SI's Big 12 Championship Pick: Texas over Nebraska
Darren Carroll/SI
Players To Watch
Top performers from unranked teams in the conference
Alvin Bowen
Linebacker :: Iowa State
Though undersized at 6' 2" and 216 pounds, he was a big surprise as a junior, averaging 12.9 tackles per game. Bowen should thrive in new coach Gene Chizik's attacking 4–3 scheme.
Chase Daniel
Quarterback :: Missouri
Replacing departed star Brad Smith, Daniel set school records for passing yards (3,527), touchdown passes (28) and total offense (3,906) as a sophomore.
Graham Harrell
Quarterback :: Texas Tech
Some shrug off his stats as merely a by-product of Mike Leach's wide-open attack, but Harrell's 4,555 passing yards and 38 TDs as a sophomore would have been a great year in any offense.
Bernard Jackson
Wide Receiver :: Colorado
The versatile 6-foot, 200-pound senior moves from starting quarterback to roles as a wide receiver, running back and returner—and might still take some snaps under center.
Marcus Watts
Defensive Back :: Kansas State
A second-team All–Big 12 selection despite missing four games with a broken right hand, the 6' 1", 189-pound senior provides tight coverage and excels in run support.
Big 12 Notables
Best Offensive Player
Adarius Bowman :: WR :: Oklahoma State
A North Carolina transfer, the 6' 4", 220-pound senior caught 60 passes for 1,181 yards and 12 TDs and was named All–Big 12 last year.
Best Defensive Player
Ian Campbell :: DE :: Kansas State
One of two sophomores to be selected All–Big 12 in 2006, he finished with 11 1/2 sacks and 17 tackles for loss.
True Freshman to Watch
Ryan Miller :: OL :: Colorado
The 6' 8" 310-pounder out of Columbine High in Littleton, Colo., turned down Notre Dame and USC, among others.
Coach on the Rise
Mike Gundy :: Oklahoma State
His creative offense moves the ball out of the spread and the I.
Coach on the Hot Seat
Dennis Franchione :: Texas A&M
The Aggies' road schedule is daunting, which means folks in College Station may soon forget last year's 9–4 finish.
Sleeper
Missouri
With their explosive offense the Tigers will challenge Nebraska in the North.
Extra Points
Oklahoma State was one of only two teams in the nation to average at least 200 yards rushing and 200 yards passing per game last year (Boise State was the other), but the Cowboys' defense ranked 72nd against the run and 84th against the pass. Tim Beckman , formerly the secondary coach at Ohio State, takes over as defensive coordinator.... To make things easier for sophomore quarterback Kerry Meier , Kansas coach Mark Mangino and new offensive coordinator Ed Warriner are simplifying progressions and adding outlet options so Meier doesn't have to go to a third or fourth read down the field.... In his first year as defensive coordinator at Texas A&M, Gary Darnell installed a 4-2-5 scheme that helped the Aggies improve from last against the pass among 117 Division I-A teams in 2005 to 44th in '06. This year Darnell has added wrinkles and blitzes designed to free potential stars such as linebacker Matt Featherston.
