Where's the parity?

Oklahoma's 21-7 win over Nebraska in the 2006 Big 12 Conference title game might have been difficult for Cornhuskers fans to digest, but here's the bright side: It could have signaled something positive for the North Division. Maybe the division is on the upswing.

Consider:

• The University of Colorado, the North champion for four of five seasons before 2006, was outscored by a cumulative 141-13 in its three championship game losses (29-7 by Oklahoma in 2002, 42-3 by Oklahoma in 2004 and 70-3 by Texas in 2005).

• CU won the Big 12 title in 2001, beating No. 3 Texas 39-37. CU, Nebraska (1999, 1997) and Kansas State (2003) are the only North teams to win the league title game in the Big 12's 11-year history.

• Other numbers that point to an imbalance of power: The South has won three consecutive conference titles, four of the past five and took 14 of 19 games against the North last season.

Who's hearing the howls?

Eyebrows were raised in November when Missouri coach Gary Pinkel, en route to an 8-5 season and a one-point loss to Oregon State in the Sun Bowl, received a contract extension.

The Tigers' eight wins elevated the "W" side of Pinkel's résumé to 37, with the "L" side staying close at 34.

Are those numbers good enough to keep the predators at bay in Columbia, Mo.? They apparently were sufficient for athletic director Mike Alden to take a leap of faith that takes Pinkel through 2011 and guarantees a $1.4 million salary.

Still, this season looms as critical. Many observers believe the Tigers can win the North Division (they haven't won a league championship since 1969), and if they backslide, Alden and Pinkel will hear about it.

Other conference coaches walking that very fine line: Texas A&M's Dennis Franchione (25-22 at the school) and Baylor's Guy Morriss (15-31 there). But a caveat is required: Morriss' record might be the more impressive because of the disparity in the programs in funding, philosophies and expectations.

But all three coaches share the same bottom line: win. Now.

Bowl 'em over, Jayhawks

8 Big 12 teams have participated in bowl games in five of the past six seasons. But the league qualified nine teams for postseason play last season, with Kansas (6-6) left with no place to play.

Clock killers

Something Big 12 coaches want to avoid: Falling behind against Texas A&M. In 2006, the Aggies led NCAA Division I-A in time of possession, holding the ball for 33:35 a game. That was an advantage of plus-7:10 over their opponents.

Quite a Load(holt)

Oklahoma's offensive line is ranked among the best by several preseason publications, and one of the biggest reasons is 6-foot-8, 360-pound tackle Phil Loadholt, a junior college transfer. His name should be familiar to Colorado fans; Loadholt is from Fountain and committed to the Buffaloes two seasons ago. Denied admission for academic reasons, he wound up at Garden City (Kan.) Community College, where the recruiting process began again — with the Sooners taking full advantage.

BIG 12 CONFERENCE PREVIEW

NORTH DIVISION

• Location: Columbia, Mo.

• Coach: Gary Pinkel (110-72-3 in 16 seasons overall; 37-35 in six seasons at Missouri).

• Last year: 8-5 overall, 4-4 in Big 12, tied for second in North. Lost to Oregon State 39-38 in the Sun Bowl.

• Returning starters: Nine on offense, five on defense, two specialists.

• Key players

QB Chase Daniel. Debut season as a starter almost made Missouri fans forget about Brad Smith; accounted for 3,906 yards in offense and 32 touchdowns.

TEs Chase Coffman, Martin Rucker. Could be the best twosome in college football; totaled 1,149 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns between them.

TB Tony Temple. Averaged 81.8 yards a game and scored seven touchdowns.

• Pivotal game: Oct. 6 vs. Nebraska.

• Prove it: In his sixth season and two games over .500, Pinkel doesn't have the résumé that merits statewide adoration. He has had talented teams, but he never has won the North.

2. Nebraska

• Location: Lincoln.

• Coach: Bill Callahan (22-15 overall and in three seasons at Nebraska).

• Last year: 9-5 overall, 6-2 in Big 12, first in North. Lost to Auburn 17-14 in the Cotton Bowl.

• Returning starters: Seven on offense, six on defense, one specialist.

• Key players

QB Sam Keller. Most of what the Cornhuskers can accomplish offensively depends on the talented Arizona State transfer.

WR Maurice Purify. If offseason problems are behind him, he could improve on his 2006 totals of 34 catches for 630 yards and seven touchdowns.

LB Bo Ruud. Returning first-team all-conference selection made 65 total tackles (36 solo).

• Pivotal game: Sept. 15 vs. Southern California.

• Prove it: If Callahan has the Cornhuskers back, as last season's nine wins might indicate, they can further validate their return with a strong showing against the top-ranked Trojans.

3. Kansas State

• Location: Manhattan, Kan.

• Coach: Ron Prince (7-6 overall and in one season at Kansas State).

• Last year: 7-6 overall, 4-4 in Big 12, tied for second in North. Lost to Rutgers 37-10 in the Texas Bowl.

• Returning starters: Seven on offense, six on defense, one specialist.

• Key players

QB Josh Freeman. He has big-time potential, but his interceptions-to- touchdowns ratio (15-6) must come down.

WR Jordy Nelson. His 547 receiving yards led the Wildcats and makes him the top returning receiver.

DL Ian Campbell. A preseason all-conference selection, Campbell needs to supercharge a defense that allowed 345.8 yards a game.

• Pivotal game: Sept. 29 at Texas.

• Prove it: With seven victories in his debut season, Prince surprised most observers. He won more games than any first-year Big 12 coach since 1999.

4. Colorado

• Location: Boulder.

• Coach: Dan Hawkins (55-21 in six seasons overall; 2-10 in one season at Colorado).

• Last year: 2-10 overall, 2-6 in Big 12, fourth in North.

• Returning starters: Nine on offense, seven on defense, one specialist.

• Key players

QB Cody Hawkins. It's up to the coach's son to steer the Buffaloes out of the one-dimensional funk that put them at rock bottom in Big 12 offensive statistics.

TB Hugh Charles. He's Colorado's top returning rusher (779 yards) and most athletic tailback; now, he needs to learn to run with a purpose.

LB Jordon Dizon. Preseason all-conference selection made 121 tackles (64 solo).

• Pivotal game: Sept. 1 vs. Colorado State (at Invesco Field at Mile High).

• Prove it: Having lost only 11 games in five years at Boise State, Hawkins was stung by a 10-loss debut season. Peers say have patience; he's much better than that.

5. Kansas

• Location: Lawrence, Kan.

• Coach: Mark Mangino (25-35 overall and in five seasons at Kansas).

• Last year: 6-6 overall, 3-5 in Big 12, third in North.

• Returning starters: Six on offense, eight on defense, two specialists.

• Key players

OL Anthony Collins. The 6-foot-6, 300-pound Collins was a huge reason for graduated tailback Jon Cornish's 1,457 yards.

CB Aqib Talib. His six interceptions led the Big 12 last season and ranked him fourth in Division I-A.

QB Kerry Meier. Settled down after a four-interception game against Toledo and threw only six (with 13 touchdowns) the rest of 2006.

• Pivotal game: Oct. 6 at Kansas State.

• Prove it: The Jayhawks lost twice in overtime, once by one point and once by three points. Mangino's team must clear that "coming close" hurdle.

6. Iowa State

• Location: Ames, Iowa.

• Coach: Gene Chizik (first season as coach).

• Last year: 4-8 overall, 1-7 in Big 12, last in North.

• Returning starters: Four on offense, six on defense, two specialists.

• Key players

QB Bret Meyer. Arguably the Big 12's most versatile quarterback, Meyer goes into his senior season with 7,979 career yards of offense.

WR Todd Blythe. Injuries slowed him in 2006, but Blythe still managed a team-best eight touchdown receptions.

LB Alvin Bowen. He was Division I-A's leading tackler last season, averaging 12.92 a game.

• Pivotal game: Sept. 15 vs. Iowa.

• Prove it: Chizik comes to Iowa State after two stellar seasons as Texas' defensive coordinator. The Cyclones need his defensive touch; they were 11th in every major Big 12 category in 2006.

• Location: Austin, Texas.

• Coach: Mack Brown (179-96-1 in 23 seasons overall; 93-22 in nine seasons at Texas).

• Last year: 10-3 overall, 6-2 in Big 12, second in South. Beat Iowa 26-24 in the Alamo Bowl.

• Returning starters: Six on offense, six on defense, one specialist.

• Key players

QB Colt McCoy. Threw for 2,570 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2006; chosen as league's preseason offensive player of the year in 2007.

WR Limas Sweed. Caught 12 touchdowns and averaged 17.4 yards a catch; one of Big 12's top three receivers.

LB Rashad Bobino. Longhorns' top returning tackler (68 total, 46 solo); led team in tackles for loss (14).

• Pivotal game: Oct. 6 vs. Oklahoma (at Dallas).

• Prove it: Brown's past six teams have won at least 10 games, tops among BCS schools. But closing the regular season with consecutive losses made fans howl.

2. Oklahoma

• Location: Norman, Okla.

• Coach: Bob Stoops (86-19 overall and in eight seasons at Oklahoma).

• Last year: 11-3 overall, 7-1 in Big 12, first in South. Lost to Boise State 43-42 in overtime in the Fiesta Bowl.

• Returning starters: Nine on offense, six on defense, two specialists.

• Key players

OL Duke Robinson. There were a couple of reasons the Sooners' run game didn't disappear with Adrian Peterson's broken collarbone — and Robinson was one of them.

TB Allen Patrick. Filled in admirably when Peterson was injured, rushing for 761 yards and four touchdowns.

DB/PR Reggie Smith. Intercepted three passes and returned a punt for a touchdown.

• Pivotal game: Oct. 6 vs. Texas (at Dallas).

• Prove it: The Sooners lost two of their first five games, then reeled off eight straight wins and won their fourth Big 12 championship. Fans always want more.

3. Texas A&M

• Location: College Station, Texas.

• Coach: Dennis Franchione (180-96-2 in 24 seasons overall; 25-23 in four seasons at Texas A&M).

• Last year: 9-4 overall, 5-3 in Big 12, third in South. Lost to California 45-10 in the Holiday Bowl.

• Returning starters: Nine on offense, six on defense, one specialist.

• Key players

QB Stephen McGee. Threw only two interceptions in 313 attempts (12 touchdowns) last season; rushed for 666 yards and four scores.

TB Jorvorskie Lane. Don't get in his way at the goal line; the 263-pounder scored 19 times in 2006.

TB Mike Goodson. Complements Lane's size with speed; rushed for a team-best 847 yards last season.

• Pivotal game: Nov. 3 at Oklahoma.

• Prove it: Last season's nine wins, including the 12-7 victory at Texas, silenced some of Franchione's critics. But he needs another big year to keep fans with him.

4. Oklahoma State

• Location: Stillwater, Okla.

• Coach: Mike Gundy (11-13 overall and in two seasons at Oklahoma State).

• Last year: 7-6 overall, 3-5 in Big 12, tied for fifth in South. Beat Alabama 34-31 in the Independence Bowl.

• Returning starters: Eight on offense, seven on defense, two specialists.

• Key players

WR Adarius Bowman. Averaged 19.7 yards a reception last season with 12 touchdowns; helped the Cowboys average more than 200 passing yards.

QB Bobby Reid. Has developed into one of the league's top dual-threat quarterbacks; threw for 2,266 yards and 24 touchdowns.

P Matt Fodge. Preseason selection as the first-team all-conference punter; averaged 44.9 yards a punt last season.

• Pivotal game: Oct. 6 at Texas A&M.

• Prove it: Gundy's program has been generously bankrolled by millionaire T. Boone Pickens. Year 3 of the Gundy Era should be lift-off time.

5. Texas Tech

• Location: Lubbock, Texas.

• Coach: Mike Leach (56-33 overall and in seven seasons at Texas Tech).

• Last year: 8-5 overall, 4-4 in Big 12, fourth in South. Beat Minnesota 44-41 in overtime in the Insight Bowl.

• Returning starters: Four on offense, five on defense, one specialist.

• Key players

QB Graham Harrell. The latest Leach prodigy, Harrell led the Big 12 in passing yards per game (350.4), total offense (345.3) and touchdown passes (38) last season.

TB Shannon Woods. Averaged 71.2 yards a game and scored 10 touchdowns last season in Leach's spread offense.

PK Alex Trlica. Holds NCAA Division I-A record with 166 consecutive successful PATs; he hasn't missed during his college career.

• Pivotal game: Sept. 22 at Oklahoma State.

• Prove it: Leach's Red Raiders consistently put up big passing numbers, but they haven't come close to winning the South. Are eight wins and a bowl game enough?

6. Baylor

• Location: Waco, Texas.

• Coach: Guy Morriss (24-45 in six seasons overall; 15-31 in four seasons at Baylor).

• Last year: 4-8 overall, 3-5 in Big 12, tied for fifth in South.

• Returning starters: Four on offense, seven on defense.

• Key players

WR Thomas White. He's the Bears' top returning receiver (30 receptions, 372 yards, two touchdowns).

LB Joe Pawelek. He started as a freshman last season and led the team in tackles (86 total, 46 solo).

QB TBA. Morriss will sift through five candidates to replace 23-game starter Shawn Bell, who set almost all the school's single-season and career passing records.

• Pivotal game: Sept. 29 at Texas A&M.

• Prove it: Although his 15-31 record might not indicate it, Morriss has had unparalleled success for a Baylor coach. But he needs a winning season and a bowl bid.

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