First Look -- Week 9 (Saturday, Oct. 30)

A Look at the Conference

We've more or less reached the midway point of the conference slate, so here's a look at how things stand headed into the final Saturday in October. This weekend's game will set the storylines for November -- when division titles are won.

The Standings
                                    Big 12             All

NORTH DIVISION

Missouri                        3-0                 7-0

Nebraska                      2-1                 6-1

Kansas State                2-2                 5-2

Iowa State                     2-2                 4-4

Colorado                       0-3                 3-4

Kansas                          0-3                 2-5

SOUTH DIVISION

Baylor                           3-1                  6-2

Oklahoma                    2-1                  6-1

Oklahoma State          2-1                  6-1

Texas                            2-2                  4-3

Texas Tech                   2-3                  4-3

Texas A&M                  1-2                   4-3

Remaining Schedules

BAYLOR

Oct. 30            at Texas

Nov. 6             at Oklahoma State

Nov. 13           Texas A&M

Nov. 20           Oklahoma

For those who've questioned if Baylor is for real, the next few weeks will settle the issue. Two of these games -- Texas and Texas A&M -- appear winnable at this moment, which in itself is a surprising statement, and one that few people would have even contemplated just a few weeks ago. And how about this: Next week's game in Stillwater will feature two of the nation's top five offenses (Oklahoma State #3; Baylor #5).


COLORADO

Oct. 30            at Oklahoma

Nov. 6             at Kansas

Nov. 13           Iowa State

Nov. 20           Kansas State

Nov. 26           at Nebraska

The Buffaloes need to win three out of these final five games to become bowl eligible. Anything's possible, of course, but it's looking more and more likely that Colorado will limp out of the Big 12 for the Pac-12. And without a bowl, head coach Dan Hawkins probably will be cut loose. Several people have commented that Colorado lacks the cash to buy Hawkins out of his contract, which runs through the 2012 season. It would cost the school about $1.7 million to do just that. However, Colorado's penalty for leaving the Big 12 was significantly less than the initial figures tossed around: $6.84 million as opposed to $12-$15 million. My gut tells me Colorado finds the cash and starts the next chapter of it program's history with a new author.


IOWA STATE

Oct. 30           Kansas

Nov. 6             Nebraska

Nov. 13           at Colorado

Nov. 20           Missouri

The Cyclones are coming off one of the biggest upsets in program history -- rivaling last year's shocker in Lincoln -- and need two victories to reach back-to-back bowl in coach Paul Rhoads' first two seasons. Remarkable. And it could happen with the Jayhawks and Buffaloes on the docket. I said a couple weeks back that this was a dangerous team because  players everywhere on the roster and the depth chart were finding ways to contribute. That they continued to do so after losing to Utah and Oklahoma by a combined 120-27 (including a 52-0 shutout to OU) is a testament to their faith in Rhoads.


KANSAS
Oct. 30            at Iowa State

Nov. 6             Colorado

Nov. 13           at Nebraska

Nov. 20           Oklahoma State

Nov. 27           Missouri (Kansas City)

And who do the Cyclones play next? A team that -- from the look of things -- does not share that same faith. The Jayhawks are floundering in Turner Gill's first season. And things have not been looking up. Quite the opposite, in fact. If there are winnable games on the Jayhawks' remaining schedule, it's the next two. But it could just as easily be an 0-5 finish, which would run Kansas' conference record in the last two seasons to 1-15. Gill will get time to turn things around, and he deserves it. That's not to say there haven't been legitimate questions about play-calling and situational management -- there have been some head-scratchers. But that's true of any team and any coach. If anything, the talent on hand when Gill arrived has been exposed. Last year's team was 1-7 in the Big 12 -- and the one was lucky. And the best parts of that team have moved on -- from the offense most noticeably. In league play, KU's fortunes shouldn't have been much of a surprise.


KANSAS STATE

Oct. 30           Oklahoma State

Nov. 6             Texas

Nov. 13           at Missouri

Nov. 20           at Colorado

Nov. 27           at North Texas

The Wildcats are clawing their way through the toughest part of their schedule. It's gut-check time in Manhattan, but K-State appears to be headed to a bowl if it can stay healthy and remain competitive. The next three contests, particularly, will test a defense that has at times been solid and at others has been as leaky as a diaperless toddler. Still, Kansas State could surprise some people down the stretch.


MISSOURI

Oct. 30            at Nebraska

Nov. 6             at Texas Tech

Nov. 13           Kansas State

Nov. 20           at Iowa State

Nov. 27           vs. Kansas (Kansas City)

All the pressure is on the Tigers this week. But it's how Gary Pinkel's team responds after this weekend's showdown with Nebraska that will determine the real legacy of the 2010 season. Sure, the last four games are against opponents with combined records of 6-10 in the Big 12 and 15-14 overall. But two are true road games, and the final game is on a neutral site against Mizzou's archrival, where the records really don't matter. All appear winnable at first glance, but the Tigers have to keep the even-keeled approach that has brought them to this point.


NEBRASKA

Oct. 30            Missouri

Nov. 6             at Iowa State

Nov. 13           Kansas

Nov. 20           at Texas A&M

Nov. 26           Colorado

If Missouri's under pressure, Nebraska is carrying the weight of the Big Red world. The Cornhuskers bounced back from the loss to Texas just in time to face Missouri in what amounts to a Big 12 North title game, although four tests remain in November. Like Missouri, Nebraska cannot afford a slip-up in the latter part of its schedule -- certainly not if it prevails this Saturday. And like Missouri, the schedule appears favorable. But if the past few years should have taught the Huskers anything, it's to not take anything for granted.


OKLAHOMA

Oct. 30            Colorado

Nov. 6             at Texas A&M

Nov. 13           Texas Tech

Nov. 20           at Baylor

Nov. 27           Oklahoma State

Despite the loss to Missouri, the Sooners still control their own destiny in the South with four games remaining against South opponents. The final three contests, in particular, stand out as crucial tests. It will be interesting to watch how Bob Stoops' team responds against a set of upstart programs that appear ready to challenge the status quo of Sooner/Longhorn dominance. This could be a preview of future contenders for the new-look Big 12.


OKLAHOMA STATE

Oct. 30            at Kansas State

Nov. 6             Baylor

Nov. 13           at Texas

Nov. 20           at Kansas

Nov. 27           Oklahoma

Things don't get any easier for the Cowboys. Like the other two one-loss teams in the South, the Pokes control their own destiny with the school's final chance at a Big 12 Championship Game berth on the line. Yeah, Oklahoma State fell to Nebraska, but they put up plenty of points against a very good defense. That they lost should serve as a challenge to their underachieving defense. It's at this point that the Cowboys can be like past Mike Gundy teams and fade in November, or once again this season smash expectations. Other than Baylor, this team has been the most surprising in the entire conference so far in 2010.


TEXAS

Oct. 30            Baylor

Nov. 6             at Kansas State

Nov. 13           Oklahoma State

Nov. 20           Florida Atlantic

Nov. 25           Texas A&M

After the Nebraska game, it appeared the Longhorns were somewhat back to form. The Iowa State loss undermined any of the accolades earned in Lincoln. What will this team do? I have no idea, do you? Like Ivan Drago in "Rocky IV," Texas has been cut and now appears very, very human. Four of the last five games are at home, where Texas Fight has gone 0-2 in its last two outings. This weekend is huge for the Burnt Orange.


TEXAS A&M

Oct. 30            Texas Tech

Nov. 6             Oklahoma

Nov. 13           at Baylor

Nov. 20           Nebraska

Nov. 25           at Texas

If there's a tougher schedule with five games to go, I'd like to see it. The Aggies were my surprise pick in the South. They've surprised me all right. Now there's every indication that head coach Mike Sherman plans to use a two-QB attack. At this point in the season, that has a look of desperation -- unless, of course, it works. It did against Kansas. But that's far from an airtight case. Sherman's seat is starting to get warm. My guess is that he's hoping positive signs from junior QB Ryan Tannehill keep his job secure as disappointment in the 2010 campaign mounts.


TEXAS TECH

Oct. 30            at Texas A&M

Nov. 6             Missouri

Nov. 13           at Oklahoma

Nov. 20           Weber State

Nov. 27           Houston

Thanks to some nifty scheduling, the Red Raiders appear capable of clinching bowl eligibility late in the season. It's hard to figure this team out. A loss to Iowa State and wins over Baylor and Colorado by a combined 10 points leave serious doubts about the way coach Tommy Tuberville has managed the most successful team in Big 12 history (Tech is the only Big 12 school to have a winning record in every season of the conference's existence). But those doubts have existed since he was hired -- especially in the minds of the Red Raider faithful. While they're used to seeing wide-open offenses and a rapid pace, Tuberville's mindset entails a more balanced attack. Once his system has taken hold and his players are in place we'll know more. But maintaining the winning culture in Lubbock is paramount for Tuberville's survival.


Week 9

Oklahoma State at Kansas State -- 11 a.m. CT Saturday on FSN -- The Cowboys will be without star WR Justin Blackmon, and the impact of his absence will be the game's biggest storyline. It must seem like deja vu for the Cowboys after last season's debacle with Dez Bryant. This might not be the only game Blackmon misses -- as there are still more questions the Big 12 and NCAA would like answered about the circumstances of Blackmon's troubles. The concern isn't so much about his driving infraction as about what he was doing out at 3:45 a.m., who he was with, and what he'd been doing prior to being pulled over. K-State could use a win here, and their offense has shown some spark in its last two games against Kansas and Baylor. If the Wildcats can transfer some of that aggression to the defense, they could put the Pokes in a tough spot.


Kansas at Iowa State -- 1 p.m. CT Saturday on the radio -- Iowa State missed a wide-open scoring opportunity late in the game last year in Lawrence, which gave the Jayhawks their lone conference win. This matchup has payback written all over it. Not to mention, Kansas enters the game with its third-string quarterback under center after injuries to starter Jordan Webb and backup Kale Pick. Iowa State is riding high after last week's upset of the Longhorns. Like many teams after a big win -- um, Texas -- the Cyclones must stay focused and execute to avoid a devastating letdown.


Texas Tech at Texas A&M -- 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday on the radio -- Tech and A&M. Though both are longshots at this point, the loser of this game is finished in the Big 12 South race, and the Aggies could be staring another losing season in the face. With that much on the line, it's a shame that only radio listeners and Internet box-score watchers will be able to share in the excitement.


Missouri at Nebraska -- 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday on ABC -- Another week, another potential classic. Last season the Cornhuskers erupted for 27 unanswered points in the fourth quarter en route to a 27-12 triumph in early October. Now comes a late-October showdown for the North lead and the driver's seat to the Big 12 Championship Game. The Tigers will need to turn it on once more -- as champions must. The balance of power in the Big 12 appears to have shifted northward -- at least for the moment. This game appears every bit as important as Oklahoma-Texas ... or as Missouri-Oklahoma did last weekend. Any more dropped touchdowns, and Nebraska risks dropping out of contention.


Baylor at Texas -- 6 p.m. CT Saturday on FSN -- Baylor hasn't beat Texas since 1997. And it hasn't beat Texas in Austin since 1991. But there are a lot of things that Baylor hasn't done in a long time that it's doing this year. A win here confirms the Bears' legitimacy, plain and simple. And it sets them up for even greater things down the road. But a loss would indicate a team that may have peaked too early. If coach Art Briles sold his team on bowl eligibility, Baylor's run may be near its end. If he preached championship, things have just begun.


Colorado at Oklahoma -- 8:15 p.m. CT Saturday on ESPN2 -- If Oklahoma is looking to get back on the right track, it has to be wary of a team that has absolutely nothing to lose. Cody Hawkins returns as the Buffaloes' starting quarterback after a season-ending injury to Tyler Hansen. Hawkins will put the ball in the air, but not always with accuracy. Colorado's fortunes lie with RB Rodney Stewart. If he can find space, it opens up many possibilities for the Buffs. If not, Hawkins will be forced to put it up. The Sooners' quickness on both sides of the ball should produce better results here than it did in Columbia.


Whew ... enjoy!

First Look -- Week 8 (Saturday, Oct. 23)

The BCS Rankings

Whatever your opinion of the BCS (pause for reflection and/or grumbling), it's the system that exists -- and we're stuck with it for at least this season. There are loads of arguments against it, but we won't get into any of that here ... not at this point, anyway. For the time being, we'll deal with reality and choose to enjoy what I believe is the most exciting period in all of sports -- the college football regular season. However, the endgame remains the same for each and every team: a spot in the BCS. That's the payoff for all the offseason conditioning, the preseason training, the anticipation leading up to gameday and, finally, the weekly clashes on the gridiron. If you make it to the BCS, you've arrived among the elite -- oh, and the ACC and Big East champs will be there as well.
The Big 12 stacks up like this in the first BCS standings released Sunday:
1. Oklahoma
11. Missouri
14. Oklahoma State
16. Nebraska
19. Texas
22. Kansas State

So six teams. Not too shabby. Only the SEC has as many in this first poll, which you can view in its entirety here. Now what does it mean? Very little at this point. The calculations involved in this thing -- with two human polls and six computer rankings -- are so complex, that only Rainman and a select group of MIT and NASA scientists would be able to follow the math.

The Sooners, obviously, are sitting pretty. It's a little early to say they control their own destiny ... but they control their own destiny. For Oklahoma, keep winning and you're playing for a national championship. Of course, every opponent is now gunning for you, yet I'd wager most college football fans -- in the back of their minds and in the comfort of their own living rooms -- are glad that it's you and not Ohio State.

How about the other Big 12 teams. Well, this is purely speculation at this point, but Missouri and Oklahoma State also would fare well if their undefeated seasons were to continue. Both teams started the season unranked and  are now in the top 15 after just two conference games apiece. The kicker? They don't play each other in the regular season -- and would face each other in the Big 12 Championship. Ahhh, to dream. Now back to reality ...

Week 8

Iowa State at Texas -- 11 a.m. CT Saturday on FSN -- Speaking of dreaming ... the Cyclones are 0-7 all-time against the Longhorns, including all six meetings as members of the Big 12. Iowa State could start the upset by scoring points, which they failed to do at all in last week's 52-0 loss to Oklahoma. Texas essentially saved its season in Lincoln last week, but it wasn't because they looked particularly unbeatable.

Texas Tech at Colorado -- 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday on the radio -- If you don't mind listening to intermittent AM radio, tune it to 850 and see if you can pick up KOA. They've got a strong signal out of Denver. Last weekend I was able to listen in to the final plays of Baylor's win in Boulder while sitting on my couch, beer in hand -- and I'm 600 miles away. Again, this should be an interesting matchup. Tommy Tuberville called 38 rushing plays for the Red Raiders last week in the loss to Oklahoma State -- and Tech trailed the whole game. I wonder how they liked that little glimpse of the future in Lubbock.

Nebraska at Oklahoma State -- 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday on ABC -- The Cornhuskers travel to Stillwater knowing it could have been them in the No. 1 spot in the BCS. How will they react? Taylor Martinez will return as the starting QB, and its doubtful things could go more wrong for the freshman than they did against Texas. Oklahoma State, on the other hand is facing their toughest test so far. The Pokes' spread attack will square off against the nation's leading pass defense, which allows 117.0 yards passing per game. That number will probably go up Saturday, but by how much? Nebraska has Missouri next week, but this is no time to look ahead, especially when the Cowboys have taken three out of the last four, including the previous two games in Stillwater.

Kansas State at Baylor -- 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday on your radio -- Fire up the grill on the driveway, wheel the cooler into the garage and turn up your boombox for this one. Baylor is one win away from bowl eligibility, and is facing its final Big 12 North opponent after knocking off both Kansas and Colorado. K-State bounced back from a loss to Nebraska by demolishing Kansas. This game will come down to who can stop the other team's stud -- the Bears' Robert Griffin and the Wildcats' Daniel Thomas.

Texas A&M at Kansas -- 6 p.m. CT Saturday on FSN -- It's homecoming in Lawrence, and the Jayhawks will need all the support they can get from a fanbase on edge after an 0-2 start in league play. Last week's embarrassing 59-7 loss to Kansas State rattled the Hawks, who are now looking at the remaining schedule in a desperate search for a winnable game. This could be about as good as it gets. As the season has worn on, that win against Georgia Tech in Week 2 has looked less like a signature victory and more like a fluke -- which is too bad, since it was one of the better nonconference victories for the Big 12. The Aggies have also dropped both of their conference matchups so far, and got a late touchdown in last week's 30-9 loss to Missouri to make it look a little better. Jerrod Johnson has passed for at least one touchdown in 24 straight games -- the longest current streak in the nation.

Oklahoma at Missouri -- 7 p.m. CT Saturday on ABC -- The nightcap, and it's a good one -- at least on paper and ESPN"s Gameday. These two undefeated teams will square off in a game that has exploded into national prominence.  The real question is this: Can the Tigers shake off a seven-game losing streak to the Sooners when it matters most? Six of those losses have come under head coach Gary Pinkel. Oklahoma is loaded with talent on both sides of the ball. Missouri has enough playmakers to make some noise, but the onus will be on Pinkel to have his team motivated to a level they have rarely reached. If he does, his defense could make things as tough for the Sooners' offensive triumvirate of QB Landry Jones, RB DeMarco Murray and WR Ryan Broyles as they did against Colorado and A&M -- teams Missouri beat by a combined score of 56-9. On the other side of the ball, Mizzou's offensive line will have to play its best game of the season and give Gabbert space to operate. The defenses are remarkably similar in a few noteworthy categories: Missouri leads the Big 12 in sacks (20) and Oklahoma is second (18); Oklahoma leads in tackles for loss (50) and Missouri is third (48); the Sooners are tops in turnover margin (+9) and the Tigers are third (+5).

One more thing to watch this weekend: This is the only week of the season when every team in the Big 12 meets an opponent from the other division -- the South hosts three, and the North hosts three. As of last weekend, the Big 12 South holds a 149-109 edge over the North.

First Look -- Week 7 (Saturday, Oct. 16)

Note to readers: So, yes, I know this post is a little late. I fully intended to write last night, but watching the thumping Kansas State put on Kansas in the Sunflower Showdown made me sleepy ... and sad.

Shaking Things Up

A couple weeks ago, I commented that it looked like an uphill battle for any Big 12 contender to reach the BCS National Championship Game without a lot of help. Well, last week, some of that help was delivered with South Carolina's upset of top-ranked Alabama. But have things changed for the Big 12 teams? Yes, they have. Quickly.

You can argue that Ohio State was the biggest beneficiary of the Tide's ouster from the No. 1 spot -- after all, the Buckeyes are the new No. 1 (at least, in the human polls they are). But I think it is Nebraska that benefited most from Alabama's defeat.

The Cornhuskers parlayed last Thursday's 48-13 victory over Kansas State on national television into a rapid ascension in the human polls. Nebraska vaulted TWO spots in both the AP and Coaches polls. In the AP, the Huskers vaulted Oklahoma to move from No. 7 to No. 5, and they vaulted TCU in the Coaches to move from No. 6 to No. 4 -- and even garnered a pair of No. 1 votes.

What does this tell us? That voters -- both in the media and among the coaches -- are watching Nebraska's season play out. We've already seen a reluctance on the part of some voters to move either Boise State or TCU into that No. 2 position. The human element still clearly favors the traditional BCS powerhouse conferences. Is that fair? Absolutely not, but it is reality. And it's Nebraska that now has the attention of the voters, not the front-runners from the WAC and the Mountain West. And, oh yeah, Nebraska just happens to play the biggest grudge match of the past 10 years tomorrow against the Longhorns in Lincoln. Wonder if the voters will be watching that ...

Oklahoma's not in a bad spot, either, even after getting jumped in the polls. The Sooners' schedule is an impressive one, and with Florida State and Air Force continuing to surge, those wins will be remembered far longer. Oklahoma and Nebraska are best friends now, each pulling for the other to continue on in the ranks of the unbeaten. That sets up an undefeated winner of the Big 12 championship making a strong argument for the BCS title.

What about the rest of the contenders? Well, I've talked about Boise and TCU in weeks past. There's still a lot of football left -- and the first BCS poll is due out Sunday. Only two undefeated SEC teams remain -- LSU and Auburn. I still think one of them goes to the BCS championship if it wins out -- there's just no way you leave a team out who has emerged unscathed from that gauntlet.

Back home in the Big 12, there are 42 games left to be played by Big 12 teams, and only four of those games involve a nonconference opponent. For the next six weeks, every Big 12 team will be in action without any byes. This is the stretch run. Enjoy!

Week 7

Kansas State  59     Kansas  7  -- Yep, that's what put me to sleep. The Jayhawks are firmly entrenched in the cellar of the Big 12. Even the 33 Chilean miners pity Kansas for the hole this team is trapped in. It's possible -- likely, even -- that they don't win another game this year. But at least be competitive ...  Thursday's loss was even more disturbing because it sure looked like that team in crimson and blue did not want to be there.


Missouri at Texas A&M -- 11 a.m. CT on FSN -- A BIG game for the Tigers. Missouri's won three out of four in this series, but is only 1-4 all-time in College Station. If the Aggies continue their turnover-plagued ways, it could cost them with a third-straight loss. But Missouri is a little banged up. Blaine Gabbert was roughed up against Colorado and DE Aldon Smith is still sidelined with injury. Expect A&M to play tough at Kyle Field -- they always do.

Texas at Nebraska -- 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday on ABC -- The Huskers have been waiting for this game since Texas kicker Hunter Lawrence slipped the game-winner through the uprights after one second was placed back on the clock to allow for the kick -- or because Colt McCoy's pass hit out of bounds with a second remaining on the previous play (whichever argument you prefer). Nebraska's definitely riding the momentum into this showdown, but they need to be careful. Texas is still Texas, which mean athletes, quickness and sound technique. Add to that the fact that Texas has never lost in Lincoln, and the Big Red should not chalk this one up until the final gun sounds.

Baylor at Colorado -- 6 p.m. CT Saturday on FCS -- Baylor is coming off a narrow loss to Tech, while the Buffaloes were shut out in Columbia by Mizzou. This is one of Baylor's must-wins if the Bears hope to go bowl-ing.

Iowa State at Oklahoma -- 6 p.m. CT Saturday on FSN -- Ouch, Cyclones. First a 68-27 beatdown by Utah, then a trip to Norman? Maybe there will be another earthquake -- under the Sooners' pre-game training table. But, hey, Oklahoma needs to start putting teams away in the fourth quarter, instead of letting them claw back to within striking distance. If not, some of those other SEC teams will be moving up at the Sooners' expense.

Oklahoma State at Tech -- 6 p.m. CT Saturday on your radio if you live in West Texas or Eastern Oklahoma -- How in the name of Dan Beebe is this game not on TV? Somewhere? Cripes, put it on PBS -- but put it on! The home team has won the last eight in the series, and four out of the last five have been decided by a touchdown or less. Watch the crawl on ESPN for updates throughout the night.

First Look -- Week 6 (Thursday, Oct. 7 & Saturday, Oct. 9)

Turned Upside-Down

Last week signaled the true start of the conference slate, though two games had already been played between league opponents. This coming weekend is actually rather light on head-to-head Big 12 action with just three matchups -- the other three are nonconference meetings. But with both Baylor and Iowa State back in action, we'll know more about the teams who pulled off two of the more surprising wins so far this season.

But we do know a couple of things already: 1) Parity has arrived in the Big 12; and 2) No one is safe, (which, I guess, is the definition of parity).

Iowa State 52  Texas Tech 38
Really? I mean, really? That's right. Not only did the Cyclones beat the Red Raiders, they did it twice! After building a 24-0 lead, Paul Rhoads' bunch gave it all back. The two teams then battled through the entirety of the fourth quarter, scoring 42 total points. So, what to make of it? Obviously, Tech and Tommy Tuberville underestimated their opponent, and failed to get up for the game out of the gate. Hard to fathom off a bye week, especially since this was the place from which Tuberville's Auburn replacement had come. More important, Rhoads WORKED for Tuberville at Auburn as his defensive coordinator in 2008 -- Tuberville's last season on the Plains -- a 5-7 campaign in which the defense withered as the fall wore on. How do you not have your squad ready to pound the guy who arguably cost you your dream job? Credit to the Red Raiders for making a game of it, and creating the opportunities that could have led to a road win.

But Iowa State overcame that and much more. The week before, Iowa State returned a pair of interceptions for touchdowns. Last Saturday, when Tech had pulled within 7 with less than two minutes remaining, Iowa State DB Jeremy Reeves recovered the onside-kick attempt and returned it 42 yards for the game's final points. Those kinds of things -- defensive and special teams touchdowns -- are a sign of maximum effort from a team, and the hallmark of a dangerous opponent. It's doubtful that anyone overlooks the Cyclones again this season.

Baylor 55  Kansas 7
Another case of a perennial cellar-dweller catching a break on a lucky day? Not quite. It would be one thing if the Bears had beaten the Jayhawks in a close game, but this was a rump-kicking. Baylor led 27-7 at the half, and 48-7 after three quarters. Bears QB Robert Griffin is an absolute freak on the football field, and as strange as it may seem, this may have been the game that put him on the radar of most people. Baylor may be the most dangerous team in the conference, and it is purely because of Griffin at this point. He even makes the Bears' defense play better by association.

Watching this Baylor win definitely felt different than the Cyclones' thriller. There was simply no let up by Art Briles' crew. Granted, Kansas once again demonstrated its inconsistency, frustratingly so. But Baylor was dominant throughout. It was  a team-wide epiphany in Waco: "Not only can we play with these guys, we're BETTER than them!" That kind of mentality could make for an interesting (and historic) stretch run for the Bears.


Week 6

Nebraska at Kansas State -- 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN -- Here we go! The 'Cats and Cornhuskers square off for the final time in the foreseeable future. Nebraska's last outing on Sept. 25 against South Dakota State was an abysmal effort offensively (as indicated by the 17-3 score) -- the exact opposite of its pummeling of Washington. Which Big Red team will show up Thursday? Kansas State showed some spark against Central Florida when it turned to QB Carson Coffman after standout RB Daniel Thomas had been held in check for the most part. That was a much-needed confidence boost for Bill Snyder's team. We'll see how it carries over as both teams are coming off a bye week. The frenzied crowd in Manhattan will be tough to deal with unless they can be taken out of the game with big plays.

Oklahoma State at Louisiana-Lafayette -- 8 p.m. CT Friday on ESPN 2 -- The Cowboys are coming off a huge win last Thursday over Texas A&M. Time for a letdown? I wouldn't bet on it. Oklahoma State's new offense is built to score. The Ragin' Cajuns have been fortunate in their two wins so far. The Pokes' last true road game in Sun Belt territory was a 23-41 loss to Troy in 2007, which nearly derailed Mike Gundy's tenure in Stillwater. It's unlikely he lets his team repeat that mistake.

Baylor vs, Texas Tech -- 11 a.m. CT Saturday in the Cotton Bowl on FSN -- One of the Big 12 less-heralded rivalries, this matchup recently has been a good one, despite the fact that Tech has won the past 14, and now leads the overall series 35-32-1. The last two meetings have been 7-point wins for the Red Raiders. Could this be the turning point for Baylor? Whatever the outcome, these two are now bona fide rivals. The Big 12's new schedule released last week ensures that the Bears and Red Raiders will meet to close out the conference season every year.

Texas A&M vs. Arkansas -- 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday in Cowboys Stadium on ABC -- The Jerry Dome hosts the second edition of this renewed inter-conference rivalry dubbed "The Southwest Classic." Last season, Ryan Mallett and the Razorbacks demolished the Aggies 47-19. If A&M QB Jerrod Johnson turns it over five times like he did against Oklahoma State, it may be worse. But Arkansas is a heartbroken team after the loss against Alabama on Sept. 25 -- a game it should have had. If A&M can limit the mistakes and force Mallett into poor decisions like the ones he made late against the Crimson Tide, the Aggies could right their ship in a hurry.

Utah at Iowa State -- 6 p.m. CT Saturday on FCS -- Ummm ... who scheduled this one? The Cyclones get a big win against Texas Tech, only their second in the entire nine-game series and first since 2002 -- and this the reward? Ouch. As I said earlier, it's doubtful anyone overlooks Iowa State at this point, but maybe they don't get Fox College Sports in Salt Lake City. Note to future schedulers in Ames: Playing an out-of-conference Top 10 opponent in October can be difficult ... and unwise.

Colorado at Missouri -- 6 p.m. CT Saturday on FSN -- A great game to close down the Big 12 weekend. Missouri's won all four against Dan Hawkins. The Tigers have also taken the last three in Columbia. Colorado, though, showed some grit against Georgia. As I said last week, a win was imperative for Hawkins' survival , and he came through. Though I wouldn't put this game in the same category, a win would definitely help his case for remaining the head coach in Boulder after this season. This is a key game for Colorado QB Tyler Hansen. All eyes are now on him as the Buffs look for a leader capable of turning things around. While Missouri continues looking for answers in the running game, a new trio of offensive playmakers has emerged for Mizzou: QB Blaine Gabbert, WR T.J. Moe and TE Michael Egnew. Moe (9.25) and Egnew (8.25) each rank in the top 10 nationally in receptions per game.

Enjoy!