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| 2005 BIG XII FOOTBALL PREVIEW | |
| powered by GREATSEATS.COM | |
| August 19, 2005 | |
| Jonathan, SCS.com Editor | Contact Jonathan |
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| PREVIEW HOME | PREVIEW FAQ |
| PROJECTED STANDINGS | TEAM PREVIEWS |
| CAN'T MISS GAMES | ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM |
| TEAM | BIG XII | OVERALL |
| NORTH | ||
| Colorado | 6-2 | 8-3 |
| Iowa State | 5-3 | 7-4 |
| Missouri | 4-4 | 7-4 |
| Nebraska | 4-4 | 6-5 |
| Kansas State | 2-6 | 5-6 |
| Kansas | 1-7 | 4-7 |
| SOUTH | ||
| Texas | 7-1 | 9-2 |
| Oklahoma | 6-2 | 8-3 |
| Texas A&M | 6-2 | 8-3 |
| Texas Tech | 4-4 | 7-4 |
| Oklahoma State | 3-5 | 6-5 |
| Baylor | 0-8 | 2-9 |
TEXAS
Last Season: 11-1 / 7-1
Starters Returning: 7 offense, 9 defense
Projected wins: ULL, Rice, at MO, COLO, TT, at OSU, at BAY, KU
Projected losses: (none)
Toss-Ups: at OHST, OU, at TAMU
PROJECTED RECORD: 9-2 / 7-1
BOTTOM LINE: It seems as if it's said every year, but this really should be the Longhorns' year. Though Benson is gone, sixteen other starters return, including QB Vince Young. Can the South's best team win the division?
OKLAHOMA
Last Season: 12-1 / 8-0
Starters Returning: 7 offense, 4 defense
Projected wins: TCU, Tulsa, KSU, at KU, BAY, at NEB, OSU
Projected losses: (none)
Toss-Ups: at UCLA, TX, TAMU, at TT
PROJECTED RECORD: 8-3 / 6-2
BOTTOM LINE: Jason White's eligibility finally expired, leaving RB Adrian Peterson as the leader on this year's offense. Only four starters return on the defensive side of the ball. Early road game at UCLA will tell a lot.
TEXAS A&M
Last Season: 7-5 / 5-3
Starters Returning: 9 offense, 8 defense
Projected wins: SMU, TXST, BAY, OSU, at KSU, ISU
Projected losses: at OU
Toss-Ups: at CLEM, at COLO, at TT, TX
PROJECTED RECORD: 8-3 / 6-2
BOTTOM LINE: The Aggies are set up for a very successful 2005 season. QB Reggie McNeal is one of 17 returning starters. Road games at Clemson, Colorado, and Texas Tech will decide if this team is a national contender.
COLORADO
Last Season: 8-5 / 4-4
Starters Returning: 7 offense, 10 defense
Projected wins: CSU, NMSU, KU, at KSU, MO, NEB
Projected losses: at Miami, at TX
Toss-Ups: at OSU, TAMU, at ISU
PROJECTED RECORD: 8-3 / 6-2
BOTTOM LINE: The Buffaloes won eight games a year ago, return one of the league's most experienced QBs in Joel Klatt, and bring back ten starters on defense. This team is not great, but it's the best in the North.
IOWA STATE
Last Season: 7-5 / 4-4
Starters Returning: 7 offense, 8 defense
Projected wins: ILLST, at Army, BAY, KSU, at KU
Projected losses: at TAMU
Toss-Ups: Iowa, at NEB, at MO, OSU, COLO
PROJECTED RECORD: 7-4 / 5-3
BOTTOM LINE: The Cyclones returned to postseason play a season ago and with fifteen starters returning, another bowl trip is expected in '05. ISU will not overwhelm anyone, but this is a solid team at every position.
TEXAS TECH
Last Season: 8-4 / 5-3
Starters Returning: 6 offense, 8 defense
Projected wins: FIU, SHSU, INDST, KU, KSU, at BAY
Projected losses: at TX
Toss-Ups: at NEB, TAMU, at OSU, OU
PROJECTED RECORD: 7-4 / 4-4
BOTTOM LINE: Tech will again have to replace its signal caller in 2005, but that hasn't been a problem in recent years. RB Taurean Henderson, HB Danny Amendola, and WR Jarrett Hicks will make the new QB feel at ease.
MISSOURI
Last Season: 5-6 / 3-5
Starters Returning: 7 offense, 3 defense
Projected wins: ARKST, NM, Troy, at KU, BAY
Projected losses: TX, at COLO
Toss-Ups: OSU, ISU, NEB, at KSU
PROJECTED RECORD: 7-4 / 4-4
BOTTOM LINE: QB Brad Smith and his team have yet to live up to potential since the senior has been on campus. The squad won just five games in '04, but this year's schedule has no Texas Tech, Texas A&M, or Oklahoma.
NEBRASKA
Last Season: 5-6 / 3-5
Starters Returning: 6 offense, 5 defense
Projected wins: Maine, WF, at BAY, at KU, KSU
Projected losses: OU, at COLO
Toss-Ups: PITT, ISU, TT, at MO
PROJECTED RECORD: 6-5 / 4-4
BOTTOM LINE: The Huskers missed out on a bowl game for the first time in (seemingly) forever, but hopes are high for second-year head coach Bill Callahan. RB Cory Ross can tote the rock, but can he carry NU bowling?
OKLAHOMA STATE
Last Season: 7-5 / 4-4
Starters Returning: 6 offense, 8 defense
Projected wins: MONTST, at FAU, ARKST, MO, at BAY
Projected losses: at TAMU, TX, at OU
Toss-Ups: COLO, at ISU, TT
PROJECTED RECORD: 6-5 / 3-5
BOTTOM LINE: Mike Gundy steps in as the new head Cowboy and inherits a talented squad. Though the defense should be better in 2005, the strength of the Big XII South will make it difficult for OSU to make much noise.
KANSAS STATE
Last Season: 4-7 / 2-6
Starters Returning: 5 offense, 6 defense
Projected wins: FIU, NTX, KU
Projected losses: at OU, at TT, TAMU, at ISU, at NEB
Toss-Ups: at MAR, COLO, MO
PROJECTED RECORD: 5-6 / 2-6
BOTTOM LINE: How have the Wildcats fallen so far in just two years? This squad no longer appears to be a Big XII North contender, much less a BCS contender. Six wins is possible but will not be easy for Bill Snyder's 'Cats.
KANSAS
Last Season: 4-7 / 2-6
Starters Returning: 6 offense, 8 defense
Projected wins: FAU, APPST, LATECH
Projected losses: at TT, OU, at COLO, NEB, at TX, ISU
Toss-Ups: at KSU, MO
PROJECTED RECORD: 4-7 / 1-7
BOTTOM LINE: Coach Mark Mangino has won just one-third of his games on campus but did take the team bowling in 2003. The win total dropped back to four a year ago, however, and expect this year's tally to be similar.
BAYLOR
Last Season: 3-8 / 1-7
Starters Returning: 6 offense, 7 defense
Projected wins: at SMU, Samford
Projected losses: at TAMU, at ISU, NEB, at OU, TT, TX, at MO, OSU
Toss-Ups: at Army
PROJECTED RECORD: 2-9 / 0-8
BOTTOM LINE: The Bears continue to bring up the rear in the Big XII. A total of 13 starters are back, and the program is slowly improving (see last year's Big XII victory), but more than three wins in '05 would be shocking.
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| October 8 | Texas vs Oklahoma |
| November 19 | Texas at Texas A&M |
| November 12 | Texas A&M at Oklahoma |
| October 15 | Colorado at Texas |
| November 12 | Colorado at Iowa State |
| OFFENSE | |||
| OL | Jonathan Scott | SR | Texas |
| OL | Davin Joseph | SR | Oklahoma |
| OL | Justin Blalock | JR | Texas |
| OL | Tony Palmer | SR | Missouri |
| OL | Jeromey Clary | SR | Kansas State |
| RB | Adrian Peterson | SO | Oklahoma |
| RB | Taurean Henderson | SR | Texas Tech |
| WR | Jarrett Hicks | JR | Texas Tech |
| WR | D'Juan Woods | JR | Oklahoma State |
| TE | Joe Klopfenstein | SR | Colorado |
| QB | Reggie McNeal | SR | Texas A&M |
| DEFENSE | |||
| DL | Dusty Dvoracek | SR | Oklahoma |
| DL | Rodrique Wright | SR | Texas |
| DL | Nick Leaders | SR | Iowa State |
| DL | Keyunta Dawson | JR | Texas Tech |
| LB | Aaron Harris | SR | Texas |
| LB | Rufus Alexander | JR | Oklahoma |
| LB | Nick Reid | SR | Kansas |
| DB | Charles Gordon | JR | Kansas |
| DB | Daniel Bullocks | SR | Nebraska |
| DB | Jaxson Appel | SR | Texas A&M |
| DB | Michael Huff | SR | Texas |
| SPECIAL TEAMS | |||
| K | Mason Crosby | JR | Colorado |
| P | Daniel Sepluveda | JR | Baylor |
| AP | Willie Andrews | SR | Baylor |
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Photos Courtesy: msnbc.com, usatoday.com, amarillo.com, redraiders.com, colorado.scout.com, iowastate.scout.com, oklahomastate.scout.com, cjonline.com, kstatecollegian.com, baylor.edu
