The Big 12 is undergoing a personality makeover.</p><p>No more point-a-minute offenses or 500-yard passing games, at least not on a regular basis. The conference is trending toward defense, especially up front as quarterbacks find themselves under constant pressure.</p><p>Take the Texas Tech-Kansas games of the past two seasons. Last year, the teams combined for four sacks. On Saturday, they combined for 11.</p><p>Nebraska tackle Jared Crick collected five by himself against Baylor.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve always believed better defenses begin up front,&rdquo; said Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops.</p><p>Quarterbacks are feeling the heat. In last season&rsquo;s seven-point loss at Texas, Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson didn&rsquo;t throw an interception. In Saturday&rsquo;s 27-point loss to the Longhorns, Robinson threw four picks, and two were returned for touchdowns.</p><p>The Big 12 is following a historical pattern: Creative offenses light up the scoreboard and defenses eventually catch up. Helping close the gap in 2009 is the league&rsquo;s quarterback turnover.</p><p>A total of 21 quarterbacks have started for Big 12 teams this season. A year ago, it was 15.</p><p>Texas Tech and Baylor have each used three starters. Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas State, Nebraska and Oklahoma have each used two.</p><p>A mixed bag of injuries and coaches&rsquo; decisions led to the moves. </p><p>Season-ending injuries to the Sooners&rsquo; Sam Bradford and the Bears&rsquo; Robert Griffin damaged the fortunes of those teams&rsquo; seasons.</p><p>Kansas State switched to Grant Gregory, and Colorado called on Tyler Hansen &mdash; changes intended to energize those offenses. </p><p>Even those programs without quarterback shuffling have had problems. Kansas coach Mark Mangino benched the most productive quarterback in school history, Todd Reesing, in the fourth quarter in Saturday&rsquo;s loss at Texas Tech.</p><p>A year ago, the Big 12 produced five of the nation&rsquo;s top 10 rated passers and 10 of the top 34.</p><p>This season, the highest-rated passer is Robinson at No. 20. The Longhorns&rsquo; Colt McCoy checks in at No. 25.</p><p>Last year, five quarterbacks tossed at least 32 touchdown passes. Only one, Texas A&M&rsquo;s Jerrod Johnson, is on a pace to throw that many this season.</p><p>Is the Big 12 better for the change? From a national attention standpoint &mdash; no. The league basked in the spotlight of those Saturday night ratings winners last season. But the postseason turned out to be a dud for the Big 12&rsquo;s highest flyers. Perhaps with more balanced offerings, the league will fare better in the bowl season.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Ranking the Big 12</span></strong></p><p><span style="line-height:0"><br clear="all" /></span><table border="0" class="story-table"> <tr class="story-table-even-row"><td><strong>Team</strong></td><td><strong>Next opponent</strong></td><td><strong>Comment</strong></td></tr> <tr class="story-table-odd-row"><td>1.Texas</td><td>Central Florida</td><td>Steaming toward title game</td></tr> <tr class="story-table-even-row"><td>2. Oklahoma</td><td>at Nebraska</td><td>Landry Jones settling in</td></tr> <tr class="story-table-odd-row"><td>3. Oklahoma State</td><td>at Iowa State</td><td>Pokes need bounce-back ability</td></tr> <tr class="story-table-even-row"><td>4. Texas Tech</td><td>open</td><td>Tough games remain</td></tr> <tr class="story-table-odd-row"><td>5. Kansas State</td><td>Kansas</td><td>Coach fired after this one last year</td></tr> <tr class="story-table-even-row"><td>6. Texas A&M</td><td>at Colorado</td><td>Two-game league winning streak</td></tr> <tr class="story-table-odd-row"><td>7. Nebraska</td><td>Oklahoma</td><td>Must find some offense</td></tr> <tr class="story-table-even-row"><td>8. Missouri</td><td>Baylor</td><td>Schedule favors a strong finish</td></tr> <tr class="story-table-odd-row"><td>9. Iowa State</td><td>Oklahoma State</td><td>Arnaud, Robinson should be back</td></tr> <tr class="story-table-even-row"><td>10. Kansas</td><td>at Kansas State</td><td>Hawks take division hopes to rival</td></tr> <tr class="story-table-odd-row"><td>11. Colorado</td><td>Texas A&M</td><td>Looking bleak for Buffs</td></tr> <tr class="story-table-even-row"><td>12. Baylor</td><td>at Missouri</td><td>Bears were up a Crick without paddle</td></tr> </table></p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Two storylines</span></strong></p><p>&bull;Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe is proposing to the NCAA that 6-6 teams be treated like any bowl-eligible team. Under current rules, teams with .500 records can receive a bowl bid only if the school&rsquo;s conference already has a deal with a bowl and all other teams with winning records have been invited to postseason games.