Tulsa World: Big 12: Conference buzz

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Big 12: Conference buzz

Baylor's Nick Florence threw for a school-record 427 yards in Saturday's win over Missouri. L.G. PATTERSON / Associated Press

By JOHN KLEIN Senior Sports Columnist
Published: 11/10/2009 2:22 AM
Last Modified: 11/10/2009 2:21 PM

Texas keeps on heading toward the Big 12 championship game and the BCS championship game.

This week the Longhorns take their show just up Interstate 35 to Baylor.

Since getting past Oklahoma in a sloppy game, the Longhorns seem to have kicked it into a higher gear.

It is drawing comparisons between the 2005 Texas team that won the national championship.

"You can compare them," said Texas coach Mack Brown. "There has been only one real close game this year (Oklahoma). That 2005 team had just one real close game (Ohio State).

"The difference is how that other bunch finished. This bunch hasn't even won the Big 12 South, yet. At this time, they've earned the right to be in the conversation with that 2005 bunch. But, they've got to finish like that 2005 team."

No one has played the Horns close in the last month. Texas has hammered Missouri and OSU, both on the road, before coming home to beat up Central Florida.

It has been a strange year in the Big 12. Just two teams, No. 3 Texas and No. 19 Oklahoma State, are ranked in the top 25 of the BCS rankings.

KU's offensive woes: Kansas has gone into a serious offensive slump in recent weeks. After starting the season with five wins, the Jayhawks have lost their last four, including last Saturday's 17-10 at Kansas State.

Now, the Jayhawks have Nebraska coming to Lawrence.

Needless to say, the Huskers have their own offensive woes but have a terrific defense.

"I

don't know how many points it'll take to win," said Kansas coach Mark Mangino. "But, we have to protect the football."

KU has been hit with a rash of turnovers and that's the biggest reason for the mounting losses.

"Kansas State made fewer mistakes (in last week's game)," said Mangino. "We did not play with discipline on offense.

"Nebraska will come in here with an outstanding defense. They are a very good defensive unit from top to bottom."

Texas A&M is moving up: For all of their problems, the Aggies have been productive on offense, leading the league in total offense, averaging 477.6 yards per game.

"They are mixing things up and moving the ball well," OU coach Bob Stoops said.

Kansas State's turnaround: Kansas State has gone from getting blown away by Texas Tech to the top of the Big 12 North Division.

It has been quite a turnaround.

The Wildcats have taken off following their 66-14 loss to Tech, except for a loss at Oklahoma.

"We left Tech and we had to think what were our lessons from that game," said Kansas State coach Bill Snyder. "Did I see anything when I reflect back? I cannot say that I did.

"These kids are responsive. I thought they would go back to work."

Still, Snyder did not know and could not have predicted the turnaround that has put the Wildcats in the driver's seat in the North division.

Baylor's surprise on the road: The Bears won at Missouri and that has revived talk about Baylor going to a bowl. That seemed out of the question after Baylor lost quarterback Robert Griffin, one of the most exciting players in the league to a leg injury earlier this year.

"It was a great win for our team and for the whole university," said Baylor coach Art Briles. "Our guys got to feel the fruits of their labor.

"Our guys really played with a lot of confidence up there. That's why they are where they are."

The Bears got a big game from Nick Florence, who was named the Big 12 offensive player of the week.

Florence set a school record with 427 yards on 32-of-43 passing. He threw for three touchdowns and ran for another in the 40-32 win at Missouri.

"Our guys really rallied around him," said Briles. "They are playing really well for each other right now.'

"What we did was keep fighting and keep grinding." By JOHN KLEIN Senior Sports Columnist

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