Best Season Ever: Big XII Conference Preview
Part One: Longhorn Offense
Part Two: Longhorn Defense
Toward the end of this past NBA regular season, when asked for his insight into the upcoming playoffs, it was Charles Barkley who said in his trademark North Alabaman drawl, “This gon’ be the best playoffs ev’r.” Barkley was referring to the depth of the Western Conference, and his anticipation of watching eight quality teams duke it out for the right to eventually play for a championship. Similarly, when looking at the number of quality teams and national championship contenders in the Big 12 this season, one can only come to a single conclusion: This gon’ be the best regular season ev’r.
Not since its inception in 1996 has the Big 12 had a stronger argument to be considered the toughest conference in college football, but with the recent ascension of programs like Missouri, Kansas and Texas Tech, in addition to traditional powers Oklahoma and Texas, not a conference in the land can boast as many national title contenders as the Big 12.
But with every team facing such a rigorous conference schedule, it’s not unthinkable that the strength of the conference could turn out to be its biggest weakness, at least in terms of producing an eventual national champion.
There are a whopping 16 matchups on the regular season schedule featuring two of the five Big 12 teams that are currently ranked in the top 14 nationally to begin the season, a treat for the fans, but a nightmare for coaches jockeying for position to play in the BCS National Championship Game. In the BCS era, every loss is a major setback on the road to a championship, and with so many high-profile matchups, the Big 12 could very well play itself out of a spot in the national title game.
Despite the obstacles facing the likes of Mack Brown and Bob Stoops, though, coaches can take solace in the fact that it isn’t unusual for voters to show favor to programs who face a particularly challenging regular season schedule.
In recent years it has been the SEC that has been regarded as the strongest conference in college football, a reputation that has certainly aided in crowning the last two national champions in Florida and LSU. In 2006, some thought Michigan and USC were most deserving of a spot in the national title game, a position that eventually went to Florida, largely in part because it was the champion of the ‘toughest’ conference in college football. Similarly, in 2007 LSU received the nod to play in the national championship game despite its two regular season losses and a number of narrow victories.
For this reason, don’t be surprised to see coaches across the league preaching about the quality of their conference from top to bottom.
Texas Coach Mack Brown, not one to shy away from the bully pulpit, has already started campaigning for his team and conference. “Everybody in this league has got a good football team now. And because of that, you can no longer just plan on winning a game in this league. You're going to have to earn the right to win it", he told reporters earlier this preseason.
So with such an abundance of quality teams and high-profile matchups, who has the easiest route to an appearance in the conference title game?
Of the four other highest ranked teams in the league, Missouri, led by former Heisman Trophy finalist Chase Daniel, faces only two, playing at Texas on October 18 and wrapping up its regular season at home against Kansas on November 29. The hometown Longhorns, however, have drawn the short stick, facing all four of the toughest conference opponents, including road games against Texas Tech and Kansas.
Granted, as teams start to get knocked off come October, these quality intra-league matchups won’t hold the same luster they do in mid-August. But fortunately as a fan, one’s responsibility starts and ends with cracking open a cold one and waiting to see who’s left standing in the end.
