Big 12 still among the best
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More Season Preview featuring Terry Bowden:
Preseason Sweet 16 | Big Ten | More
The argument over which college football conference is the best in the country is always a fun one. Usually you hear the most from fans of the SEC and the Big Ten, but what about the Big 12?
Since 2000, a Big 12 team has played for a national championship five times, winning twice. Oklahoma won it all in 2000. Nebraska lost to Miami in 2001. The Sooners lost back-to-back title games to LSU and USC in 2003 and 2004, respectively. And Texas won it all last year. Fans of the other conferences point to the depth of their respective conferences, but you play for national championships and that's what the Big 12 has been doing since the turn of the century.
But this year may have fans of the Big 12 making the top-to-bottom argument because the conference race should be more open in both divisions than in years past due to the departure of Vince Young at Texas and the quarterback situation at Oklahoma, along with other teams just flat out getting better.
Here's how the divisions in the Big 12 look to me.
SOUTH DIVISION
 | 1. Texas Longhorns Team page | Schedule | Roster | SportingNews.com preview Ranked fourth in Terry's Preseason Sweet 16 The national champs look to repeat and certainly have the horses to do it. But who will lead them after Vince Young bolted for the NFL? Colt McCoy and Jevan Snead still will run the sprint-draw that Young perfected, but don't expect nearly the same production, especially out of the gate, at the quarterback position. The 'Horns will pound the ball on the ground due to the inexperience under center and the fact that the offensive line will be one of the best in the country. Texas gets a big test early as No. 1 Ohio State visits Austin. |
 | 2. Oklahoma Sooners Team page | Schedule | Roster | SportingNews.com preview Ranked eighth in Terry's Preseason Sweet 16 Now with a quarterback problem of its own, Oklahoma will rely even more heavily on running back Adrian Peterson, who is 1,086 yards shy of breaking Billy Sims' school career rushing record, to carry the offense. Bob Stoops' defense should be one of the best in the nation, led by outside linebacker Rufus Alexander and middle linebacker Zach Latimer. The Red River Shootout looms Oct. 7 as the Sooners look to get back on top of the Big 12. |
 | 3. Texas A&M Aggies Team page | Schedule | Roster If the 12th man is any factor, the Aggies should get off to a good start in '06 because its first five games are at Kyle Field, including the first four against one of the softest non-conference schedules in the country. The schedule gets tougher down the stretch as the Aggies end the year with Oklahoma and Nebraska and on the road at Texas. On offense, quarterback Stephen McGee replaces Reggie McNeil. On defense, Gary Darnell was brought in as the new coordinator to shore up the nation's worst pass defense. |
 | 4. Texas Tech Red Raiders Team page | Schedule | Roster | SportingNews.com preview The Red Raiders, not the St. Louis Rams, should be known as the “Greatest Show on Turf.” And not that it will matter, but Tech has switched its playing surface from AstroTurf to FieldTurf. Once again, Texas Tech will be among the best – if not the very best – in pass offense. But who will be throwing the ball all over the FieldTurf? Either Graham Harrell or Kentucky transfer Chris Todd. Tech's defense will have three new starters in the secondary and will try to keep too many games from being high-scoring shootouts, although that may be the norm this year. |
 | 5. Baylor Bears Team page | Schedule | Roster With the addition of new offensive coordinator Lee Hays, maybe Guy Morriss' Baylor Bears want the title of “Greatest Show on Turf.” Hays' offense at Division II West Texas A&M last year averaged 364 passing yards and 40 points per game. Quarterback Shawn Bell will benefit from the new style of offense if his line can become proficient at pass blocking. |
 | 6. Oklahoma State Cowboys Team page | Schedule | Roster Head coach Mike Gundy's very young team looks to perfect the no-huddle spread offense, but QB Bobby Reid needs to become more accurate as a passer for that to happen. The Cowboys have plenty of talent at the skill positions and hope to get those athletes the ball in the right spots. The back seven on defense is very green and it may be a long year while they learn the ropes. |
NORTH DIVISION
 | 1. Nebraska Cornhuskers Team page | Schedule | Roster | SportingNews.com preview Is this the breakout year for the West Coast offense in Lincoln under Bill Callahan? Yes, if quarterback Zac Taylor produces like he should and the Cornhuskers improve from the Big 12's worst running game last season at 96 yards per game. I-backs Cody Glenn, Marlon Lucky, Brandon Jackson and junior college transfer Kenny Wilson should see to that. |
 | 2. Iowa State Cyclones Team page | Schedule | Roster Ten of 11 starters return to an offense that should be one of the best in the conference. The running game struggled last year, averaging 111 yards per game, but running back Stevie Hicks is now 100-percent healthy and hopes to have more than the three 100-yard rushing games he had a year ago. Questions abound on a defense that allowed the fewest points in the North last year. Only tackle Brent Curvey, linebacker Adam Carper and cornerback DeAndre Jackson return as full-time starters for Dan McCarney, who is the dean of Big 12 coaches. |
 | 3. Colorado Buffaloes Team page | Schedule | Roster New head coach Dan Hawkins went 53-11 over five years at Boise State, and Colorado fans are anxious to see how his style translates to the Big 12. Quarterback Brian White likely will get the first chance to replace Joel Klatt, although Bernard Jackson and Cody Hawkins, the head coach's son, will push for time. The Buffs' schedule is brutal, especially on the road with games at Georgia, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. |
 | 4. Missouri Tigers Team page | Schedule | Roster Four-year starting quarterback Brad Smith has moved on, and now the Tigers will be in the hands of Chase Daniel, who led them to an overtime win over Iowa State last year when Smith went down with an injury. Even minus Smith, the Tigers should click on offense with a talented, but not deep, offensive line, two very good tight ends in Martin Rucker and Chase Coffman, and big, fast wide receivers. |
 | 5. Kansas Jayhawks Team page | Schedule | Roster Looking to go to back-to-back bowls for the first time in school history, the Jayhawks got good news from the schedule-makers as Texas A&M, Baylor and Oklahoma State replace Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech this year. With a very good offensive line, running back Jon Cornish will be a workhorse for Kansas, especially while freshman quarterback Kerry Meier gets his feet wet under center. By the way, Meier's brother, Dylan, is battling for time under center with in-state rival Kansas State. |
 | 6. Kansas State Wildcats Team page | Schedule | Roster Speaking of the Wildcats, Ron Prince takes over for Bill Snyder, who turned K-State into a national power before suffering back-to-back losing seasons and retiring. Prince was the offensive coordinator at Virginia and will open up the offense, especially in comparison to Snyder's great ground game. To enjoy success, though, the offensive line needs to step up for the Wildcats. |
