Shootout in the South

BIG 12 STANDINGS
NORTH DIVISION
Big 12
Kansas State
3-1
Iowa State
2-2
Kansas
1-2
Nebraska
1-2
Colorado
1-2
Missouri
0-3
All
5-3
5-3
5-2
4-3
2-5
4-3
Top 25
0-0
0-1
0-1
1-1
1-1
0-3
© 2009 Sports News Bureau Inc.
GAME OF THE WEEK
SOUTH DIVISION
Texas
Oklahoma State
Oklahoma
Texas Tech
Texas A&M
Baylor
4-0
3-0
2-1
2-2
1-2
0-3
7-0
6-1
4-3
5-3
4-3
3-4
Texas at Oklahoma State
1-0
1-0
1-3
1-2
1-1
0-2
TEAM LEADERS
(Average per game)
TOTAL OFFENSE
Texas A&M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 489.0
Texas Tech. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 488.5
Kansas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 475.0
Texas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 438.1
Oklahoma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 419.0
Oklahoma State. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 417.6
Iowa State. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 387.6
Nebraska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381.4
Missouri. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371.9
RUSHING OFFENSE
Iowa State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204.3
Kansas State. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186.5
Oklahoma State. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185.6
Texas A&M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180.3
Texas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164.0
Nebraska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146.3
Kansas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145.6
PASSING OFFENSE
Texas Tech. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Kansas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Texas A&M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Oklahoma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Texas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Missouri. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Nebraska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
418.9
329.4
308.7
275.0
274.1
256.9
235.1
TOTAL DEFENSE
Texas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235.6
Oklahoma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264.9
Nebraska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266.4
Kansas State. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327.5
Kansas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344.9
Missouri. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345.9
Oklahoma State. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 352.1
Texas Tech. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 367.8
RUSHING DEFENSE
Texas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41.3
Oklahoma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70.1
Kansas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98.3
Oklahoma State. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99.0
Kansas State. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.6
Nebraska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102.3
Missouri. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127.9
Texas Tech. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129.3
PASSING DEFENSE
Nebraska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Texas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Oklahoma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Baylor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Missouri. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Kansas State. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Colorado. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
164.1
194.3
194.7
216.7
218.0
226.9
229.6
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
(Season totals)
RUSHING YARDS
Daniel Thomas, Kansas State . . . . . . . . 814
Alexander Robinson, Iowa State . . . . . . 737
Roy Helu Jr., Nebraska. . . . . . . . . . . . . 644
Keith Toston, Oklahoma State. . . . . . . . 606
Toben Opurum, Kansas. . . . . . . . . . . . . 480
Rodney Stewart, Colorado. . . . . . . . . . . 467
Derrick Washington, Missouri. . . . . . . . 451
Cyrus Gray, Texas A&M. . . . . . . . . . . . . 448
PASSING YARDS
Todd Reesing, Kansas. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Jerrod Johnson, Texas A&M . . . . . . . .
Taylor Potts, Texas Tech. . . . . . . . . . .
Colt McCoy, Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Blaine Gabbert, Missouri . . . . . . . . . .
Zac Robinson, Oklahoma State . . . . . .
2,204
2,131
2,127
1,806
1,704
1,547
RECEIVING YARDS
Dezmon Briscoe, Kansas. . . . . . . . . . . . 731
Jordan Shipley, Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . 713
Danario Alexander, Missouri. . . . . . . . . 701
Kerry Meier, Kansas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 634
Detron Lewis, Texas Tech. . . . . . . . . . . 538
Uzoma Nwachukwu, Texas A&M. . . . . . . 524
Tramain Swindall, Texas Tech . . . . . . . . 512
TOTAL YARDS
Jerrod Johnson, Texas A&M . . . . . . . .
Todd Reesing, Kansas. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Taylor Potts, Missouri. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Colt McCoy, Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Blaine Gabbert, Missouri . . . . . . . . . .
Zac Robinson, Oklahoma State . . . . . .
Austen Arnaud, Iowa State. . . . . . . . .
2,364
2,282
1,995
1,910
1,759
1,684
1,680
SCORING
Hunter Lawrence, Texas. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dan Bailey, Oklahoma State . . . . . . . . . .
Grant Ressel, Missouri. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Jacob Branstetter, Kansas. . . . . . . . . . . .
Toben Opurum, Kansas. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Jimmy Stevens, Oklahoma . . . . . . . . . . .
Daniel Thomas, Kansas State . . . . . . . . .
73
59
55
54
54
54
54
INTERCEPTIONS
Earl Thomas, Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brian Jackson, Oklahoma. . . . . . . . . . . . .
David Sims, Iowa State. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tysyn Hartman, Kansas State. . . . . . . . . .
5
4
4
4
Illustration © 2009 Bruce Plante (planteink.com)
T
Shootout in the South
he two top contenders for the Big 12’s South Division
title take the stage this week in Stillwater. No. 3 Texas
and No. 13 Oklahoma State are the last two teams
holding undefeated conference records, but each program
arrives at a different point in its respective season.
Texas has already slugged out conference victories
over Texas Tech, Colorado, Oklahoma and Missouri. After
Saturday’s matchup with the Cowboys, the Longhorns’
remaining schedule sets up nicely for continued success:
a nonconference home game with Central Florida, a trip to
Baylor, a visit by Kansas and the regular season finale at
Texas A&M. These last four opponents have a combined
record of 16‑12 so far this season, and Texas holds an alltime advantage of 154‑60-9.
Oklahoma State felled Texas A&M, Missouri and
Baylor in its first three Big 12 contests, but the Texas
game marks the beginning of a difficult stretch: a road
test at Iowa State, consecutive home games against Texas
Tech and Colorado, and the annual showdown with Bed‑
lam-rival Oklahoma — this year in Norman. The Cowboys’
upcoming opponents are 16‑14 this season, but 143‑71-14
all-time against Oklahoma State.
At this time last year, Texas head coach Mack Brown’s
8‑0 squad walked into Lubbock for a date with Texas Tech
and departed with their national championship hopes
shattered. Brown and the Longhorns have no intention of
letting that happen again. “The kids understand what’s at
stake now,” Brown said following his team’s 41‑7 disman‑
tling of Missouri. Last season, Texas edged Oklahoma
State 28‑24 in Austin to claim their 11th straight win over
the Pokes, and they’d like to make it an even dozen this
time around.
Quarterback Colt McCoy and the Longhorns offense
hit their stride Saturday night in Columbia and appear to
be playing their best football of the season. For the season,
McCoy has completed nearly 72 percent of his passes
with 1,806 yards, 14 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
His top target is wide receiver Jordan Shipley, who has
amassed 713 yards and five scores. The Texas running
attack has struggled at times, but no fewer than four backs
have led the team in rushing during games this season.
Oklahoma State has played without running back
Kendall Hunter, the Big 12’s leading rusher last season,
since he suffered an ankle injury in the Pokes’ lone loss, to
Houston on Sept. 12. Keith Toston has filled in admirably
in Hunter’s absence, and ranks fourth in the conference in
rushing with 606 yards and six touchdowns. Hunter has
practiced and been medically cleared to play, and could
make his return against Texas.
Records: Texas 7‑0 (4‑0 Big 12 South); Oklahoma State
6‑1 (3‑0 Big 12 South). Coaches: Texas’ Mack Brown
(208‑100-1); Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy (32‑24). Series:
Texas leads 21-2-0. Kickoff: 7 p.m. CT Saturday. TV: ABC.
Key for Texas: A total defensive effort. The Longhorns
defense ranks second nationally by surrendering just 235.6
yards per game. It will face an Oklahoma State offense that
epitomizes balance — 185.6 yards rushing and 232.0 yards
passing per outing.
Key for Oklahoma State: As Zac goes, so go the Cow‑
boys. Quarterback Zac Robinson has led the team in the
absence of its stars. He ranks sixth in the Big 12 in total
offense with 1,684 yards, 12 passing touchdowns, four
rushing scores and just three interceptions.
THE REST OF THE MATCHUPS
Nebraska at Baylor
Records: Nebraska 4‑3 (1‑2 Big 12 North); Baylor 3‑4
(0‑3 Big 12 South). Coaches: Nebraska’s Bo Pelini (14‑7);
Baylor’s Art Briles (40‑40). Series: Nebraska leads 10‑1.
Kickoff: 11:30 a.m. CT Saturday. TV: Versus.
Key for Nebraska: Can the defense score? The Huskers
held Iowa State to 239 yards Saturday, but eight turnovers
doomed the offense, which has managed just 17 points in
its past two games.
Key for Baylor: Be aggressive. The Cornhuskers have
shown themselves to be their own worst enemy. The
Bears must find a way to keep the pressure on an anxious
Nebraska offense.
Missouri at Colorado
Records: Missouri 4‑3 (0‑3 Big 12 North); Colorado 2‑5 (1‑2
Big 12 North). Coaches: Missouri’s Gary Pinkel (136‑81);
Colorado’s Dan Hawkins (68‑40). Series: Missouri leads
39‑31-3. Kickoff: 11:30 a.m. MT Saturday. TV: FSN.
Key for Missouri: Stop the skid. The Tigers have
dropped their first three conference games for the first
time since 2002. The defense must return to form against a
floundering Colorado offense.
Key for Colorado: The right QB. Tyler Hansen and
Cody Hawkins both made appearances against Kansas
State — and the result was six total points.
Iowa State at Texas A&M
Records: Iowa State 5‑3 (2‑2 Big 12 North); Texas A&M
4‑3 (1‑2 Big 12 South). Coaches: Iowa State’s Paul Rhoads
(5‑3); Texas A&M’s Mike Sherman (8‑11). Series: Texas
A&M leads 8‑1. Kickoff: 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday. TV: None.
Key for Iowa State: Back to reality. Last Saturday’s win
over Nebraska literally fell in the Cyclones’ lap, but Iowa
State will need a better offensive effort in yet another
tough environment — nine points won’t win many other
football games.
Key for Texas A&M: Prepare like you’re the underdog.
The Aggies smashed Texas Tech in a game few gave
them any chance to win. That mentality should carry over
against the Big 12 North’s second-place team.
Kansas at Texas Tech
Records: Kansas 5‑2 (1‑2 Big 12 North); Texas Tech 5‑3
(2‑2 Big 12 South). Coaches: Kansas’ Mark Mangino
(50‑43); Texas Tech’s Mike Leach (81‑42). Series: Texas
Tech leads 10‑1. Kickoff: 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday. TV: ABC.
Key for Kansas: Fixes all around. While the Jayhawks’
offensive troubles are of some concern, their pass defense
— which ranks 100th in the nation by allowing 246.6 yards
a game — is downright alarming. Texas Tech averages
418.9 yards passing per game.
Key for Texas Tech: Stuff the run. Texas A&M’s rush‑
ing attack shredded the Red Raiders for 321 yards and six
touchdowns Saturday, which left the Tech defense tired
and demoralized — and also ate up a lot of clock.
Kansas State at Oklahoma
Records: Kansas State 5‑3 (3‑1 Big 12 North); Oklahoma
4‑3 (2‑1 Big 12 South). Coaches: Kansas State’s Bill Snyder
(141‑71-1); Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops (113‑26). Series: Okla‑
homa leads 69‑17-4. Kickoff: 6 p.m. CT Saturday. TV: FSN.
Key for Kansas State: Relish the underdog status.
Despite their first-place position, the Wildcats may not be
favored over an opponent the rest of the season. That kind
of chip on the shoulder can be a strong motivator.
Key for Oklahoma: Moving on. Landry Jones is free
to assert himself as the Sooners’ new offensive leader,
and the defense must realize that it controls this team’s
fortunes for the remainder of the year.
Distributed by Universal Uclick • For release Oct. 26, 2009
The Bears have managed
just 24 total points in three
conference games. QB Nick Florence’s
17-yard TD pass to WR David Gettis
with 7:24 remaining in Saturday’s
game against Oklahoma State narrowly
averted what would have been Baylor’s
14th shutout loss in just this decade.
The Buffaloes’ 20-6
loss to Kansas State in
Manhattan was their 10th consecutive
loss on the road since a 31-27 win over
Texas Tech in 2007. Colorado has limped
to a 2-17 road record in four seasons
under head coach Dan Hawkins. Two
away games remain on the schedule this
year.
Playing without its starting
quarterback and its
leading rusher, Iowa State did what the
Cornhuskers couldn’t: held onto the ball
— and walked away with their first win
in Lincoln since Oct. 15, 1977. “It’s a big
win,” head coach Paul Rhoads said.
The Sooners intercepted QB
Todd Reesing three times
in the first half, including one returned
85 yards for a score by CB Dominique
Franks, as Oklahoma cruised to a 35-13
win. The Jayhawks’ 305 yards of offense
was their lowest total of the season.
The Wildcats are 3-1
in conference play for
the first time since 2000, the season in
which they captured their second North
Division title. Still, head coach Bill
Snyder was not particularly pleased
after his team’s victory: “We got better
on defense, and I am proud of that. We
did not get better on offense.”
Senior LB Sean
Weatherspoon moved
into sixth place on the Tigers’ all-time
tackles list with 11 stops against Texas.
Weatherspoon has 363 tackles in his
career and needs just 13 more to pass
former LB Darren McDonald (19861989) for fifth place. He also snagged his
fourth career interception in the third
quarter off Colt McCoy.
The Cornhuskers’
struggling offense lived
out an absolute nightmare Saturday in
Lincoln. The Big Red committed eight
turnovers — including four inside
the Iowa State 5-yard line — to tie a
school record as Nebraska fell 9-7 to
the Cyclones. Nebraska’s point total
was its lowest since a 41-6 throttling by
Missouri in Columbia on Oct. 6, 2007.
Junior QB Sam Bradford
announced Sunday that
he would be having surgery to repair his
injured shoulder and would enter the
2010 NFL Draft next April. Bradford ends
his career at Oklahoma with a bevy of
school records, including career passing
yards (8,327), career TD passes (88) and
passing yards in one game (468).
The Cowboys threw for
251 yards and ran for 195
yards in a 34-7 victory over Baylor
Saturday in Waco. Pokes QB Zac
Robinson was 23-of-27 passing with
three touchdowns, and RB Keith Toston
chipped in 138 total yards and a rushing
score. “We just try to be as versatile as
possible and take what they give us
during the game,” head coach Mike
Gundy said.
Longhorns QB Colt McCoy had
his most complete effort of
the 2009 season in a 41-7 thumping of
Missouri Saturday night in Columbia.
McCoy completed 26 of his 31 passes
for 268 yards and three touchdowns
with one interception in three quarters
of work, and sparked Texas to a 35-7
halftime lead.
The Aggies completed
a bizarre three-team
round-robin Saturday by dismantling
Texas Tech 52-30. Texas A&M entered
the game one week removed from an
embarrassing 62-14 rout by the Kansas
State Wildcats, who, ironically, were
obliterated 66-14 by Tech on Oct. 10.
The Red Raiders have a
quarterback controversy
brewing. Taylor Potts led Texas Tech to a
2-2 start before being injured against New
Mexico. Steven Sheffield stepped in to
start the next two games, but was injured
against Nebraska. Potts returned to start
against Texas A&M, but was yanked in
favor of third-stringer Seth Doege after
committing three turnovers in the loss.
Head coach Mike Leach said the next
starter will be a “game-time decision.”