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Big 12 Conference call: OU is dialed in

Sooners scream talent - but others might have their say

B.G. Brooks, Rocky Mountain News

Published September 29, 2007 at midnight

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BOULDER - The race is on, but it might be for second place.

After one league skirmish last week that unfortunately was overshadowed by the winning coach's caterwauling, Big 12 Conference play begins in full today. Most eyes, many in a neighboring state, are focused on Oklahoma, trying to determine whether the No. 3 Sooners indeed are that good, virtually untested or maybe marginally overrated.

But other angles abound in the Big 12's 12th season and demand more than a cursory look. Consider:

• How badly was Nebraska exposed in its past two games, and how long will recovery require? Can Bill Callahan continue to ask for patience?

• What's to be drawn from Texas' relatively slow start? Are the Longhorns playing it coy, lying in wait for their annual trek to Dallas next week?

• Can Missouri overcome the Gary Pinkel factor - it usually surfaces in November - and win its first North Division championship? If not now, when?

• How well has a sinfully soft nonconference schedule - the only opponent missing was the Columbia School of Broadcasting - prepared Kansas for league play?

• Does Oklahoma State's wild 49-45 win against Texas Tech mean the Cowboys are emerging in the South Division? Ask Mike Gundy; he's 40, he's a man.

• Is Baylor close to catching Texas A&M in the South Division, or is Texas A&M close to catching Baylor? Neither, Aggies coach Dennis Franchione hopes.

• Will turning the corner require another season and recruiting class at Colorado, or are the Buffaloes ahead of schedule?

A partial answer to the Colorado question, as well some insight into the Sooners, could be provided today when Oklahoma visits Folsom Field (11:30 a.m., FSN). Many coaches and college football watchers believe Oklahoma might be on a par with Southern California and Louisiana State, the only teams ranked higher in The Associated Press Top 25 poll.

To ESPN analyst Doug Flutie, "Oklahoma looks like the most consistent. They're running the ball extremely well, throwing the ball with a first-year quarterback, Sam Bradford, (and) making very few mistakes. They look very impressive."

Flutie, of course, hasn't coached against the Sooners. Todd Graham has.

The Tulsa coach watched his team grab a handful of early momentum last week only to be overmatched in pass coverage, overpowered on both lines and eventually overrun.

Result: Oklahoma 62, Tulsa 21. Graham knew a smack down when he saw one.

"They are definitely one of the best, just physically imposing offenses . . . (but) the difference in their football team is those wideouts," he said. "They put those guys (Juaquin Iglesias, Malcolm Kelly) on special teams, and the type of athleticism they have is hard to deal with.

"Offensively, we moved the ball and put 400 yards on them. I don't think there's going to be that many people do that to them this year. I'd be surprised if they don't roll right through it. . . . They have great athletes. You mess up, they take advantage of it. Give them all the credit in the world."

Some credit might go to Boise State, which stunned the Sooners 43-42 in overtime last season in the Fiesta Bowl. CU coach Dan Hawkins believes Oklahoma spent its offseason nursing a Norman- sized chip, which helps account for the relentless 2007 start. The Sooners lead the nation in scoring (61.5 points) and are in the top 10 in six other major statistical categories.

"I'm sure it did a lot for them," Hawkins said of the Fiesta Bowl loss. "I know coach (Bob) Stoops has been around long enough to know you're going to have setbacks, but you can use that thing (for) some energy . . . you come out swinging a little bit harder in everything you do."

Stoops, in his ninth season at Oklahoma, said late September finds this team more consistent, confident and explosive than his 2006 squad at the same juncture: "We're so sure of ourselves. There's maturity in almost everything offensively."

Still, the Sooners' staggering statistics don't grant them immunity from questions.

Bradford, who sports a 78.1 completion percentage, has been brought along slowly, but the offense expands weekly. Is there a wall waiting for him to hit? A huge offensive line is good enough to erase guesswork from play calling. How will it handle an equally physical defensive front?

Answers might come this weekend, next weekend . . . or not until January in New Orleans.

North Division

MISSOURI

• Record, ranking: 4-0, No. 20.

• Best September win: 40-34 vs. Illinois.

• Big 12 game to watch: Oct. 6 vs. No. 25 Nebraska.

• Players to watch: QB Chase Daniel (13 touchdown passes, four interceptions, 356.8 yards in total offense a game), WR/KR Jeremy Maclin (averages 230.2 all-purpose yards a game).

• Fact to remember: Missouri leaves the state only three times for games in October and November.

• September grade: B-minus. With a few tweaks on defense, the Tigers could cruise through the North. We'll know soon enough.

NEBRASKA

• Record, ranking: 3-1, No. 25.

• Best September win: 20-17 at Wake Forest.

• Big 12 game to watch: Oct. 6 at No. 20 Missouri.

• Players to watch: QB Sam Keller (319.5 yards passing a game, seven touchdowns, six interceptions), TB Marlon Lucky (114.5 yards rushing a game)

• Fact to remember: The Cornhuskers have allowed a combined 1,067 yards and 89 points in their past two games.

• September grade: C. If the Blackshirt defense remains a sieve, Bill Callahan's stock slides dramatically.

KANSAS STATE

• Record, ranking: 2-1, unranked.

• Best September win: 34-14 vs. San Jose State.

• Big 12 game to watch: Oct. 6 vs. Kansas.

• Players to watch: QB Josh Freeman (two touchdown passes, four interceptions, 275.7 yards passing a game), WR/KR Jordy Nelson (154.7 all-purpose yards a game).

• Fact to remember: Kansas State catches three of its five North opponents at home.

• September grade: C. Freeman has yet to match his 2006 form, and it better happen fast for the Wildcats to be a North contender.

COLORADO

• Record, ranking: 2-2, unranked.

• Best September win: 31-28 (OT) vs. Colorado State.

• Big 12 game to watch: Oct. 13 at Kansas State.

• Players to watch: QB Cody Hawkins (six touchdown passes, six interceptions, 236.0 yards passing a game), LB Jordon Dizon (14.0 tackles a game).

• Fact to remember: Unlike other North teams, the Buffaloes weren't issued a September pass.

• September grade: C. With steady improvement, CU could become a factor in the North - but not without a running game.

KANSAS

• Record, ranking: 4-0, unranked.

• Best September win: 45-13 vs. Toledo.

• Big 12 game to watch: Oct. 6 at Kansas State.

• Players to watch: QB Todd Reesing (11 touchdown passes, one interception, 299.8 yards passing a game), CB Aqib Talib (two interceptions, one touchdown).

• Fact to remember: Kansas' next test will be its first this season.

• September grade: C-minus. The stat-happy Jayhawks are undefeated and still lack credibility, which could change with a couple of divisional wins.

IOWA STATE

• Record, ranking: 1-3, unranked.

• Best September win: 15-13 vs. Iowa.

• Big 12 game to watch: Today at Nebraska.

• Players to watch: QB Bret Meyer (four touchdown passes, five interceptions, 202.8 yards passing a game), LB Alvin Bowen (8.0 tackles a game).

• Fact to remember: Iowa State is 2-9 in its past 11 games.

• September grade: D. The Cyclones are working through a coaching transition, but their offense still has been subpar.

South Division

OKLAHOMA

• Record, ranking: 4-0, No. 3.

• Best September win: 51-13 vs. Miami.

• Big 12 game to watch: Oct. 6 vs. No. 7 Texas at Dallas.

• Players to watch: QB Sam Bradford (14 touchdown passes, two interceptions, 266.8 yards passing a game), TB Allen Patrick (101.7 yards rushing a game).

• Fact to remember: Oklahoma ranks in the top 10 in the nation in seven major statistical categories.

• September grade: A. A January trip to New Orleans, site of the Bowl Championship Series national title game, could be in the Sooners' future.

TEXAS

• Record, ranking: 4-0, No. 7.

• Best September win: 34-13 vs. Texas Christian.

• Big 12 game to watch: Oct. 6 vs. No. 3 Oklahoma at Dallas.

• Players to watch: QB Colt McCoy (seven touchdown passes, five interceptions, 263.5 yards passing a game), TB Jamaal Charles (117.8 yards rushing a game).

• Fact to remember: Texas' relatively slow start belies its talent on both sides of the ball.

• September grade: B-minus. There's only a short time for some big improvement before squaring off against the Sooners.

OKLAHOMA STATE

• Record, ranking: 2-2 overall, 1-0 Big 12, unranked.

• Best September win: 49-45 vs. Texas Tech.

• Big 12 game to watch: Oct. 6 at Texas A&M.

• Players to watch: QB Zac Robinson (six touchdown passes, four interceptions, 164.3 yards passing a game), WR Adarius Bowman (three touchdown receptions, 14.7 yards per catch).

• Fact to remember: OSU, needing a fast start in conference play, got it and is 1-0 for the first time since 2004.

• September grade: C. The Cowboys have a handful of capable playmakers, including Bowman, Robinson and tailback Dantrell Savage.

TEXAS TECH

• Record, ranking: 3-1 overall, 0-1 Big 12, unranked.

• Best September win: 45-31 vs. Texas-El Paso.

• Big 12 game to watch: Oct. 13 vs. Texas A&M.

• Players to watch: QB Graham Harrell (19 touchdown passes, two interceptions, 490.8 yards passing a game), WR Michael Crabtree (11 touchdown receptions, 14.9 yards per catch).

• Fact to remember: As usual, the Red Raiders lead the nation in pass offense, averaging 521 yards a game.

• September grade: C-minus. Where's the defense? A dismal performance against Oklahoma State cost coordinator Lyle Setencich his job.

TEXAS A&M

• Record, ranking: 3-1, unranked.

• Best September win: 47-45 (3 OT) vs. Fresno State.

• Big 12 game to watch: Nov. 23 vs. Texas.

• Players to watch: QB Stephen McGee (75.5 yards rushing a game, three touchdowns), LB Mark Dodge (10.3 tackles a game).

• Fact to remember: The Aggies have scored on all 22 of their trips into the red zone this season.

• September grade: C. If A&M can't regroup after the mauling by Miami, the heat rises twofold on coach Dennis Franchione by mid-October.

BAYLOR

• Record, ranking: 3-1, unranked.

• Best September win: 42-17 vs. Rice.

• Big 12 game to watch: Today at Texas A&M.

• Players to watch: QB Blake

Szymanski (14 touchdown passes, six interceptions, 302.8 yards passing a game), DB Jordan Lake (7.5 tackles a game, two interceptions).

• Fact to remember: After recording 11 quarterback sacks in 2006, the Bears have 12 through four games.

• September grade: C-minus. The Bears steadily have been improving, but is anyone in the South taking notice?

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