Spring Break
What's wrong with the Big 12?
By: David Harris
Issue date: 11/3/09 Section: Sports
At this time last year, the talk of the college football world centered around the Big 12. College Gameday was a mainstay on the conference's campuses. Brent Musberger was going gaga over everything Texas. The Heisman race could've been renamed "Big 12's MVP." And, it seemed like there was a primetime matchup almost every week involving Top 10 squads.
After 10 weeks in 2008, the Big 12 had four teams (Texas Tech, Texas, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State) residing in the Top 10. Missouri and Kansas were also ranked at the time. It seemed obvious the conference had overtaken the SEC in the pecking order of best conferences.
Now, flash forward to the present and notice how much has changed. Well, besides the fact that Musberger still gets, um, excited whenever he sees burnt orange. There are three Big 12 teams total that are ranked. Only one, Texas, is higher than No. 19 in the polls.
Plainly, the Big 12 has one good team (Texas), two very unlucky teams (Oklahoma and Oklahoma State) and a lot of mediocrity (everyone else). In light of this conclusion, one must ask: What has happened to a conference that was set to establish itself as the best and most competitive a mere 12 months ago? Why has the conference been relegated to the same level as the Big Ten and Pac 10 as eventual fodder for the Southeastern Conference?
1.) Last year's teams were severely overrated: This isn't an opinion. This is a simple fact. Texas Tech and Oklahoma went out in their bowl games and got waxed by SEC squads. Oklahoma State got manhandled by Oregon, a Pac 10 team. And, Texas needed a game-winning drive to defeat Big Ten runner-up Ohio State. The conference gained notoriety only because they provided the networks with flashy, exciting football. The only problem is they each possessed flaws and weaknesses that couldn't be exposed by the rest of the conference.
2.) A couple unfortunate injuries and suspensions have derailed promising seasons for some:Going into the season, both Oklahoma and Oklahoma State were supposed to challenge Texas for Big 12 supremacy. Now, both schools are clawing tooth and nail in hopes of staying among the Top 25. Oklahoma lost two of their best pro prospects, quarterback Sam Bradford and tight end Jermaine Gresham, by halftime of their season opening loss to BYU. And, the Cowboys saw their best player, and maybe the best player in the country, Dez Bryant, get suspended for lying to the NCAA. As a result, the already-watered down conference has been left with only one legitimate contender.
After 10 weeks in 2008, the Big 12 had four teams (Texas Tech, Texas, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State) residing in the Top 10. Missouri and Kansas were also ranked at the time. It seemed obvious the conference had overtaken the SEC in the pecking order of best conferences.
Now, flash forward to the present and notice how much has changed. Well, besides the fact that Musberger still gets, um, excited whenever he sees burnt orange. There are three Big 12 teams total that are ranked. Only one, Texas, is higher than No. 19 in the polls.
Plainly, the Big 12 has one good team (Texas), two very unlucky teams (Oklahoma and Oklahoma State) and a lot of mediocrity (everyone else). In light of this conclusion, one must ask: What has happened to a conference that was set to establish itself as the best and most competitive a mere 12 months ago? Why has the conference been relegated to the same level as the Big Ten and Pac 10 as eventual fodder for the Southeastern Conference?
1.) Last year's teams were severely overrated: This isn't an opinion. This is a simple fact. Texas Tech and Oklahoma went out in their bowl games and got waxed by SEC squads. Oklahoma State got manhandled by Oregon, a Pac 10 team. And, Texas needed a game-winning drive to defeat Big Ten runner-up Ohio State. The conference gained notoriety only because they provided the networks with flashy, exciting football. The only problem is they each possessed flaws and weaknesses that couldn't be exposed by the rest of the conference.
2.) A couple unfortunate injuries and suspensions have derailed promising seasons for some:Going into the season, both Oklahoma and Oklahoma State were supposed to challenge Texas for Big 12 supremacy. Now, both schools are clawing tooth and nail in hopes of staying among the Top 25. Oklahoma lost two of their best pro prospects, quarterback Sam Bradford and tight end Jermaine Gresham, by halftime of their season opening loss to BYU. And, the Cowboys saw their best player, and maybe the best player in the country, Dez Bryant, get suspended for lying to the NCAA. As a result, the already-watered down conference has been left with only one legitimate contender.
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