners 48, Connecticut Huskies 20

2011-01-07T12:31:00.000-08:00

The Oklahoma Sooners crushed the Connecticut Huskies in the 2011 Fiesta Bowl. The UCONN Huskies qualified for the Fiesta Bowl via an automatic birth from the Big East. They probably didn't deserve that BCS birth. Quarterback Landry Jones threw for 429 yards and 3 touchdowns while wide receiver Ryan Broyles caught 13 passes for 170 yards and a touchdown. A 28-10 run in the 2nd half blew open the game after Oklahoma had a 10 point lead going into half. The win caps a 12-2 season for the Oklahoma Sooners.

For next season, check out Sooners Football Tickets!

2011 Cotton Bowl: LSU vs. Texas A&M

2011-01-07T12:25:00.000-08:00

#11 LSU (10-2) vs. #17 Texas A&M (9-3)

Tonight the LSU Tigers and Texas A&M Aggies will battle it out in the 2011 Cotton Bowl. ESPN has titled this game the "Quality Loss Championship." LSU's only losses are to BCS teams Arkansas and Auburn, while A&M's losses came to Oklahoma State, Missouri and Arkansas, all 10-game winners. Both of these teams have strong defenses and reliable offenses that can move the ball.

Prediction: LSU 24, Texas A&M 21

Justin Blackmon Has Explosive Season

2010-12-31T10:41:00.001-08:00

The last 2 seasons, the Oklahoma State Cowboys had a wide receiver that the whole nation knew about. His name was Dez Bryant. Now, fast forward to the 2010 season. Another wide receiver took college football by storm. His name is Justin Blackmon. Just how good was he? Well how about this, he never failed to record under 100 yards and had a touchdown in every game. By the way, he happens to play in the Big 12 against some of the nation's best teams. He finished his 2010 season with 1,782 yards and 20 touchdowns (not to mention he missed 1 game). An absolutely terrific season for a great player!

ESPN Big-12 Members on All-American Team

2010-12-27T08:56:00.000-08:00

The following are members from the Big 12 on the ESPN All-American Team:

WR - Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State

OT - Nate Solder, Colorado

LB - Von Miller, Texas A&M

CB - Prince Amukamara, Nebraska

Safety - Quinton Carter, Oklahoma

Place-Kicker - Alex Henery, Nebraska

Nebraska vs. Washington HOLIDAY BOWL

2010-12-22T13:39:00.000-08:00

On Thursday, December 30, the Nebraska Cornhuskers will square off against the Washington Huskies. It's a bit of an odd placement. Nebraska already beat Washington 56-21 in Seattle earlier this year. It beat Arizona 33-0 in the Holiday Bowl last season. There was the sense that they were a little underappreciated getting into this game. Either way, they will show up and they will play.

Prediction: Nebraska Cornhuskers 42, Washington Huskies 31

Oregon or Auburn?

2010-12-20T12:09:00.000-08:00

I know, I know. These aren't Big 12 Teams. But let's be honest, they have played like the two best teams in college football. So my question is, who is going to win the BCS National Championship game? The Auburn Tigers and Cam Newton? Or LaMichael James and the Oregon Ducks? I think it will be a very good game but I have my money on the Auburn Tigers. Here are my 2 reasons:

1) Quarterback play. They have the Heisman Trophy winner in Cam Newton. nuff said

2) The Conference. They play in the SEC - the strongest conference in all of football. They have been battle tested nearly every week.

Texas Coach Gets Florida Gators Job

2010-12-20T12:01:00.000-08:00

Will Muschamp has been announced the new Head Coach for the Florida Gators. He replaces Urban Meyer, who unexpectedly announced his resignation for the 2nd straight year. Only this time he did not announce his return the next day. Will Muschamp was the defensive coordinator for the Texas Longhorns and had already been announced the next coach of the Longhorns after Mack Brown was finished at Texas. Congratulations at Florida for Will Muschamp!

2010 All-Big 12 Defensive Team

2010-12-10T10:06:00.001-08:00

DEFENSE
DL Jeremy Beal Oklahoma Sr. Carrollton, Texas/Creekview
DL Sam Acho Texas Sr. Dallas, Texas/St. Mark’s
DL Pierre Allen Nebraska Sr. Denver, Colo./Thomas Jefferson
DL Aldon Smith Missouri So. Raytown, Mo./Raytown
DL Jared Crick # Nebraska Jr. Cozad, Neb./Cozad
LB Von Miller # Texas A&M Sr. DeSoto, Texas/DeSoto
LB Lavonte David Nebraska Jr. Miami, Fla./Northwestern/Fort Scott CC
LB Orie Lemon Oklahoma State Sr. Houston, Texas/Yates
DB Quinton Carter Oklahoma Sr. Las Vegas, Nev./Cheyenne
DB Jimmy Smith Colorado Sr. Colton, Calif./Colton
DB Eric Hagg Nebraska Sr. Peoria, Ariz./Ironwood
DB Prince Amukamara # Nebraska Sr. Glendale, Ariz./Apollo
DB Andrew McGee Oklahoma State Sr. Magee, Miss./Magee/Copiah-Lincoln CC
P Quinn Sharp Oklahoma State So. Mansfield, Texas/Summit

2010 All-Big 12 Offensive Team

2010-12-10T09:45:00.000-08:00

2010 All-Big 12 Football First Team OFFENSE

Pos. Player School Class Hometown/Previous School(s)
QB Brandon Weeden Oklahoma State Jr. Edmond, Okla./Santa Fe
RB Kendall Hunter Oklahoma State Sr. Tyler, Texas/John Tyler
RB DeMarco Murray Oklahoma Sr. Las Vegas, Nev./Bishop Gorman
FB Bryant Ward Oklahoma State Sr. Stillwater, Okla./Stillwater
WR Ryan Broyles Oklahoma Jr. Norman, Okla./Norman
WR Justin Blackmon Oklahoma State So. Ardmore, Okla./Plainview
WR Jeff Fuller Texas A&M Jr. McKinney, Texas/Boyd
TE Michael Egnew Missouri Jr. Plainview, Texas/Plainview
OL Nate Solder Colorado Sr. Buena Vista, Colo./Buena Vista
OL Tim Barnes Missouri Sr. Longwood, Mo./Pettis County Northwest
OL Levy Adcock Oklahoma State Jr. Claremore, Okla./NEO A&M JC
OL Ricky Henry Nebraska Sr. Omaha, Neb./Burke/North Dakota State College of Science
OL Eric Mensik Oklahoma Sr. Rosenburg, Texas/Terry
PK Dan Bailey Oklahoma State Sr. Mustang, Okla./Southwest Covenant
KR/PR William Powell Kansas State Sr. Duncanville, Texas/Navarro College

Big 12 Bowl Teams

2010-12-06T08:32:00.000-08:00

Tostito's Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma vs. Connecticut
TicketCity Bowl: Northwestern vs. Texas Tech
Bridgepoint Education Holiday: Nebraska vs. Washington
Valero Alamo: Oklahoma State vs. Arizona
Insight: Missouri vs. Iowa
Texas Bowl: Baylor vs. Illinois
AT&T Cotton Bowl: Texas A&M vs. LSU

#9 Oklahoma 23, #13 Nebraska 20

2010-12-06T08:26:00.000-08:00

By the 2nd quarter, the Nebraska Cornhuskers built a 17-0 lead. However, the Oklahoma Sooners would storm back with a 23-6 run and take home the Big 12 Crown with a 23-20 victory. Landry Jones threw for 342 yard with a touchdown. The Cornhuskers had 4 turnovers and suffered another tough defeat in the Big 12 Championship Game. Next season the Nebraska Cornhuskers are headed to the Big Ten.

Big 12 Title Game: Oklahoma Sooners vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers

2010-12-03T10:25:00.000-08:00

For the 2nd straight year, the Nebraska Cornhuskers are back in the Big 12 Title Game. It's fitting considering the Cornhuskers are in their last season in the Big 12. It's also fitting that they are playing their main rival - the Oklahoma Sooners. Don't think the Nebraska Cornhuskers have forgetten their heartbreaking loss to the Texas Longhorns last season by a field goal with 1 second left. Both teams are 10-2 and 6-2 in their respective divisions.

My Prediction: Nebraska Cornhuskers 20, Oklahoma Sooners 17

Get your Big 12 Title game tickets with Ticket King or Sooner Football Tickets!

Big 12 Player of the Week

2010-11-29T08:53:00.000-08:00

The Big 12 Player of the Week for Week 13 is.....

Landry Jones, Oklahoma Quarterback

-468 yards and 4 touchdowns in a 47-41 victory over #9 Oklahoma State Cowboys.

Big 12 Scores from Week 13

2010-11-29T08:45:00.000-08:00

#17 Texas A&M 24, Texas 17

#15 Nebraska 45, Colorado 17

#14 Missouri 35, Kansas 7

Kansas State 49, North Texas 41

#13 Oklahoma 47, #9 Oklahoma State 41

Texas Tech 35, Houston 20

Big 12 STANDINGS

2010-11-24T10:47:00.000-08:00

NORTH CONFERENCE OVERALL
Nebraska 5-2 9-2
Missouri 5-2 9-2
Kansas State 3-5 6-5
Iowa State 3-5 5-7
Colorado 2-5 5-6
Kansas 1-6 3-8

SOUTH CONFERENCE OVERALL
Oklahoma State 6-1 10-1
Oklahoma 5-2 9-2
Texas A&M 5-2 8-3
Baylor 4-4 7-5
Texas Tech 3-5 6-5
Texas 2-5 5-6

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Big 12 Player of the Week

2010-11-22T09:35:00.000-08:00

Taylor Potts, Quarterback from Texas Tech Red Raiders

- 21 of 24 for 272 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 64-21 victory over Weber State. Also had a rushing touchdown. Has a 137.59 rating with 27 touchdowns to just 8 interceptions on the season, as well as 2,984 yards.

Week 12 Scores from the Big 12

2010-11-22T09:29:00.000-08:00

#10 Oklahoma State 48, Kansas 14

Texas Tech 64, Weber State 21

Texas 51, Florida Atlantic 17

#15 Missouri 14, Iowa State 0
#14 Oklahoma 53, Baylor 24

#19 Texas A&M 9, #8 Nebraska 6

Colorado 44, Kansas State 36

Big 12 Player of the Week

2010-11-15T07:57:00.000-08:00

Cyrus Gray - Running back for Texas A&M. Ran for 137 yards and 4 touchdowns in a 42-30 victory over Baylor. It was his 4th consecutive 100 yard game. He scored 3 of his 4 touchdowns in the 2nd half. They erased a 30-21 deficit at halftime and defeated Baylor 42-30.

Big 12 Week 11 Scores

2010-11-15T07:51:00.000-08:00

#17 Missouri 38, #24 Kansas State 28
Colorado 34, Iowa State 14
#16 Oklahoma 45, Texas Tech 7
#8 Nebraska 20, Kansas 3
#25 Texas A&M 42, Baylor 30
#10 Oklahoma State 33, Texas 16

Big 12 Player of the Week

2010-11-08T09:36:00.000-08:00

Fresh off a 1 game suspension, Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon caught 13 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown in a 55-28 win over the Baylor Bears. He also scored on a 69 yard end-around run for a touchdown. He is on his way for a Heisman Trophy candidacy, although it is nearly impossible for a wide receiver to win the award these days.

Week 10 Scores from Big 12

2010-11-08T09:33:00.000-08:00

#17 Oklahoma State 55, #21 Baylor 28
Kansas 52, Colorado 45
Texas A&M 33, #8 Oklahoma 19
Kansas State 39, Texas 14
Texas Tech 24, #12 Missouri 17

Players of the Week

2010-11-01T07:55:00.000-07:00

Roy Helu Jr. - 28 carries, 308 yards, 3 touchdowns

- The Nebraska running back broke a school record in rushing for a game. Helu Jr. is the only player to rush for over 300 yards this season.

Landry Jones - 32-46 with 453 yards and 4 touchdowns

- Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones threw for 453 yards and 4 scores (3 to Ryan Broyles) and Oklahoma dispatched Colorado 43-10.

Big 12 Week 9 Scores

2010-11-01T07:52:00.000-07:00

#17 Oklahoma State 24, Kansas State 14
#14 Nebraska 31, #6 Missouri 17
Texas A&M 45, Texas Tech 27
Iowa State 28, Kansas 16
#25 Baylor 30, Texas 22
#9 Oklahoma 43, Colorado 10

Big 12 Games Week 9

2010-10-29T10:12:00.000-07:00

#17 Oklahoma State at Kansas State

#6 Missouri at #14 Nebraska - Great Matchup

#25 Baylor at Texas - who would have thought Baylor would have a higher ranking than Texas in week 9?

Kansas at Iowa State - ISU beat Texas last weekend

Texas Tech at Texas A&M

Colorado at #9 Oklahoma

Predictions: Oklahoma State, Missouri, Iowa State, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma

Big 12 Week 8 Recap

2010-10-25T07:55:00.000-07:00

IOWA STATE 28, Texas 21 - The Cyclones shock the Longhorns in Austin.

Texas Tech 27, Colorado 24 - A late field goal wins it for the Red Raiders

Nebraska 51, Oklahoma State 41 - Taylor Martinez throws 5 touchdown passes

Baylor 47, Kansas State 42 - Baylor moves into the Top 25 for the first time since 1993

Texas A&M 45, Kansas 10 - Jerrod Johnson broke the Aggies record for total offense

MISSOURI 36, Oklahoma 27 - Missouri takes down OU, the Sooners become the 3rd #1 team this season to fall.

Big 12 Game of the Week

2010-10-20T09:26:00.000-07:00

#1 Oklahoma vs. #11 Missouri

Are the Missouri Tigers contenders or pretenders? We will find out this week. The Missouri Tigers come in 6-0 but have played a very soft non-conference schedule. Their most impressive win was a 30-9 victory last weekend vs. Texas A&M. The Oklahoma Sooners come in 6-0 and have beaten #17 Florida State and #21 Texas. They are the sup rise #1 team atop the BCS standings.

Prediction: I want the Missouri Tigers to win to get some parity but I think the Sooners are too strong. Oklahoma 34, Missouri 20.

Big 12 Standings

2010-10-20T09:21:00.000-07:00

NORTH CONFERENCE

Missouri 2-0 6-0
Kansas State 2-1 5-1
Nebraska 1-1 5-1
Iowa State 1-2 3-4
Colorado 0-2 3-3
Kansas 0-2 2-4

SOUTH CONFERENCE

Oklahoma 2-0 6-0
Oklahoma State 2-0 6-0
Baylor 2-1 5-2
Texas 2-1 4-2
Texas Tech 1-3 3-3
Texas A&M 0-2 3-3

Big 12 Game of the Week

2010-10-15T14:16:00.000-07:00

Texas at #5 Nebraska

Nebraska is flying high right now and reminding football fans that they want to get back to the top of college football. Texas is coming off two consecutive losses, to UCLA and Oklahoma at home. They will be hungry for a victory and optimistic about pulling off the upset.

Prediction: Feeling the Huskers in this one, Nebraska 30, Texas 23