Defense: Who needs it?
Oklahoma avoided giving up 30 points in a fourth straight game for the first time in school history in its 62-28 victory over Nebraska. Then again, when you’re scoring at a league-leading 49.8 points-a-game clip, who’s counting?
Bad blow for Buffs
When it rains it pours. Sagging Colorado’s hopes of a strong finish suffered a blow when freshman Rodney Stewart, the Buffs’ leading rusher, suffered a broken leg after a horse-collar tackle by Texas A&M’s Von Miller.
Baylor bowl unlikely
Baylor seems likely to remain the only Big 12 team without a bowl appearance since the league’s inception in 1996. The Bears would have to win their last three games to become bowl eligible and two of those three are road trips to Texas and Texas Tech.
Griffin streak ends
Baylor freshman quarterback Robert Griffin’s streak of passes without an interception ended at 209 when Missouri’s Brock Christopher picked him off in the waning seconds of the 31-28 loss to the Tigers. Griffin was just four passes short of Todd Reesing’s record in a season with 213 attempts without a theft.
Kickoff return woes
Oklahoma State is averaging more yards on its punt returns (19.5) than Kansas is on its kickoff returns (15.2). KU continues to rank last among the nation’s 119 Bowl Championship schools in returning kickoffs.
Tech shrugs flags
Just how significant are penalties in football? Texas Tech, for example, has surrendered more penalty yards – about 70 per game – than any other conference school, yet the Red Raiders are also the Big 12’s lone unbeaten team and the No. 2 team in the nation.
Peas in a pod?
On paper, Nebraska’s Joe Ganz and KU’s Todd Reesing are the same quarterback. Ganz has completed 68.6 percent of his passes and thrown eight touchdowns.
Reesing has completed 68.4 percent and tossed nine TDs. On the QB efficiency chart, Ganz rates 152.2 and Reesing 150.3.
Dez sez score
Rarely does a wide receiver lead the league in scoring – it’s usually a running back – but Oklahoma State’s Dez Bryant has already caught 17 TD passes good for a league-high 102 points.
Say it isn’t so, Joe
He was a first-team All-Big 12 linebacker last season after leading Kansas in tackles with 108 in 13 games, but Joe Mortensen is having a so-so senior year so far with about half as many stops (55) in the Jayhawks’ first nine games.
Big South tie?
What if Texas, Oklahoma and Texas Tech wind up in a three-way tie for the Big 12 South title? It’s a possibility, and if all the tie-breaker procedures cancel out, the South champ would be determined by the highest ranking in the BCS standings.
Stop the masses
Texas coach Mack Brown, noting that Texas Tech fans swarmed the field twice late in Saturday’s game, said it. “We limit the number of people on the sideline. Right after the game, we let everybody … run on the field and push coaches and players. I really think we’re headed for a tragedy if some of this isn’t stopped.”
Speedy Cyclone
Iowa State true freshman Leonard Johnson set an NCAA record against Oklahoma State when he returned nine kickoffs for 319 yards, including one for 73 yards and another for 72.
QB cornucopia
As if anyone needed further proof, Big 12 quarterbacks rank 2-3-4-5-6 in NCAA passing statistics this week. In order, that would be Colt McCoy of Texas, Sam Bradford of Oklahoma, Zac Robinson of Oklahoma State, Chase Daniel of Missouri and Graham Harrell of Texas Tech. Who’s No. 1? David Johnson of Tulsa.
Perhaps it’s too early, but Saturday’s showdown between McCoy and Harrell in Lubbock, Texas, could go a long way toward determining the Heisman Trophy winner.
J.J. joins the fray
Who knows where Texas A&M sophomore Jerrod Johnson would rank if he had been a starter all season? Johnson has started only five games, yet owns two of the top four passing performances in school history. Johnson has tossed six TD passes in the last three games without throwing an interception.
Reesing reeling
Speaking of interceptions, the three picks Kansas quarterback Todd Reesing threw against Texas Tech have boosted his season total of a league-high eight. Reesing threw only seven interceptions all of last season, and set a league record with 213 consecutive tosses without a pick.
Griffin clickin’
On the flip side, Baylor freshman Robert Griffin is the only starting Big 12 quarterback who hasn’t thrown an interception. Griffin is pick-free on 175 passes and needs to throw 39 more in order to break Reesing’s record. Griffin has combined for 1,959 yards and 18 total touchdowns this year.
Don’t forget Hunter
So much has been made of Big 12 pass-happiness that most people have overlooked the fact Oklahoma State’s Kendall Hunter has rushed for almost twice as many yards – 1,116 – as any other league running back. Way back in second place is Oklahoma’s DeMarco Murray with 624 yards.
OU-NU Days of yore
Oklahoma and Nebraska officials are seeking to revive the spirit of their once-great rivalry. Coaches and players from the classic 1971 game – highlighted by a spectacular Johnny Rodgers punt return – will take part in a Friday dinner before Saturday’s game in Norman, Okla.
The eyes have it
Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said it about his players after Saturday’s 28-24 loss at Texas: “I saw looks in their eyes that I hadn’t seen in this program in four years. They were painful, but that’s what it’s supposed to be.”
KU’s Meier near record
Barring injury, Kerry Meier should shatter the Kansas University single-season pass receiving record of 70 set 23 years ago by Richard Estell. With four games remaining, Meier has 63 receptions. That’s the same number of catches, incidentally, that Dexton Fields had to lead the Jayhawks last year.
Grounded Gobs
What do the aerial-minded offenses of the Big 12 have in common with Navy? Answer: Nothing. In swabbing SMU, 34-7, last Saturday, the Midshipmen became the first NCAA team in 11 years to play an entire game without throwing a pass.
Texas turnaround?
Oklahoma’s loss Saturday at Texas Tech did more than knock the 10th-ranked Sooners out of the national championship picture. It kept Texas in contention for the Big 12 South title and a possible BCS game.
The No. 13 Longhorns had an 0-2 conference record for the first time since 1956 after their 28-21 loss to Oklahoma on Oct. 6. They have since won five games in a row.
If Texas wins Friday at Texas A&M, and Oklahoma loses Saturday to Oklahoma State, the Longhorns are the Big 12 South champions. That would put them in the Big 12 championship game, where another victory would guarantee a BCS game.
Still, Mack Brown doesn’t want his team looking past Texas A&M, which won last year’s grudge match.
“We need to be focused on this game, and not worry about anything around it,” Brown said. “After a couple of mishaps early, this team has been fighting every day to get back in the mix, and done that because they paid attention and did not look around.”
Bob Stoops has to get Oklahoma over its disappointment and ready for its rivalry game.
All tied up
There will be a three-way tie for the South Division lead if Oklahoma State beats Oklahoma and Texas loses to Texas A&M this weekend.
If so, who goes to the Big 12 championship game?
The first tiebreaker is head-to-head, and the three teams would be 1-1 against each other. The second tiebreaker? Division record, and all would be 3-2.
Next, it would be the teams’ head-to-head record against the next-place team in the South Division. Yet another tie, since Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas would have all split their games against Texas Tech and Texas A&M, the teams that would be tied for fourth. They all beat last-place Baylor.
Now we’re down to common opponents from the North, but they have none.
The final determination is the highest-ranked team in the BCS standings. Currently, Oklahoma is 10th, Texas is 13th and Oklahoma State isn’t in the top 25.
Extra points
Texas Tech coach Mike Leach is appealing the $10,000 fine imposed by the Big 12 against him after his harsh criticism of referees following a loss at Texas. Leach may not have to pay the fine anyway. A group of Red Raider alumni have launched an “I Like Mike” drive to raise money to pay the coach’s fine. … Kansas State has played all its Big 12 games, but isn’t finished with the regular season. The Wildcats play Saturday against Fresno State. Coach Ron Prince said that game was moved to late November when K-State had the chance to add Auburn to its schedule as the opener. That also created an open date before playing at Texas, a game they won 41-21.
