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Mike Finger: Recent losses won't sink Big 12
Web Posted: 09/13/2004 12:00 AM CDT


San Antonio Express-News

The little guys had their fun this weekend, celebrating on national television and exposing the weaknesses of a conference in a down year.

Somehow, though, you get the feeling the little guys won't be so excited in a few months.

Summer isn't even gone yet, and the Big 12 is already off to one of its worst starts ever. Supposed powers Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Nebraska, Kansas State and Missouri have all been beaten — most of them thoroughly — by teams from conferences not associated with the Bowl Championship Series.

But how, exactly, will the league pay for all this embarrassment?

By sending seven or eight teams to bowl games. And earning one or two berths in the BCS. And possibly winning another national championship.

Some down year.

The truth is, the Big 12 is at a point in its history where it isn't devastated by a poor showing in the non-conference portion of the schedule. Bowl commitments are already in place, TV contracts are already signed, and big-name reputations are already well established.

That's probably one of the biggest problems with college football these days. Even after this weekend, Nebraska, KSU and Missouri probably have better opportunities to get into the BCS than Southern Mississippi, Fresno State and Troy — the three teams that just trounced them.

Granted, it's not a good sign when only two Big 12 teams are ranked in the Top 25, as Oklahoma and Texas are this week. And certainly, there would be reasons to be concerned if the league made these September upsets a yearly ritual.

But the knee-jerk reactors — those who say this weekend suggests the Big 12 has taken a big step back in the nation's power-conference hierarchy — aren't really looking at the big picture.

Take a look at what lies ahead for the Big 12 this season.

OU still is a favorite to reach the national championship game. If the Sooners lose to UT, then the Longhorns will be in the same position.

The North Division champion — whether that be Nebraska, KSU, Missouri or Colorado, which actually carried the Big 12 banner well with a road victory against Washington State on Saturday — will receive serious consideration for an at-large BCS bid, as will the UT-OU loser.

On top of that, as many as eight Big 12 teams still have a winning season well within reach, and the league has enough bowl tie-ins to satisfy all of them.

Just about every team in the conference will need to address some glaring issues to make it happen. A&M, Tech, Missouri and KSU all have defensive weaknesses, Nebraska and Oklahoma State must prove they can adapt to new offensive approaches, and Colorado and Kansas still haven't shown they can handle the rigors of a full season.

But if it all works out, with the Big 12 winning a handful of bowl games, including one or two after New Year's Day?

Then this past week will be forgotten.

And as usual in college football, there won't be much the little guys can do about it.

Kitso
KS 361 times you can accuse me of being a Big XII 'homer' but hey, i'm not gonna sell out my conference just yet.