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
SOUTH DIVISION
Baylor 3-1 6-2
Remaining Schedules
BAYLOR
Oct. 30 at Texas
Nov. 6 at Oklahoma State
Nov. 13 Texas
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
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
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
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
Nov. 13 Texas
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
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
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
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!
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