OKLAHOMA: The defense is anchored by a front four led by DT Tommie Harris and DE Jimmy Wilkerson. ... White took over against Texas last season and started the next two games, then was lost to a knee injury. Speed and mobility are his best attributes.
TEXAS: Record-setting QB Major Applewhite is now a graduate assistant and hosts a sports-talk radio show in Austin. ... TE Bo Scaife, expected to be key cog in the offense, was lost for the season because of knee problems.
TEXAS A&M:; Despite raves for QB Reggie McNeal, the job still belongs to 27-year-old Mark Farris. ... LB Jarrod Penright leads a defense intent on regaining its Wrecking Crew label. ... Offense coming off worst yardage total in 30 years.
TEXAS TECH: QB Kliff Kingsbury will have plenty of chances to shed the underrated label pinned on him by coach Mike Leach. ... DE Aaron Hunt had school-record 12 sacks last season; 26 for career are one shy of another school mark. LB Lawrence Flugence has conference-best 301 tackles the last two seasons.
OKLAHOMA STATE: Beating Oklahoma in season finale gave the Cowboys plenty of momentum. ... WR Rashaun Woods, star of OU game, set a school record for receptions (80) and led the Big 12 with 1,023 receiving yards.
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BAYLOR: Bears have lost 29 straight conference games since beating Kansas in October 1998. ... Jayhawks could be streakbusters, too, on Oct. 5 in Waco.
NORTH
NEBRASKA: QB Jammal Lord replaces Crouch, but I-back Dahrran Diedrick -- who led league with 1,299 rushing yards last season -- should help ease burden. ... "Blackshirt" defense turned ghostly pale after giving up 62 points to Colorado, then 37 to Miami in the Rose Bowl.
COLORADO: The Buffaloes will try keeping up last season's average of nearly 45 ppg with QB Craig Ochs healthy again and an impressive group of RBs. But Buffs are replacing several top linemen. ... Circle the date: Nov. 29 is when CU goes to Lincoln to face revenge-minded Cornhuskers.
IOWA STATE: QB Seneca Wallace was conference's offensive newcomer of the year, but he no longer has two-time All-Big 12 RB Ennis Haywood to keep defenses honest. ... The Cyclones open against Florida State on Aug. 24. ... Terry Allen, fired as Kansas coach last season, is associate head coach and in charge of tight ends.
KANSAS STATE: Wildcats returned to their mild ways by going 6-6, fewest wins since 1992, and had a four-game losing streak. ... Scrambling QB Ell Roberson trying to remain starter over stronger-armed Marc Dunn. ... Defense that was among nation's top four the last three years has a new coordinator. Bobby Elliott replaces Phil Bennett, now the SMU coach.
KANSAS: The league's only new coach is no stranger to the conference. Mark Mangino was an assistant at K-State from 1991-98, then Oklahoma from 1999-2001. ... QB Zach Dyer, who started four games last year, is battling juco transfer Bill Whittemore.
MISSOURI: WR Justin Gage will try building on junior year in which he caught 74 passes or 920 yards. ... Throwing him the ball will be either redshirt freshman Brad Smith or senior Kirk Farmer.
