With only one season left of the current football conference that has been known as the “Big 12”, this will be a last chance for teams like Nebraska and Colorado to make an impact and for the conference championship game to be alive for one last run for now.
North
1. Texas Longhorns – 11-1
2. Oklahoma Sooners – 9-3
3. Texas A&M Aggies – 8-4
4. Oklahoma State Cowboys – 7-5
5. Texas Tech Red Raiders – 6-6
6. Baylor Bears – 6-6
South
1. Missouri Tigers – 9-3
2. Nebraska Cornhuskers – 9-3
3. Kansas State Wildcats – 7-5
4. Colorado Buffalos – 7-5
5. Kansas Jayhawks – 4-8
6. Iowa State Cyclones – 3-9
Championship Game: Texas Longhorns vs. Missouri
Big 12 Champ: Texas Longhorns
While I’m all for an emerging team from the Big 12 North to compete with the Colt Mccoy-less Longhorns, it’s hard to see them losing any more than one or two games. Oklahoma is missing Bradford and their two best linemen, and unless DeMarco Murray steps up huge, they’ll struggle for 10 wins. Texas A&M has a shot with a great running game and an experienced quarterback and defense, and Oklahoma State still has Kendall Hunter and a great offense. Texas Tech will take a step back without coach Leach, and Baylor will win most of their games thanks in large part to the athletic ability of Robert Griffin at quarterback.
In the South, things should be a bit more open, with two teams really having the talent to make the South relevant and a few that could surprise. Gary Pinkel at Missouri now as a restocked offense that could be as explosive as the Chase Daniel era with Blaine Gabbert at the helm. Nebraska only lost Ndamukong Suh, and they still have a talented defense and a stable offense. Kansas State has the running game that should win them five games easy, and they could surprise a few more. Dan Hawkins at Colorado needs 7+ wins to keep his job, and Kansas and Iowa State don’t have the talent to really compete this year.
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