If you could pick five Big 12 football games to attend in 2010, which would they be?

By Staff     Jul 20, 2010

For the purpose of this Big 12 football exercise, let’s pretend a little bit.

The mission: You have to choose five Big 12 football games to attend for the upcoming 2010 season. You’ll be there, live, in whatever seat you desire.

These have to be matchups that we already know about. Therefore, the Big 12 Championship game in Arlington, Texas, doesn’t count. Non-conference games count, as long as a Big 12 team is playing. Simple.

But you can only pick five games. Which ones would you choose?
I don’t have tickets to any of these games, but that’s where the pretending comes into play.

For all the comic book/superhero dorks out there — and I know you’re out there — pretend that you can teleport to any stadium and invisibly pass through the gates to see a game. Choose your superheroes wisely.

My choice: Nightcrawler from X-Men 2: United. The guy would be perfect for teleporting to wherever the heck he wants and going invisible against whomever the heck he wants. Plus, the dude can dominate in masses:

Without further ado, here are the five Big 12 football games I’d choose:

**1. Texas vs. Oklahoma, Oct. 2, Dallas.**

Why: Simply put, it’s the best rivalry in the country right now. Yeah, there’s Ohio State-Michigan, Alabama-Auburn, Army-Navy and USC-Notre Dame. What separates Red River from all other rivalries in 2010? Both teams have legitimate chances of playing in the BCS Championship. Not really the case with other rivalries this year.

Furthermore, either Oklahoma or Texas has competed for a BCS Championship in six of the past 10 years. No other rivalry comes close when it comes to recent BCS Championship appearances.

I’ve never attended the Red River Rivalry, but from the dozens and dozens of friends I talk to about it each year, nothing else compares.

**2. Texas at Nebraska, Oct. 16, Lincoln, Neb.**

Why: One of my five games had to be in Lincoln, where it could be argued that Huskers fans create one of the most passionate environments in college football. Venues factor in to this exercise since you’d be enjoying the game live. With Nebraska darting for the Big Ten, this will be the last year to catch the Huskers in Big 12 action.

Nebraska also has home games this year against Missouri, Kansas and Colorado, but the pick here has to be UT. [As I pointed out in a previous entry][1], the Nebraska athletic department created a [2] specifically for this game with the catch phrase “Wear Red. Be Loud. Beat Texas.” Recently, they [took down the “Beat Texas” part][3], but that shouldn’t stop the ‘Horns from being plenty motivated.

Don’t forget about last year’s Big 12 Championship game either. Texas barely escaped, 13-12, in seemingly every way possible. First, Colt McCoy, who Nebraska sacked nine times, threw the ball out of bounds in an attempt to advance further down the field with one second remaining. Too close for comfort. Then, UT kicker Hunter Lawrence snuck a field goal just inside the left upright to send Texas past Nebraska and on its way to the BCS Championship:

Oh yeah, Nebraska cited Texas and its mighty athletic budget as one of the primary reasons it left the Big 12. Plenty of motivation here from both sidelines.

**3. Texas A&M at Texas, Nov. 25, Austin, Texas.**

Why: I can’t think of anything much better than football on Thanksgiving. The Longhorns and Aggies provided a memorable [display of offensive fireworks last year][4], which culminated in a 49-39 Texas triumph.

If Texas A&M is for real this season — many pundits, including Phil Steele, predicted A&M to finish third in the South — the final regular-season game of the year against the Aggies’ biggest rival would be the perfect time to show it.

**4. Texas Tech at Oklahoma, Nov. 13, Norman, Okla.**

Why: No way I’d pass on an opportunity to visit Oklahoma’s Memorial Stadium. Games at Nebraska and Texas were covered earlier on the list; this was a mandatory selection.

The Sooners, simply put, do not lose at home. OU has a 30-game home winning streak, tops in the nation. The Sooners have won 50 of their past 51 games at Owen Field. It’d be a remarkable atmosphere to witness.

Texas Tech has actually won three of the past five meetings against Oklahoma, including a [41-13 drubbing last season][5] in Lubbock, Texas. The Sooners will be out for revenge this year at home.

**5. Missouri at Nebraska, Oct. 30, Lincoln, Neb.**

Why: Lincoln should be hoppin’ the day before Halloween with Missouri coming to town for perhaps the last time ever. These two schools have represented the North in the Big 12 Championship game for the past four years, and 2010 should make it five. This game should do a lot to solve the North puzzle, if there is one.

Just because it’s in Lincoln doesn’t guarantee victory for the Huskers. The last two years Nebraska and Missouri have met, the road team has triumphed.

So there’s the Big 12 list. What are your picks?

For local reference, I’ll briefly list the top five KU games I’d most like to attend next season below:

**1. Kansas at Nebraska, Nov. 13, Lincoln:** It could be last time the Jayhawks and Huskers, who have been playing football since the 1890s, will face each other before NU leaves. It may be the only time KU coach Turner Gill takes the sideline against the team he led to three consecutive Big Eight Conference titles from 1981-1983. Easy selection here.

**2. Kansas at Missouri, Nov. 27, Kansas City, Mo.:** The last two games were decided by a combined five points. It’s been one of the most exciting games in the North the past few seasons.

**3. Kansas State at Kansas, Oct. 14, Lawrence:** K-State took last year’s Sunflower Showdown, 17-10. Kansas had won the previous three. With Bill Snyder coaching KSU again, the game has an added feel of history to it.

**4. Georgia Tech at Kansas, Sept. 11, Lawrence:** It’s only the second game of the season, but the Yellow Jackets and their triple-option attack should provide a telling early test for the KU defense. Georgia Tech made Mark Schlabach’s [early Top 25 list][6] on ESPN. If the Jayhawks win this game, it could be just the boost Gill and KU could build on early in the year.

**5. Colorado at Kansas, Nov. 6, Lawrence:** It could be the last time KU faces Colorado before the Buffaloes pack their sunscreen for the Pac-10.

Thoughts?

That should be all for now, friends. As always, discuss.

[1]: http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/conference_chatter/2010/jul/15/with-big-12-football-media-days-looming-several-st/
[2]: http://www.redoutaroundtheworld.com/
[3]: http://www.omaha.com/article/20100714/BIGRED/707149839/-1#nu-drops-reference-to-texas
[4]: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCIL393_qiQ
[5]: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2JMOTykLb8&feature=related
[6]: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=4901998

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