BAYLOR BEARS
2001 record: 3-8 (0-8 in Big 12)
Coach: Kevin Steele (4th year with Bears, 6-27 career record)
Top players: QB Greg Cicero (6-4, 225, Sr.), WR Reggie Newhouse (6-1, 194, Sr.), LB John Garrett (6-1, 238, Jr.)
Outlook: Remember game two of the 1999 season? It's a day that lives in Baylor infamy. The Bears were on their way to a win over UNLV. Instead of taking a knee and ending the game, Steele opted to "create an attitude" with an exclamation-point touchdown. Of course, Baylor fumbled and UNLV ran it back 99 yards for the stunning game-winning TD as time expired. Since then, Baylor's been in a downward spiral. The Bears have lost 29 straight conference games, with 24 of those losses on Steele's watch. In the conference's six-year history, the Bears are 3-45 in league play. It's hard to see how Baylor will be much better this year.
OKLAHOMA SOONERS
2001 record: 11-2 (6-2)
Coach: Bob Stoops (4th year with Sooners, 31-7 career record)
Top players: QB Jason White (6-2, 224, Jr.), TE Trent Smith (6-5, 230, Sr.), WR Mark Clayton (5-11, 169, So.) C Vince Carter (6-3, 277, So.), OT Jerod Fields (6-7, 302, So.), DT Tommie Harris (6-3, 288, So.), DE Jimmy Wilkerson (6-4, 260, Jr.), LB Teddy Lehman (6-2, 240, Jr.), CB Andre Woolfolk, FS Brandon Everage (6-0, 190, Jr.)
Outlook: Stoops has restored the tradition at Oklahoma. That's safe to assume after a national title in 2000 and 11-2 campaign last year. Expectations are no lower this year. White is recovering from a knee injury and gets the nod over senior Nate Hybl. Smith, who snagged 61 balls last year, is one of the nation's top tight ends. Defensively, Harris had an immediate impact as a freshman. The Sports Illustrated cover boy figures to get even better this season. The biggest challenge will be replacing the leaders of last year's defense: LB Rocky Calmus and S Roy Williams. Both were playmakers and filling their shoes will be extremely difficult but OU should be in the national title mix when it's all said and done.
OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS
2001 record: 4-7 (2-6)
Coach: Les Miles (2nd year with Cowboys, 4-7 career record)
Top players: WR Rashaun Woods (6-2, 187, Jr.), OT Kyle Eaton (6-8, 291, Sr.), FS Elbert Craig (6-1, 208, Jr.), DT Kevin Williams (6-5, 284, Sr.), DE Khreem Smith (6-4, 234, Jr.), S/KR Chris Massey (6-0, 204, Jr.)
Outlook: Miles' first season on the job climaxed with the finale, a 16-13 road win over archrival Oklahoma that ended the Sooners' hopes of repeating as national champions. The Cowboys do return some talent, beginning with Woods. He had 80 receptions for 1,023 yards and 10 TDs last season. Who's throwing to Woods is a mystery. Sophomore Josh Fields led the Cowboys to the upset of the Sooner last year, but junior Aso Pogi, recovering from an offseason auto accident, is also in the mix.
TEXAS LONGHORNS
2001 record: 11-2 (7-1)
Coach: Mack Brown (5th year with Longhorns, 124-87-1 career record)
Top players: QB Chris Simms (6-5, 225, Sr.), RB Cedric Benson (6-0, 205, So.), WR Roy Williams (6-4, 210, Jr.), WR B.J. Johnson (6-1, 200, Jr.), DE Cory Redding (6-5, 270, Sr.), LB Derrick Johnson (6-4, 220, So.), CB Nathan Vasher (5-11, 180, Jr.), CB Roderick Babers (5-10, 187, Sr.), DE Kalen Thornton (6-3, 270, Jr.)
Outlook: The hype machine is in full gear for these Longhorns (the media guide alone is 576 pages long). They're an extremely talented team that has the tools to go a long way. But will they? That's the $64,000 question. As talented as Simms is, he's shown a tendency to melt down in big games against top opponents. With games against Oklahoma and at Nebraska and Kansas State, there will be little to no room for error. While Brown has returned Texas to national prominence, he's also gone 3-7 against top 10 teams during his time in Austin. Brown has never won a conference title in his coaching career and not getting to the Fiesta Bowl will make this season a failure in many fans' eyes. The fork in the road will be the Oklahoma game. A win puts Texas on the fast track to Tempe. A loss means another lower-echelon bowl. By now, the Longhorns should be tired of spending the holidays in San Diego.
TEXAS A&M AGGIES
2001 record: 8-4 (4-4)
Coach: R.C. Slocum (14th year with Aggies, 117-41-3 record)
Top players: QB Mark Farris (6-2, 212, Sr.), QB Reggie McNeal (6-2, 210, Fr.), RB Derek Farmer (5-11, 192, So.), WR Jamaar Taylor (6-1, 192, Jr.), DE Ty Warren (6-4, 308, Sr.), LB Jarrod Penright (6-2, 228, Sr.), LB Brian Gamble (6-2, 225, Sr.), CB Sammy Davis (6-0, 185, Sr.), SS Terrence Kiel (5-11, 201, Sr.)
Outlook: The heat is on Slocum in College Station. The Aggies have lost at least four games in five of the last six years and all the ink given archrival Texas no doubt doesn't sit well with the Aggie faithful. The 28-year-old Farris is back for his final season, but he may be ousted in favor of McNeal, who led Lufkin to the Class 5A-Div. II state title. He's mobile and has a rocket for an arm. Slocum runs a '90s offense. The only problem is, it's an 1890s offense. It ranked 106th nationally last year and scored an embarrassing one TD in the Aggies' last three games. Farmer has the potential to be an elite back. Defensively, it's the same old Wrecking Crew. The decision Slocum makes at quarterback will go a long way toward determining the Aggies' fate. Farris and coordinator Dino Babers hit it off as well as Tom and Jerry. There's little reason to believe their relationship - or the Aggies - will be much better this season.
TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS
2001 record: 7-5 (4-4)
Coach: Mike Leach (3rd year with Red Raiders, 14-11 career record)
Top players: QB Kliff Kingsbury (6-4, 208, Sr.), WR Wes Welker (5-9, 174, Jr.), OG Rex Richards (6-4, 315, Sr.), WR Carlos Francis (5-9, 192, Jr.), DE Aaron Hunt (6-3, 258, Sr.), DT Lamont Anderson (6-2, 285, Sr.), LB Lawrence Flugence (6-2, 235, Sr.)
Outlook: The air raid sirens will be put to use in Lubbock this year. Leach's offensive strategy is pass-happy and is suited for Heisman hopeful Kingsbury. Welker and Francis are among Kingsbury's top targets. With Ricky Williams gone, Tech needs to find a new starting running back. Among the front runners are Foy Munlin and Taurean Henderson. Defensively, Tech likes to blitz, but is prone to giving up the big play. Flugence is a magnet to the ball, with 301 tackles the past two seasons. Another 7-8 win season is probably in the cards.
NORTH DIVISION
COLORADO BUFFALOES
2001 record: 10-3 (7-1)
Coach: Gary Barnett (4th year with Buffaloes, 63-72-2 career record)
Top players: RB Chris Brown (6-3, 220, Jr.), RB Marcus Houston (6-2, 205, So.), RB Bobby Purify (6-0, 195, So.), QB Craig Ochs (6-2, 210, Jr.), WR Derek McCoy (6-3, 210, Jr.), OT Justin Bates LB Sean Tufts (6-4, 230, Jr.), LB Drew Wahlroos (6-3, 235, Sr.), DE Marques Harris (6-2, 225, Jr.)
Outlook: The Buffs broke through at the end of last season. There's no reason to believe Colorado won't be back in the title game this year. Ochs, who missed last year's stretch run with injuries, is back and is among league's top QBs. But Colorado's real strength lies in its running back. Brown, Houston and Purify combined for 1,994 yards last season. Defensively, the line is a concern.
IOWA STATE CYCLONES
2001 record: 7-5 (4-4)
Coach: Dan McCarney (8th year with Cyclones, 29-50 career record)
Top players: QB Seneca Wallace (5-10, 193, Sr.), WR Lane Danielsen (6-0, 195, Jr.), DT Jordan Carstens (6-5, 300, Jr.), DE Tyson Smith (6-2, 230, Jr.), LB Jeremy Loyd (6-2, 230, Sr.),
Outlook: This one-time laughingstock is slowly making strides. The Cyclones have gone to consecutive bowl games and the multi-talented Wallace is garnering Heisman notice, even if that hype is being generated by Iowa State. The Cyclones will hit the ground running by taking on Florida St. While an upset of the Seminoles is unlikely, it will be good exposure for the program. Wallace is arguably the Big 12's top run-pass threat. Defensively, Iowa State returns six starters and is led by Smith and Carstens on the line.
KANSAS JAYHAWKS
2001 record: 3-8 (1-7)
Coach: Mark Mangino (1st year as a head coach)
Top players: WR Harrison Hill (5-11, 200, Sr.), WR Byron Gasaway (6-4, 210, Sr.), RB Reggie Duncan (5-9, 215, Jr.), LB Leo Etienne (6-0, 205, Sr.), CB Carl Ivey (5-11, 175, Jr.)
Outlook: Mangino, who replaced the fired Terry Allen, has a winning pedigree. He helped Bill Snyder build Kansas State from a laughingstock to a semi-national power and was the offensive architect behind Oklahoma's 2000 national titlist. Expect the Jayhawks to run the wide-open offense the Sooners have run in recent years. The only problem is there's no clear-cut No. 1 quarterback. Junior Zach Dyer and junior-college transfer Bill Whittemore are the front-runners. Duncan is a solid back who was beset by legal problems last season. With a new administration in place, he'll get a fresh start.
KANSAS STATE WILDCATS
2001 record: 6-6 (3-5)
Coach: Bill Snyder (14th year with Wildcats, 105-49-1 record)
Top players: QB Eli Roberson (6-1, 205, Jr.), RB Darren Sproles (5-7, 170, So.), C Steve Washington (6-4, 315, Sr.), LB Terry Pierce (6-3, 250, Jr.), DT Tank Reese (5-11, 280, Sr.), CB Terence Newman (5-11, 185, Sr.)
Outlook: There's a little bit of change this year, as defensive coordinator Phil Bennett left to become SMU's head coach. Still, the Wildcats figure to be the same team they were last year: great defense, so-so offense. Roberson might get a challenge from JUCO transfer Marc Dunn for the starting job. The team lacks an established receiver or runner. On defense, Pierce could be one of the best KSU linebackers.
MISSOURI TIGERS
2001 record: 4-7 (3-5)
Coach: Gary Pinkel (2nd year with Tigers, 77-44-3 career record)
Top players: WR Justin Gage (6-4, 210, Sr.), RB Zack Abron (5-10, 225, Jr.), DE Antwaun Bynum (6-2, 245, Jr.), LB Sean Doyle (6-0, 231, Sr.), SS Taurus Ferguson (5-11, 205, Sr.)
Outlook: The biggest question surrounding this team is at quarterback. Freshman Brad Smith and senior Kirk Farmer are the top candidates for the job. Gage (74 catches) will help whoever the QB is adjust to the position. Abron rushed for almost 800 yards last year. Defensively, eight starters return. The best ones are Wright, Bynum and Doyle, who had 131 tackles last season.
NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS
2001 record: 11-2 (7-1)
Coach: Frank Solich (5th year with Huskers, 42-9 career record)
Top players: RB Dahrran Diedrick (6-0, 225, Sr.), FB Judd Davies (6-0, 255, Jr.), C John Garrison (6-4, 290, Sr.), DE Chris Kelsay (6-5, 255, Sr.), DE Demoine Adams (6-2, 260, Sr.), LB Scott Shanle (6-2, 240, Sr.), CB DeJuan Groce (5-10, 190, Sr.)
Outlook: The Huskers are still being hosed off after getting scorched by Miami in the Rose Bowl. Just kidding, but Nebraska's performance looked painfully like the Huskers of the late '80s and early '90s that couldn't cope with the speed of the Miamis and Florida States. The Huskers' biggest concern is replacing Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Eric Crouch, a four-year starter. Junior Jammal Lord is the heir apparent. He'll be helped by Diedrick, who led the Big 12 in rushing last season. Nebraska won't be 6-5, but it probably won't be playing for the national title again.
