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Big 12 preview: Inside the North
PROJECTED RECORD >> 11-1, 7-1 2008 SCHEDULE
| Date | Opponent | Kerkhoff’s pick |
| Aug. 30 | vs. Illinois* | W |
| Sept. 6 | SOUTHEAST MO. | W |
| Sept. 13 | NEVADA | W |
| Sept. 20 | BUFFALO | W |
| Oct. 4 | at Nebraska | W |
| Oct. 11 | OKLAHOMA ST. | W |
| Oct. 18 | at Texas | L |
| Oct. 25 | COLORADO | W |
| Nov. 1 | at Baylor | W |
| Nov. 8 | KANSAS STATE | W |
| Nov. 15 | at Iowa State | W |
| Nov. 29 | vs. Kansas** | W |
2007 record: 12-2 overall, 7-1 Big 12 (T-1st, North)
They’ll win some if: The defense is as salty as it appears to be. Missouri’s offense is a given. The Tigers’ defense has given that offense fits throughout August. William Moore, Sean Weatherspoon and Ziggy Hood may be the best at their positions in the league, and Moore the best in the nation.
Or lose some if: Less than two weeks into August drills, wholesale changes were made on the starting offensive line. Kurtis Gregory going back to right guard is no cause for concern. But if Elvis Fisher (redshirt freshman) and Dan Hoch (true freshman) don’t get up to speed quickly at left tackle, quarterback Chase Daniel could be in peril.
Win one for The Gipper: Aaron O’Neal. This would be the final year of the former linebacker’s college career had he not died following a voluntary summer workout on July 12, 2005. His name is invoked at every practice and game. He still has a locker in the dressing room. And he’ll be recognized on Senior Day along with his former teammates.
Final analysis: Much is expected out of Missouri after last season’s breakthrough. It won’t be easy. The Tigers have to be good right away with a season-opener against Illinois in St. Louis. The Tigers need to take it one at a time and tune out the hype. All Missouri has to do is win at a place they haven’t since 1978 (Nebraska), win at Texas for the first time since 1896 (2-8 all-time against the Longhorns in Austin), beat Kansas again at Arrowhead Stadium (in front of a crowd dominated by black and gold) and then beat an Oklahoma team (if both make it to the league title game) against which Missouri is 1-18 since 1984. The first three will come to pass.
2 KANSAS
PROJECTED RECORD >> 8-4, 5-3 2008 SCHEDULE
| Date | Opponent | Kerkhoff’s pick |
| Aug. 30 | FLORIDA INT’L | W |
| Sept. 6 | LOUISIANA TECH | W |
| Sept. 12 | at South Florida | L |
| Sept. 20 | SAM HOUSTON | W |
| Oct. 4 | at Iowa State | W |
| Oct. 11 | COLORADO | W |
| Oct. 18 | at Oklahoma | L |
| Oct. 25 | TEXAS TECH | W |
| Nov. 1 | KANSAS STATE | W |
| Nov. 8 | at Nebraska | L |
| Nov. 15 | TEXAS | W |
| Nov. 29 | vs. Missouri* | L |
2007 record: 12-1 overall, 7-1 Big 12 (T-1st, North)
They’ll win some if: The young offensive tackles mature quickly. KU has the tools in quarterback Todd Reesing, running backs Jake Sharp and Jocques Crawford and wide receivers Dexton Fields, Dezmon Briscoe and Kerry Meier, among others, to keep the scoreboard lit up like in 2007, but Reesing needs time to deliver the ball.
Or lose some if: The Jayhawks don’t improve their pass rush. KU sacked quarterbacks just 26 times last season, and after losing second-team All-America defensive tackle James McClinton to graduation, it won’t get any easier. Without Aqib Talib at cornerback to police one side of the field, the Jayhawks won’t be able to get away with letting quarterbacks have all day.
Win one for The Gipper: Kerry Meier. The backup quarterback was the ultimate example of KU’s unselfishness last season, switching to wide receiver in the fourth game and becoming a reliable target for Reesing, his former competitor. Now, with a year under his belt at the position, Meier is poised to reap the benefits of his sacrifice.
Final analysis: Sure, the schedule is tougher. But there’s a very good chance that, top to bottom, KU will be more talented than last season. The Jayhawks will be competing for the Big 12 North title in November, and they’ll go to a bowl game in consecutive years for the first time in school history.
3 NEBRASKA
PROJECTED RECORD >> 7-5, 4-4 2008 SCHEDULE
| Date | Opponent | Kerkhoff’s pick |
| Aug. 30 | WESTERN MICH. | W |
| Sept. 6 | SAN JOSE ST. | W |
| Sept. 13 | NEW MEXICO ST. | W |
| Sept. 27 | VIRGINIA TECH | L |
| Oct. 4 | MISSOURI | L |
| Oct. 11 | at Texas Tech | L |
| Oct. 18 | at Iowa State | W |
| Oct. 25 | BAYLOR | W |
| Nov. 1 | at Oklahoma | L |
| Nov. 8 | KANSAS | W |
| Nov. 15 | at Kansas State | L |
| Nov. 28 | COLORADO | W |
They’ll win some if: The players maintain the enthusiasm brought by new coach Bo Pelini and staff. Also, quarterback Joe Ganz needs to be as effective as he was over the final three games last season.
Or lose some if: They don’t do something about the turnover margin. The Cornhuskers had 17 more giveaways than takeaways last season, and they’ve hired the right guy to stop that trend. Pelini was Nebraska’s defensive coordinator in 2003 when the Huskers led the nation in turnover margin.
Win one for The Gipper: Tom Osborne. The legendary coach returned as athletic director primarily to turn around football, but generally to restore good feelings to Nebraska’s athletic department. He’ll remain in the job for two years before moving on, and the Big Red Nation hopes football is on solid ground by then,
Final analysis: Only 11 starters return, and linebacker is a big question mark. The schedule allows Nebraska to get off to a nice start before Virginia Tech visits in the fourth game, and we’ll know much more about Nebraska when MU arrives a week later. The Huskers are at least a year away from competing for a division title.
4 COLORADO
PROJECTED RECORD >> 6-6, 4-4 2008 SCHEDULE
| Date | Opponent | Kerkhoff’s pick |
| Aug. 31 | vs. Colorado State* | W |
| Sept. 6 | E. WASHINGTON | W |
| Sept. 18 | WEST VIRGINIA | L |
| Sept. 27 | vs. Florida State** | L |
| Oct. 4 | TEXAS | W |
| Oct. 11 | at Kansas | L |
| Oct. 18 | KANSAS STATE | W |
| Oct. 25 | at Missouri | L |
| Nov. 1 | at Texas A&M | L |
| Nov. 8 | IOWA STATE | W |
| Nov. 15 | OKLAHOMA ST. | W |
| Nov. 28 | at Nebraska | L |
2007 record: 6-7 overall, 4-4 Big 12 (3rd, North)
They’ll win some if: The offense continues to develop with the coach’s son, Cody Hawkins, taking snaps. Hawkins wound up with decent numbers but threw too many interceptions (17). All eyes are on freshman running back Darrell Scott, one of the nation’s top recruits.
Or lose some if: Defensive tackle George Hypolite doesn’t become the unit’s leader. Linebacker Jordon Dizon played that role last year, and now it’s Hypolite’s turn to show Colorado the way. The schedule is typically rugged with a stretch against West Virginia, Florida State, Texas and Kansas.
Win one for The Gipper: Dan Hawkins. He left Boise State three years ago, just before the Broncos turned in a 13-0 season. He provided a wonderful sound bite: “It’s Division I football! It’s the Big 12? It ain’t intramurals!”
Final analysis: Colorado improved from two to six victories in Hawkins’ second year, but getting to seven or eight this year may be asking too much. To make a move, they have to win at Kansas or Missouri.
5 KANSAS STATE
PROJECTED RECORD >> 6-6, 3-5 2008 SCHEDULE
| Date | Opponent | Kerkhoff’s pick |
| Aug. 30 | NORTH TEXAS | W |
| Sept. 6 | MONTANA STATE | W |
| Sept. 17 | at Louisville | L |
| Sept. 27 | UL-LAFAYETTE | W |
| Oct. 4 | TEXAS TECH | W |
| Oct. 11 | at Texas A&M | L |
| Oct. 18 | at Colorado | L |
| Oct. 25 | OKLAHOMA | L |
| Nov. 1 | at Kansas | L |
| Nov. 8 | at Missouri | L |
| Nov. 15 | NEBRASKA | W |
| Nov. 22 | IOWA STATE | W |
They’ll win some if: The junior-college additions improve a mediocre defense, which finished 69th a year ago in total defense. And if Josh Freeman is finally ready to become the franchise quarterback he was recruited to be.
Or lose some if: It takes the junior-college additions roughly two-thirds of a season to make an impact, which lately seems to be the m.o. in Manhattan. And if the offensive line fails to open holes for whichever running back finally emerges.
Win one for The Gipper: Two-time All-Big 12 performer Ian Campbell will likely earn all-conference honors again as a senior. But the Cimarron, Kan., native would love nothing more than to go out with a victory in a bowl game.
Final analysis: Expect another up-and-down season for the Wildcats. Oh, they’ll win one you never saw coming — Texas Tech at home, perhaps — and they’ll be bowl-eligible after a year’s hiatus. But just barely.
6 IOWA STATE
PROJECTED RECORD >> 3-9, 1-7 2008 SCHEDULE
| Date | Opponent | Kerkhoff’s pick |
| Aug. 28 | S. DAKOTA ST. | W |
| Sept. 6 | KENT STATE | W |
| Sept. 13 | at Iowa | L |
| Sept. 20 | at UNLV | L |
| Oct. 4 | KANSAS | L |
| Oct. 11 | at Baylor | L |
| Oct. 18 | NEBRASKA | L |
| Oct. 25 | TEXAS A&M | W |
| Nov. 1 | at Oklahoma State | L |
| Nov. 8 | at Colorado | L |
| Nov. 15 | MISSOURI | L |
| Nov. 22 | at Kansas State | L |
They’ll win some if: They can pull off a couple of road opportunities at Baylor and Oklahoma State. South Dakota State and Kent State start the season off in Ames and give the Cyclones a chance to gain some confidence.
Or lose some if: Counting on late-season victories at home over Kansas State and Colorado could be dangerous if the momentum factor is counted too heavily.
Win one for The Gipper: Hayworth Hicks. The sophomore offensive tackle wanted to stay home in California to help his father avoid foreclosure on the family home, a result of a stabbing that left Hicks’ father unable to work. Dad made him leave for Iowa State. Hicks did, but his heart is at home. “I love football,” he told The (Ames) Tribune, “but I would give it up for my family in a second.”
Final analysis: It would be grand to win more than one for the Hickster. But it will take an upset (we think over Texas A&M) for even that to happen in Big 12 play. Things get worse for coach Gene Chizik before they get better.