First Look -- Week 5 (Thursday, Sept. 30 & Saturday, Oct. 2)

Black Saturday?

Ominous clouds descended on Bill Snyder Family Stadium last week as seen in this photo from The Associated Press. The game was delayed for more than an hour, while a difficult nonconference weekend for Big 12 teams had doubters howling about the strength -- or lack of it -- of the Big 12 Conference.

Oklahoma struggles on the road, K-State squeaks one out at home in the closing seconds, Nebraska manages 17 points against a winless FCS opponent, Texas is pounded by laughably inconsistent UCLA ... is it time to write off the Big 12 from national championship relevance?

Actually, it might be. But not because of some close games and one head-scratching loss last weekend. The way the rankings sit in the fifth week, the Big 12 would need a lot of help to figure into any national championship discussion. There are several other FACT-ors that make it an uphill climb.

FACT: An defeated SEC team will play for the national championship. Not saying which one it will be, but if an SEC team emerges unscathed, it's simply a lock for one of the two spots because this has been the best conference in college football for the past few years, and each team's schedule is loaded with highly ranked opponents.

FACT: An undefeated Ohio State will play for the national championship. I simply hate writing that sentence, but it's true. Ranked second in the AP and Coaches polls, the Buckeyes would have to lose to be jumped because the Big Ten somehow maintains enough clout to make its champion appear like a true contender. Granted, Ohio State travels to Wisconsin (Oct. 16) and Iowa (Nov. 20), and hosts Penn State (Nov. 13) and Michigan (Nov. 27), but do any of these teams look ready to rise to the occasion and knock off Jim Tressel's squad. No -- not now anyway. But all four are ranked in the top 25 -- and Wisconsin tops the list at #11 (AP) and #9 (Coaches).

FACT: Oregon, Boise State and TCU are next in line if anyone stumbles. Here is where the polls really screw the Big 12. There's just nowhere to go with a logjam of undefeated teams at the top of the polls. And the kicker is, none of these three teams locked in at Nos. 3, 4 and 5 play each other to weed out the also-rans. And each arguably has just one strong opponent remaining on their schedule. Oregon plays Stanford (#9,#13) this weekend, Boise gets Nevada (#25, #25) on Nov. 26, and TCU meets Utah (#13, #12) on Nov. 6. Clear those games, and these schools immediately start lobbying for BCS berths. Texas losing last weekend is really painful here, because there's no longer that common opponent for either Nebraska or Oklahoma to use as a springboard if it's able to take out the Longhorns.

Of course, crazier things have happened, so you never know. Six Big 12 teams remain undefeated headed into this weekend (and Texas A&M and Oklahoma State will shorten that list to five). But for a Big 12 school to even get into the discussion now, others MUST lose. Welcome to Frustration, USA, pop: You.


Week 5

Texas A&M at Oklahoma State -- 6:30 p.m. CT Thursday -- ESPN. Holy cow, what a game this could be. Who's for real? Who's not? Do either of these teams play defense? All will be answered tonight.

Kansas at Baylor -- 11 a.m. CT Saturday -- FSN -- This is an intriguing undercard to the Red River Rivalry's main event. Baylor needs just three conference wins to qualify for it's first bowl since 1994 -- two seasons BEFORE it joined the Big 12. Actually, just winning three league games would be a milestone the Bears haven't reached since 2006. And Kansas? They're down, they're up, they're down -- then back up again. I wonder if Turner Gill and Co. feel as queasy on this ride as their fans. Any conference win is a big deal to these two programs, and I'd expect to see both fight hard for it.

Texas vs. Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl -- 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday -- ABC -- Yeah, this game would mean a lot more if the 'Horns hadn't looked awful in the loss to UCLA. Mack Brown's run-first mantra for this season came back to bite him. Playing catch-up by running the ball is hard -- plain and simple. How did Garrett Gilbert get Texas back in the game against Alabama last year -- by running? No, you throw it to Jordan Shipley and get yourself ... er ... huh ... the Cincinnati Bengals now? Oh ... uh ... never mind. The fact that UCLA was the team to exploit this weakness was the shock, not the fact that Texas was exposed.

Texas Tech at Iowa State -- 6 p.m. CT Saturday -- FCS -- The Red Raiders are 7-1 all-time against the Cyclones. The strength of Paul Rhoads' Iowa State team, however, is really its pass defense. If they can capitalize on the Taylor Potts-Steven Sheffield dilemma facing Tommy Tuberville, maybe the Cyclones can hang around long enough to make this interesting. Texas Tech has also re-committed itself to the run after averaging a league-worst 70 yards per game, but we've yet to see leading rusher Baron Batch back to last year's form.

Georgia at Colorado -- 6 p.m. CT Saturday -- FSN -- FACT: (OK, not really, but it should be) If Dan Hawkins loses this game, he is out at Colorado effective at the end of the season. The Bulldogs are a mess on and off the field. Yeah, they need a win, but they need a designated driving workshop worse. If Hawkins loses, the Buffaloes can open their coaching search immediately -- and be first in line for prospective hires. Next year's Pac-12 schedule, whatever it ends up being, is a strong draw. (Mike Leach, anyone?) Pulling the trigger on Hawkins' firing would also give the coach a chance to play out the season and land more comfortably if he's able to piece together a decent conference showing. But 2-2 in nonconference just isn't good enough to justify keeping him any longer.

Big games also await next week as the conference slate kicks into high gear, including Nebraska at Kansas State on Thursday night in Manhattan ... for the last time.

First Look -- Saturday, Sept. 25

Don't Let the Door Hit You ...

Taken at Big 12 Headquarters moments after reps from Nebraska and Colorado departed.

The Big 12 Conference settled with both Nebraska and Colorado on the penalties each school will pay for moving on to the Big Ten and Pac-10, respectively. For Nebraska the cost was $9.255 million, and Colorado will pay $6.863 million. The settlement avoids a lengthy legal process and allows all three conferences to move forward with what could certainly have been a messy divorce.

Some people have complained that the two schools got off relatively easy, especially since Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe had suggested earlier that the league was looking for between $14 and $16 million apiece. But I'd say it's more of a "Don't go away mad, just go away" kind of situation. Cash-starved Colorado had already called Beebe's bluff by indicating it was prepared to stay until 2012 -- meaning the 2011 football season would move ahead with 11 teams. Clearly, the Big 12 had no interest in that -- and never did. For the Cornhuskers to get off at less than $10 million is certainly interesting. Why so low?

For starters, in any legal showdown Nebraska would have pointed directly to Colorado's decision to leave -- made before Nebraska's -- and the Pac-10 commissioner's subsequent whirlwind tour throughout the South Division as indicative of what was believed at the time to be the imminent collapse of the Big 12. "Why should we pay for looking out for our best interests in a crisis?" it would argue. Additionally, Nebraska would have argued that its departure, in fact, caused no damage because the conference stayed together -- and from all that Beebe himself has said, should actually make MORE money than before. A pretty good argument.

The Big 12, of course, had the agreed-upon bylaws outlined at the conference's founding on its side. But Nebraska and Colorado -- if pushed into a nasty legal wrangling -- would have almost certainly have subpoenaed and deposed anyone and everyone they could. On the list would be each of Big 12 presidents and athletic directors, Beebe and even Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott (maybe the SEC commissioner as well) to reveal all of the options and decisions that were discussed and on the table behind the scenes at the time when these two schools decided to leave. This action would have pulled back the curtain on the Big 12's darkest hour. Again, the conference and Beebe had zero interest in this kind of scenario. Advantage: Nebraska and Colorado.

Sure, it would have been interesting to know exactly what the heck happened this past June, but I'm sure there will be a book or two down the road, and someone will make some dough that way. But I can't blame anyone in these circumstances for keeping their own secrets.

At this point, it's all speculation about what would have happened in an arbitration or a courtroom setting, with just one certainty: A bunch of lawyers would have made A LOT of money. So we've avoided all that. And isn't that just fine?


Week 4

Central Florida at Kansas State -- 11:30 a.m. CT Saturday -- FSN -- This game is actually pretty good on paper. The Knights should give the 'Cats some trouble, even in Manhattan. We can expect a strong dose of Daniel Thomas because, well, that's what K-State does well. It'll be smash-mouth football on that side of the ball. But Central Florida is a lot like a Fresno State -- they're not afraid to travel anywhere to play anyone. Bill Snyder's boys had better be ready for this one.

Miami (Ohio) at Missouri -- 1 p.m. CT Saturday -- No TV (Doh!) -- Mizzou fans have every right to be ticked that this one's a radio-only broadcast, especially when New Mexico State at Kansas gets coverage on FCS. It's enough to make you want to start talking about the Big Ten ... again. The Tigers dodged a major bullet last week against San Diego State against an underrated nonconference opponent. Here ,again, is an underrated nonconference opponent. The Redhawks gave the Florida Gators all they wanted in the season opener. I doubt Gary Pinkel will let his squad overlook this team. It would be good to see a running back finally step up for Missouri before the conference slate kicks in against Colorado on Oct. 9. But last week's hero T.J. Moe is beginning to lok like a star.

UCLA at Texas -- 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday -- ABC -- Texas battles the Bruins after subduing Texas Tech in prime time last weekend with a less-than-stellar offensive performance. The Longhorns are still a hard one to figure out, but they still could be playing possum in this matchup with Oklahoma looming next weekend. Talent-wise, Texas should be able to deal with UCLA without sacrificing too much of Mack Brown's playbook. But Rick Neuheisel's bunch learned an important lesson last weekend against Houston: Knock out the quarterback and things get a lot easier. More than likely, Texas' offensive line received a reminder of this principle during practice this week.

Oklahoma at Cincinnati -- 5 p.m. CT Saturday -- ESPN2 -- At the beginning of the season, this was certainly a marquee matchup. But Cincinnati's early implosion ( a 1-2 record with losses to Fresno State and N.C. State) has already dulled the luster. It'll be harder for the Sooners to get caught looking ahead to Texas since this game is on the road at Paul Brown Stadium, home of the NFL's Bengals. But Oklahoma has definitely struggled in games in which it should have rolled. Bob Stoops' crew needs performance more like that against Florida State than Utah State or Air Force. Otherwise, the Sooners head to the Cotton Bowl with serious questions.

New Mexico State at Kansas -- 6 p.m. Saturday -- FCS -- Just what the doctor ordered for Turner Gill & Co. The Aggies are pretty bad. And Kansas needs to work on A LOT before opening its Big 12 schedule at Baylor next weekend. This is a confidence-builder if things go well -- as they should. If it turns into any kind of close game, the 2010 campaign looks incredibly long for the Jayhawks.

South Dakota State at Nebraska -- 6 p.m. Saturday -- FSN PPV -- Oh my. After throttling Washington last week, this is the Cornhuskers' reward. Anything less than a 40- or 50-point win could probably cost Nebraska a spot in the poll. Even if everyone plays, this shouldn't be a problem. Bonus point: where is South Dakota State located? If you said Brookings -- you either looked it up or you're a liar.

 Northern Iowa at Iowa State -- 6 p.m. Saturday -- No TV -- After losing two in a row, the Cyclones het another in-state rival, albeit from the FCS. Here again, Iowa State had better be prepared and focused, because the Panthers are simply not intimidated by their bigger bretheren -- see Iowa game last season. Things simply will not get any less difficult in Ames than this game -- Texas Tech, Utah, Oklahoma and Texas are the next four opponents for Paul Rhoads' team. Yowsa.

Baylor at Rice -- 7 p.m. CT Saturday -- CBS College Sports -- An absolute must-win for the Bears. After last weekend's destruction by TCU, Baylor has a chance to get back on track in pursuit of a bowl bid. Rice offers nothing particularly spectacular, but the Owls will fight hard for yards and for respect. This will be a good opportunity for Art Briles and Robert Griffin to prove that the Bears have moved forward with their program -- convincing both players and fans alike that Baylor is on the cusp of something unfamiliar: success.

Enjoy!

First Look -- Saturday, Sept. 18

The conference season kicks off with a pair of league games this Saturday -- Iowa State vs. Kansas State in Kansas City, and Texas visits Texas Tech. All other Big 12 teams are in action against nonconference foes for Week 3.

Each of the four teams participating in these early conference matchups will play a mid- or late-season nonconference game. This is the type of scheduling done in the SEC and, to a lesser extent, in the ACC. And it could be a sign of things to come as the Big 12 plans its future schedules as a 10-team conference.

For fans, it's a mixed bag. Sure, there's the appeal of high-intensity, meaningful league games in September, but the tradeoff comes later in the season, when it's Cupcake City in the midst of conference races -- for example, Weber State visits Texas Tech on Nov. 20, and Florida Atlantic plays Texas in Austin on the same day. K-State actually closes out its season a week later at ... North Texas?

For Big 12 programs, however, there are several appealing factors. With a nine-game conference slate, these mid-season nonconference games would provide a chance to rest key players between slugfests with traditional opponents. The games also offer a "guaranteed" win for homecoming, when alumni return to campus to re-live the glory days while opening their wallets for local businesses and the university. And for middle-of-the-road teams, a win can reinvigorate players and coaches in a final push for the all-important goal of bowl eligibility. (Do you think Kansas would have preferred to play one last season in the middle of its seven-game losing streak to end the year? Or Colorado as it dropped five of its last six?) The only way these conditions are met, however, is by ensuring that the nonconference opponents are of the no-threat variety. It certainly doesn't make for the best fan experience, but wins are wins, and you take what you can get -- at any point in the season.

It would be my guess that this is the future of Big 12 scheduling.

Week 3

Kansas at Southern Mississippi -- FRIDAY -- 7 p.m. CT on ESPN -- Both teams enter this matchup in Hattiesburg with 1-1 records. The Golden Eagles were trounced by a top 25 South Carolina team in the opener and then beat up an FCS opponent. Kansas did the exact opposite -- losing to an FCS team before downing Georgia Tech. So what to expect here? Who knows ... Nothing should be a surprise. Kansas' defense has been fairly consistent, though, and that could be what  puts the Jayhawks over the top.

Iowa State vs. Kansas State (in Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium) -- 11 a.m. CT on FSN -- If anything, FARMAGEDDON II should be entertaining, but it would be hard to top last year's drama. Iowa State trailed by seven late in the fourth quarter and scored a touchdown with 32 seconds left. But the Wildcats blocked the extra point for the 24-23 win. The Cyclones need this one to keep their bowl hopes alive. Yeah, it's only Week 3, but that's the reality in Ames.

Hawaii at Colorado -- 12:30 p.m. on FCS -- Colorado is once again on the brink. At this point in the past couple seasons, the Buffaloes have essentially collapsed. Head coach Dan Hawkins simply can't afford that, or last week's 52-7 debacle against California will prove to be his final game against a Pac-10 team.

Nebraska at Washington -- 2:30 p.m. CT on ABC/ESPN 2 -- The Cornhuskers make their first appearance on national TV and it's a good test. Washington QB Jake Locker is a bonafide NFL draft prospect and should move the ball, which even Western Kentucky and Idaho were able to do in Lincoln. Nebraska's redshirt-freshman quarterback Taylor Martinez must successfully step up his game -- and do so early. And while he's gotten away with running for miles in the first two games of the season, an ability to throw the ball accurately will be needed against the Huskies. And the Cornhuskers need to hold onto the ball -- they've fumbled 10 times so far, and lost five of them.

Air Force at Oklahoma -- 2:30 p.m. CT on FSN -- Always good to see the Big 12 in action against one of the service academies. If anything, these young men come to play -- and play hard. The Falcons run a triple-option offense that frustrated BYU last week, and their best athletes line up on defense. The Sooners need to avoid a letdown after last week's smothering of Florida State, or they could end up in a Utah State-like nail-biter.

Baylor at TCU -- 3:30 p.m. CT on Versus -- We'll know a lot more about the Bears after this game. Is this the same old Baylor, doomed to repeat the disappoints of the past? Or are there positive signs that can be built upon in later Big 12 play? Believe it or not, there's a lot of bad blood between these former Southwest Conference rivals. Many in the TCU camp feel their school should have been one the Big 12's inaugural members back in 1996, and that Baylor politicked its way in at the expense of the Horned Frogs. This is their third meeting since then, and Baylor is winless.

Tulsa at Oklahoma State -- 6 p.m. CT -- NO TV -- This matchup should single-handedly keep the scoreboard light bulb market afloat. And you won't see a down unless you're among the 60,000 in Boone Pickens Stadium. What a shame. This could very well come down to key plays on special teams or turnovers, since neither squad has shown a penchant for defense so far this season.

Florida International at Texas A&M -- 6 p.m. CT -- NO TV -- The Panthers actually put up a good fight against Rutgers last week in a 19-14 loss. But the Aggies should unleash another offensive onslaught as Jerrod Johnson & Co. head into a bye week.

San Diego State at Missouri -- 6 p.m. CT on FSN PPV -- Well, at least it's on TV! The Tigers and Aztecs enter at 2-0, and this game could end up being rather competitive. San Diego State QB Ryan Lindley was a 3,000-yard passer in 2009, and leading rusher Ronnie Hillman already has five touchdowns. Missouri is still trying to find a go-to running back, but it may end up being a committee position.

Texas at Texas Tech -- 7 p.m. CT on ABC -- What a nightcap! The Longhorns return to Lubbock for the first time since Harrell to Crabtree in the closing seconds ended Texas' national championship hopes in 2008. Tech head coach Tommy Tuberville gets his first taste of Big 12 conference play, and he's got the crowd on his side -- lucky guy. For Mack Brown and Texas, this game is a critical test of the offense's ability to move the ball in a hostile environment. And the defense must contend with a Tech offense stacked with returnees from last year's 34-24 Texas win in Austin. Is it payback time again?

If you've got a question or a contribution to the conversation, e-mail us at thebig12thisweek@gmail.com or jump in on the comments section of this post.

Have a great weekend!

First Look -- Saturday, Sept. 11

The Big 12 marched to an 11-1 mark in nonconference play over the opening weekend. But I'm sure there are a few uneasy fans out there -- and they're not all in Lawrence, Kan.

Oklahoma and Texas each had less than stellar openers against mid-major programs, and the Sooners have even more reason to worry with Florida State headed to Norman on Saturday afternoon. Missouri rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to dispatch the Illini, who looked surprisingly comfortable and confident behind redshirt-freshman quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase.  Texas Tech worked through some hiccups to hold off SMU on the strength of their defense and the energy-sapping sunshine of West Texas, while Iowa State put down Northern Illinois in a must-win situation against a 2009 bowl team. For the rest of the league it was tune-up time ... except, that is, for the Jayhawks ...

The Lone Loss
What to say about this one? An enigma? Not according to the North Dakota State faithful. The program has taken out FBS opponents like Minnesota and Central Michigan in recent years, so they knew it could be done. THEY are the ones building on success in this equation. That fact actually makes things worse for the Jayhawks, who failed to prepare for a team that clearly shows zero fear of any opponent and knows what it takes to win. A disappointment? Without question. Kansas can point to their defensive performance as a positive, but the complete embarrassment on the offensive side of the ball overshadows all. And a look at the rest of the upcoming schedule likely does little at this point to ease anyone's concern about the state of Kansas football. What happens next? Oh yeah, you play Georgia Tech this weekend. A lot will be determined about the KU program when it takes the field against the defending ACC champs Saturday. It's not a must-win situation by any means, but the Hawks must at least look like they could win the Missouri Valley -- which they did not last week.

On the Bright Side
We can count some KU fans among our readers -- and they know how to party. The folks over at Team Tailgate have clued us in. You can check them out here! This is the home of the Grilled Krispy Kreme, among other delicacies for each and every mealtime. And how about that minivan?

Some highlights from seasons past:

Yikes.

Tasty.

Delicious.


It's also important to recognize what can happen when you arrive early -- like, hours early -- you get a visit from Fox Sports' Samantha Steele:

I wonder if they realized this would be the high point of their gameday experience ... Well done, fellas.


WEEK 2

Lots on tap this weekend, both in the Big 12 and elsewhere, so here's something to help plan your weekend.

Georgie Tech @ Kansas -- 11 a.m. CT on Fox Sports Net -- On the surface, it's a much better choice than San Jose State at Wisconsin on ESPN, though Georgia at South Carolina on ESPN 2 should be programmed on your remote for a quick look-in.

Idaho @ Nebraska -- 11:30 a.m. CT on Fox Sports Net Pay-Per-View -- a final tune-up before the Huskers travel to Washington on Sept. 18.

McNeese State @ Missouri -- 6 p.m. CT on Fox Sports Net Pay-Per-View -- The Tigers deserve this one after playing a tough rivalry game in Week One.

Now for these two pay-per-view games, the $39.95 purchase price may not appeal to a lot fans. But it's certainly worth crunching the numbers a little further. Allow me to demonstrate:

   ( 4 buddies x $10 per buddy) + grill + cooler of beverages = SUCCESS

Florida State @ Oklahoma -- 2:30 p.m. CT on ABC or ESPN 2 Standard Definition -- Safe to say national championship aspirations are on the line here. As we've already seen with Boise State and Virginia Tech, the loser is out of the chase. Yeah, it's a little confusing in case you have HD. Just 8 percent of the country will NOT get this game on ABC, but if you tune in on the non-HD feed of ESPN 2 (or your standard ESPN 2 on basic cable), you can watch it.


Colorado @ California -- 2:30 p.m. CT on Fox Sports Net -- This is a future conference game for these two. The Buffs looked pretty good against Colorado State, and this step-up in competition should tell us even more.

Iowa State @ Iowa -- 2:30 p.m. CT on ABC or ESPN 2 -- Well for places like Kansas City, Omaha, the Twin Cities and the entire state of Wisconsin, this is your matchup in high definition. But that's not all bad, since it could be one of the better showdowns in this rivalry's recent past.

Wyoming @ Texas -- 6 p.m. CT on Fox Sports Net -- Man, tough game for the Wyoming Cowboys, who have dealt with tragedy this week after one player was killed and several others injured in a car crash early Monday. A tough spot for the Longhorns, as well. Texas has announced that they'll honor the Cowboys' lost teammate with a performance from the school's band during the game. It might seem a little trite to some, but I think it's a touching tribute from an opposing program that could have chosen the easier path of doing nothing.

Buffalo @ Baylor --6 p.m. CT on Fox College Sports -- This should actually be a pretty good matchup for the Bears, and an excellent gauge of Robert Griffin's progress.

Louisiana Tech @ Texas A&M -- 6 p.m. CT -- NO TV -- Doh! We'll see -- or, rather, read and hear -- whether the Aggies are able to duplicate their success against Stephen F. Austin last week. Jerrod Johnson is getting this team prepared for a difficult stretch that begins with a visit to Stillwater on Sept. 30 followed by a rematch with Arkansas in Cowboys Stadium on Oct. 9. Florida International is up next week.

Troy at Oklahoma State -- 6 p.m. CT -- NO TV -- Doh doh! -- The Cowboys were a scoring machine last week. I can't believe I'm saying it, but Troy should be more of a challenge than Washington State. But if Kendall Hunter and Justin Blackmon can combine for eight touchdowns again? No problem.

Missouri State at Kansas State -- 6 p.m. CT -- NO TV -- Come on Big 12 Network, where are you? Missouri State head coach Terry Allen has coached against the Wildcats seven previous times -- once at Northern Iowa, five at Kansas and once at Missouri State. He's won one of these games. Any guess? Go Panthers -- Sept. 16, 1989 -- Bill Snyder's first season in Manhattan. He's been pissed ever since.

Texas Tech at New Mexico -- 7 p.m. CT -- The Mtn. -- Nope, I don't get this one, either. Oh mercy, New Mexico. Oregon beat you 72-0 last weekend. I guess that more than anyone, the Lobos are happy Mike Leach is elsewhere.

Enjoy!

First Look -- Saturday, Sept. 4

A few thoughts on Saturday's early games:

Illinois vs. Missouri -- 11:30 a.m. CT on Fox Sports Net (oops -- a correction from our print version, which listed a 2:30 p.m. start time -- though fans on South Georgia Island can still tune in on time).

It will be interesting to see who steps up in the now-permanent absence of RB Derrick Washington, who has been dismissed for what amounts to an arrest -- neither a guilty plea nor a trial and conviction at this point, but a charge by prosecutors. Granted, it's a felony sexual assault charge, but Missouri has chosen to preemptively cut ties with its star running back rather than await the outcome of the legal process. It'll be worth watching to see if the school's crisis-management strategy was spot-on in the dismissal of Washington or if they moved too quickly. Suffice it to say, programs around the nation are also taking notes, though I'm sure there's more to the story than has appeared in the media.

Sophomore Kendial Lawrence and junior De'Vion Moore will both get carries, but don't be surprised if coach Gary Pinkel instead relies on QB Blaine Gabbert's arm early and often against a relatively weak Illini secondary. This is the final game in a four-game series that began in 2007, and the Tigers have averaged 43 points per game in the three prior matchups. Illinois played tough in the first two, but managed just one fourth-quarter touchdown in last year's 37-9 defeat.


Colorado State vs. Colorado (in Denver) -- 12 p.m. MT (1 p.m. CT) on The Mtn.

Nothing like an in-state rivalry game to start the season. It seems like Buffs' coach Dan Hawkins just can't catch a break, but this is without a doubt a must-win game for the guy. No intramurals here, brother. Junior QB Tyler Hansen gets the nod as starter, which is a welcome change from his habit of shredding redshirts midway through the past two seasons.


UCLA at Kansas State -- 2:30 CT on ABC

This game will be viewed by more than half of the nation, as you can see here. And it shapes up to be well worth the coverage. Pac-10 vs. Big 12. West Coast vs. Heartland. Urban vs. Rural. Gold vs. Silver. Sky Blue vs. Purple.

The Bruins managed to cage RB Daniel Thomas for the better part of last year's 23-9 victory in Pasadena, but can they repeat that performance in the Little Apple? UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel is no stranger to the Big 12, so he's likely to have his team prepared for the hostile environment that awaits them. One question for these Los Angelenos is the status of stellar PK Kai Forbath (last year's Lou Groza Award winner as the nation's best kicker), who is battling an injury somewhere below his waist -- either a groin or a knee depending on where you get your news. Either way, it doesn't help his primary role: kicking the football and scoring points.


Texas vs. Rice (in Houston's Reliant Stadium) -- 2:30 p.m. CT on ESPN

Lots of new names for the Longhorns' offense, led by sophomore QB Garrett Gilbert in his first start as Texas' signal-caller. By the end of the day, several stallions will emerge from the stable of talent that coach Mack Brown has assembled in Austin. But will they be one-game wonders or the kind of playmakers that Texas needs to repeat as conference champion? That answer will probably remain undetermined, since the Owls shouldn't present too much of a problem.

2010 season kicks off

Opening night!

Iowa State is the first Big 12 team in action as the Cyclones take on the Huskies of Northern Illinois out of the MAC -- 7 p.m. on Fox Sports Net.

This could actually be one of the more competitive games of the night. Northern Illinois is coming off back-to-back bowl game appearances, though they dropped both (South Florida in 2009, and Louisiana Tech in 2008). But this team has challenged some quality opponents -- a 7-point victory at Purdue last season, an 8-point loss at Wisconsin in the '09 season opener and a 4-point loss at Tennessee in 2008.

The Cyclones will be looking to Austen Arnaud and Alexander Robinson to assert themselves as premier players in the Big 12 -- difference-makers capable of winning the close games that get a program to the next level. And with Iowa State's tough schedule, they'll need to make some noise immediately.

Head coach Paul Rhoads has a giant hole to fill on defense with the departure of Jesse Smith, Iowa State's first-team All-Big 12 linebacker who led the league in tackles last year with 135 -- ranking 13th in the entire nation. The Iowa State two-deep depth chart now lists a junior, four sophomores and a true freshman at its three linebacker positions. Northern Illinois boasts a 1,000-yard rusher -- senior Chad Spann -- who will look to take advantage.

Other games of note tonight involving Big 12 opponents:

Southern Mississippi at South Carolina -- 6:30 CT ESPN
Kansas will travel to Hattiesburg on Sept. 17 to face the Golden Eagles.

Pittsburgh at Utah -- 7:30 CT on Versus
Utah visits Iowa State on Oct. 9.

Rhode Island at Buffalo -- 6 CT
Buffalo begins the post-Turner Gill era; they'll face Baylor next Saturday in Waco.


Interesting read here on the behind-the-scenes of Nebraska's decision to leave the Big 12.

And here's what it got them.