Kansas.com: Big 12 Conference

TWO STORY LINES

BLAIR KERKHOFF — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 01:35 CST

Oklahoma is the immovable object, nearly perfect at home under Bob Stoops and historically strong on defense.

Texas Tech is the irresistible force with a freak-of-nature passing attack.

What happens when they meet Saturday?

College football's championship race turns on the answer.

The second-ranked Red Raiders visit Norman, Okla., to complete the Big 12 South Division trilogy. Texas beat Oklahoma. Texas Tech beat Texas. Now, the finale, with the winner either clinching the South (if it's Tech) or creating three-team chaos at the top of the division (it it's Oklahoma).

Leach uninterested in job talk

BETSY BLANEY — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:40 CST

Mike Leach's success this year at unbeaten No. 2 Texas Tech will probably bring offers from bigtime programs on the lookout for new coaches.

Leach said Monday he isn't paying "any attention" to his name being tossed around midseason for jobs like Washington or Tennessee.

"Playing OU is enough of a handful without worrying about any of that," the coach said about the Red Raiders' showdown with No. 5 Oklahoma for the Big 12 South title Nov. 22.

Texas Tech, which hasn't beaten Texas and Oklahoma in the same season under Leach, remained at No. 2 in the rankings for a second week and the Red Raiders are one of five unbeaten teams in the country.

The ranking is the highest ever for the program. The Red Raiders winning streak is 12 straight, best in the nation and in school history. Texas Tech is 10-0 for the first time since 1938.

TWO STORY LINES

BLAIR KERKHOFF — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:35 CST

All the tie-breaker talk in the Big 12 has been about the South, but lookie here. The North could wind up in its own tangled mess.

A three-team tie at the top among Missouri, Nebraska and Kansas would happen if the three teams finish 5-3 in league play, and that occurs if Missouri beats Iowa State and loses to Kansas, Nebraska beats Kansas State and Colorado and the Jayhawks beat Texas and Missouri.

It's unlikely that Kansas beats the Longhorns, but it could have happened four years ago when the gap between the teams seemed even wider than now. Remember, in 2004, the Jayhawks lost the controversial game 27-23, and afterward came coach Mark Mangino's famous "dollar signs" news conference.

But if the scenario played out, the three-way deadlock could not be resolved through any of the league's competitive tie-breaker channels. That is, the teams would have the same records against each other (1-1), in the division (4-1) and against the three other teams in the North (3-0).

There is no South opponent common to all three, so it gets thrown into the BCS standings. Highest-rated team goes to the Big 12 title game, and at that point, it probably would be Kansas because the Jayhawks would be coming off two victories pollsters and computers would love.

BIG 12 STANDINGS

Sun, 09 Nov 2008 01:38 CST

North Division

	Conf.	Overall
Missouri	4-2	8-2
Kansas	3-3	6-4
Nebraska	3-3	6-4
Colorado	2-4	5-5
Kansas State	1-5	4-6
Iowa State	0-6	2-8

South Division

	Conf.	Overall
Texas Tech	6-0	10-0
Oklahoma	5-1	9-1
Texas	5-1	9-1
Oklahoma State	4-2	8-2
Texas A&M	2-4	4-6
Baylor	1-5	3-7

Saturday's results

Nebraska 45, Kansas 35

Missouri 41, Kansas St. 24

Harrell, Techpound Pokes

JAIME ARON — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 01:38 CST

So it wasn't simply the emotion of playing No. 1 at home that brought out the best in Texas Tech last week. The Red Raiders just might be that good.

Proving the No. 2 ranking and win over Texas was no fluke, Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree picked up where they left off, scoring touchdown after touchdown and turning a showdown with No. 8 Oklahoma State into a 56-20 rout Saturday night.

"This was a great accomplishment for our team," Texas Tech coach Mike Leach said. "It was kind of a good, collective effort."

After losing a fumble on the game-opening drive, Harrell led the Red Raiders to touchdowns on their next seven drives, capping three of them with TD passes to Crabtree, the big, strong sophomore who might be the nation's most dangerous receiver.

Harrell finished 40 of 50 for 456 yards and six touchdowns. He lost two fumbles but didn't throw an interception and wasn't sacked. He was rarely even pressured as Texas Tech (10-0, 6-0 Big 12) won its 12th straight game, the longest streak in the nation and best in school history.

Colorado haltsIowa State rally

Sun, 09 Nov 2008 01:37 CST

Cody Hawkins rallied Colorado to a 28-24 win over Iowa State on Saturday, and the Buffaloes' defense held the Cyclones on the 1-yard line as time expired in Boulder, Colo.

Hawkins, who took over for an ineffective Tyler Hansen in the second half, threw for 226 yards and four touchdown passes, two of which went to Scotty McKnight.

Patrick Williams also had a touchdown catch.

The Cyclones (2-8, 0-6 Big 12) drove the ball down to the 1 with three seconds remaining, but Alexander Robinson was stuffed by Daniel Dykes and Jimmy Smith for a loss.

It was the Cyclones' eighth straight defeat.

Red Raiders ready for another showdown

BETSY BLANEY — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 01:38 CST

Get ready for another "biggest game in the history of this year."

That's what dry-witted Texas Tech coach Mike Leach called the Big 12's next prime-time showdown, this one tonight against eighth-ranked Oklahoma State a week after the Red Raiders rose to No. 2 by beating Texas for the program's first win against a top-ranked team.

Frankly, Cowboys coach Mike Gundy is worn out, and his team even got a relative break with last week's 59-17 home romp against Iowa State.

"This is getting kind of monotonous with the big games in this league," said Gundy, whose team helped kick off the Big 12 craziness a month ago with an upset of No. 3 Missouri the same day fifth-ranked Texas bounced No. 1 Oklahoma. "There's just not a lot of time to back off."

Under different circumstances, the chatter would be all about the first Texas Tech-Oklahoma State game since Gundy's "I'm a man" rant that became a YouTube sensation after last year's 49-45 Cowboys win.

Tie-breaker alerts are being sounded in the Big 12.

BLAIR KERKHOFF — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 01:38 CST

With three games remaining in the season, a deadlock seems almost inevitable in the South Division -- unless Texas Tech runs the table -- and it could happen in the North.

The Red Raiders' quest for perfection will be difficult. They follow their program-defining victory over top-ranked Texas with successive games against top-10 teams. Eighth-ranked Oklahoma State visits Lubbock on Saturday, and Tech goes to No. 6 Oklahoma on Nov. 22.

It's possible the South could end in a two- or three-way tie. Breaking the two-team tie is easy: head-to-head.

In a three-way deadlock -- and let's assume three teams finish league play 7-1 -- the tie-breaking steps go like this:

Record against each other. This likely leaves teams tied because of three 1-1 records.

Saturday's games

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 01:38 CST

Baylor at Texas, 11 a.m., FSN

Iowa State at Colorado, 12:30 p.m., VERSUS

Kansas at Nebraska, 1:30 p.m., pay per view

Oklahoma at Texas A&M, 2:30 p.m., KAKE

Kansas State at Missouri, 6 p.m. FSN

Texas Tech busts into title picture

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 01:36 CST

No scoreboard watching necessary for Texas Tech.

Less than 24 hours after the Red Raiders gave the national championship race a makeover by defeating then-No. 1 Texas, they received more good news when the BCS standings were released Sunday.

Texas Tech was in second place, behind Alabama and just ahead of third-place Penn State.

If the undefeated Red Raiders of the Big 12 and undefeated Crimson Tide of the Southeastern Conference win out, they will likely meet in the BCS national championship game in Miami on Jan. 8.

The unbeaten Nittany Lions still need help in the form of an Alabama or Texas Tech loss to reach the title game.

K-STATE, KU WOMEN

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 00:41 CDT

KANSAS STATE

Probable starters	Ht.	Yr.	PPG
F	Marlies Gipson	6-0	Sr.	11.7
F	Ashley Sweat	6-2	Jr.	11.2
G	Kari Kincaid	5-10	Jr.	5.3
G	Kelsey Nelson	5-9	Sr.	3.7
G	Shalee Lehning	5-9	Sr.	11.3

Top reserves

F	Danielle Zanotti	6-2	Sr.	2.1
G	Shalin Spani	6-0	So.	1.5

Center stage: It's virtually the same cast as last year. Actually, it's the same cast that finished last season. Kelsey Nelson slides into Kimberly Dietz's spot, and Deb Patterson hopes the same results will occur.

Contender if: There is no drop-off, and Shalee Lehning and Marlies Gipson _ two WNBA-quality players, according to Patterson _ lead the way.

Pretender if: Dietz's contributions can't be replaced, and in the ultra-competitive Big 12, the Wildcats are unable to keep pace.

K-STATE WOMEN'S SCHEDULE

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 00:41 CDT

Date	Opponent	TV	Time
Today	Washburn (exh.)		1:05
Friday	Emporia St. (exh.)		7:05
Nov. 14	at UTEP		6:35
Nov. 17	at Northwestern		7:05
Nov. 23	UTSA		1:05
Nov. 25	at Arkansas St.		7:05
Nov. 28	at Jacksonville		6:05
Dec. 5	Alcorn St.		6:05
Dec. 6	Arkansas or Miss. Valley St.	4:05
Dec. 9	Creighton		7:05
Dec. 14	Texas-Arlington		1:05
Dec. 20	at Indiana St.		4:35
Dec. 28	at Washington St.		3:05
Dec. 30	at Washington		7:05
Jan. 3	Central Arkansas		6:05
Jan. 10	Kansas		6:05
Jan. 14	at Oklahoma		7:05
Jan. 17	Iowa St.		2:05
Jan. 21	at Texas Tech		7:05
Jan. 24	at Kansas	FSN	11:05 a.m.
Jan. 27	Nebraska	FSN	7:05
Jan. 31	at Iowa St.		7:05
Feb. 4	Missouri	FSN	7:05
Feb. 7	at Baylor	FSN	11:05 a.m.
Feb. 15	Oklahoma St.	FSN	1:05
Feb. 18	at Missouri		6:35
FEb. 21	Colorado		2:05
Feb. 25	at Nebraska		7:05
March 1	Texas A&M	FSN	12:05
March 4	Texas	FSN	7:05
March 7	at Colorado		3:05
March 12-15	Big 12 Tournament

at Oklahoma City

KANSAS SCHEDULE

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 06:15 CST

Date	Opponent	TV	Time
Tuesday	Washburn (exh.)	KSCW	7:05
Nov. 11	Emporia St. (exh.)	KSCW	7:05
Nov. 16	UMKC	ESPNU	7
Nov. 18	Florida Gulf Coast	ESPNU	8
Nov. 24	x-Washington	ESPN2	9
Nov. 25	x-Florida or Syracuse	ESPN2/U	TBA
Nov. 28	Coppin St.	KSCW	7:05
Dec. 1	Kent St.	ESPNU	8
Dec. 3	New Mexico St.	KSCW	7:05
Dec. 6	Jackson St.	KSCW	1:05
Dec. 13	x-Massachusetts	ESPN	1
Dec. 20	Temple	ESPN2	1:30
Dec. 23	at Arizona	FSN	9:30
Dec. 30	Albany	ESPNU	8
Jan. 3	Tennessee	ESPN	1
Jan. 6	Siena	KSCW	7:05
Jan. 10	at Michigan St.	KWCH	Noon
Jan. 13	Kansas St.	KMTW	7:05
Jan. 17	at Colorado	KAKE	2:30
Jan. 19	Texas A&M	ESPN	8
Jan. 24	at Iowa St.	ESPN	1
Jan. 28	at Nebraska	ESPN2	6:30
Jan. 31	Colorado	ESPNU	3
Feb. 2	at Baylor	ESPN	8
Feb. 7	Oklahoma St.	KAKE	2:30
Feb. 9	at Missouri	ESPN	8
Feb. 14	at Kansas St.	KAKE	2:30
Feb. 18	Iowa St.	KMTW	7:05
Feb. 21	Nebraska	KSAS	3
Feb. 23	at Oklahoma	ESPN	8
March 1	Missouri	KWCH	1
March 4	at Texas Tech	ESPN2	8:30
March 7	Texas	KWCH	3
March 11-14	Big 12 Tournament

at Oklahoma City

x-at Kansas City, Mo.

BIG 12 SCHEDULE

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 00:41 CDT

November

14--Stetson at Texas, 7 p.m.; St. Francis (Pa.) at Texas Tech, 7 p.m.; American at Oklahoma, 7 p.m.; UC Davis at Iowa St., 7 p.m.; Florida A&M at Kansas St., 7 p.m.; Ark.-Pine Bluff at Colorado, 7 p.m.; Texas-San Antonio at Oklahoma St., 7 p.m.

15--Loyola Marymount at Iowa St., TBA; Paul Quinn College at Baylor, 3 p.m.; Prairie View A&M at MU, 3:30 p.m.

16--SE Missouri St. at Kansas St., 2 p.m.; San Jose St. at Nebraska, 2 p.m.; Ark.-Pine Bluff at Texas A&M, 4 p.m.; UMKC at Kansas, 7 p.m.; Wis.-Milwaukee at Iowa St., 7 p.m.

17--North Texas at Oklahoma St., 7 p.m.; Chattanooga at Missouri, 7 p.m.; Sam Houston St. at Texas Tech, 7 p.m.; Mississippi Valley St. at Oklahoma, 8 p.m.

THE BIG 12 CONFERENCE

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 00:41 CDT

1. TEXAS LONGHORNS

Probable starters	Ht	Yr	PPG
F	Damion James	6-7	Jr.	13.2
C	Connor Atchley	6-10	Sr.	9.5
G	Justin Mason	6-2	Jr.	7.1
G	A.J. Abrams	5-11	Sr.	16.5
G	Dogus Balbay	6-0	So.	DNP

Top reserves

C	Dexter Pittman	6-10	Jr.	2.8
G	Varez Ward	6-2	Fr.	DNP
F	Gary Johnson	6-6	So.	5.6

Center stage: Gone is D.J. Augustin, so that focuses the light on his replacement at point guard. There could be three: Abrams, Mason and newcomer Dogus Balbay from Turkey. Balbay has started working with the first unit, so the bet is on him.

Contender if: Texas could not only win the Big 12 but should be a contender on the national scene. A ton of experience, a great coach and the swagger to go with it.

Pretender if: Injuries seem the only possible stumbling block. Particularly if they come in the front court. After Atchley and James, only James is proven there. But the Longhorns could probably do just fine with two out of those three, so pretender is not a label Texas has to worry about.

Collins takes the reins

J. BRADY MCCOLLOUGH — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 05:44 CST

The Kansas Jayhawks had a bad practice last week, and Sherron Collins knew the drill.

The young guys weren't focused. They hadn't been playing hard all the time. And they were about to get what KU coach Bill Self likes to call a "mountin'." But before Self could utter a word, Collins fell on his sword.

"It's my fault," Collins told his teammates and coach.

"You're darn right it's your fault," Self agreed.

It didn't matter that Self knew Collins had worked hard during the practice. This season, everything is Sherron Collins' fault.

Bryant leads No. 9 Cowboys

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 00:42 CDT

Dez Bryant caught four touchdown passes, Zac Robinson passed for 395 yards and No. 9 Oklahoma State rebounded from its first loss by routing Iowa State 59-17 on Saturday at Stillwater, Okla.

Bryant, the Cowboys' star sophomore, had nine catches for 171 yards, including touchdowns on plays of 11, 26, 80 and 1 yards, as Oklahoma State clinched its first 8-win season since 2003. The Cowboys are 8-1 for only the third time ever and 4-1 in conference play for the first time since the Big 12 began play in 1996.

Iowa State (2-7, 0-5) has lost seven straight. The Cyclones' most effective player was Leonard Johnson, who had kickoff returns of 72, 73 and 48 yards en route to setting the major college record for kickoff return yards with 319 on nine returns.

ISU	OkSt
First downs	17	28
Rushes-yards	38-122	36-263
Passing	240	419
Comp-Att-Int	20-35-2	20-29-1
Return Yards	3	(-1)
Punts-Avg.	5-45.4	1-56.0
Fumbles-Lost	1-1	1-1
Penalties-Yards	10-94	5-34
Time of Possession	35:51	24:09

Iowa St.	7	3	0	7--17
Oklahoma St.	14	14	24	7--59

First Quarter

OkSt--Ward 1 run (D.Bailey kick), 10:17.

No. 6 Texas Tech dumps No. 1 Texas

KATE HAIROPOULOS — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 00:41 CDT

They called it the biggest game in Texas Tech history.

So of course it had to be this way. Of course the biggest win in the school's history -- 39-33 over No. 1 Texas on a wild Saturday night in West Texas -- wouldn't come easy.

The No. 6 Red Raiders, behind a school-record crowd of 56,333 ravenous fans at Jones AT&T Stadium, overcame a second half in which its usually sure-fire offense faltered and their big halftime lead disappeared with 90 seconds to play.

Quarterback Graham Harrell found -- who else? --receiver Michael Crabtree for a 28-yard scoring play with one second left.

Crabtree, who had a quiet second half until the end, caught the ball over Texas defensive back Curtis Brown at around the UT 5 and darted up the right sideline.

No. 4 Oklahoma pummels Nebraska

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 00:41 CDT

Sam Bradford threw for 311 yards and five touchdowns and No. 4 Oklahoma capitalized on three terrible Nebraska pass plays right in the opening minutes Saturday night to the beat the Huskers 62-28 with its biggest offensive output in the storied series.

Oklahoma's Dominique Franks intercepted Joe Ganz's first pass attempt and returned it 18 yards for a touchdown, and the Huskers (5-4, 2-3 Big 12) also had turnovers on each of their next two passes as the Sooners (8-1, 4-1) raced to a 28-0 lead in the first 4 ½ minutes and never looked back in Norman.

No. 9 Oklahoma State 59, Iowa State 17 -- Dez Bryant caught four touchdown passes, Zac Robinson passed for 395 yards and No. 9 Oklahoma State rebounded from its first loss by routing Iowa State 59-17 on Saturday at Stillwater, Okla.

Bryant, the Cowboys' star sophomore, had nine catches for 171 yards, including touchdowns on plays of 11, 26, 80 and 1 yards.

Iowa State (2-7, 0-5) has lost seven straight.

Texas Tech dumps No. 1 Texas

JIM VERTUNO — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 00:42 CDT

Graham Harrell fired a 28-yard touchdown pass to Michael Crabtree with one second left and No. 6 Texas Tech stunned No. 1 Texas 39-33 Saturday night in a wild shootout.

Texas (8-1, 4-1 Big 12) had stormed back from a 19-0 deficit to take a 33-32 lead when Vondrell McGee scored on a 4-yard run with 1:29 left in the fourth.

Harrell drove the Red Raiders (9-0, 5-0) to the touchdown in six plays, slinging the long pass to Crabtree, who broke the tackle of Curtis Brown near the sideline, kept his balance and scooted the last five yards for a score. If he had been tackled inbounds, the clock likely would have run out.

Thousands of Texas Tech fans poured onto the field and had to be sent off while the play was under review. Once the fans were chased off the field and Tech kicked the extra point, the Red Raiders were penalized and forced to kick off from their own 7.

When Texas couldn't pull of a miracle kickoff return, the fans ran back on the field to celebrate the biggest win in Texas Tech history.