I'm very glad to see that you have finally acknowledged that OU can "play a lick". I know that fans of a certain team are typically more critical than any of their detractors could ever hope to be, but I never thought I'd ever read a good thing about OU from you. I shall savor this moment!

Another thought... Will Texas really only lose "four or so" next year? Their entire program is in disarray at the moment. Perhaps this is by design, but they are without coaches at major positions and have been for awhile. It's not like they're preparing for a bowl game either...

The Big 12 play has been disgusting so far. No excuses for Baylor, Nebraska or K-State to lose but they managed to do so.

It looks like OSU and OU have to represent the conference this year.

I don't see A&M beating LSU but Tech should have no problem beating Northwestern.

Nebraska is going to have a fun time with that transition next year. I am still trying to figure out what I was watching in San Diego last night.

The Magic left Taylor Martinez after that game in Stillwater for sure. He pretty much beat them by himself but hasn't done anything since. He is the Husker offense apparently.

I just regret assuming NU was a gimmie bet in all of my football pools. Luckily everyone else did as well.

You're the best, Gene-O.

Nebraska didn't exactly go out of the conference will the blaze of glory they were expecting, did they?

But yes Pick, once again the Big 12 is disgracing themselves in the "ESPN Post Season Series."

Oh, and thanks for another year of entertaining columns. . always enjoy the read.

You are dead on with where you rank the Big 12 Pick. In fact if they do not pull a couple more wins, your ranking may be a kindness. I stopped trusting what Bob says about OU ever since the "So Good It's Scary" year. So all this talk about best recruiting class has me skeptical. But you do have to throw Bob and the boys a bone, there is no program out there that knows how to work the rankings like they do in Norman. Salud!
I disagree a tad with what Tulsan In Exile has said about the teams that want to play so far, as FSU and SC was an absolutely brutal game, as was the Clemson/South Florida game, concussions and broken ribs galore. The Notre Dame/Miami game resembled a pillow fight much of the night. So T I E is right on there, as he is about Tech. They may win, but I sure wouldn't bet on them.

I agree that Nebraska will come to regret leaving the easier task of winning the Big XII North for the Big Ten. Perhaps the bigger paycheck will be enough of a consolation for the forfeiture of their claim of being one of the elite football programs. Time will tell.

This bowl collapse by the Big XII is not helping the chances of the conference surviving with only 10 teams. Two great programs need to be brought in quickly. The conference should be aggressive in going after Arkansas, LSU, Florida State, Miami, TCU, BYU, and even Boise should be considered. The addition of two of the five southern schools would result in OU and OSU becoming members of the North. The addition of Boise and BYU would keep the current South in place.

Tulsan in Exile: You may be right, but there should be a huge effort by the Big XII to save itself. On the TCU point, they might be willing to reconsider their move to the Big East because of the expense involved in traveling that far. My favorite scenario would be for TCU and Florida State to become members of the South and OU and OSU moving to the North.

Texas, TCU, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Florida State, and Baylor would make a strong South.

Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas State, Kansas, Oklahoma State, and Iowas State would make a stronger North than has existed with Colorado and Nebraska as members.

The big problems would be in getting Florida State on board and in overcoming opposition to admitting TCU. On the latter point, the weaker schools would be wise to make this move. The addition of the Florida market would negate the addition of a 5th Texas team within the Texas market. Where would Iowa State, Kansas State, Baylor, Missouri, and Texas Tech go if the Big XII folded? The Big XII with Florida State and TCU would immediately be much stronger and eventually much more attractive than the version with Colorado and Nebraska.

Picker is right again. Sure had a bad day yesterday though. Hope he does better today....except his OU pick. I think OU covers simply because we are bigger, stronger and faster... I think.

Pick, take a shower, shave, pick yourself up and step away from the TV for awhile. Call some old friends. Get out and take the dogs for a walk. Relax.

OU74...there is a difference between losing to decent teams and losing to Syracuse and Illinois,2 basketball schools. Georgia lost a game to C-USA champion who is ranked. Tennessee lost a last second thrilling game to a UNC team who was a top 15 team early and slumped because they got rocked with the agent scandal and had 14 players suspended, some of which never regained eligibility but they were still a very good and talented team. As of today, SEC won 3 games (Mississippi State rocked Michigan, Alabama rocked Michigan State, and Florida beat up on Penn State pretty good.

Even in wins, OSU didn't look stellar against a lackluster and average Arizona team, and while OU is in control of their game against UCONN, UCONN is still in the game heading into the 4th quarter and OU has been less than dominating like they should be and what everyone expected.

It appears Nebraska has gone from a so-so conference to a less than so-so conference. Meanwhile, the SEC is a little over a week away from winning its fifth consecutive national crown.

Bowl games used to be special. Now there are so many that they seem to be little more than an extension of the regular season.

DW, it is nice to see games with great effort and desire, I agree. The problem with the bowl system is most of the BIG games occur 30 to 40 days (even longer for some teams)after the last regular season game. What a joke, time for a playoff.