ESPN College Football

Thanks for the e-mails this week, everybody. Here's where you can reach me if you've got more to say.

Jonathan in San Antonio writes: What are your thoughts on OSU not adding Boise State to the list of Lunt's banned options? After all, wasn't the entire motivation for the ban to ensure he doesn't go to a future opponent?

DU: I honestly hadn't thought about this until a couple of you e-mailed. It's a valid question, I'd say. Boise State's obviously a bigger danger to knock off OSU in nonconference play than Central Michigan would be, even though the games are a couple years away. Oklahoma State and Lunt's relative silence on the issue will end eventually, but I can't think of a compelling reason why Boise State would be left out of OSU's transfer restrictions. At some point in the future, Gundy will be asked about this incident. Surely, it'll be the next time he's made available to the media. He's turned down numerous interview requests about the issue, including one from me.

Boise should be asked about, though I wouldn't count on getting much of an answer.

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John in Greensboro, N.C. writes: Wouldn't it be nice to see an AD or University President saying that (s)he will limit the places where a HC can move if (s)he breaks the contract?

DU: Or how about, instead of two wrongs predictably not making a right, we prevent transfer restrictions in the future? I'm fine with the rule of losing a year of eligibility if you transfer within the conference, but I'm not one of those folks who thinks players should be allowed to transfer without sitting out a year.

This isn't a Gundy issue, ultimately. It's an NCAA issue. The NCAA requires players to get a release from their university to be eligible for a scholarship at their new school. That's where the issue lies. Gundy is operating within the rules. You're welcome to say what you'd like about Gundy, but he's not explicitly breaking any rules. The problem is those rules are stupid. More restrictions on head coaches isn't the answer.

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Josh in Topeka, Kan. writes: How did KU pick up Kyron Watson, the number four linebacker in the country? What do you think that Weis is selling that lured him away from big schools such as TCU and Michigan?

DU: Every player is different. I don't know if you're insinuating it, but people don't start wondering if everything is legal until you see a wave of players like that going to a historically less successful school. Look no further than Hugh Freeze defending his program at Ole Miss earlier this offseason. Coaches have to be ambitious and even if you don't know if you've got a show, you owe it to the program to explore elite prospects.

Watson will obviously be able to play immediately, has an alum from his high school (RB Tony Pierson) on the team, and he's only going about 4-5 hours away from his home. You never know what each player wants. Weis surely convinced Watson that he wasn't going to sit through four one-win seasons at KU during his time. The NFL experience of himself and DC Dave Campo probably helped. It's a solid pickup for the Jayhawks and different guys want different things. Watson bought what KU was selling.

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Kit Sanders in Martinsburg, W.Va. writes: WVU WR Kevin WhiteWILL top 1,000 yards next season. Big and fast with agility and in Holg's O. You can literally take this to the bank!

DU: It's definitely possible. WVU's got a lot of guys I see being productive, but I don't see top-tier guy on the roster just yet. Connor Arlia and Jordan Thompson should rack up quite a few catches. So should newcomer Shelton Gibson. WVU will be throwing it around plenty, but with the depth at running back, they'll be running it a lot more and I see a more balanced attack with a lot of different guys catching balls, instead of a focus on two guys like we saw last year.

I'm picking WVU to have a couple 700-900 yard seasons, but not have a 1,000-yard receiver. I won't be very shocked if I'm wrong.

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Steven in Weatherford, Texas writes: Granted Lache Seastrunk and Bryce Pettyare getting all the attention for Baylor's offense for this upcoming season, but what their defense? The defense lead Baylor to victories over K-State, pulling out against Texas Tech and Oklahoma State and ended up destroying UCLA in the bowl game. If the defense can keep up the pressure from the end of the 2012 season, do you see Baylor as a potential dark horse Big 12 champ?

DU: Oh, most definitely. I believe in this defense this time around, and it's a combination of having more speed, more experience and more athletes all over the field. The defensive line should be as good as it's been from top to bottom under Briles. Love the addition of Shawn Oakman and Chris McAllister is a stud who should progress this year. Same with the linebackers with Bryce Hager and Eddie Lackey. Demetri Goodson, Joe Williams and Tyler Stephenson should be solid at corner and Ahmad Dixon's an impact player in the back at safety. That's a defense capable of doing some good things, and the Bears are my bet for the Big 12's best offense this year. That's a recipe for success. Outside of my four favorites (OU, Texas, TCU, OSU), the Bears are the most likely team to be in the mix for a Big 12 title.

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D.J. in Morgantown, W.Va. writes: How many wins for West Virginia this season?

DU: Six.

Was she weirdly competitive?

• Mark Emmert of the Des Moines Register gives ISU fans three big reasons for optimism moving forward.
• Former Iowa State linebacker A.J. Klein officially signed his contract with the Carolina Panthers on Thursday.
• An arrest was made in the death of a former Kansas football player.
• Kansas coach Charlie Weis made more from Notre Dame in 2011 than coach Brian Kelly did, reports Brian Hamilton of the Chicago Tribune.
• John Klein of the Tulsa World wants a rule change in the wake of the Wes Lunt transfer issue.

We've got a runaway winner in Kansas' biggest game of the 2013 season. I couldn't agree more. The Jayhawks lost their final 11 games of 2012 and need a win -- any win -- badly, but 38 percent of you say Kansas' biggest game of 2013 is the season finale against Kansas State.

That was 18 percent more than any other game got. The Jayhawks' winnable date at Rice got 20 percent of the vote, ahead of the Big 12 season opener at home against Texas Tech. The Red Raiders' game commanded just 16 percent of the vote.

Games against rebuilding programs Iowa State and West Virginia finished tied for last with just 13 percent of the vote each.

The task ahead of Weis was a difficult one before the 2012 season, but I remember talking with him in July and he said he sat down and looked at Kansas' program, and looked at its two nearby neighbors: Missouri and Kansas State. Both were obviously enjoying far more success than the Jayhawks. What were they doing? Why couldn't Kansas do that?

Objective No. 1 became surpassing the programs in the area. The 2013 season could be the start of something, but it's about building for the future. Kansas isn't going to do anything in 2013 that's remembered forever in program history. It might, however, build in that direction. Doing so would get a lot easier if 1) Kansas can prove it's the better team within the state and 2) do so in the season finale to leave a sweet taste in fans' mouths heading into 2014.

Anything Weis says during the offseason is going to have a whole lot more credibility if he's got state bragging rights after K-State has beaten Kansas by an average of more than 43 points the last three seasons. Even a close loss would be productive in convincing fans the program is worth getting behind.

No doubt about it: The Jayhawks' season finale is enormous for the program, and the biggest game of 2013.

Last season, the Big 12 had just one starting quarterback (Oklahoma State's Wes Lunt) begin the year without a career start. It could look much, much different this time around. Experience at the position is always helpful, and here's a look at who's got how much across the Big 12 among players who could be Week 1 starters:

1. David Ash, Texas (18 starts): Ash has gotten better and better as his career has progressed and he threw almost twice as many passes in 2012 as a full-time starter as he did in 2011. The result: A jump from four to 19 touchdown passes and the same number of interceptions. He also completed 11 percent more of his passes (67 percent). But he also has to eliminate games like he had in 2012, when he completed 50 percent or less in three starts.

2. Casey Pachall, TCU (17 starts): Pachall was leading the nation in passing efficiency before an October drunk driving arrest led to him leave the program to seek treatment for drug and alcohol addiction. His decision-making on the field is his biggest asset. He has 36 career touchdown passes to just eight interceptions.

3. Jake Heaps, Kansas (16 starts): All 16 of Heaps' starts came at BYU, but he lost his job after some sophomore struggles in the wake of a breakout freshman season. He threw for almost 3,800 yards and completed 57 percent of his passes with 24 touchdowns and 17 interceptions in almost two seasons in Provo.

4. Trevone Boykin, TCU (nine starts): Boykin's got a ton of speed and a big arm and did better than most figured he would while filling in for Pachall last season. The rising sophomore completed just 57 percent of his passes but threw for at least 250 yards in four games.

5. Clint Chelf, Oklahoma State (five starts): Chelf's upside is minimal, but he proved himself more than competent after sticking out the first half of the season as OSU's No. 3 quarterback. A year after being beaten out by a true freshman in the spring, he's OSU's presumed starter. He completed 60 percent of his passes for 15 touchdowns and six interceptions after stepping in for an injured Wes Lunt against Kansas State.

6. Sam Richardson, Iowa State (three starts): Richardson was the third ISU quarterback to get a start last season and had a huge game in a blowout win over Kansas but completed less than 50 percent of his passes the rest of the season. It's his team for the time being, but I'm betting Paul Rhoads is prepared to hand the ball to Grant Rohach if Richardson strings together many more games like he had against West Virginia and Tulsa.

6. J.W. Walsh, Oklahoma State (three starts): Nearly knocked off Texas in his first start, but played well in blowout wins over Kansas and Iowa State. A leg injury cost him half of his season, but he's found a niche in the offense with a short yardage package and proved himself a capable starter.

8. Clint Trickett, West Virginia (two starts): Trickett appeared in 16 games at Florida State, nearly knocking off Oklahoma in 2011 in Tallahassee. He made just two starts at FSU, but threw for 336 yards in a close loss to Clemson in one of them.

9. Michael Brewer, Texas Tech (zero starts): Brewer got a little bit of playing time behind Seth Doege last season, completing 70 percent of his passes for four touchdowns and no interceptions. It'll get tougher as a full-time starter if he officially wins the job ahead of Davis Webb this fall.

9. Blake Bell, Oklahoma (zero starts): You know him as the BellDozer, and he has more career rushing touchdowns (24) than pass attempts (20). He left the spring as the Sooners' almost sure heir to Landry Jones.

9. Daniel Sams/Jake Waters, Kansas State (zero starts): Waters is a junior college transfer who hasn't played a snap of major college football. Sams rushed for 235 yards and three touchdowns in mostly mop-up duty last season, but after Collin Klein suffered a head injury against Oklahoma State, he completed 6 of 8 passes for 55 yards.

9. Bryce Petty, Baylor (zero starts): Petty's never played a meaningful snap with the Bears and has just 14 career pass attempts. He's been in the program forever and has the physical skills to be great, but his career is starting on a fresh slate in 2013.

9. Paul Millard/Ford Childress, West Virginia (zero starts): Millard has served as Geno Smith's backup in mop-up duty, and threw 34 passes in the past two seasons. Childress redshirted last season and hasn't seen any playing time.

Recruiting is a year-round game, and it's time to take our monthly look at how this year's recruiting classes are progressing. Getting off to a quick start can get things rolling for any class. Here's how I'd rank the classes thus far. Click on each team to see the full class, though you'll need ESPN Insider to see it.

1. Texas

Total commits: 13
ESPN 150 commits: 2
Class notes: The Longhorns haven't earned a commitment since our last update. But offensive lineman Demetrius Knox decommitted late last month, and the Longhorns dropped to No. 2 overall in the latest rankings.

2. Oklahoma

Total commits: 8
ESPN 150 commits: 1
Class notes: The Sooners added four commitments since our last update, headlined by cornerback Marcus Green, a 6-foot-1, 176-pounder from Cedar Hill, Texas. Tight end Carson Meier, a Tulsa, Okla. native, committed on Wednesday. Center Alex Dalton joined the class last week and the Sooners went down to Mississippi to add cornerback Tito Windham. Oklahoma has four players ranked nationally at their position, moving ahead of Texas Tech, which has just three.

3. Texas Tech

Total commits: 11
ESPN 150 commits: 0
Class notes: The Red Raiders have added a few commits since our last update, headlined by a pair of receivers. Oklahoma City native Cameron Batson and Alabama native Tevin Madison give Tech's class six receivers in just an 11-man class. That's going to turn a few heads.

4. Baylor Bears

Total commits: 9
ESPN 150 commits: 1
Class notes: The Bears been been a big mover since our last update, ascending three spots in the Big 12 ranking after picking up five commits over the past month. They're having to hold off suitors for top commit ATH Davion Hall, but added a pair of nationally ranked linemen in OT Josh Pelzel (No. 31) and DE Xavier Jones (No. 32) since our last update. RB Terence Williams, WR Ishmael Zamora and OT Patrick Lawrence also committed since our last update.

5. Kansas State

Total commits: 7
ESPN 150 commits: 0
Class notes: The Wildcats have the nation's No. 3 center already in the class, but added a pair of Argyle, Texas, natives since our last update. Safety Connor Wilson and outside linebacker Sam Sizelove are both committed to head to Manhattan next fall.

6. TCU Horned Frogs

Total commits: 5
ESPN 150 commits: 0
Class notes: There hasn't been any change in the Frogs' class since our last update, but they've already got two quarterbacks pledged to come to Fort Worth next season.

7. Oklahoma State

Total commits: 3
ESPN 150 commits: 0
Class notes: Oklahoma State hasn't added any players since our last update, but all three members of the class are ranked in the top 25 nationally at their position, headlined by the Devon Thomas, the nation's No. 15 running back.

8. Kansas

Total commits: 2
ESPN 150 commits: 1
Class notes: Kansas grabbed a huge commit this month in Kyron Watson, the nation's No. 4 outside linebacker and No. 100 overall player. The East St. Louis, Ill., native would be KU's first ESPN 150 signee ever.

9. Iowa State

Total commits: 4
ESPN 150 commits: 0
Class notes: Iowa State added three players to complement hyped receiver Allen Lazard in its 2014 class. A pair of Texas defenders -- S Victor Holmes and CB De'Monte Ruth -- joined the class, and the Cyclones went up to Wisconsin (A.J. Klein's home state) to grab another linebacker in Sam Seonbuchner.

10. West Virginia

Total commits: 2
ESPN 150 commits: 0
Class notes: West Virginia hasn't added a commit since our last update, but still has the nation's No. 12 dual-threat quarterback, William Crest, in the fold.

The Big 12's receiver tradition has been unbelievable over the course of the past few years. The NFL draft drained much of it last season, and the result is one of the least heralded corps we've seen conference-wide in a while.

Still, this is the Big 12, and just like the quarterbacks, receivers will emerge. Six players in the Big 12 topped 1,000 yards last season, including two teams (West Virginia, Texas Tech) who had two each. Back in 2011, just four players did it.

Here's who I'm picking to do it in 2013:

1. Josh Stewart, WR, Oklahoma State: Stewart is the Big 12's leading returning receiver with 1,210 yards last season, and he did that with three different quarterbacks throwing him the ball. Barring injury, it's likely to just be Clint Chelf this season. Stewart still has a ways to prove himself as a truly elite receiver on par with some of the greats we've seen in the Big 12, but he's got a great shot to lead the Big 12 in 2013.

2. Eric Ward, WR, Texas Tech: Ward joined Stewart as the only other returning 1,000-yard receiver, and in a fast-paced offense under Kliff Kingsbury and a promising young quarterback in Michael Brewer, he's in position to to do it again. Ward's been really consistent throughout his career, and uses his body well with decent speed and good hands.

3. Tevin Reese, WR, Baylor: Reese has a case as the Big 12's fastest player, and has a lot of experience as a complementary piece of a high-powered offense. He's going to need to be a more integral piece of the Bears' offense this year, which should again be racking up points and yards by the bunches. His experience pushes him over the 1,000-yard mark.

4. Brandon Carter, WR, TCU: TCU didn't have a 1,000-yard receiver last year, but much of that was because of Trevone Boykin's struggles with accuracy. Casey Pachall is back, and he's likely to regain his status as the Frogs' starter. He makes prudent decisions, has a big arm and puts the ball where it needs to go. With no Josh Boyce or Skye Dawson on the roster, Carter's ready to be the featured receiver in the offense.

5. Mike Davis, WR, Texas: I went back and forth here. It seems like Jaxon Shipley was at his most productive when Case McCoy was under center, and David Ash's confidence and competence throwing the ball downfield was huge for Davis' numbers. Both players should be even better this year. Davis should lead the Horns in receiving as a senior with a big finish to a somewhat up-and-down career.

6. Jalen Saunders, WR, Oklahoma: Saunders is reliable and is a dark horse to lead the Big 12 in receiving. After becoming eligible in the middle of 2012, he was uncoverable at times for the Sooners. The Fresno State transfer had five games with at least seven catches last season, including 15 for 181 yards in a loss to Notre Dame. He finished the regular season with three consecutive 100-yard games.

Just missed: Jace Amaro, TE, Texas Tech; Jay Lee, WR, Baylor; Jaxon Shipley, WR, Texas

• The Big 12 will donate $200,000 to recovery from the tornado in Moore, Okla.
• Stewart Mandel of SI.com says Mike Gundy is acting "clownish" and "downright mean" in his treatment of Wes Lunt. Nobody wins in that messy divorce, writes Jeremy Fowler of CBS Sports.
• Berry Tramel of The Oklahoman answers some interesting emails on his column this week on the Lunt situation, and writes the backstory on the defining photograph of this week's tornado.
• Get to know Kansas cornerback Cassius Sendish a little better in this Two-Minute Drill from KU.
• Baylor is welcoming a transfer from Boise State.
• Jason Kersey of The Oklahoman writes about the recent tornado's impact on a pair of Sooners staffers, and one Sooner who's organizing an effort to help.
• Colleague Ivan Maisel is talking exit fees that might have some Big 12 relevance at some point.

We just finished our list of the 10 best Big 12 players of all time, and I heard from plenty of you who disagreed. I'll tackle them all right here this morning. Thanks for your emails. Here's where you can reach me if you've got more to say. We'll have a normal Friday mailbag, so you can see your questions there.

Dave in Hays, Kan., writes: David, This guy is always over looked, but how far was Todd Reesing from even being considered for being one of the top players in the Big 12? Or the cut for the "Just Missed" list? He had one heck of a career for a mediocre KU team!

DU: Not very close. Reesing was a pretty good player, but in that crazy run of quarterbacks in the Big 12 back in 2007 and 2008, guys like Sam Bradford, Colt McCoy, Graham Harrell, Chase Daniel, Robert Griffin III and maybe even Zac Robinson were all better than Reesing. When you look at it that way, it's tough to really make a case for Reesing anywhere close to the top 10 all time. He's one of the greatest players in KU history, but not really close to the Big 12's top 10.

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Brad in Duncan, Okla., writes: I'm a little late to the party I figure, but where is Ryan Broyles on your Top 10 List of Players for the Big 12?

DU: I think I ruffled a few feathers when I said Broyles was "overrated a bit" on Twitter earlier this week, but let me explain: I don't think Ryan Broyles was overrated as a player. However, if you think he's a top-10 Big 12 player all time, you're overrating him. My point is this: He played and was a major contributor for four years. People want to just say "He's the FBS all-time leader in receptions!" and let that be the case for Broyles' inclusion on the list. No way should he be there ahead of Justin Blackmon or Michael Crabtree, who I left off the list. Both of those guys had seasons far better than any Broyles had. He's one of the greatest receivers ever, and a tough cover, but my point is, you can't just look at his career stats as proof he should be on the list. He played for four years, so naturally his career stats are going to be eye-popping. It doesn't mean he's better than Blackmon or Crabtree.

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Stan Murray in St. Louis writes: David,Sorry but your list leaves off the number one all time Big 12 player - Barry Sanders.

Mr. O State in Keller, Texas, writes: You are either too young to know Barry Sanders or you're out of you mind. You should be ashamed of yourself for not knowing the greatest RB (maybe even player) to ever play the game.

Matt A in Austin writes: Where is Barry Sanders?

AC in Lubbock writes: Top 10 of all Time: Where the ______ is Barry Sanders and why not even on the list?

DU: For the 5,000 of you who emailed or tweeted similar sentiments over the past two weeks ... come on, man. I was clear in my criteria that this was only for the Big 12 era. Sanders' college career ended in 1988, eight years before the Big 12 began play. It's that simple.

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Jeff Jones in Duncan, Okla., writes: All top notch players on your top 10 list, but I believe there should have been room for Michael Crabtree. He was a unanimous All-American two years in a row. Wikipedia lists his numerous awards and recognitions. He helped Texas Tech gain its first B12 conference title share ever.

DU: Crabtree barely missed the list, but I put Tavon Austin on there because of his versatility and physical skills, which like I wrote, were better than any guy we've ever seen in this league. His elusiveness and speed are insane, but when you consider his volume of touches in the running game and special teams in addition to his 100-plus catches in his last two seasons, he's a more valuable player than just a pure receiver. You could make a case for Crabtree or Blackmon (I'd vote Blackmon) as the best receiver in college football history, but Austin is a lot more than just a receiver, which is why he's on the list.

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DeShawn in Colorado Springs writes: Enjoy your blog, as it's always nice to read about my K-State Wildcats, but I was a little disappointed in your Top 10 players in B12 history. The Wildcats have had some outstanding players since the conference was formed in 1996. Just to name a few: Michael Bishop, Mark Simoneau, Darren Sproles, and Terrance Newman.

DU: I agree with you, DeShawn. Those are all great players who weren't far from the list at all. But there's not some grand explanation why every guy didn't make it. Sometimes, it's just as simple as the guys who did make the list were just better. You may have noted that only two running backs made the list. Sproles was great. He wasn't better than Adrian Peterson or Ricky Williams. Anybody would agree with that. Terence Newman was awesome. He wasn't better than Roy Williams. Michael Bishop: Great player, not greater than Vince Young, Sam Bradford, Colt McCoy, Robert Griffin III or Jason White. I didn't have a single linebacker on the list, but Simoneau is definitely one of the greats.

Just not the greatest. I'd hope you can live with that.

If you pay attention to this blog, you've surely seen our Big 12 post-spring power rankings for 2013. But seven months later at the end of the Big 12's regular season, how accurate do they end up being? During the season, power rankings are more of an exercise in taking the temperature of every team in the league, but before the season, they're more of a prediction.

So how have we done on the blog in the past two seasons? How accurate are the predictions? Let's take a look back.

• My 2011 post-spring power rankings
• My 2012 post-spring power rankings

BAYLOR

• 2011: Picked fifth in the Big 12, finished at 10-3 and tied for third in the Big 12.
• 2012: Picked seventh in the Big 12, finished at 8-5 and a four-way tie for fifth in the Big 12.
• 2013: Picked fifth in the Big 12.

IOWA STATE

• 2011: Picked ninth in the Big 12, finished at 6-7 and eighth in the Big 12.
• 2012: Picked ninth in the Big 12, finished at 6-7 and ninth in the Big 12.
• 2013: Picked ninth in the Big 12.

KANSAS

• 2011: Picked 10th in the Big 12, finished at 2-10 and 10th in the Big 12.
• 2012: Picked 10th in the Big 12, finished at 1-11 and 10th in the Big 12.
• 2013: Picked 10th in the Big 12.

KANSAS STATE

• 2011: Picked eighth in the Big 12, finished at 10-3 and second in the Big 12.
• 2012: Picked third in the Big 12, finished at 11-2 and tied for first in the Big 12, though it held the tiebreaker vs. Oklahoma.
• 2013: Picked sixth in the Big 12.

MISSOURI

• 2011: Picked fourth in the Big 12, finished at 8-5 and fifth in the Big 12.

OKLAHOMA

• 2011: Picked first in the Big 12, finished at 10-3 and tied for third.
• 2012: Picked first in the Big 12, finished at 10-3 and tied for first in the Big 12, though K-State held the tiebreaker for the league title.
• 2013: Picked fourth in the Big 12.

OKLAHOMA STATE

• 2011: Picked second in the Big 12, finished at 12-1 and first in the Big 12.
• 2012: Picked sixth in the Big 12, finished at 8-5 and tied for third in the Big 12.
• 2013: Picked first in the Big 12.

TEXAS

• 2011: Picked seventh in the Big 12, finished at 8-5 and tied for sixth in the Big 12.
• 2012: Picked fifth in the Big 12, finished at 9-4 and tied for third in the Big 12.
• 2013: Picked third in the Big 12.

TEXAS A&M

• 2011: Picked third in the Big 12, finished at 7-6 and tied for sixth in the Big 12.

TCU

• 2012: Picked fourth in the Big 12, finished at 7-6 and tied for fifth in the Big 12.
• 2013: Picked second in the Big 12.

TEXAS TECH

• 2011: Picked sixth in the Big 12, finished at 5-7 and ninth in the Big 12.
• 2012: Picked eighth in the Big 12, finished at 8-5 and in a four-way tie for fifth in the Big 12.
• 2013: Picked seventh in the Big 12.

WEST VIRGINIA

• 2012: Picked second in the Big 12, finished at 7-6 and in a four-way tie for fifth in the Big 12.
• 2013: Picked eighth in the Big 12.

I thought West Virginia would handle the transition very well in Year 1 and hit some lean years as it adjusted to the Big 12 in the big picture. The latter is looking true for now, but that former prediction crashed and burned with a five-game losing streak last season.

Oh, Sergio.

• Bruce Feldman of CBSSports unveils his annual Freaks list, with lots of talk about Baylor. Especially Lache Seastrunk. Keep an eye out for strength coach Kaz Kazadi, who drops the best quote of the offseason.
• The Chicago Tribune writes about the Oklahoma tornado's effect on Tress Way. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram wrote about former Cowboy Dan Bailey. Another former Sooner, Sam Bradford, was in Oklahoma City while the tornado hit.
• Matt Hayes of Sporting News weighs in on the nine-game conference schedule debate.
• It's been a year since WVU coach Bill Stewart died. Bob Hertzel of the Times West Virginian remembers his legacy. Here's more on West Virginia's baseball team helping out with tornado relief in Oklahoma.

We looked at the 3,000-yard passers on Tuesday, but what about the guys on the ground? The 1,000-yard mark is the benchmark for a good season running the ball, and the Big 12 had just three players reach it in 2012. Three more had at least 925 yards, but who's going to run for 1,000 yards next season?

Here's who I'm taking:

1. Lache Seastrunk, Baylor: He has physical skills no other back in the league can match, and big-time confidence to go with them. He basically rushed for 1,000 yards in little more than a month last year. I have no doubt he'll do it again. He carries a status into the season as the most dangerous player in the league with the ball in his hands. I'll be shocked if he doesn't top 1,000 yards easily, barring injury.

2. James Sims, Kansas: This will be out of necessity. Sims notched his first 1,000-yard season in 2012 and did so with zero help from the passing game. Everybody knew he'd be getting the ball at least 25 times a game, and they still couldn't stop him. Jake Heaps will add some more balance to help soften up the box, but Sims is still the most reliable player on KU's offense.

3. John Hubert, Kansas State: Hubert's been overshadowed by Collin Klein, and logging over 500 carries in the running game the past couple of seasons has limited what Hubert could do. Still, he's had more than 950 yards in each of the past two seasons. Daniel Sams or Jake Waters will still run the ball, but not as much as Klein did. Look for Hubert to benefit and play the role of bell cow for this offense.

4. Jeremy Smith, Oklahoma State: Oklahoma State has had a 1,000-yard rusher for six consecutive seasons, the longest streak in the Big 12 and one of the nation's longest. It's still a pass-first offense, but that streak's not ending under new offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich. Smith's role was marginalized last season behind Joseph Randle despite topping 600 yards back in 2011, but he's going to be the main guy ahead of Desmond Roland this year. He's experienced and a solid blocker, too. That'll keep him on the field a whole lot. He's also got deceptive speed for his size.

Just missed: Damien Williams, Oklahoma.

Note: Texas, TCU, Texas Tech and West Virginia will have plenty of rushing yards, but the carries will be split too many ways for one player to top 1,000 yards.

As part of our 100 days until kickoff coverage this week, we're looking at each conference's biggest underachievements and overachievements in the BCS era. Here's what I say for the Big 12:

Overachievements

1. Frequent title visits. There's plenty of talk about the SEC when you talk BCS, but the Big 12 has made an astounding seven trips to the BCS title game. No league other than the SEC has more than three. The Big 12's consistently been in the mix for titles during the BCS era, cementing a status as one of college football's best leagues. The Big 12 is the only league other than the SEC with multiple national championships since the BCS began.

2. Don't hate 'em because they're beautiful. How about Kansas State? The Wildcats were so unlucky, they had a rule named after them back in 1998 when they were No. 3 in the BCS but snubbed by the rest of the BCS bowls. That's the greatest BCS injustice ever, but Kansas State made two later trips to the BCS with a pair of Big 12 titles in 2003 and 2012. Relative to location and resources, K-State shouldn't be winning as much as it has in the BCS era. K-State is the only other team besides Texas, Oklahoma and Nebraska to reach multiple BCS games as a member of the Big 12. That's some fine, fine company.

3. If you can't beat 'em, invite 'em. TCU was a huge overachiever, joining Boise State as the most accomplished programs outside the major conferences. The Frogs crashed the Rose Bowl with a huge win to cap an undefeated 2010 season, and West Virginia is the only team in the nation to go undefeated in the BCS with more than two trips. One of those wins was a blowout over Oklahoma. The Big 12's response in 2012? WVU was deemed worthy and given an invite to the league, moving up from the crumbling Big East.

4. The greatest ever? Vince disagrees. USC was riding high on a 34-game winning streak and with Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart leading the way, was being touted as one of the greatest teams ever. Texas' Vince Young brought a 19-game winning streak of his own into the game and the Longhorns knocked off the Trojans for the Big 12's second national title in one of the greatest games ever and one of the greatest individual performances ever by Young.

5. Want a QB? Texas is where it's at. A few have left the state lines (Howdy, Andrew Luck and Matt Stafford!), but Texas has earned a status as a quarterback hotbed, and the Big 12 has done a stellar job of mining much of the league's success on the backs of those quarterbacks. Who knew one state could be so dominant at one position? Some of the best Big 12 QBs ever have hailed from Texas: Vince Young, Robert Griffin III, Michael Bishop, Chase Daniel, Graham Harrell and Kliff Kingsbury all call the Lone Star State home.

Underachievements

1. Oh, Oklahoma. Oklahoma's made eight visits to the BCS, more than any team but Ohio State. However, one of the biggest (and only, really) knocks on Bob Stoops was his team's record in those games. He started out 2-0 with a national title, but hit a five-game skid between 2004 and 2009. The only reason it broke was because the Sooners got lucky and drew an overmatched, eight-win UConn team in the 2011 Fiesta Bowl.

2. Oh, so close. The Big 12 is stuck in the longest drought in school history. No team has played for the title in the past three seasons, but that's thanks to two monumental upsets. Both Kansas State and Oklahoma State went on the road in mid-November as heavy favorites and suffered losses to keep that rough streak going for the Big 12.

3. Yeah, about that title game record. The Big 12 has made seven trips to the BCS National Championship, but is just 2-5 in those games. Two of those losses were certifiable embarrassments: Miami rolled over Nebraska at the end of the 2001 season and USC routed Oklahoma at the end of the 2004 season. When the benchmark is set by the SEC (9-1 in BCS title games, with the only loss coming to an SEC team), it's hard to call a 2-5 mark anything but underachieving.

4. Making history isn't so much fun sometimes. Nobody gave Boise State a chance back in 2006 against Oklahoma and it was only the second team outside of an automatic qualifying conference to make a BCS appearance. The Big 12 champions, led by Adrian Peterson, got ambushed by a barrage of trick plays in the fourth quarter and in overtime and one of the greatest games in college football history featured the Sooners on the losing end. Fun, memorable game, but an embarrassing loss in a no-win situation for Oklahoma.

5. They should be better than this. Texas and Oklahoma were finally seeing their programs return to national power status when the BCS was born, but the Longhorns' recent slide has to be one of the biggest stories in the Big 12's history. Just when the money flowing into the program was growing exponentially, the Longhorns' on-field struggles began. The streak of nine consecutive 10-win seasons was amazing, but it's hard to remember those days in the shadow of just 22 wins in the three seasons since 2009. The five-win nightmare back in 2010 was the Longhorns' worst season since back in 1997 under John Mackovic.

It's time to look forward to 2013 and the Big 12's best passers. Hitting 3,000 yards is the benchmark for a productive season as a college quarterback.

Four Big 12 quarterbacks threw for at least 3,000 yards last season -- but all four threw for more than 4,000 yards. Two more quarterbacks hit 2,500 yards.

Who will crack the mark in 2013? With so many jobs up in the air, it's going to be tough to predict, but here's who I'm buying as a 3,000-yard passer in 2013, in order of the likelihood they'll do it.

1. Bryce Petty, Baylor: Of all the new quarterbacks in the Big 12, Petty has the most experience in his current system and has the deepest receiving corps. BU's got solid running backs, but this is still a pass-first offense and Petty's got an arm capable of making any play necessary. This is a no-brainer.

2. Michael Brewer, Texas Tech: Call me a believer in coach Kliff Kingsbury as an offensive mind. We'll see about Texas Tech as a whole, but Brewer's got a diverse skill set and his ability to run will make it easier for him to throw. Defenses will have to watch for both. Add to that a high tempo and a very, very good and deep receiving corps, and Brewer should be able to crack 3,000 yards sometime in early November.

3. Clint Chelf, Oklahoma State: Oklahoma State didn't have a 1,600-yard passer last year, but that's what happens when the injury bug bites. OSU has had a 3,000-yard passer in three of the past four seasons before that, though, and cleared the mark easily in team passing yards in all three seasons under the Air Raid. Chelf's likely to hit 4,000 if he wins the job officially.

4. David Ash, Texas: Ash has never hit the 3,000-yard mark, but he's getting better and his receivers are, too. Texas wants to play faster, too, which means more snaps and more pass attempts for Ash, even with a great running back corps with a ton of depth. He was at 2,699 yards last year, but he's got a great shot to get over the top this year.

5. Casey Pachall, TCU: Back in 2011, Pachall was 79 yards short of his first 3,000-yard season. He was well on his way last year with almost 1,000 yards in his first four games (including a win over SMU in a downpour). This one may be close, but if Pachall recaptures the job and only looks like a shell of himself, the odds are still in his favor to crack 3K.

6. Blake Bell, Oklahoma: This one may be close. I'm giving Bell the benefit of the doubt here. Bell's not as refined a passer as Landry Jones, but he's better than he's looked thus far in his career. He'll be running more than Jones, but I'm betting Bell clears the 3,000-yard mark safely.

7. Clint Trickett, West Virginia: West Virginia's going to run the ball a lot more this season with a lot of depth and talent at the position, but it's hard to see whoever wins the QB job not hitting at least 3,000 yards. They won't be reaching Geno Smith's 4,200 yards, but if Trickett beats out Ford Childress and Paul Millard in the Big 12's most unpredictable QB competition, he's hitting 3,000 yards.

David Ubben says the defensive losses and a magician on the sidelines are reasons for concern and hope for Kansas State this season.

Getting a little dusty in here.

• Nice job from the University of Oklahoma, who opened up its dorms to help those who were affected by Monday's tornado.
• It's been a sad season of team sports for Texas, writes Cedric Golden of the Austin American-Statesman.
• Mike Casazza of the Charleston Daily Mail tried to wrap his head around Clint Trickett throwing passes to Ivan McCartney for WVU. Hats off to the WVU baseball team yesterday, too.
• Can Arthur Brown step in and replace Ray Lewis?
• Paul Rhoads says college football commitments are basically hotel reservations. Randy Peterson of the Des Moines Register writes about an early signing period in recruiting.
• Go donate to the Red Cross.