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.
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