Big XII Preview (by ESPN and Blue Ribbon College Football)

As posted on ESPN.com today:

North Division
1. Nebraska
2. (tie) Colorado
2. (tie) Iowa State
4. Missouri
5. Kansas State
6. Kansas

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

All-Big 12 Team
Offense
WR: Jarrett Hicks, Texas Tech
WR: D'Juan Woods, Oklahoma State
OL: Justin Blalock, Texas
OL: Jonathan Scott, Texas
OL: Davin Joseph, Oklahoma
OL: Jeromey Clary, Kansas State
OL: Brandon Koch, Nebraska
QB: Vince Young, Texas
RB: Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma
RB: Taurean Henderson, Texas Tech
TE: David Thomas, Texas

Defense
DL: Larry Birdine, Oklahoma
DL: Larry Dibbles, Texas
DL: Dusty Dvoracek, Oklahoma
DL: Rod Wright, Texas
LB: Rufus Alexander, Oklahoma
LB: Aaron Harris, Texas
LB: Nick Reid, Kansas
DB: Jaxson Appel, Texas A&M
DB: Daniel Bullocks, Nebraska
DB: Charles Gordon, Kansas
DB: Jason Simpson, Missouri

Specialists
K: Mason Crosby, Colorado
KR: Willie Andrews, Baylor
P: Daniel Sepulveda, Baylor
PR: Danny Amendola, Texas Tech

Offensive Player of the Year
Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma

Defensive Player of the Year
Charles Gordon, DL, Kansas

Newcomer of the Year
Zac Taylor, QB, Nebraska

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My personal favorite note: 6 of the front 7 on the Defensive team are either Horns or Sooners. That pretty much sums up why these 2 teams dominate the Big XII.

Other Non-Big-XII notes:

- Willie Williams is listed as projected Newcomer of the Year in the ACC. If he has as many sacks as he does arrests, he'd certainly be a shoo-in.

- For all the hype that the revamped Big East is getting about being the premier basketball conference in the country, its football lineup is sure pathetic.

- Michigan, Ohio State and Iowa should be an awesome 3-team race in the Big Ten, with Purdue not too far behind.

- Just imagine what scalpers will be charging for tickets to the CUSA title game: UAB v. UTEP. If UH does not finish at least second in the West division, Art Briles should be not just fired, but exiled to Croatia.

- Omar Jacobs and Bowling Green might sneak their way into the BCS picture. They have 2 huge road games: at Wisconsin to open the season and at Boise State on Sep. 21. If they could pull off those two games, they could run the table and cause some noise nationally.

- Any chance UCLA could upset OU prior to the Red River Shootout? Will OU's secondary be able to contain Ben Olsen? Will Dusty Dvoracek rip Olsen's head off before he has time to find a receiver?

- I like Florida to win the SEC East. They were incredible underacheivers in 2004, and I think Urban Meyer's going to have them clicking on all cyliners this fall. I also think Alabama is going to finish ahead of Auburn.

- As a personal aside, I sure hope that Kentucky defies the critics and finishes ahead of Vandy in the SEC East. If not, Rich Brooks won't last the whole season. My prediction: the goalposts come down at least one time at Commonwealth Stadium, and Rich Brooks steps aside after the season on a positive tick.