Big 12 Sports Blog by Big 12 Fans

In last night’s Insight Bowl, Oklahoma St. got out to a huge early lead and capped off their 2007 with a winning record by defeated Indiana 49-33. Zac Robinson had a monster game, going 24 of 34 for 302 yards and three touchdowns through the air, and adding 70 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Freshman Dez Bryant caught nine passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns, and two OSU seniors closed out their careers with solid outings, as running back Dantrell Savage ran for 100 yards and a touchdown, and receiver Adarius Bowman caught six passes for 74 yards and a score.

Just as impressive as their offensive output was the fact that the defense held Indiana receiver James Hardy, one of the country’s top receivers - and biggest at 6′7, to only five catches for 50 yards and no touchdowns.

As we kick off the New Year, a couple of Big 12 teams are in action already. Missouri has put in a tremendous defensive performance in holding Arkansas running back Darren McFadden to only 86 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries, and Tigers running back Tony Temple is showing that McFadden and Felix Jones aren’t the only top-notch backs at the Cotton Bowl, as Temple has run for 261 yards and three scores to help Missouri to a 31-7 lead in the fourth. Chase Daniel has had an off-day, going only 11 of 29 for 127 yards and an interception, but thanks to the great game by Temple and the great defensive effort - Arkansas didn’t get on the board until late in the third, when it was already 28-0), Missouri’s looking at a 12-win season.

It’s not going as good for Texas Tech in the Gator Bowl, as they’re down 21-7 to Virginia at halftime. The Cavaliers have done a great job in shutting down Tech’s high-powered offense, outside of the Red Raiders’ second drive of the game, which they scored on to take a 7-0 lead. Since then, Virginia has scored 21 straight points, and have moved the ball well on Tech’s defense, and got a couple of big plays, one on defense in a safety on an intentional grounding penalty on Graham Harrell, and the other on a 96-yard touchdown run by Mikell Simpson. One bright spot for the Red Raiders is that they’ve held Virginia defensive end Chris Long without a sack thus far, though Harrell has been sacked twice.

As expected, Florida QB Tim Tebow won the 73rd annual Heisman Trophy, beating out Arkansas RB Darren McFadden by 254 votes to become the first sophomore to win the award.

Missouri’s Chase Daniel, who was one of the four finalists invited to the ceremony in New York, along with Tebow, McFadden, and Hawaii QB Colt Brennan, finished fourth in the voting with 425 total points. Daniel received 25 first-place votes, 84 second-place votes, and 142 third-place votes.

The junior threw for 4,170 yards and 33 touchdowns for the 11-2 Tigers, who will match up with McFadden’s Razorbacks in the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Day.

Even though Missouri may still be feeling the sting of getting snubbed by the BCS, Chase Daniel is getting what he deserves - a trip to New York.

Missouri’s star signal-caller was named one of four lucky Heisman finalists, along with frontrunner Tim Tebow, last year’s runner-up Darren McFadden, and Hawaii’s record-setting QB Colt Brennan. The quartet know that they are the top four vote-getters for college football‘s top individual honor, but only one of them will walk up to the podium as the nation‘s best player (unless something historic happens).

The junior had a tremendous season in leading the Tigers to a Big 12 North title and the #1 ranking heading into the Big 12 title game.

Had he had a big night against Oklahoma and Missouri came out on top, that might have pushed him ahead of Tebow. But, he didn’t have his best night, and his chances to win the award might have been finished. However, if he’s evaluated on the full body of work, he’s got as good of a chance as the others, and it won‘t be a surprise if he‘s named the winner.

Daniel threw for 4,170 yards and 33 touchdowns for the 11-2 Tigers, and added four rushing touchdowns.

He had a great season overall, but he made his Heisman case in the final four games leading up to the Big 12 title game, throwing for 1,418 yards and 15 touchdowns, with only one interception, including a 40 of 49, 361-yard, three-touchdown performance in a 36-28 win over Kansas.

It’s been quite a ‘breakout’ year for Daniel, whose big year really shouldn’t come as a surprise, after he threw for 3,527 yards and 28 yards as a sophomore in 2006. And, if he returns for his senior season, which he should, he’ll be one of the leading candidates for the Heisman in 2008, and very well could be the reigning winner of the award this time next year.

Either way, if Daniel does or doesn’t get his name called on Saturday night, to know that you’re considered one of the best players in all of college football is something to be very, very proud of.

Things hasn’t been this good for the Big 12 North since 2001, when Nebraska (controversially) played for the national championship, and Colorado won the Big 12 title.

It’s a lot less controversial this year, though there’ll be a tad bit of resentment between Missouri fans if the Tigers fall in the Big 12 title game and Kansas winds up in a BCS bowl game with Oklahoma.

But, it’s a resurgent year for the division, which hasn’t been much of a force in the last several years, nationally or in conference, where the South has been superior, with Oklahoma and Texas perennially national championship contenders and taking four of the last five conference titles, with 2003 being the lone exception (Kansas State over the #1 Sooners).

Strangely enough, it’s coming in a year where Nebraska experiences a defensive implosion of massive proportions, goes 5-7, and fires its head coach after an embarrassing end to a promising season.

Instead of the South having the title contenders, as it was expected to, it’s the North, as Missouri and Kansas moved towards the top as many big names fell nationally.

And now, after #4 Missouri made Kansas the latest victim of the ‘#2 Curse,’ the Tigers are #1 and on the brink of playing for a national championship, if they get past the Sooners in the Big 12 title game on Saturday.

Not only that, but the two have produced a couple of unlikely Heisman contenders, and if Chase Daniel can have another big game and lead his team to a historic win, possibly the Heisman winner.

This isn’t going to be a one-year thing, either. Both Kansas and Missouri should be near the top again next season, and you’d have to think that it’s only a matter of time (and a good coaching hire) before the Huskers are contenders again. Also, Colorado should improve even more in 2008, and Kansas St., despite the disappointing end to its season, should contend for postseason play. Iowa State made strides towards the end of the year as well, and won’t be a pushover in Gene Chizik’s second season.

The North’s resurgence is not only good for the division, but for the conference as well. With both divisions strong again, things will be a lot more competitive in the North vs. South matchups.

So, regardless of where your allegiances lie, you should be beaming as a Big 12 fan right now, because the future is very, very bright.

The Big 12 North title has been decided as the the Mizzou Tigers have defeated the Kansas Jayhawks 36-28. Chase Daniel completed 40 of 49 passes for 361 yards and 3 TDs as the Tigers led the entire game. Mizzou will likely move up to #2 in the national polls and the BCS rankings tomorrow behind only WVU, and with a win over Oklahoma in next week’s Big 12 Championship game, the Tigers will likely solidify their chance at a BCS Championship game berth.

The Mizzou Tigers are trying to make a statement to the nation as they have jumped out to a 28-7 lead late in the 3rd Quarter. Mizzou led 14-0 at the half and 21-0 early in the 3rd Quarter befoe Kansas came back to cut the lead to 21-7. But Mizzou answered the Jayhaws’ TD with a TD of their own, and heading into the 4th Quarter, #4 Mizzou leads #2 Kansas by a score of 28-7.

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