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Reactions: Big 12 Nebraska No. 1 for Big 12 fansLatest: Tuesday August 22, 2000 12:52 PM
CNNSI.com users were asked to share their predictions of what to expect in Big 12 football during the 2000 season. A sample of the responses we received follows: I think the Big 12 is the toughest league in collage football. We have three teams in the preseason top 10 and two more in the top 25 with one or two more teams that could end up there. I think Oklahoma is going to be the big surprise this year and win it all.
Texas and KSU will not live up to expectations. Nebraska will get stronger as the year progresses. OU and Nebraska will play in Kansas City for the Big 12 championship.
This year will be the season of surprises for the Big 12. Of the predicted winners of the North and South, Nebraska will be the one to hold true. Texas will be one of the two biggest surprises of the year along with Texas Tech. Texas will end up third in the South with Oklahoma winning, and Tech a close second. Texas A&M will almost fall off of the map barely beating out OSU for fourth due to a severe lack of experience at QB. Oklahoma will beat Nebraska in the title game, putting two representatives in the BCS.
I think Nebraska will win the North and Texas will win the South. In the championship game in Kansas City, the team with the best running game will win. Therefore, Nebraska, who will be undefeated by that point, will go to the Orange Bowl. In big games, it's running and defense that wins.
Kansas State upsets Nebraska to take the North division. Texas rolls through the South, setback against OU, but takes the division. Texas beats Kansas State in the championship game, with Chris Simms at QB. Who takes over at midseason? Sorry Major, you've done a lot of great things, but it's bound to happen.
We'll see improvement from teams like Oklahoma, Texas Tech and probably an upset or two by Iowa State. In the end though, it'll all be for naught, because Eric Crouch will lead Nebraska to a convincing win over Texas in the title game en route to an Orange Bowl victory for the national title.
Three simple words -- Nebraska wins all. The Big Red machine is going to tear up the North, win the Big 12 championship, and steam-roll its way to a national title come January.
Please SI gives no r.e.s.p.e.c.t to Iowa State. They are going to make a bowl game, and they are going to win at least seven games. Come on SI, get your reports right and look how good we are.
The surprise team of the season will be Iowa State. I think they will be good enough to challenge Nebraska for the North Division title. I also think that quarterback Sage Rosenfels will be the Big 12 Player of the Year. And that ISU's defense will lead the league.
Nebraska rolls, Colorado folds. Kansas State stumbles, and Baylor fumbles. Texas Tech reloads. Josh Heupel's arm explodes. Chris Simms exits quick, MajorApplewhite's knee isn't fixed. Texas fall's down. A&M wear's the South crown.
The teams that run the ball, Nebraska and Texas A&M, will dominate. Oklahoma is vastly overrated and will suffer against ball control teams. Kansas State will look good on paper, but its easy non-conference games will kill it in the BCS rankings and leave them unprepared for tough competition in bowl games. Texas will be too distracted by a quarterback controversy to be serious contenders, and their running game is suspect.
Texas A&M will win the conference. That is if they can keep focused on what's at hand. Otherwise they lose the whole thing. But they still won't get the credit they deserve.
Yes, clear down here in the center of Mexico, I can see Kansas State University football team doing even better than they have the last two years. They have two excellent QBs. One not seen yet by the public. A redshirt freshman last year that could even be better than Bishop two years ago. And could possibly taking over from our Senior QB about midseason when he has had some playing time under his belt. They also have two fine receivers and, although small, two rapid running backs. One which may set the collegiate alltime punt returning marks this year. Believe me when I say they a have lot more going for them than the eight or ninth ranking given them.
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Throwing in the Big 12 is a passing fancy. The key is smash-mouth football. The exception is playaction thrown by Eric Crouch. My prediction is that Crouch leads underrated receivers and others to another conference and national title. Go Big Red!
I think Texas Tech will be the surprise of the Big 12. Look what Leach did for an Oklahoma offense that was more than subpar before he arrived. Now Leach arrives at Texas Tech to take over an offense that was more than capable before he arrived. There is a new QB, Ricky Williams returns, new coaches and a preseason All-American on defense. I think the Red Raiders could be first or second in their division. (Schedule isn't strong either, a big plus).
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