This will be the year Texas knocks off Oklahoma. Yeah, yeah, how many times have we heard that? The Big 12 media overwhelmingly voted Texas as the favorite in the South Division, but that won't matter when the Longhorns face the Sooners on Oct. 8. Oklahoma has won five straight against Texas, which is more talented and experienced this season. Coach Mack Brown has a far superior quarterback than the Sooners in versatile Vince Young, whose athleticism has drawn comparisons to Michael Vick. Young's dazzling display against Michigan in the Rose Bowl immediately started the hype machine cranking for this season.

Oklahoma has not finished well the past two seasons, losing in the national title game both years, and this season the Sooners are not as talented as either of those squads. With only four returning defensive starters, some have called this a rebuilding year in Norman, which essentially means Coach Bob Stoops's team will lose two games, maybe three.

A dark horse to earn the conference's BCS berth is any team emerging from the vastly inferior North Division. Colorado played in the conference title game last season, losing to Oklahoma, 42-3. "Oklahoma played," Buffaloes Coach Gary Barnett said. "We watched." Iowa State should get the opportunity to face the South's best this year. The Cyclones were the nation's second-most improved team last season, behind Texas-El Paso. Iowa State returns the bulk of its offense, and its schedule sets up nicely, with home games against divisional foes Kansas State and Colorado and a home game against intrastate rival Iowa of the Big Ten.

Who isn't curious about what Adrian Peterson can do for an encore? All the running back did last year at Oklahoma was set an NCAA freshman record with 1,925 rushing yards and finish second in the Heisman Trophy race, ahead of teammate and defending Heisman winner Jason White. The Sooners have plenty of questions at quarterback, wide receiver and on the offensive line this season, which means one thing: Peterson will have his share of carries while carrying a heavier burden.

Barnett deserves mention here after the recent spate of off-field issues in Boulder, but we'll reserve the hottest seat for Bill Callahan, who has been roasted in the press after Nebraska's first losing season since 1961. It didn't help that Callahan implemented the West Coast offense in place of the traditional option attack, or that the Cornhuskers lost to Texas Tech, 70-10. Callahan also called a group of Oklahoma fans "hillbillies" and has since apologized.

Texas at Texas A&M, Nov. 25: Sure, the Red River Shootout could begin to pave the way for either Texas or Oklahoma to reach Pasadena. But the Texas-Texas A&M matchup is better for two reasons: It will have BCS ramifications and offer a showcase duel between two dynamic quarterbacks, Young and A&M's Reggie McNeal.

North Division
1. Iowa State
2. Colorado
3. Missouri
4. Nebraska
5. Kansas State
6. Kansas

South Division
1. Texas
2. Oklahoma
3. Texas A&M
4. Texas Tech
5. Oklahoma State
6. Baylor