ESPN.com presents Colleges http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/colleges 60 en-us Sat, 25 May 2013 19:29:37 webmaster@espn.go.com http://assets.espn.go.com/i/espn/teamlogos/lrg/trans/espn_dotcom_black.gif 110 110 Next up is SMU, one of the more intriguing of the conference newcomers in 2013. To see previous entries, click here. SMU Most important game: Oct. 5 versus Rutgers Why: SMU has a very challenging nonconference slate. The Mustangs open their season Friday, Aug. 30 against Texas Tech and new coach Kliff Kingsbury. Two games later they travel to College Station, Texas, where they will face either an Aggie team coming off the high of beating defending national Alabama for the second year in a row or an Aggie team hungry after suffering a tough loss to the nation's best.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/colleges/post/_/id/4683273/most-important-game-smu Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00:22 EDT 4683273 David Ubben addresses Oklahoma's tornado relief as well as Wes Lunt's departure, Nick Harwell's arrival and more in this week's Friday Four Downs.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/colleges/post/_/id/4683272/video-friday-four-downs-5 Fri, 24 May 2013 14:30:06 EDT 4683272 We're walking through each Big 12 team and identifying its most irreplaceable talent. He's the guy they can least afford to lose, and the guy to whom an injury or departure would have the most effect. Let's move on with Oklahoma. More most indispensable players. Most indispensable player: OL Gabe Ikard Why Oklahoma can't afford to lose him: This was a tough pick, and I narrowed it down to three players: CB Aaron Colvin, LB Corey Nelson and Ikard.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/colleges/post/_/id/4683271/most-indispensable-player-oklahoma-2 Fri, 24 May 2013 13:40:32 EDT 4683271 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.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/colleges/post/_/id/4683269/2014-big-12-recruiting-scorecard-may Fri, 24 May 2013 11:45:56 EDT 4683269 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.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/colleges/post/_/id/4683268/a-closer-look-at-qb-experience-in-the-big-12 Fri, 24 May 2013 10:28:58 EDT 4683268 Watch list season means we're one step closer to the actual college football season. The latest watch list to be released is for the Rimington Trophy, which is given each year to the best center in the nation. The Big East has four players on the 44-man list, which is led by nine SEC players and five each from the Pac-12 and the Mountain West Conference. Houston's Bryce Redman, Rutgers' Betim Bujari, SMU's Taylor Lasecki, USF's Austin Reiter make up the Big East contingent.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/colleges/post/_/id/4683266/smus-taylor-lasecki-on-rimington-watch-list Thu, 23 May 2013 13:45:23 EDT 4683266 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.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/colleges/post/_/id/4683246/the-big-12s-1000-yard-receivers-in-2013 Thu, 23 May 2013 13:00:34 EDT 4683246 We're walking through each Big 12 team and identifying its most irreplaceable talent. He's the guy they can least afford to lose, and the guy to whom an injury or departure would have the most effect. Let's move on with Oklahoma State. More most indispensable players. Most indispensable player: WR Josh Stewart 2012 stats: 101 catches for 1,210 yards and seven touchdowns. Rushed eight times for 120 yards and a touchdown. Returned two punts for 73 yards.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/colleges/post/_/id/4683265/most-indispensable-player-oklahoma-state-2 Thu, 23 May 2013 12:48:29 EDT 4683265 If the season started tomorrow, the title race in the Big 12 would be wide open with at least seven teams having a legitimate shot to claim the crown.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/colleges/post/_/id/4683263/if-the-season-started-tomorrow-in-the-big-12 Thu, 23 May 2013 09:34:01 EDT 4683263 Kirk Herbstreit visits Johnny Manziel as he trains with QB specialist George Whitfield this offseason.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/colleges/post/_/id/4683260/johnny-manziel-training-with-qb-specialist Wed, 22 May 2013 16:24:06 EDT 4683260