Offensive firepower is the name of the game in the Big XII. The two big returning stars are Heisman Winner Sam Bradford of Oklahoma and Heisman Finalist Colt McCoy of Texas, but the conference returns several other experienced quarterbacks, led by Todd Reesing of Kansas and Zac Robinson of Oklahoma State. The top ten in the AP poll has three Big XII teams, with Texas at #2, OU at #3 and OSU at #9. Two teams from the North Division make the Top 25, with Nebraska ranked #24, and Kansas right behind them at #25. Let’s look at how each team shapes up for the 2009 season, starting with the North. Tomorrow’s article will feature the Big 12 South.

Image Credit: David Reber

The North

The North has spent the last few years getting smacked around by the South. That is unlikely to change this year, at least for those schools that have Texas and OU on the rotating inter-divisional schedule. On the bright side, with no one in the top ten, the race for the North title is wide open.

Nebraska Cornhuskers
2008: 9-4

Was it that long ago that Nebraska ruled the football world with its unstoppable option attack? In a word, yes. The new Nebraska struggled for years under Bill Callahan, and they are looking to return to their past glory in Bo Pelini’s 2^nd year. The non-conference schedule features three cupcakes and one big road game at #7 Virginia Tech. In conference, they face Texas Tech, OU and Baylor from the South. It is entirely possible that the winner of the North could be decided when Nebraska travels to play Kansas on November 14. Whereas most teams in the league rely on scoring mountains of points from the spread to win, Nebraska is going to try the novel approach of stopping teams on defense. Their quarterback, Zac Lee (Jr) is starting for the first time, and coaches will rely on junior RB Roy Helu (803 yds, 7 TD) to power the offense, especially after the dismissal of RB Quentin Castille. They have some receivers, but it doesn’t matter, since they might not have anyone to throw them the ball. Pelini is a defensive guy, so that side of the ball should improve, but stopping teams in the Big XII has proven elusive even for juggernauts like UT and OU.

Prediction: 8-4

Kansas Jayhawks
2008: 8-5

KU shocked the country in 2007 by going 12-1 and winning the Orange Bowl. 2008 was a step back, in large part because OU, Texas and Texas Tech all rotated back onto the schedule after being absent in ’07. Those same three teams are on the schedule again this year. KU starts with four winnable games, but it will be hard to do better than 5-3 in the conference while facing teams in the South that went 33-3 in the regular season last year. The showdown with Nebraska on November 14 could determine whether the Jayhawks make their first ever trip to the Big XII Championship game. As usual, the season ends with the Border War in Kansas City against hated rival Missouri. KU will look to continue their success after winning 40-37 in 2008. Todd Reesing (3888 yds, 32 TD) returns for his senior year at QB, and he leads an explosive offense full of returning stars. KU has one of the best receiving duos in the country with Dezmon Briscoe (92 rec, 1407 yds, 15 TD) and Kerry Meier (97 rec, 1045 yds, 8 TD). Senior RB Jake Sharp (860 yds, 12 TD) is dangerously quick. On the defensive side of the ball . . . well, never mind. But the offense is really good.

Prediction: 8-4

Missouri Tigers
2008: 10-4, won Big XII North

Much of Missouri’s firepower from last year is gone. QB Chase Daniels, TE Chase Coffman, and all-everything WR Jeremy Maclin all left, meaning there are huge holes to fill. The offense will still score points, but expect them to take a few steps back from their production in ‘07 and ’08. Mizzou opens the season with dangerous rival Illinois. There are three more winnable games in non-conference. They face Oklahoma St, Texas and Baylor from the South, and end the year against rival Kansas at Arrowhead Stadium in KC. Quarterback Blaine Gabbert is unproven, but the offense is built for the QB to put up big numbers. He will have to rely on returning RB Derrick Washington (1036 yds, 17 TD). They like to spread the ball around on offense, and will rely on WR’s Danario Alexander and Jared Perry to replace the production lost when Jeremy Maclin went pro. Prediction: 7-5

Colorado Buffaloes
2008: 5-7

Colorado has been rebuilding for a while now, and this year doesn’t look like it’s going to change much. Kordell Stewart has been away a long time. The Buffaloes have some pitfalls in non-conference, particularly a road game against West Virginia. They face Texas, OSU and Texas A&M in the South, and only A&M should be considered winnable. They are staring up at KU, Nebraska, and maybe Missouri in the North. QB Cody Hawkins (1892 yds, 17 TD) returns, and that’s not necessarily a good thing. Explosive sophomore Rodney Stewart (622 yds, 2 TD) and Darrell Scott (343 yds, 1 TD) should split time at RB. Colorado has struggled under coach Dan Hawkins, and he might be on the way out if he can’t find a way to win this year.

Prediction: 6-6

Kansas State Wildcats
2008: 5-7

KSU fans showed their yearning for a bygone era when they resurrected former coach Bill Snyder to replace fired Ron Prince. KState had some good years in the 90’s, but they struggled under Prince, losing 3-straight to rival Kansas. Nothing gets you fired faster than losing to your rival. The Wildcats pioneered the practice of scheduling miserable teams in non-conference, but they actually stepped away from that practice this year to schedule UCLA. They face Texas Tech, Texas A&M and OU in the South. QB Josh Freeman is gone, and new QB Carson Coffman is untested. Keithen Valentine only carried 34 times in ’08, but he’ll handle the load this year. WR Brandon Banks (67 rec, 1049 yds, 9 TD) is a returning bright spot on offense. Whether Coffman will be able to get him the ball remains to be seen. KSU fans are expecting a miracle from Coach Snyder, and it will take one for KSU to compete in the North.

Prediction: 5-7

Iowa State Cyclones
2008: 2-10

Iowa State actually went to some bowl games a few years ago. No, really. Coach Gene Chizik won 2 games in ’08, and he was rewarded with the head coaching job at Auburn. If new coach Paul Rhodes can go winless, maybe he can get the head coaching job at Notre Dame. Iowa State plays rival Iowa early in the year. The other three games are winnable, but when you’re 2-10, not much can be taken for granted. They draw Baylor, Texas A&M and OSU in the South, but even without OU and Texas they’ll still probably lose them all. QB Austin Arnaud (2792 yds, 15 TD) returns, and might actually put up some numbers in the spread offense. Alexander Robinson (703 yds, 6 TD) is a solid returning RB, and WR Darius Darks (49 rec, 477 yds, 1 TD) returns. The offense will be better, but the Cyclones are still sitting all alone at the bottom of the league.

Prediction: 4-8