08-08-2007, 10:23 PM
[B][SIZE=5]Big XII North Preview
[/SIZE] Offensive Rankings
[/B]1. Missouri (9 returning starters)
2. Nebraska (6 returning starters)
3. Kansas State (8 returning starters)
4. Kansas (6 returning starters)
5. Colorado (9 returning starters)
6. Iowa State (4 returning starters)
63 percent return
Defense Rankings
1. Nebraska (5 returning starters)
2. Missouri (5 returning starters)
3. Kansas (8 returning starters)
4. Colorado (6 returning starters
5. Kansas State (7 returning starters)
6. Iowa State (7 returning starters)
57 percent return
[B]1st team All-Big XII North Offense
[/B]QB Chase Daniel (Missouri)
RB Tony Temple (Missouri)
RB Marlon Lucky (Nebraska)
WR William Franklin (Missouri)
WR Maurice Purify (Nebraska)
TE Chase Coffman (Missouri)
C Adam Spieker (Missouri)
G Matt Slauson (Nebraska0
G Ryan Miller (Colorado)
T Lydon Martha (Nebraska)
T Tyler Luellen (Missouri)
[B]1st Team All-Big XII Defense
[/B]DL Ian Campbell (Kansas State)
DL James McClinton (Kansas)
DL Ndamukong Suh (Nebraska)
DL Drew Hudgins (Colorado)
LB Bo Ruud (Nebraska)
LB Alvin Bowen (Iowa State)
LB Jordon Dizon (Colorado)
CB Aqib Talib (Kansas)
CB Terence Wheatley (Colorado)
S Marcus Watts (Kansas State)
S Tierre Green (Nebraska)
[B]Breakdown by team: [/B]Nebraska (7), Missouri (6), Colorado (4), Kansas State (2), Kansas (2), Iowa State (1)
[B][SIZE=4]
Projected Order of Finish
[/SIZE] Projected Order of Finish
[SIZE=3]Missouri
[/B][/SIZE]Last Season: 8-5 (lost to Oregon State in Sun Bowl)
Head Coach: Gary Pinkel (7th season)
[B][I]Returning Leaders:
[/B][/I]Passing: Chase Daniel (287-452, 3527 yards, 28 TD, 10 INT)
Rushing: Tony Temple (193 att, 1151 yards, 7 TD)
Receiving: William Franklin (48 rec, 829 yards, 6 TD)
Tackles: Brock Christopher (87)
Sacks: Lorenzo Williams (6)
Interceptions: Terrell Moore (1)
[B]Schedule/Projected Results
[/B]Sept. 1 Illinois (W)
Sept. 8 at Mississippi (W)
Sept. 15 Western Michigan (W)
Sept. 22 Illinois State (W)
Oct. 6 Nebraska (W)
Oct. 13 at Oklahoma (L)
Oct. 20 Texas Tech (W)
Oct. 27 Iowa State (W)
Nov. 3 at Colorado (W)
Nov. 10 Texas AM (L)
Nov. 17 at Kansas State (W)
Nov. 24 Kansas (W)
[B]Projected Results[/B]: 10-2 overall (6-2 Big XII)
5 âswingâ games
Notes: Pinkel was on the hot seat a couple years ago but has had two solid years in a row and continues to bring in quality talent⦠Chase Daniel quietly had a fantastic season last year (28 TD, 10 INT), and should be mentioned more for various awards⦠Missouri biggest game of the year will be October 6 at home against Nebraska in a game that will almost certainly determine who wins the Big XII North. The Tigers could win as many as 11 games.
[B][SIZE=3]Nebraska
[/B][/SIZE]Last Season: 9-5 (lost to Auburn in Cotton Bowl)
Head Coach: Bill Callahan (4th season)
[B][I]Returning Leaders:
[/B][/I]Passing: Joe Gantz (7-13, 122 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT)
Rushing: Marlon Lucky (141 att, 762 yards, 6 TD)
Receiving: Maurice Purify (34 rec, 630 yards, 7 TD)
Tackles: Andre Jones (74)
Sacks: Ndamukong Suh (3.5)
Interceptions: Bo Ruud (2)
[B]Schedule/Projected Results
[/B]Sept. 1 Nevada (W)
Sept. 8 at Wake Forest (W)
Sept. 15 USC (L)
Sept. 22 Ball State (W)
Sept. 29 Iowa State (W)
Oct. 6 at Missouri (L)
Oct. 13 Oklahoma State (W)
Oct. 20 Texas AM (W)
Oct. 27 at Texas (L)
Nov. 3 at Kansas (W)
Nov. 10 Kansas State (W)
Nov. 23 at Colorado (W)
[B]Projected Results[/B]: 9-3 overall (6-2 Big XII)
7 âswingâ games
Notes: Callahan was criticized early in his tenure but has relied a lot on JUCOâs and has increased the win total all three years⦠The defense should be stout with four of the top five leading tacklers returning⦠Arizona State transfer QB Sam Keller will be the starting QB, and should do a good job.. Nebraska has a difficult schedule with three difficult road challenges and USC at home. The Huskers should be a fun squad to watch.
[B][SIZE=3]Kansas State
[/B][/SIZE]Last Season: 7-6 (lost to Rutgers in Texas Bowl)
Head Coach: Ron Prince (2nd season)
[B][I]Returning Leaders[/B][/I]:
Passing: Josh Freeman (140-270, 1780 yards, 6 TD, 15 INT)
Rushing: Leon Patton (108 att, 640 yards, 6 TD)
Receiving: Jordy Nelson (39 rec, 547 yards, 1 TD)
Tackles: Ian Campbell (67)
Sacks: Ian Campbell (11.5)
Interceptions: Marcus Watts (3)
[B]Schedule/Projected Results
[/B]Sept. 1 at Auburn (L)
Sept. 8 San Jose State (W)
Sept. 15 Missouri State (W)
Sept. 29 at Texas (L)
Oct. 6 Kansas (W)
Oct. 13 Colorado (W)
Oct. 20 at Oklahoma State (L)
Oct. 27 Baylor (W)
Nov. 3 at Iowa State (W)
Nov. 10 at Nebraska (L)
Nov. 17 Missouri (L)
Nov. 24 at Fresno State (W)
[B]Projected Record[/B]: 7-5 overall (4-4 Big XII)
6 âswingâ games
Notes: Ron Prince did a nice job in his first season in Manhattan, but looking back he should have started QB Josh Freeman from the get-go⦠Freeman had an awful TD-INT ratio (6-15), but calmed down late in the year to help orchestrate a win against fourth ranked Texas. He should improve⦠With a difficult road schedule (something that didnât happen when Bill Synder was here), itâll be critical for the Wildcats to perform well at home. I think they have just enough to become bowl eligible again this season.
[B][SIZE=3]Colorado
[/B][/SIZE]Last Season: 2-10 (no bowl)
Head Coach: Dan Hawkins (2nd season)
[B][I]Returning Leaders:
[/B][/I]Passing: Bernard Jackson (108-219, 1298 yards, 7 TD, 7 INT)
Rushing: Hugh Charles (139 att, 800 yards, 1 TD)
Receiving: Riar Greer (24 rec, 261 yards, 3 TD)
Tackles: Jordon Dizon (137)
Sacks: Jordon Dizon (4)
Interceptions: Terrence Wheatley (5)
[B]Schedule/Projected Results
[/B]Sept. 1 Colorado State (L)
Sept. 8 at Arizona State (L)
Sept. 15 Florida State (L)
Sept. 22 Miami (OH) (W)
Sept. 29 Oklahoma (L)
Oct. 6 at Baylor (W)
Oct. 13 at Kansas State (L)
Oct. 20 Kansas (W)
Oct. 27 at Texas Tech (L)
Nov. 3 Missouri (L)
Nov.10 at Iowa State (W)
Nov. 23 Nebraska (L)
[B]Projected Record[/B]: 4-8 overall (3-5 Big XII)
6 âswingâ games
Notes: The biggest position battle will be at quarterback between incumbent Bernard Jackson and Cody Hawkins (coachâs son). There has been talk of Jackson playing all over the field, and itâll be critical to make the right decision.. The secondary was awful last year, and negated a stout run defense led by linebacker Jordon Dizon⦠If the non-conference schedule was easier, Iâd give them an outside shot at a bowl, but I donât like their chancesâ¦.
[B][SIZE=3]Kansas
[/B][/SIZE]Last Season: 6-6 (no bowl)
Head Coach: Mark Mangino (6th season)
[B][I]Returning Leaders:
[/B][/I]Passing: Kerry Meier (104-184, 1193 yards, 13 TD, 10 INT)
Rushing: Kerry Meier (99 att, 447 yards, 5 TD)
Receiving: Dexton Fields (45 rec, 455 yards, 5 TD)
Tackles: Mike Rivera (90)
Sacks: James McClinton (6)
Interceptions: Aquid Talib (6)
[B]Schedule/Projected Results
[/B]Sept. 1 Central Michigan (W)
Sept. 8 SE Louisiana (W)
Sept. 15 Toledo (W)
Sept. 22 Florida International (W)
Oct. 6 at Kansas State (L)
Oct. 13 at Baylor (W)
Oct. 20 at Colorado (L)
Oct. 27 at Texas AM (L)
Nov. 3 Nebraska (L)
Nov. 10 at Oklahoma State (L)
Nov. 17 Iowa State (W)
Nov. 24 Missouri (L)
[B]Projected Record[/B]: 6-6 overall (2-6 Big XII)
6 âswingâ games
Notes: Jon Cornish was fantastic for the Jayhawks last season, rushing for over 1500 yards⦠Itâll be critical for QB Kerry Meier to stay healthy. He played well when healthy last season⦠While very similar to Colorado in terms of talent, an easier non-conference schedule and no Oklahoma or Texas in conference could shoot them into a bowl.
[B][SIZE=3]Iowa State
[/B][/SIZE]Last Season: 4-8 (no bowl)
Head Coach: Gene Chizik (1st season)
[B][I]Returning Leaders[/B][/I]:
Passing: Bret Meyer (211-374, 2546 yards, 12 TD, 12 INT)
Rushing: Bret Meyer (137 att, 439 yards, 6 TD)
Receiving: Todd Blythe (34 rec, 484 yards, 8 TD)
Tackles: Alvin Bowen (155)
Sacks: Rashawn Parker (3)
Interceptions: Chris Singleton (2)
[B]Schedule/Projected Results
[/B]Aug. 30 Kent State (W)
Sept. 8 Northern Iowa (W)
Sept. 15 Iowa (L)
Sept. 22 at Toledo (L)
Sept. 29 at Nebraska (L)
Oct. 6 at Texas Tech (L)
Oct. 13 Texas (L)
Oct. 20 Oklahoma (L)
Oct. 27 at Missouri (L)
Nov. 3 Kansas State (L)
Nov. 10 Colorado (L)
Nov. 17 at Kansas (L)
[B]Projected Record[/B]: 2-10 overall (0-8 Big XII)
4 âswingâ games
Notes: Until last year, ISU had been one of the better stories in college football. They have been to bowl games five times in the last seven seasons⦠A huge problem this year will be an inexperienced offensive line that returns only one starter, Bret Meyer could be running for his life⦠The Cyclones will not go to a bowl game this season for several reasons. One is the aforementioned offensive line, but the new coaching staff will mean a season of adjustments for the players⦠The schedule is also difficult, with as many as eight bowl teamsâ¦