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Posted on Mon, Nov. 09, 2009 11:02 PM
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Going for two: From BCS standpoint, a worst for Big 12

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It’s kind of/sort of official: Worst Big 12 football regular season in the BCS era.

The latest BCS standings included two from the Big 12, and that’s the second time this season so few found their way into the top 25 teams ranked by a combination of two polls and a computer average.

Before this season, there had been a total of 85 BCS standings since 1998, and only once did the Big 12 have a twosome week.

In the latest rankings, Texas is third and Oklahoma State is 19th. The next two would be Texas Tech at 30th and Nebraska at 31st.

Oh, and the six teams trying to qualify for postseason play with a victory last weekend went 1-5.

“It’s a crazy year,” Longhorns coach Mack Brown said.

The season started with five Big 12 teams ranked in the Associated Press preseason top 25. But injuries to players such as Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford and Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin and the season-long suspension of Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant contributed to altering the conference’s fortunes.

The only way to change the perception is with a solid postseason, and there could be a little symmetry here. The other year in which the Big 12 had a two-team week was 2005, the season in which Texas won the national championship.


Tube time

Saturday

•Texas at Baylor, 11 a.m., FSKC

•Missouri at Kansas State, 11:30 a.m., Versus

•Nebraska at Kansas, 2:30 p.m., ABC

•Texas A&M at Oklahoma, 6 p.m., FSKC

•Texas Tech at Oklahoma State, 7 p.m., ABC

Thursday, Nov. 19

•Colorado at Oklahoma State, 6:30 p.m., ESPN

Saturday, Nov. 21

•Oklahoma at Texas Tech, 11:30 a.m., or 2 p.m., FSKC

•Kansas at Texas, 2:30 or 7 p.m., ABC

•Kansas State at Nebraska, 6:45 p.m., ESPN or ESPN2

Thursday, Nov. 26

•Texas at Texas A&M, 7 p.m., ESPN

Friday, Nov. 27

•Nebraska at Colorado, 2:30 p.m., ABC

Saturday, Nov. 28

•Oklahoma State at Oklahoma, 11:30 a.m., FSKC

•Missouri vs. Kansas (Kansas City), 2:30 p.m., ABC

•Texas Tech vs. Baylor (Arlington), 5 p.m., FSKC

Saturday, Dec. 5

•Big 12 championship game, 7 p.m., ABC


Ranking the Big 12


Team (last week)OpponentComment
1. Texas (1)at BaylorMust continue to win impressively
2. Oklahoma St. (3)Texas TechRemains in Fiesta Bowl conversation
3. Texas Tech (4)At Oklahoma St.Tough finishing kick begins in Stillwater
4. Nebraska (7)at KansasBeating Sooners best victory in years
5. Oklahoma (2)Texas A&MOmnipresent OL Eldridge out with bum shoulder
6. Kansas State (5)MissouriLook here for Big 12 coach of the year
7. Colorado (11)at Iowa StateToughest team to figure
8. Texas A&M (6)At OklahomaSecond-toughest team to figure
9. Baylor (12)TexasBest victory (at MU) in years
10. Missouri (8)at Kansas St.Worst defeat (Baylor) in years
11. Kansas (10)NebraskaThe spiraling continues
12. Iowa State (9)ColoradoOutscored 69-18 last two weeks

Two quotes

•“We haven’t had any injuries that I’m aware of.”

| Texas Tech coach Mike Leach when asked about the possibility of quarterback Steven Sheffield returning to action this week. Leach doesn’t acknowledge injuries but said Sheffield is available for the tough task at Oklahoma State.

• “Guys got to taste the fruits of their labor.”

| Baylor coach Art Briles on the rewards of the Bears’ upset victory at Missouri.


Two questions

How much will it cost the Big 12 if it doesn’t land a BCS at-large team?

About $4.5 million. Shares to the six conferences with automatic qualifiers in the BCS are $18.3 million, and leagues that receive additional at-large selections, as the Big 12 has the last two years, get an additional $4.5 million.

With a few weeks left in the regular season, who are choices for offensive and defensive players of the year?

Got to go with Texas quarterback Colt McCoy and Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.

Posted on Mon, Nov. 09, 2009 11:02 PM
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