All nonconference schedules are not created equal. Some schedule ambitiously. Others prefer to pay for wins. To each his own. We'll be keeping track either way.
Some games were cancelled, others were late fill-ins. Here's how it stands, from most to least difficult.
1. Oklahoma -- at UTEP, Florida A&M, Notre Dame
The Sooners can't help that Notre Dame can't get its act together, but the storied program will visit Norman in October. Oklahoma also had to put together a last-minute game to kick off its season, traveling to El Paso to face the Miners, who went 5-7 in 2011. Florida A&M is an FCS opponent, but won't be bringing its band. The gap between the Sooners' schedule difficulty and everyone else's isn't very wide this year. The saddest truth? Oklahoma's game vs. Notre Dame is the only game featuring a Big 12 vs. a team in the ESPN preseason Top 25.
2. Iowa State -- Tulsa, at Iowa, Western Illinois
Western Illinois is dreadful, but traveling to Iowa City for a rivalry game won't be easy. That's especially true after ISU knocked off the 7-6 Hawkeyes in Ames in triple overtime last year. Tulsa lost star QB G.J. Kinne, but the Golden Hurricane have established themselves as a solid program.
3. West Virginia -- Marshall, James Madison (in Landover, Md.), Maryland
West Virginia's the only team playing an FCS team on a neutral field, but a rivalry game vs. 7-6 Marshall to open the season should be fun. Maryland was awful in 2011, going just 2-10 under Randy Edsall and lost QB Danny O'Brien. At this point, we should realize the harsh truth: The Big 12 nonconference schedule is pretty sad this year. West Virginia canceled a scheduled game vs. Florida State to make room for the Big 12 schedule.
4. Oklahoma State -- Savannah State, at Arizona, Louisiana-Lafayette
OSU will brave a trip to Tucson to face a brand-new Rich Rodriguez team. Louisiana-Lafayette is a little underrated and went 9-4 last year.
5. TCU -- Grambling, Virginia, at SMU
TCU gets points for going on the road against June Jones' SMU team, who beat TCU in Fort Worth in overtime last season. Virginia was 8-5 last season and growing under Mike London, but Grambling will be a dip into the FCS pool.
6. Texas -- Wyoming, New Mexico, at Ole Miss
Texas' schedule looks decent, but it's not too difficult. New Mexico was dreadful under Mike Locksley, and will try to rebuild under Bob Davie. Wyoming is underrated and playing well under former Mizzou OC Dave Christensen; the Cowboys went 8-5 last season. The Longhorns are the only Big 12 team playing an SEC team this year, but Ole Miss didn't win a conference game last year and has a new coach in Hugh Freeze.
7. Kansas State -- Missouri State, Miami, North Texas
Missouri State is an FCS team without its starting QB, and K-State will get to see a familiar face in former Iowa State coach Dan McCarney at North Texas. He's a new coach, though, and UNT went 5-7 last year. Miami's a big name, but the Hurricanes went just 6-6 last season and are still growing under Al Golden. K-State is the only Big 12 team playing every nonconference game in its home stadium.
8. Kansas -- South Dakota State, Rice, at Northern Illinois
KU needs wins badly, and Rice won't be a gimme. The Jayhawks won a barnburner against the MAC champs at Northern Illinois, but that Sept. 22 matchup won't be easy, either. NIU won 11 games in 2011.
9. Baylor -- SMU, Sam Houston State, at Louisiana-Monroe
Yet another Big 12 team who won't be playing against major conference competition in 2012. SMU is a good team, but SHS is an FCS team and Monroe went 4-8 in the Sun Belt.
10. Texas Tech -- Northwestern State, at Texas State, New Mexico
Tech is inexplicably playing at Texas State, who will be in its first year outside the FCS, but that doesn't make the Red Raiders' annual stinker of a nonconference schedule much better. Texas Tech hasn't played a major conference team out of conference since games at NC State and Ole Miss in 2003.
Some games were cancelled, others were late fill-ins. Here's how it stands, from most to least difficult.
1. Oklahoma -- at UTEP, Florida A&M, Notre Dame
The Sooners can't help that Notre Dame can't get its act together, but the storied program will visit Norman in October. Oklahoma also had to put together a last-minute game to kick off its season, traveling to El Paso to face the Miners, who went 5-7 in 2011. Florida A&M is an FCS opponent, but won't be bringing its band. The gap between the Sooners' schedule difficulty and everyone else's isn't very wide this year. The saddest truth? Oklahoma's game vs. Notre Dame is the only game featuring a Big 12 vs. a team in the ESPN preseason Top 25.
2. Iowa State -- Tulsa, at Iowa, Western Illinois
Western Illinois is dreadful, but traveling to Iowa City for a rivalry game won't be easy. That's especially true after ISU knocked off the 7-6 Hawkeyes in Ames in triple overtime last year. Tulsa lost star QB G.J. Kinne, but the Golden Hurricane have established themselves as a solid program.
3. West Virginia -- Marshall, James Madison (in Landover, Md.), Maryland
West Virginia's the only team playing an FCS team on a neutral field, but a rivalry game vs. 7-6 Marshall to open the season should be fun. Maryland was awful in 2011, going just 2-10 under Randy Edsall and lost QB Danny O'Brien. At this point, we should realize the harsh truth: The Big 12 nonconference schedule is pretty sad this year. West Virginia canceled a scheduled game vs. Florida State to make room for the Big 12 schedule.
4. Oklahoma State -- Savannah State, at Arizona, Louisiana-Lafayette
OSU will brave a trip to Tucson to face a brand-new Rich Rodriguez team. Louisiana-Lafayette is a little underrated and went 9-4 last year.
5. TCU -- Grambling, Virginia, at SMU
TCU gets points for going on the road against June Jones' SMU team, who beat TCU in Fort Worth in overtime last season. Virginia was 8-5 last season and growing under Mike London, but Grambling will be a dip into the FCS pool.
6. Texas -- Wyoming, New Mexico, at Ole Miss
Texas' schedule looks decent, but it's not too difficult. New Mexico was dreadful under Mike Locksley, and will try to rebuild under Bob Davie. Wyoming is underrated and playing well under former Mizzou OC Dave Christensen; the Cowboys went 8-5 last season. The Longhorns are the only Big 12 team playing an SEC team this year, but Ole Miss didn't win a conference game last year and has a new coach in Hugh Freeze.
7. Kansas State -- Missouri State, Miami, North Texas
Missouri State is an FCS team without its starting QB, and K-State will get to see a familiar face in former Iowa State coach Dan McCarney at North Texas. He's a new coach, though, and UNT went 5-7 last year. Miami's a big name, but the Hurricanes went just 6-6 last season and are still growing under Al Golden. K-State is the only Big 12 team playing every nonconference game in its home stadium.
8. Kansas -- South Dakota State, Rice, at Northern Illinois
KU needs wins badly, and Rice won't be a gimme. The Jayhawks won a barnburner against the MAC champs at Northern Illinois, but that Sept. 22 matchup won't be easy, either. NIU won 11 games in 2011.
9. Baylor -- SMU, Sam Houston State, at Louisiana-Monroe
Yet another Big 12 team who won't be playing against major conference competition in 2012. SMU is a good team, but SHS is an FCS team and Monroe went 4-8 in the Sun Belt.
10. Texas Tech -- Northwestern State, at Texas State, New Mexico
Tech is inexplicably playing at Texas State, who will be in its first year outside the FCS, but that doesn't make the Red Raiders' annual stinker of a nonconference schedule much better. Texas Tech hasn't played a major conference team out of conference since games at NC State and Ole Miss in 2003.
Let's get this out of the way right now: None of these guys can win the Heisman.
It's a new day, and simply put, we'll never see a defensive player win the Heisman. If Ndamukong Suh couldn't win it (and I would have voted for him if I'd had a Heisman vote that year), then nobody could.
It wouldn't stop me from voting for a defender who deserved it, but lots of voters just won't make it possible. Charles Woodson did it in 1997, but we live in a new day full of high-powered, fast-paced offenses and he was a dynamic return man, too.
Buuuuuut, what if defenders could win the Heisman? They can certainly have an impact. That much is clear.
Our man Chris Huston at HeismanPundit.com broke down his top 10, which featured three possible winners from the Big 12:
It's a new day, and simply put, we'll never see a defensive player win the Heisman. If Ndamukong Suh couldn't win it (and I would have voted for him if I'd had a Heisman vote that year), then nobody could.
It wouldn't stop me from voting for a defender who deserved it, but lots of voters just won't make it possible. Charles Woodson did it in 1997, but we live in a new day full of high-powered, fast-paced offenses and he was a dynamic return man, too.
Buuuuuut, what if defenders could win the Heisman? They can certainly have an impact. That much is clear.
Our man Chris Huston at HeismanPundit.com broke down his top 10, which featured three possible winners from the Big 12:
5. Jackson Jeffcoat, DE, Texas – Jeffcoat had a fine sophomore season with 63 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and 8 sacks. Despite those stellar numbers, one gets the sense he still hasn’t come close to fulfilling his potential. He might get there as a junior, which could result in some Heisman attention.My take: Everyone, myself included, keeps waiting for Jeffcoat to explode. If it happens this year, and it very well might, I'd agree that he's going to blow up on the national stage, too. He's a junior with a ton of experience. He's in the second year of a fairly complex scheme under Manny Diaz. It's all there for him if he stays healthy.
6. Tony Jefferson, S/LB, Oklahoma – Jefferson is a versatile and explosive defender in the mold of past Sooner hybrid-type defensive backs like Roy Williams and Donte Nicholson. He had 74 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and 4 interceptions as a 2011 sophomore. If he improves on those numbers and helps the Sooners to the Big 12 title, he might make some noise in the Heisman race.My take: I feel bad for Jefferson, who's expressed some frustration at being snubbed for All-Big 12 honors and awards in the past. The only reason is he's moved around. Anyone who watches OU knows how obvious it is that Jefferson's one of the most gifted defenders in the Big 12. Now, he's been moved back to traditional safety, where he can wreak all kinds of havoc. Will he stay there in new DC Mike Stoops' scheme? We'll find out.
7. Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State – Brown really came into his own as a 2011 junior, as the former highly-touted recruit made 101 tackles with 9.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and an interception (of Heisman winner Robert Griffin III, no less). Brown is the latest in a stellar line of fast and tough K-State linebackers, so look for a ton of honors to flow his way if he comes through with a special senior season.My take: Brown's biggest asset is his sure tackling. That's exactly what linebackers have to do in the wide-open Big 12 full of offenses whose sole goal is to get playmakers the ball in space. Brown makes sure that space is eliminated, and with his speed, does it quickly. He held together K-State's defense last year, and if the Wildcats get on a winning run again, he'll definitely get much-deserved attention.
What's that you hear? The faint whispers of realignment rumormongering?
Oh, we all hear them. And when they happen, it's time to compare the prospective team to its possible future home.
We always do these for the Big 12, and I definitely always learn a thing or two. I hope you do, too.
Here's our history:
So, these Seminoles are a possibility for the Big 12? Some don't see favorable outcomes for FSU if it moved to the Big 12, and really, all-time records only tell us so much, but here's how Florida State has matched up with the rest of the Big 12.
Baylor
Oh, we all hear them. And when they happen, it's time to compare the prospective team to its possible future home.
We always do these for the Big 12, and I definitely always learn a thing or two. I hope you do, too.
Here's our history:
- Nebraska vs. the Big Ten
- Texas A&M vs. the SEC
- TCU vs. the Big 12
- Missouri vs. the Big Ten
- Missouri vs. the SEC
- West Virginia vs. the Big 12
So, these Seminoles are a possibility for the Big 12? Some don't see favorable outcomes for FSU if it moved to the Big 12, and really, all-time records only tell us so much, but here's how Florida State has matched up with the rest of the Big 12.
Baylor
- Florida State is 1-2 all-time vs. the Bears, but the last meeting was in 1974.
- Florida State is 1-1 all-time vs. the Cyclones.
- The Seminoles narrowly edged Seneca Wallace and ISU in the season opener in Kansas City, 38-31. FSU led 31-14 at half, but Wallace led ISU back to within 38-31 early in the fourth quarter.
- Florida State is 5-2 all-time vs. Kansas, but haven't met the Jayhawks since 1993.
- In that 1993 game, FSU tromped the Jayhawks, 47-0, on the way to its first national title.
- Florida State is 3-0 all-time against the Wildcats, but haven't met them since 1977. In Manhattan, that equates to the year 12 B.S. (Before Snyder).
- Florida State is an eye-popping 1-6 all-time vs. Oklahoma.
- The Sooners beat FSU 13-2 in the 2000 Orange Bowl to win the national title.
- Last year, Oklahoma marched into Tallahassee and won, 23-13, with ESPN's College Gameday in attendance.
- Florida State is 3-1 all-time vs. OSU, but haven't met the Cowboys since 1985.
- Florida State won that game, the 1985 Gator Bowl, 34-23.
- Texas and Florida State have never played. I blame Dan Beebe.
- Florida State is 1-2 all-time vs. TCU, but the two teams haven't met since waaaaay back in 1965. I was only eight years old that day, but I remember bits and pieces of the game. FSU won the season opener in Fort Worth, 7-3.
- Florida State is 4-1 all-time vs. Texas Tech.
- The two teams haven't met since 1987. FSU won that game, a season opener in Tallahassee, 40-16.
- Florida State is an impressive 3-0 vs. West Virginia.
- The two teams last met in 2009, and FSU beat the Mountaineers 33-21 in the Gator Bowl.
- The Seminoles and WVU were scheduled to meet in 2012, but WVU canceled the game to make room for a new nine-game conference schedule in the Big 12, instead of the seven-game conference schedule used in the Big East.
New Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby doesn't want to see any future expansion in college athletics, but recent events have given him no choice but to put the issue on the Big 12's agenda, as it is on other conferences'.
My opinion," he told USA Today on Tuesday, "is college athletics would be well served by some period of smooth water and not all of the angst and disorganization that goes with moves from one league to another."
We've heard that from the Big 12. Florida State is forcing Bowlsby's hand, though he wouldn't mention the school by name.
"I think the topic of expansion will be on every agenda going forward. But it's on every other conference's agenda going forward, too," Bowlsby told the paper.
Over the weekend, Florida State's chairman of its board of trustees opened up a big ol' can of realignment worms, however, when he offered credence to a long-held rumor rumbling around college sports. Could Florida State leave for the Big 12?
"On behalf of the Board of Trustees I can say that unanimously we would be in favor of seeing what the Big 12 might have to offer. We have to do what is in Florida State's best interest," Andy Haggard told Warchant.com.
So, here we are. After two years of attrition and a role as the hunted, the Big 12 is doing some hunting of its own? Or is it? The league just added TCU and West Virginia for 2012 after Texas A&M and Missouri bolted for the SEC, leaving the Big 12 with eight members. That move was a year after Nebraska and Colorado left the Big 12 for the Big Ten and Pac-12, respectively, costing the conference its namesake. Could Florida State move the Big 12 one step closer to a return to 12 members?
Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds tamped down some of the discussion, telling the Austin American-Statesman that there was "no traction" to the reports.
He did not add a "yet" on the end of that sentence, but more than a few assumed that was the case. How could the Big 12 and Florida State at least not sit down at a table for an exchange of ideas?
Where does the Big 12 stand right now? Bowlsby's not showing his hand.
"It's all about driving value for the member institutions," Bowlsby said. "There is a case to be made for optimal value being driven by the status quo, and there is a case to be made for some form of expansion. And I'm not prejudging or adopting either side of that right now."
He is, however, discussing it. And while that happens, there won't be many calm waters in college football.
My opinion," he told USA Today on Tuesday, "is college athletics would be well served by some period of smooth water and not all of the angst and disorganization that goes with moves from one league to another."
We've heard that from the Big 12. Florida State is forcing Bowlsby's hand, though he wouldn't mention the school by name.
"I think the topic of expansion will be on every agenda going forward. But it's on every other conference's agenda going forward, too," Bowlsby told the paper.
Over the weekend, Florida State's chairman of its board of trustees opened up a big ol' can of realignment worms, however, when he offered credence to a long-held rumor rumbling around college sports. Could Florida State leave for the Big 12?
"On behalf of the Board of Trustees I can say that unanimously we would be in favor of seeing what the Big 12 might have to offer. We have to do what is in Florida State's best interest," Andy Haggard told Warchant.com.
So, here we are. After two years of attrition and a role as the hunted, the Big 12 is doing some hunting of its own? Or is it? The league just added TCU and West Virginia for 2012 after Texas A&M and Missouri bolted for the SEC, leaving the Big 12 with eight members. That move was a year after Nebraska and Colorado left the Big 12 for the Big Ten and Pac-12, respectively, costing the conference its namesake. Could Florida State move the Big 12 one step closer to a return to 12 members?
Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds tamped down some of the discussion, telling the Austin American-Statesman that there was "no traction" to the reports.
He did not add a "yet" on the end of that sentence, but more than a few assumed that was the case. How could the Big 12 and Florida State at least not sit down at a table for an exchange of ideas?
Where does the Big 12 stand right now? Bowlsby's not showing his hand.
"It's all about driving value for the member institutions," Bowlsby said. "There is a case to be made for optimal value being driven by the status quo, and there is a case to be made for some form of expansion. And I'm not prejudging or adopting either side of that right now."
He is, however, discussing it. And while that happens, there won't be many calm waters in college football.
ESPN.com's college baseball experts Jeremy Mills looks at the latest standings and projects where things will shake out with conference tournaments about to start.
The SEC is cleaning up and could end up with four national seeds. In the Big 12, Baylor is poised for a national seed, but as Mills writes, the Bears have the weakest resume for a national seed.
Baylor gets Texas next. The Longhorns are still holding on and are currently slotted to play in a Houston Regional with Rice, Cornell and Dallas Baptist.
Check out the full bracket here.
The SEC is cleaning up and could end up with four national seeds. In the Big 12, Baylor is poised for a national seed, but as Mills writes, the Bears have the weakest resume for a national seed.
Baylor gets Texas next. The Longhorns are still holding on and are currently slotted to play in a Houston Regional with Rice, Cornell and Dallas Baptist.
Check out the full bracket here.
Mapping out The Ultimate Big 12 Road Trip
May, 15, 2012
5/15/12
4:00
PM CT
By
David Ubben | ESPN.com
We finished our Ultimate Big 12 Road Trip: 2012 this week, and it's time to take a gander at how it shook out:
Some of you were, well, not happy about my weekly selections. Shocking, I know.
Ouch. Well, Josh, I hate to break it to you, but we operate this blog like a meritocracy. I write about every team, but a visit to a game during the season?
You earn those by winning. My goal isn't to see every team. It's to see every game that's relevant in the Big 12 title race.
Here's how it shook out by team:
That's a pretty great season of Big 12 football. I took this trip week by week. I didn't start out at the beginning hoping to see this team X many times or this team X many times.
I want to see the best game in the Big 12 every week. This is what that schedule looks like. Want to change that between now and December? There's one solution, Big 12 teams.
Win.
What do you think about The Ultimate Big 12 Road Trip?
- Week 1: West Virginia vs. Marshall
- Week 2: Kansas State vs. Miami
- Week 3: Texas at Ole Miss
- Week 4: Kansas State at Oklahoma
- Week 5: Texas at Oklahoma State
- Week 6: West Virginia at Texas
- Week 7: Oklahoma vs. Texas at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas
- Week 8: Kansas State at West Virginia
- Week 9: Notre Dame at Oklahoma
- Week 10: Oklahoma State at Kansas State
- Week 11: Kansas State at TCU
- Week 12: Oklahoma at West Virginia
- Week 13: Oklahoma State at Oklahoma
- Week 14: Oklahoma at TCU
Some of you were, well, not happy about my weekly selections. Shocking, I know.
Josh in Goleta, Calif., writes: Dear Mr. Ubben,Your ultimate road trip is the ultimate joke. In 12 weeks you have listed 6 teams out of 10. Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Texas Tech were left out. How were these teams were left out thus far? I could think of at least 4 games that could be switched because of a better rivalry with the 4 teams left out. Your focus is just to narrow. Your blog is ok, but I'm not looking for a bandwagon blogger. You were all Oklahoma last year and this year your all Kansas State. Same old stuff. Very boring. Even the people commenting on the blog are getting boring their the same people. Your leadership is lacking, and I let ESPN know it in a similar e-mail to this one that I sent to the network. I'd suggest you begin to include the entire readership before you get s***-canned. Josh
Ouch. Well, Josh, I hate to break it to you, but we operate this blog like a meritocracy. I write about every team, but a visit to a game during the season?
You earn those by winning. My goal isn't to see every team. It's to see every game that's relevant in the Big 12 title race.
Here's how it shook out by team:
- Kansas State (4) -- One home game, three road games
- Oklahoma (6) -- Three home games, two road games, one neutral site
- Oklahoma State (3) -- Two road games, one home game
- Texas (4) -- Two road games, one home game, one neutral site
- TCU (2) -- Two home games
- West Virginia (4) -- Three home games, one road game
That's a pretty great season of Big 12 football. I took this trip week by week. I didn't start out at the beginning hoping to see this team X many times or this team X many times.
I want to see the best game in the Big 12 every week. This is what that schedule looks like. Want to change that between now and December? There's one solution, Big 12 teams.
Win.
What do you think about The Ultimate Big 12 Road Trip?
We've taken a look at the projections from 2011 for the league's best, and it's time to continue:
So, what about the defense?
Last April, we projected three Big 12 players to notch double-digit sack totals in 2011. Here's how it shook out:
Thoughts: Madison's total wasn't entirely fair. He suffered a shoulder injury, and played through pain all season. The former offensive lineman came out of nowhere in 2010 alongside Aldon Smith, but Madison could be due for a big 2012 if he stays healthy.
Thoughts: Moore didn't reach double digits, but he ranked second in the Big 12 with his total. Texas A&M struggled to defend the pass, but the Aggies led the nation in sacks, with 51. Moore was a big part of that total, but his teammate, Sean Porter, led the Big 12 with 9.5 sacks.
Thoughts: Jeffcoat had the same story as Moore, basically. A great season, but not a huge season. I'd be shocked if Jeffcoat didn't hit double digits as a junior in 2011, though. Jeffcoat finished fourth in the Big 12 in 2011, and led the Longhorns as a sophomore.
By the end of the season, exactly zero Big 12 defenders had double digit sacks.
Only nine players around the nation hit double digits, led by Whitney Mercilus at Illinois. One Big 12 player had double digit sacks in 2010, but five players hit the mark in 2009?
What will 2012 hold?
Before we project that, grade my 2011 projections.
So, what about the defense?
Last April, we projected three Big 12 players to notch double-digit sack totals in 2011. Here's how it shook out:
1. Brad Madison, DE, Missouri -- Madison had, believe it or not, the most sacks of any player returning to the Big 12 next season. Most impressive? He did it as a sophomore reserve. Madison came to Missouri as an offensive lineman and has only been on the line for a year. He figures to make a big jump in 2011 as a full-time starter. The Tigers strength inside with Terrell Resonno, Dominique Hamilton and Sheldon Richardson (?) should make teams at least think before double-teaming him.Total 2011 sacks: 4.5
2. Damontre Moore, LB, Texas A&M -- Moore is the rawest player on the list, showing his potential in spot duty for the Big 12's sack king the past two seasons: Von Miller. He's likely to assume Miller's Joker role as a hybrid linebacker/defensive end. As his technique gets better, as he learns the game and gets stronger, the sophomore, who played as a true freshman in 2010, will get better and better.Total 2011 sacks: 8.5
Thoughts: Moore didn't reach double digits, but he ranked second in the Big 12 with his total. Texas A&M struggled to defend the pass, but the Aggies led the nation in sacks, with 51. Moore was a big part of that total, but his teammate, Sean Porter, led the Big 12 with 9.5 sacks.
4. Jackson Jeffcoat, DE, Texas -- Jeffcoat was one of the nation's top prospects in the 2010 class. He looked like a budding star early in the season by dominating Texas Tech and had a great game in his first Red River Rivalry. He was sidelined and slowed by an ankle injury last season, but once he's back on the field and full strength, he'll show why he could develop into one of the best defensive ends in college football.Total 2011 sacks: 8.0
Thoughts: Jeffcoat had the same story as Moore, basically. A great season, but not a huge season. I'd be shocked if Jeffcoat didn't hit double digits as a junior in 2011, though. Jeffcoat finished fourth in the Big 12 in 2011, and led the Longhorns as a sophomore.
By the end of the season, exactly zero Big 12 defenders had double digit sacks.
Only nine players around the nation hit double digits, led by Whitney Mercilus at Illinois. One Big 12 player had double digit sacks in 2010, but five players hit the mark in 2009?
What will 2012 hold?
Before we project that, grade my 2011 projections.
So, is Florida State going to make the jump to the Big 12 or not?
If FSU president Dr. Eric Barron had his way, then certainly not. For one, he doesn't see it as a jump at all, at least not in the ways that matter most to him.
Barron wrote a memo on Monday expressing a commitment to the ACC, and harshly criticizing a possible move to the Big 12.
From colleague Joe Schad:
In the memo, Baron includes more reasons for not moving that include "The ACC is an equal share conference.
"So, when fans realize that Texas would get more dollars than FSU, always having a competitive advantage, it would be interesting to see the fan reaction" and "We would lose the rivalry with University of Miami that does fill our stadium."
And "It will cost between $20M and $25M to leave the ACC, and we have no idea where that money would come from." And "The faculty are adamantly opposed to joining a league that is academically weaker."
Barron writes, "We can't afford to have conference affiliation governed by emotion."
I can think of a couple schools in the Big 12 (or, ones that were, anyway) who would disagree.
Texas finding pieces that fit in recruiting 
May, 15, 2012
5/15/12
6:15
AM CT
By
Carter Strickland | ESPN.com
AUSTIN, Texas -- By now Texas usually has all its cards fanned out on the table.
It is mid-May after all. The Longhorns typically have a royal flush of recruits or something close to it by the time triple digits arrive on central Texas thermostats.
In fact, from 2007-2011, 72 percent of Texas recruits had pledged their allegiance by the end of February. This year 11, of what is expected to be a class of somewhere around 20-22, have committed.
It is mid-May after all. The Longhorns typically have a royal flush of recruits or something close to it by the time triple digits arrive on central Texas thermostats.
In fact, from 2007-2011, 72 percent of Texas recruits had pledged their allegiance by the end of February. This year 11, of what is expected to be a class of somewhere around 20-22, have committed.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
We're moving on in our series on the Big 12 Blog pegging the single player each team in the Big 12 can't afford to lose. He's also the player that will be most responsible for the team's ultimate success.
Next up, the Texas Longhorns.
Find more indispensable players here.
Most indispensable player(s): DEs Alex Okafor and Jackson Jeffcoat.
2011 stats: Jeffcoat: 63 tackles, 17 TFL, eight sacks, three PBUs. Okafor: 52 tackles, 12.5 TFL, six sacks, three PBUs, two forced fumbles.
Why Texas can't afford to lose them: There's no differentiating between these two. Without one, the other is less effective. Jeffcoat is a physical specimen that becomes unblockable all too often for Big 12 offensive coordinators' liking. Okafor's no physical slouch, but his experience paid off in big-time production in 2011.
This year, the duo is probable the No. 1 and No. 2 defensive ends in the entire Big 12. With the high-quality passing offenses that populate the Big 12, their worth is immense. There's nobody else on the roster who can duplicate this kind of production and disruption, and their presence gives the Longhorns a luxury few other Big 12 teams possess.
Texas gave up the fewest passing touchdowns of any Big 12 teams, and surrendered 17 fewer yards per game than any other team in the Big 12. Does that secondary, which is already very, very talented, look anywhere near as good if the pass rush up front isn't solid with what's sometimes just a four-man rush? No way.
DC Manny Diaz loves his blitzes, but if he wants to back off, Okafor and Jeffcoat assure him that quarterbacks will be rushed and will face pressure. That's only going to be more true in 2012.
No doubt about this one: Texas can't afford to lose this duo. If it does, the defense will suffer.
Next up, the Texas Longhorns.
Find more indispensable players here.
Most indispensable player(s): DEs Alex Okafor and Jackson Jeffcoat.
2011 stats: Jeffcoat: 63 tackles, 17 TFL, eight sacks, three PBUs. Okafor: 52 tackles, 12.5 TFL, six sacks, three PBUs, two forced fumbles.
Why Texas can't afford to lose them: There's no differentiating between these two. Without one, the other is less effective. Jeffcoat is a physical specimen that becomes unblockable all too often for Big 12 offensive coordinators' liking. Okafor's no physical slouch, but his experience paid off in big-time production in 2011.
This year, the duo is probable the No. 1 and No. 2 defensive ends in the entire Big 12. With the high-quality passing offenses that populate the Big 12, their worth is immense. There's nobody else on the roster who can duplicate this kind of production and disruption, and their presence gives the Longhorns a luxury few other Big 12 teams possess.
Texas gave up the fewest passing touchdowns of any Big 12 teams, and surrendered 17 fewer yards per game than any other team in the Big 12. Does that secondary, which is already very, very talented, look anywhere near as good if the pass rush up front isn't solid with what's sometimes just a four-man rush? No way.
DC Manny Diaz loves his blitzes, but if he wants to back off, Okafor and Jeffcoat assure him that quarterbacks will be rushed and will face pressure. That's only going to be more true in 2012.
No doubt about this one: Texas can't afford to lose this duo. If it does, the defense will suffer.
Talk about Florida State and the Big 12 has mostly been an unsubstantiated rumor for months, and several sources fueled local media reports that the league hadn't even considered the Seminoles as a possible future member.
However, in wake of the ACC's new media deal with ABC/ESPN which is expected to fetch less than the Big 12's new pending deal, Florida State is making itself very hard for the Big 12 to ignore.
"On behalf of the Board of Trustees I can say that unanimously we would be in favor of seeing what the Big 12 might have to offer. We have to do what is in Florida State's best interest," Florida State Board of Trustees chairman Andy Haggard told Warchant.com.
Haggard was disappointed the conference controlled third-tier TV rights for football, but universities held them for basketball. It's more evidence, Haggard said, of the conference favoring the North Carolina-based basketball schools like North Carolina and Duke. However, an ACC spokesman said ESPN controlled the rights for both football and basketball, and that Haggard was mistaken.
As for the academic side of the debate, Haggard says leaving the ACC, a conference much stronger academically than the Big 12, wouldn't be a big factor.
"No FSU graduate puts on his résumé or interviews for a job saying they are in the same conference as Duke and Virginia," he said. "Conference affiliation really has no impact on academics."
So what's it all mean?
Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher told the Orlando Sentinel he's open to a conference move.
"There have been no official talks, but I think you always have to look out there to see what's best for Florida State," Fisher said. "If that [jumping to the Big 12] is what's best for Florida State, then that's what we need to do."
Writes the Sentinel's Mike Bianchi:
The Kansas City Star's Blair Kerkhoff says the Big 12 should prick its ears up and pay attention to the restless comments wafting into Big 12 country from Tallahassee.
The rumor is still in its beginning stages, and Florida State's football program has been down since playing in BCS games six times between 1998 and 2005.
Still, the Seminoles are a commanding national brand in the game, and the Big 12 would be silly if it didn't at least offer serious attention to the situation from the South.
Louisville's been assumed as the school at the top of the Big 12's expansion list if it moved beyond a 10-team league. If Florida State's rumblings become serious, that would have to change.
However, in wake of the ACC's new media deal with ABC/ESPN which is expected to fetch less than the Big 12's new pending deal, Florida State is making itself very hard for the Big 12 to ignore.
"On behalf of the Board of Trustees I can say that unanimously we would be in favor of seeing what the Big 12 might have to offer. We have to do what is in Florida State's best interest," Florida State Board of Trustees chairman Andy Haggard told Warchant.com.
Haggard was disappointed the conference controlled third-tier TV rights for football, but universities held them for basketball. It's more evidence, Haggard said, of the conference favoring the North Carolina-based basketball schools like North Carolina and Duke. However, an ACC spokesman said ESPN controlled the rights for both football and basketball, and that Haggard was mistaken.
As for the academic side of the debate, Haggard says leaving the ACC, a conference much stronger academically than the Big 12, wouldn't be a big factor.
"No FSU graduate puts on his résumé or interviews for a job saying they are in the same conference as Duke and Virginia," he said. "Conference affiliation really has no impact on academics."
So what's it all mean?
Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher told the Orlando Sentinel he's open to a conference move.
"There have been no official talks, but I think you always have to look out there to see what's best for Florida State," Fisher said. "If that [jumping to the Big 12] is what's best for Florida State, then that's what we need to do."
Writes the Sentinel's Mike Bianchi:
Late Saturday, though, FSU president Dr. Eric Barron issued a statement in regard to the uproar that was fueled by discussion of the ACC's new TV contract:
"Florida State University regrets that misinformation about the provisions of the ACC contract has unnecessarily renewed the controversy and speculation about University's athletic conference alignment. Florida State respects the views of the Chair of its Board of Trustees that, of course, any university would examine options that would impact university academics, athletics or finances. At the same time, Florida State is not seeking an alternative to the ACC nor are we considering alternatives. Our current commitments remain strong."
Still, if we've learned anything in recent years about institutions of higher earning switching conferences, it is this: Without fail, they all say they are steadfastly committed to their current league only until another league offers them more money.
The Kansas City Star's Blair Kerkhoff says the Big 12 should prick its ears up and pay attention to the restless comments wafting into Big 12 country from Tallahassee.
Even if Haggard’s anger is based on a false notion, Florida State to the Big 12 was being rumored before the latest public comments, largely the stuff of message board speculation.
A source close to the conference told The Star this week that no realignment conversations had taken place between the Big 12 and any other school since the introduction of Bob Bowlsby as commissioner last week.
But the Big 12’s expansion committee, made up of athletic directors and presidents, has not been disbanded.
The rumor is still in its beginning stages, and Florida State's football program has been down since playing in BCS games six times between 1998 and 2005.
Still, the Seminoles are a commanding national brand in the game, and the Big 12 would be silly if it didn't at least offer serious attention to the situation from the South.
Louisville's been assumed as the school at the top of the Big 12's expansion list if it moved beyond a 10-team league. If Florida State's rumblings become serious, that would have to change.
Marquise Goodwin already has a reputation as one of the fastest players and best athletes in the Big 12.
The aspiring Olympic hopeful only solidified that reputation on Saturday, winning his third consecutive Big 12 title in the long jump.
He leaped 26 feet and 10.5 inches to break the conference championship and stadium record in Manhattan, Kansas on his first jump.
"I popped off my longest jump of the competition on the first jump," Goodwin said in a statement. "That was big for me because I had to run over and run the 100 meters in between jumps. I knew everybody was going to come out and do well, but that jump ended up winning it so it was all good."
Goodwin's jump was a personal best and two inches longer than any other athlete in the nation. He is the only athlete in Big 12 history to win both the indoor and outdoor long jump two straight years.
Last year, Goodwin caught 33 passes for 421 yards and two touchdowns. He also carried the ball 22 times for 220 yards and returned 11 kicks for 247 yards.
He planned to redshirt the 2011 season and focus on reaching his goal of qualifying for the Olympic team, but Goodwin returned to the team and showed up to fall camp just before the season began.
The 5-foot-9, 177-pounder will be a senior in 2012.
The aspiring Olympic hopeful only solidified that reputation on Saturday, winning his third consecutive Big 12 title in the long jump.
He leaped 26 feet and 10.5 inches to break the conference championship and stadium record in Manhattan, Kansas on his first jump.
"I popped off my longest jump of the competition on the first jump," Goodwin said in a statement. "That was big for me because I had to run over and run the 100 meters in between jumps. I knew everybody was going to come out and do well, but that jump ended up winning it so it was all good."
Goodwin's jump was a personal best and two inches longer than any other athlete in the nation. He is the only athlete in Big 12 history to win both the indoor and outdoor long jump two straight years.
Last year, Goodwin caught 33 passes for 421 yards and two touchdowns. He also carried the ball 22 times for 220 yards and returned 11 kicks for 247 yards.
He planned to redshirt the 2011 season and focus on reaching his goal of qualifying for the Olympic team, but Goodwin returned to the team and showed up to fall camp just before the season began.
The 5-foot-9, 177-pounder will be a senior in 2012.
A new school has entered the top five of safety Kameron Miles (Mesquite, Texas/West Mesquite).
The four-star defensive back picked up an offer from Penn State on Friday, and the Nittany Lions have moved into his final list of schools. A 6-foot-2, 205-pound safety, Miles said Penn State’s football prestige and its fresh start from past turmoil makes it an intriguing offer.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
Dontre Wilson planned to announce his college decision at DeSoto’s spring game on May 25. That plan has changed.
The ESPN 150 four-star athlete told HornsNation he isn’t prepared to reach a decision this month and likely won’t until later this fall.
“I thought about it. I was going to commit, but I can’t,” Wilson said. “I wanted to push it back because I have to make sure it’s right for me. I was going to commit just to get the pressure off my back.”
The ESPN 150 four-star athlete told HornsNation he isn’t prepared to reach a decision this month and likely won’t until later this fall.
“I thought about it. I was going to commit, but I can’t,” Wilson said. “I wanted to push it back because I have to make sure it’s right for me. I was going to commit just to get the pressure off my back.”
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
College TV rights deals undergo makeovers
May, 11, 2012
5/11/12
2:30
PM CT
By
Kristi Dosh | ESPN.com
The Atlantic Coast Conference’s television contract extension with ESPN, announced Wednesday, is the first of three major conference deals expected to be finalized in the next few months.
The ACC contract was extended after the addition of new members Syracuse University and the University of Pittsburgh last September. The shifting of schools as part of conference realignment also led to changes in the Big 12 and Southeastern Conference that has those existing deals in play, too.
The ACC deal is worth $3.6 billion over the next 15 years, according to The Associated Press. That puts the ACC behind only the Big Ten and Pac-12 in terms of the average revenue per school, per year by one measure (viewing all current contracts divided between conferences’ 2012-13 membership.)
SportsBusiness Daily has reported the Big 12 has verbally agreed to a new contract with ESPN and FOX for its first-tier rights for $2.6 billion over 13 years. That would bring the per-year average for the Big 12 to $200 million and the per-school, per-year average to $20 million. The SEC is expected to reopen its contract talks with ESPN following the addition of the University of Missouri and Texas A&M.
ESPN had no comment on any of the deals, which vary in what slate of rights are included, but a spokesman did say that the network is in regular contact with its business partners.
With all of the shuffling and extensions, it can be hard to keep up. Here’s a listing, according to information from The Associated Press, SportsBusiness Daily, SportsBusiness Journal and Adweek, of where things stand now. The Big 12 extension is not included because it has not been finalized. Also, per-year averages and per-school, per-year averages are straight averages and do not take into account actual variances by year as stipulated in individual contracts.
The ACC contract was extended after the addition of new members Syracuse University and the University of Pittsburgh last September. The shifting of schools as part of conference realignment also led to changes in the Big 12 and Southeastern Conference that has those existing deals in play, too.
The ACC deal is worth $3.6 billion over the next 15 years, according to The Associated Press. That puts the ACC behind only the Big Ten and Pac-12 in terms of the average revenue per school, per year by one measure (viewing all current contracts divided between conferences’ 2012-13 membership.)
SportsBusiness Daily has reported the Big 12 has verbally agreed to a new contract with ESPN and FOX for its first-tier rights for $2.6 billion over 13 years. That would bring the per-year average for the Big 12 to $200 million and the per-school, per-year average to $20 million. The SEC is expected to reopen its contract talks with ESPN following the addition of the University of Missouri and Texas A&M.
ESPN had no comment on any of the deals, which vary in what slate of rights are included, but a spokesman did say that the network is in regular contact with its business partners.
With all of the shuffling and extensions, it can be hard to keep up. Here’s a listing, according to information from The Associated Press, SportsBusiness Daily, SportsBusiness Journal and Adweek, of where things stand now. The Big 12 extension is not included because it has not been finalized. Also, per-year averages and per-school, per-year averages are straight averages and do not take into account actual variances by year as stipulated in individual contracts.
ABOUT HORNSNATION
Sean Adams
Sean Adams has covered the Texas Longhorns and college football for the last 12 years as a writer and radio host. Sean co-hosts "The Big Show" with Erin Hogan each afternoon on ESPN Austin 104.9 The Horn. He lives with his family in Round Rock, Texas. Email him at thisean@gmail.com.
Max Olson
Max Olson joined ESPN in 2012 after covering the University of Nebraska for the Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald and high school and college sports for the World-Herald and Rivals.com. Olson is a University of Nebraska graduate and lives in Austin, Texas. Email him at maxolsonespn@gmail.com.
Carter Strickand
Carter Strickland joined ESPN.com in 2011 after covering the University of Georgia for Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the University of Oklahoma for The (Oklahoma City) Oklahoman and Washington State University for The (Spokane, Wash.) Spokesman-Review. Strickland lives with his wife and family in Austin. Email him at cstrickland70@gmail.com.
William Wilkerson
William Wilkerson joined ESPN.com in 2011 after covering high school sports, college sports and the Texas Rangers over four years at the Fort Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram. William is a University of Texas graduate and lives in Austin. He can be reached at wilkerson.espn@gmail.com.