Since playing the expansion card in 1999 the BIG 12 CONFERENCE has become a main player in the BCS picture. They’ve proven that quality, not quantity, earns national championships while the loop continues to get stronger by the season.  Once again the Sooners and Longhorns figure to be in the big picture while a handful of other teams look anxious to take the next step.

Here is the take on the BIG 12 for 2008 according to Marc Lawrence of Playbook.com. Returning starters are listed alongside each team’s name (returning QB’s designated with an *). Coming up next: the CONFERENCE USA.  Enjoy…

BIG 12

BAYLOR - *9 / 6
Team Theme – THE ART OF SOMETHING NEW  
When Art Briles accepted the job at Baylor he realized immediately the need to change the look of the team.  “We’re going to be a tough football team, because that’s something we can control,” said Briles. He’s also faces a tough decision on his quarterback.  Returning QB Blake Szymanski started 10 games last year and set numerous school records.  Miami transfer Kirby Freeman wants the ball, as does freshman phenom Robert Griffin.  With nine starters back on the attack, offense will not be the problem.  The defense, on the other hand, may be. It ranked 11th in the conference in passing and 11th in rushing YPG.  This note on Briles: he is 11-4-1 ATS as a favorite of more than 10 points and 4-11-1 ATS as a favorite of 10 or less points.  Until we know who’s leading the charge, we’ll stay in hibernation.  
PASS

COLORADO - *7 / 8
Team Theme – YOU CAN’T BUFFALO A BUFFALO
Give them their due.  On the heels of a disastrous 2-10 campaign in 2006, the Buffaloes fielded the 3rd youngest team in the nation last year (34 of 58 players were underclassmen).  Nonetheless, Colorado responded with class when they landed a berth in the 2007 Independence Bowl.  The arrival of much ballyhooed RB Darrell Scott, their prized recruit, figures to show immediate results.  However, in order to continue their ascent under head coach Dan Hawkins, they will need more consistent play from his son, SO QB Cody Hawkins, who will engineer a new no-huddle offense. Losses on the defensive side of the ball, including LB Jordon Dizon, the Big 12's leading tackler and recently dismissed starting LB Jake Duren, are cause for concern against a schedule laced with eight winning teams from last season. Hawkins and Hawkins will need to be at their best in order to best last year’s results.
PLAY ON: as a dog vs. Kansas (10/11)

IOWA STATE – 7 / 7
Team Theme – HOPE AND A PRAYER
Despite winning two of their final three games of the season the Hawkeyes, especially 2nd year mentor Gene Chizik remains realistic about their chances. "There are many growing pains ahead," Chizik said. "I feel athletically, we are still a little bit off where we need to be.”  In other words his offense sucks and, to make matters worse, he loses QB Bret Myers (48 consecutive starts) and WR Todd Blythe, the all-time passing and receiving leaders in Cyclone history.  Even with that formidable duo they struggled mightily on offense last year, averaging just 18 PPG to rank 111th nationally. Moreover, Chizik, a former defensive coordinator at Texas, was unable to improve the soft ISU defense last year. The hope is four starters back from the offensive line, coupled with the return of the top three running backs, will ignite the attack.  A prayer would likely stand a better chance.  
PASS
 
KANSAS - *6 / 9
Team Theme – TIPPING THE SCALES
The mighty Mangino was worth his weight in gold leading the Jayhawks to the 2nd best turnaround (6-6 to 12-1) in the nation last year.  They came thisclose to playing for the national championship, finishing 3rd in the BCS polls, before whacking Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl.  It marked KU’s first January bowl game since 1968.  They’re back and loaded for more with 15 returning starters, including nine players from a defense that improved 61 YPG.  QB Todd Reesing will be a strong candidate for multiple awards in 2008.  He threw for 3,486 yards and 33 TDs last season while improving the offense 14 points and 106 YPG. With seven home games, and no back-to-back road trips, once again the scales tip heavily in Mangino’s favor.  If they aren’t pulverized by the man himself, that is.
PLAY ON: vs. Missouri (11/29)
 
KANSAS STATE - *7 / 5
Team Theme – TWO STEP PROGRAM
A 4-2 start, together with a 20-point win at Texas (KSU’s first win ever at a Top 10 program), was spoiled by an 0-4 finish last season.  It made for a bumpy ride in Ron Prince’s 2nd season in Manhattan. He'll look to get back on track in '08 with an experienced offense, including an offensive line featuring seven players who made multiple starts in 2007.  That wall will protect QB Josh Freeman, a 2nd year starter who passed for a school record 3.353 yards last year.  Unfortunately, while the Wildcats manage to escape the wrath of Texas, they tackle a five game road schedule peppered with five bowl-eligible teams. With one step up and one step back in his first two seasons, this should prove to be an important year for Prince’s positioning on college football’s coaching rung.
PLAY ON: vs. Nebraska (11/15) 

MISSOURI - *6 / 10
Team Theme – COTTONELLE
A school record 12 wins was good enough to earn the Tigers a No. 4 ranking in the final AP polls, the highest ever in school history.  Along the way, the Cotton Bowl champions fractured several school marks in 2007 while winning their first Big 12 North division title, notching 12 wins in a row and playing in its first New Years Day bowl game since 1966.  It’s no wonder Gary Pinkel is excited about the return of 16 starters from that team, including QB Chase Daniel, who finished 4th in last year’s Heisman Trophy race.  Daniel earned Big 12 Player of the Year honors when he tossed for over 4,300 yards and 33 TD’s last season.  On a roll, and an odds-on choice to repeat the feat in 2008, Missouri now becomes the hunted. The question begs: Will they s**t their pants or add to their laurels?     
PLAY AGAINST: vs. Illinois (8/30)

NEBRASKA – 6 / 6
Team Theme - FUGGETABOUDIT  
You know things aren’t going your way when a team that failed to score 70 points against you the entire decade of the ‘70’s lays 76 on you in one game.  Or when your team suffers its worst home loss since 1958.  Or when you need a win to become bowl eligible and you get outscored 34-0 in the 2nd half of the contest.  That’s the horror story written by Bill Callahan during his final season with the Cornhuskers last year.  The worst football season in Nebraska annals since 1961 is mercifully in the history books and a new era begins with Bo Pellini in 2008.  Apparently, Husker fans have short memories.  That was never more evident than the throng of 80,119 in attendance at the SPRING GAME this April ($3 tickets were selling for as much as $95). Five straight home games to open the season should help cement the amnesia.   
PLAY ON: vs. Missouri (10/4) - *KEY as dog of 3 > points

OKLAHOMA - *8 / 6
Team Theme – STOP STOOPS
Sooner coach Bob Stoops does not believe in standing pat. He continuously tinkers, looking for ways to improve his team’s lot. Oklahoma became the first team to win consecutive Big 12 titles, was the second-highest scoring team in OU history last season and now owns both the most wins in the nation this decade (90) and the best home record in the land.  Despite those magnificent accomplishments, Stoops will be running a new modified no-huddle offense in 2008.  SO QB Sam Bradford led the nation in passing efficiency last season (176.53) and his 36 TD’s (with only 8 INT’s) broke the freshman record by 7.  With seven of the eight two-deep offensive linemen back, including all five starters, Bradford could put up electrifying numbers in ’08.  And it doesn’t hurt, either, that the Big 12 defensive player of the year the past two seasons has been a Sooner. If Stoops stops changing, Stoops stops improving.
PLAY ON: vs. Texas Tech (11/22) - *KEY favored 10 < points

OKLAHOMA STATE - *8 / 6
Team Theme – STEPPING OUT
The motto on the cover of the OSU Spring Prospectus sums up the Cowboys’ current status: “There is no more famous step in sports than the next step.” You need to take it in order to get to the next level and for Mike Gundy and the Cowboys it’s time to step up.  The building blocks have been established with back-to-back bowl wins.  And last year’s 7-6 winning effort was especially impressive considering it came against the 5th toughest schedule in the land.  There’s no rest for the wicked and OSU will square off against nine teams this year that were bowl-eligible last season.  A potent offense (2nd best in school history in 2007) is lead by QB Zac Robinson who set a school record with 3.671 yards of total offense last year.  Beware of the Zac attack!  
PLAY ON: vs. Texas (10/25)

TEXAS - *6 / 4
Team Theme – THE REAL BIG BROWN
Already the 3rd all-time winningest program in major college football (820-316-33), the Longhorns just happen to rank No. 1 in this category the last ten years (103-25).  That’s directly attributable to head coach Mack Brown and his nation-leading seven consecutive 10-win seasons.  It all climaxed last year when Texas rolled past Arizona State, 53-34, in the Holiday Bowl, marking its 4th straight bowl victory – the most in school history.  Leading the charge in 2008 will be JR QB Colt McCoy who is 20-6 in his college career as a starter. Biggest news was importing Auburn’s Will Muschamp as the new defensive coordinator. His no-nonsense approach should work wonders with a unit that allowed 37.5 PPG and 482.5 PPG over the last four games last year.        
PLAY ON vs. Texas A&M (11/27)
 
TEXAS A&M - *5 / 6
Team Theme – INSIDE NEWS
Not sure whether it was the underhandedness of his “insiders’ newsletter” or a mediocre 32-29 record in six years with the Aggies that led to Dennis Franchione’s dismissal.  Whatever, he’s out and Mike Sherman is in as the Aggies’ new boss with a lucrative 7-year contract at $1.8M per. The former Aggie OL coach (two different shifts) and, for the first six years of this decade, the head coach of the Packers, does appear concerned that his team returns the fewest starters in the Big 12 this season.  SR QB Stephen McGee led the Aggies and all Big 12 QB’s in rushing last year, while 6’ 285 lb SR RB Javorskie Lane figures to get plenty of carries. Now that’s the inside scoop.    
PASS
 
TEXAS TECH - *10 / 8
Team Theme – TURN IT LOOSE!
If the Red Raider players have to drive the team bus back from a late night game this season our guess is they’d be pulled over by state troopers – for driving loaded.  The Big-12’s leader with 15 straight bowl-eligible seasons features thirty-six players returning from last year’s two-deep roster.  The senior-laden offense, which had just 16 three-and-outs last year, is manned by record-setting SR QB Graham Harrell, the top active signal caller in the nation with 89 TD passes (48 last year).  He’s also first among active QB’s in passing yards with 10,682 (5,505 last year).  To top it off, 2007 Biletnikoff  award-winning WR Michael Crabtree (a 6’ 3” 210 lb sophomore) is back.  A 9th straight bowl game appears inevitable.  A BCS bowl game?  Good call.
PLAY ON: vs. Oklahoma State (11/8)