The tide is turning in the league

[JonforOSU]

Who would of thought that we'd see KU sticking it to the Hokies in the Orange Bowl when the year began.

They are for real. Not only are they decent on offense with a few guys from OK, their defense is good as well, with a few guys from OK.

This is my question. It seems that KU recruits these little diamonds in the rough, but these guys have football smarts and do not get in trouble off the field(See OU). Gundy is doing that here and I think we'll see it pay off in the next few years. When do we make that BCS bowl?

I predict a similar route that KU has taken to the BCS. Not a sprint there by any means, but a slow progression to the top of the conference.

I think next year, you'll see the south as wide open as it was this year. As for the north it will be a race between KU and MU.

I like where we stand. I'd take our team over anyone in the south. Stamp it right now.

[bremmel]

Who would of thought that we'd see KU sticking it to the Hokies in the Orange Bowl when the year began.

They are for real. Not only are they decent on offense with a few guys from OK, their defense is good as well, with a few guys from OK.

This is my question. It seems that KU recruits these little diamonds in the rough, but these guys have football smarts and do not get in trouble off the field(See OU). Gundy is doing that here and I think we'll see it pay off in the next few years. When do we make that BCS bowl?

I predict a similar route that KU has taken to the BCS. Not a sprint there by any means, but a slow progression to the top of the conference.

I think next year, you'll see the south as wide open as it was this year. As for the north it will be a race between KU and MU.

I like where we stand. I'd take our team over anyone in the south. Stamp it right now. Good win for them and the big 12. I'm curious to see what they do next year having to play uo, texas, and tek. Their non-conference schedule doesn't look all that tough again other than South Florida.

[MemphisPoke]

So the Big 12 ended up: 5-3 in the bowls

Wins by: OSU, Texas, Missouri, Kansas and Tech.
Losses by: aTm, Colorado and the sooners

Going into the bowl season I had thought that it might be closer to 6-2 or with luck 7-1. The biggest obvious loss is uO's meltdown in the desert. And I honestly thought that Colorado had an outside chance of beating Bama.

Should be an interesting season next year the way the schedules play out. The unknowns for the South are going to be how aTm does with a new coach and in the North how Nebraska does as well.

Yep it is just going to get tougher and tougher but I like where we are heading.

[OSU_Fan_In_KS]

What impresses me about KU is they appear to be a very well coached team. They had a very good game plan, especially on defense and matched the big plays on special teams. The offense took advantage of good field position given to them by their defense and sealed the deal in the fourth quarter. I felt the KU defense won the game.

[Pokevette]

Kansas played a good Bowl game and took advantage of their opportunity, but..

Two things went really right for Kansas this year:

1) The traditional powers in their division (Nebraska/Colorado) are down. That gave opportunity for them to make some noise in their division.

2) They had a very favorable South schedule (Baylor, @A&M, @OSU).

And of course, they had a "non-schedule" in out of conference play.

The 'Hawks were a nice team this year, but certainly not an "elite" team...

[bigbadbob]

I agree that KU has kind of come out of nowhere to be one of the top 2 teams in the Big XII this year...who woulda thunk? Great job by Mangino. Wonder how long he will be there?

And what was up with Todd Reesing's hat in the postgame interviews? Come on man, you just won the biggest game of your career, don't wear a floppy beach hat!

[JonforOSU]

Kansas played a good Bowl game and took advantage of their opportunity, but..

Two things went really right for Kansas this year:

1) The traditional powers in their division (Nebraska/Colorado) are down. That gave opportunity for them to make some noise in their division.

2) They had a very favorable South schedule (Baylor, @A&M, @OSU).

And of course, they had a "non-schedule" in out of conference play.

The 'Hawks were a nice team this year, but certainly not an "elite" team...

The BCS says they are an "elite" team. Elite enough to play in the orange bowl.

I say the Conference looks a bit like this next pre-season

North
1. Mizzou
2. Kansas
3. Colorado
4. Kansas State
5. Nebraska
6. Iowa State

South
1. Oklahoma
2. Texas
3. Texas A&M
4. OKlahoma State
5. Tech
6. Baylor

[JonforOSU]

The guys on the animal said if he doesn't get an offer from a big name school after doing well next year, it's because of his WEIGHT. Your thoughts on that!?!?!

Are we really that superficial of a species that someone discriminates against an overweight guy, overlooking his blatent coaching talent? I think so:(

[MemphisPoke]

I understand what you are saying Jon BUT you have to figure in the Nebraska name for the North.

You had:

North
1. Mizzou
2. Kansas
3. Colorado
4. Kansas State
5. Nebraska
6. Iowa State

South
1. Oklahoma
2. Texas
3. Texas A&M
4. OKlahoma State
5. Tech
6. Baylor

Move Nebraska up to 2nd or 3rd in the North and you are about right on the rest of it. Never underestimate the Nebraska name and how the media loves them.

[Inky29]

Generally happens about once every 10 years that the traditional powers are all down allowing an opportunity for a non traditional power to rise up take a big bite of the pie. We missed our chance the last two times (both times we were in position to make a jump). If KU can keep Mangino they have a real chance to have some staying power, for some reason I'm just not sold on Mizzou. I know they beat KU this year but I just don't have a feel that Pinkel can stand success.

[CaliforniaCowboy]

I think that NU stays down for yet another year, with a new coach and all.... they should be better, but not near the top 3 in the North.

For similar reasons, I would switch TTech and the Aggies in the South... Tech is pretty consistent, and Aggieland is in turmoil.

[wickerbill]

The guys on the animal said if he doesn't get an offer from a big name school after doing well next year, it's because of his WEIGHT. Your thoughts on that!?!?!

Are we really that superficial of a species that someone discriminates against an overweight guy, overlooking his blatent coaching talent? I think so:(

The dude's not just fat, he's morbidly obese. People that big have a lot more health problems so I can see why a top program might not want to take a risk with him that much overweight.