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Originally posted by KSig RC
haha, ok - well, I was being facetious, b/c just like it's too early to vault Fresno into the top 10, it's too early to write off the entire conference (even though I essentially did it pre-season, but god I hate the big 8). Although they looked pretty weak outside of OU, there's time - however, that said, I think KState's loss is very telling, and they've looked beatable for a few years now (not a very good record against good teams), and I felt Mizzou was a bit overrated for how young they are, riding a couple recent recruiting surges along w/ the Brad Smith hype - always a bad recipe.
As for Texas - they're Texas. They will lose a big game to a crappy opponent.
A&M obviously needs more time than people hoped to rebuild, and Nebraska does NOT have the horses to run that offense (yet - exceptionally young QBs have this bizarre tendency to 'improve' at 'startling rates' so we'll see how they finish up). Plus Callahan's a dick - if you didn't hate Nebraska before, might as well start now, am i rite?
Anyway - tough 2 weeks for the big 8, but I think it's indicative of problems that have been mounting for some time. It takes a while to dig out - but there's no doubt that the Big8 isn't on the same level as the SEC from top to bottom. Unfortunately, right now it certainly looks like OU and 11 "not OUs" . . . I just think it's been like that for longer than just these last 2 weeks, it's just coming to bear now.
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It could also be a realignment of power. Texas will always be Texas. They'll always have decent talent. Currently, they have a horrible coach in Mack Brown who nearly lost the game at Arkansas. If good 'ol Matt hadn't giftwrapped victory to them in that fumble of his, Texas would be a 2-1 team right now.
Okie State is on the upswing. They have been mounting a VERY nice running attack. Their secondary is also pretty good. There are some quesitons in my mind at LB and the D-line. They may well have one of the best o-lines around though.
Kansas is another whose stock is rising. The Fighting Manginos have a decent shot at the North Title. It really wouldn't shock me. Mangino is as good if not a better coach than Snyder and could pull it off. They just beat the hell out of Toledo who was supposed to be pretty good this year in the MAC.
You're right about the QB situations. They have ways of improving. K-State has a shot if they can get some good QB play.
Nebraska... As an OU guy, it sucks to see what used to be considered your biggest rival down so much. I like the fact that technically, on paper, Texas has a chance every year. It makes beating them more fun. On the bright side of things, I really hope OU runs the score up on NU this year as payback for some of the Tom Osborne scores of the 90's.
As for the SEC being strong top to bottom.. they have issues also. Or didn't you notice that Oregon State sans their running game of last year took them to the wire and only lost because of a lousy kicker? Did you perhaps notice Georgia's lackluster performance against South Carolina? In my opinion, there are teams there that are just as overrated. I mean, Georgia at #3??? Preposterous.
The Pac-10 is having issues as well. Oregon, a perennial pick for #2 in the conference just lost to a team that will probably be #11 in the Big 10 (that is just funny to say). They were probably "looking ahead" to OU. I'll be at that game. It'll be fun watching these Oregon players from temperate Pacific NW roast under the 95+ degree Oklahoma Sun/high humidity.
As for the Big XII, yes, Miss. U., NU and K-State have been huge disappointments so far. On the other hand, did you notice that Iowa only beat ISU, who is probably our #11 team by 7 points?
I think parity is really starting to come to fruition in D-IA. The point is though, I agree, it's too early to judge.