Projected Postseason Top 25: #2 Texas

While most freshman quarterbacks struggle out of the gate, Colt McCoy suffered no growing pains. The Texas quarterback with the Texas name has taken the torch from Vince Young and the national championship expectations. His receivers only add to the excitement and if the Longhorn defense improves over last year, Texas could be playing for its second national championship in three years.

Projected Record and Bowl Result: 13-1 Lose to #1 in BCS National Championship Game
Who they’ll beat: Arkansas State (Home), TCU (Home), UCF (Road), Rice (Home), Kansas State (Home), Oklahoma (Dallas, TX), Iowa State (Road), Baylor (Road), Nebraska (Home), Oklahoma State (Road), Texas Tech (Home), Texas A&M (Road), Missouri (San Antonio, TX)

Who’ll beat them: #1 (New Orleans, LA)

When they Pass: Colt McCoy will be in his second year throwing to a group of receivers that is by far the best in the Big XII. Limas Sweed, Billy Pittman, Quan Cosby are just the starters of this deep deep group which should see plenty of balls in the air in Austin.

When they Run: The offensive line rebuilds but if they gel quickly Jamaal Charles averaged 7.4 yards a game last season. He could come close to that this season as well.

When their Opponents Run: Derek Lokey and Frank Odom are the senior defensive tackles. Texas had the nations third best rushing defense in 2006.

When their Opponents Pass: For as many members of the Texas secondary went in the first round of the NFL draft, you think they would have been better than 99th against the pass. Safety Marcus Griffin is the only returnee from a unit which must improve its play from last year.

When they Kick: Ryan Bailey who beat Nebraska with a late field goal off the bench takes over the starting kicking role.

When they call Timeout: On the hot seat for a good while, now Mack Brown is sitting pretty, having just signed an extension that keeps him in Austin for the foreseeable future. Defensive guru Gene Chizik has moved on to a head coaching job at Iowa State. Secondary coach Duane Akina takes over as defensive coordinator.

Projected Postseason Top 25: #10 Oklahoma

To be fair to the Oklahoma Sooners, they were almost in a no-win situation January 1 against Boise State. Nobody outside of the state of Oklahoma wanted them to win that and nobody in the country would’ve been impressed if they did. Still the Sooners would just like to forget the Fiesta Bowl ever happened and they have the sort of talent returning to do just that in 2007. If this team can get over Texas, whom has been an annual road block for them the past two years, it could be “Boise Who?” in Norman again.

Projected Record and Bowl Result: 11-2 Beat Arkansas in Cotton Bowl

Who they’ll beat (or who they’ll have to forfeit retroactively in three years): North Texas (Home), Miami (Home), Utah State (Home), Tulsa (Road), Colorado (Road), Missouri (Home), Iowa State (Road), Texas A&M (Home), Baylor (Home), Oklahoma State (Home)

Who’ll beat them: Texas (Dallas, TX), Texas Tech (Away)

When they Pass: Redshirt Freshman Sam Bradford takes over the quarterback position. As you can imagine this the Sooners’ biggest question mark. Malcolm Kelly has All-America potential. Manuel Johnson and Juaquin Iglesias are other big athletic receivers that will provide Bradford targets to throw to.

When they Run: Allen Patrick made Oklahoma fans feel a lot better about this season when he performed magnificently when Adrian Peterson went down, rushing for a 100 yards 4 times. He’ll be doing just about all the carrying this season unless Demarco Murray continues to emerge.

When their Opponents Run: While the linebackers are shaky, pending the return of middle linebacker Ryan Reynolds (not Van Wilder), Oklahoma continues to breed defensive linemen. Expect the Sooners to be strong against the run in 2007.

When their Opponents Pass: Four starters return to form perhaps the nation’s best secondary. Reggie Smith and Marcus Walker are the corners, Nic Harris and D.J. Wolfe are the safeties.

When they Kick: Garret Harrley is the Big XII’s best.

When they call Timeout: Only someone as charming and successful as Bob Stoops could survive the loss to Boise State last year and not be under some kind of scrutiny. Although the Fiesta Bowl was a microcosm of a few years now of underachievement. The spoiled again Boomer Sooners will be looking for a Big XII title or at least a top 10 finish. If not, some scrutiny could find its way to Bob Stoops.

Projected Postseason Top 25: #20 Nebraska

Bill Callahan finally has Nebraska back to where it wants to be, expecting to challenge for Big XII titles. While Nebraska is a step below the class of the Big XII South, it should be the year in year out favorite to win the Big XII’s North Division (although a trip to Columbia this year may halt those plans). While the option offense and “black shirt” defense may be left in the Osborn era, lofty expectations are back to stay.

Projected Record and Bowl Result: 10-3 Beat Fresno State* in Insight Bowl

Who they’ll beat: Nevada (Home), Wake Forest (Road), Ball State (Home), Iowa State (Home), Oklahoma State (Home), Texas A&M (Home), Kansas (Home), Kansas State (Home), Colorado (Road), Fresno State (Tempe, AZ)

Who’ll beat them: USC (Home), Missouri (Road), Texas (Road)

When they Pass: Arizona State transfer Sam Keller will likely take over for Zac Taylor and lead Bill Callahan’s West Coast Offense. Keller has the size, strength and experience to lead the Cornhuskers to places. To do so, his options will be seniors Terrence Nunn and Maurice Purify.



When they Run: Marlon Lucky and Cody Glenn will try to replace Brandon Jackson’s run production from last year. Durability is an issue with both men.

When their Opponents Run: Linebackers Corey McKeon and Bo Ruud are the leaders of the defense and will have an entirely new defensive line in front of them. The development of the D-Line and their ability to stop the run will be the difference between a good season in Lincoln and a special one.

When their Opponents Pass: Cornerback Zachary Bowman is a former shut-down corner trying to return from an ACL injury, if he is able to return to his 2005 form, this pass defense could be among the best in the Big XII.

When they Kick: Adi Kunalic takes over the field goal kicking duties after Jordan Congdon left the team. Kunalic is a freshman which should make Husker fans nervous in close 4th quarter games.

When they call Timeout: Callahan’s style seems to fit Nebraska football much more than the dysfunctional family known as the Oakland Raiders. I’m sure it is safe to say he doesn’t miss Oakland right now. It’s a little much for him to be as revered as Tom Osborn was in Lincoln but if he can get Nebraska to the next step and perennial BCS appearances, that will certainly help.

*Qualifier to fill slot unable to be filled by Big Ten team

Projected Postseason Top 25: #22 Texas Tech

Texas Tech fans have been watching the same show for a while, ever since Mike Leach took over their program. An offense running up numbers like a pinball machine, fueled by a prolific passing attack moving the ball in a hurry, then a questionable defense giving up points just as easily. Graham Harrell and the offense have their role down part and will build off of their miracle comeback in last year’s Insight Bowl. The question marks on defense will have the loyal people of Lubbock wondering where they’ve seen this time and time again.

Projected Record and Bowl Result: 10-3 Beat Minnesota in Alamo Bowl

Who they’ll beat: SMU (Road), UTEP (Home), Rice (Road), Northwestern State (Home), Iowa State (Home), Texas A&M (Home), Colorado (Home), Baylor (Road), Oklahoma (Home), Minnesota (San Antonio, TX)

Who’ll beat them: Oklahoma State (Road), Missouri (Road), Texas (Road)

When they Pass: In 2006 Graham Harrell passed for 4,555 yards and 38 touchdowns, its difficult to see him improving on those numbers, but in this offense anything is possible.

When they Run: The threat to Harrell’s stat padding could be the emergence of running back Shannon Woods. Woods ran for 926 yards in his sophomore season. He had a difficult spring but should bounce back to produce this fall.

When their Opponents Run: The Raiders struggled against the run last year, allowing 151 yards a game. And they didn’t have to replace five starters in the front seven then. It should be quite easy to run on Texas Tech this year leading to many shootouts yet again.

When their Opponents Pass: The Big XII’s best pass defense returns three out of four starters. And the numbers shall be even better as teams attempt to keep up with Leach’s offense by running at his defense.

When they Kick: Alex Trlica’s foot is dependable if not strong. Although Minnesota may have thought the same before his 53 yard field goal completed the Raiders’ comeback and sent the Insight Bowl to overtime.

When they call Timeout: Leach is safe as long as Tech wins 9-10 games every year, even if fans in Lubbock wonder when they’re going to take that next step and compete for Big XII South titles.