The original intention here was to rank the 12 best YouTube videos of all-time, but a deadlock for No. 1 couldn’t be broken, so instead the Big 12 football teams will be ranked for their nonconference performances.
But first, a look at the first-place tie in the YouTube rankings.
The video of a giant double rainbow in Yosemite National Park taped Jan. 8, 2010, by Paul “Hungry Bear” Vasquez features sound of Hungry Bear while he’s taping. Fortunately sound tracks of those viewing the tied-for-greatest YouTube video of all-time are not part of the Charlotte Ross clip from her most famous scene on “NYPD Blue.”
All that extensive YouTube research went for naught, and we’re left to rank the Big 12 football teams. So far, so-so for the Big 12. Texas and Oklahoma lost so much talent, and it shows. Most of the teams in the conference loaded their schedules with stiffs, as do most BCS schools, so it’s difficult to get a good read on them.
- Nebraska: Freshman quarterback Taylor Martinez has sparked the Cornhuskers by averaging 9.3 yards per pass attempt and 9.4 yards per rush. Think about that. This one-man balancing act practically averages a first down whether he passes or runs. Roy Helu Jr. (7.1 yards per carry) and Rex Burkhead (7.4) also have been running wild.
- Oklahoma: Other than when pounding Florida State, the Sooners have looked a little shaky and also have the disadvantage of facing Texas coming off a horrendous loss.
- Oklahoma State: Cowboys hammered Washington State and Tulsa, but only beat Troy by a field goal at home, so how good are they? Their offense appears to be very good, thanks in part to Edmond, Okla., native Brandon Weeden, a high school rival of Bill Self’s. Weeden, a junior, is just 26 and came to the Oklahoma State program after giving up on his baseball dream. Weeden was a second-round draft choice of the New York Yankees in 2002. He threw six touchdown passes in a rout of Tulsa and has 11 on the season. In the season-opener, he made his first start in a football game since 2001.
- Kansas State: Suddenly, that victory against UCLA looks pretty impressive, but the Wildcats’ quarterback still doesn’t.
- Texas A&M: Unbeaten Aggies haven’t played anybody yet.
- Missouri: Beating San Diego State by just a field goal was a red flag, but the Tigers do go into conference play undefeated.
- Texas: UCLA ruined the Red River Rivalry.
- Baylor: Kansas defenders will see plenty of quarterback Robert Griffin III on film all week.
- Texas Tech: It’s a transition year for the Red Raiders under new coach Tommy Tuberville.
- Iowa State: So far the only victories have come against Northern Illinois and Northern Iowa, and there are no more Northern schools left on the schedule, which portends another long season for the Cyclones.
- Kansas: D.J. Beshears, Daymond Patterson and James Sims are exciting playmakers, but will there be enough blocks to spring them?
- Colorado: The beautiful mountains will be missed, but that’s about it.
