We’re counting down the top five stories on various topics today as part of an annual recap of the top stories of the year we’ll do later this month. Join the conversation by letting us know what we missed or what stories you think are important by posting a comment, below.The year 2008 will be remembered as one of the most memorable seasons in Big 12 Conference football history.People will remember how conference teams lit up the scoreboard. Going into its bowl games, the Big 12 had five of the top 10 scoring offenses in the nation. The average amount of points conference teams scored per game: 35.79. Oklahoma played a large role in that stat, becoming the highest-scoring team in the 2008 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records book, which dates back to 1937. The Sooners scored 702 points this season and have yet to play the Jan. 8 BCS Championship against Florida.People will also associate the 2008 football season with controversy. Lots of it. The most controversial topic: The three-way tie.Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech finished the season with one conference loss. Oklahoma was the team chosen to represent the South in the Big 12 Championship because the Sooners had the best BCS ranking. OU predictably crushed Missouri, 62-21, in the Big 12 Championship, and will have its chance at the BCS title against Florida.In the midst of all of the scoring and controversy, exciting games took place that had Big 12 and BCS Championship implications much of the time. Here’s a look back at the top 5 most memorable Big 12 football games of the 2008 season:5. Oklahoma State 28, Missouri 23Date/place: Oct 11; Columbia, Mo.This game put the Cowboys on the map in 2008 and ended Missouri’s national championship dreams. The Tigers were ranked No. 3 entering the game and Chase Daniel was supposed to be unstoppable. The Cowboys picked him off three times, recorded two sacks and recovered two fumbles.4. Kansas 40, Missouri 37Date/place: Nov. 29; Kansas City, Mo.The guttiest performance I’ve ever seen from Kansas, which fielded players who could barely walk just days before the Border Showdown. Todd Reesing’s 26-yard touchdown pass to Kerry Meier with 27 seconds left in the game was one of the most memorable plays in KU history.3. Texas 45, Oklahoma 35Date/place: Oct. 11; Dallas.Had this game taken place a month-and-a-half later, the Longhorns could be playing for the national title, but it’s just how the BCS system works, like it or not. After this game, Oklahoma was the most impressive team in the nation.2. Oklahoma 65, Texas Tech 21Date/place: Nov. 22; Norman, Okla.The Sooners and Red Raiders entered the late-season game with only one combined loss. For what was on the line in this game, it could be considered the most important game in the conference this season.1. Texas Tech 39, Texas 33Date/place: Nov. 1; Lubbock, Texas.Graham Harrell to Michael Crabtree. Eight seconds left. Twenty-eight-yard touchdown pass and a tightrope along the right sideline. Epic. The play gave Tech the biggest win in program history and was one of the most memorable games in Big 12 Conference history.
