Projections: Big XII

The long awaited projections for the Big XII....

As has been the case in recent years, the balance of power in the Big XII Conference is in the South division. In the last six years, a team from the South has played in the BCS national championship game four times. In addition, Nebraska from the North has appeared there once.

It is really hard for me to be objective here, as I really, really like OU, and I really don't like Texas. I look for OU to move forward with quarterback Paul Thompson, thinking "Rhett who?". Texas will be good, as usual, but will sorely miss Vince Young, a once-in-a-lifetime talent. They have a problem in that they scheduled Ohio State this year. That's an "L" for them. Texas Tech will also be strong, and will beat the Longhorns in an ambush in Lubbock. Their talent level increases every year, and their worst luck is that OU and Texas are as good as they have ever been. The Red Raiders are knocking on the door.

North
Nebraska 9-3 6-2
Iowa State 7-5 4-4
Kansas 7-5 4-4
Missouri 6-6 3-5
Colorado 5-7 3-5
Kansas State 4-8 1-7

South
Oklahoma 11-1 7-1
Texas Tech 10-2 7-1
Texas 9-3 6-2
Texas A&M 7-5 3-5
Baylor 6-6 3-5
Oklahoma State 4-8 1-7

This year marks the return of the Nebraska Cornhuskers to the top of the Big XII North. They still won't be the caliber of their teams in the 90's, but they'll be good enough to win the North.

Where does the Oklahoma loss come? I really want them to go undefeated. But, I just don't see that happening. They'll lose somewhere they're not supposed to. I chose Kyle Field in College Station. This sets up an eerie parallel to 2002, the last season of R.C. Slocum in Aggieland. (Has R.C. been gone four years already?) As for the Aggies, they play two Louisiana schools (Tech and Lafayette), and two military schools (The Citadel and Army). Call it Cajuns and Corps. The Ags will struggle when they hit conference play, but will be able to get it together for one game against the Sooners at home. This will give them a winning record, and make them bowl eligible, but will it be enough to save Fran's job? Would they even want to go to the Texas Bowl in Houston?

Colorado has a schedule problem. They scheduled themselves out of a bowl, as they'll lose their home game with Arizona State, and between the hedges at Georgia. They're between a rock and a hard place, as it's hard for them to sell tickets for games against cupcakes when competing for entertainment dollars in the Denver metro area. They have to play decent teams to draw at the gate. Usually, they can hold their own, but they can't load up on lesser programs as other programs do in their non-conference schedule.

After 11 years, Oklahoma and Nebraska will finally meet in the Big XII championship game. Bill Callahan will drag the "hillbillies" comment back out, as he did on his last trip to Norman in 2004. Just as long as he doesn't call us "F'in" hillbillies again...