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Finally, we have a volunteer to claim a Big 12 North Division title. Two of them, actually.
Kansas State and Nebraska emerged from a tangled knot of also-rans to post significant victories Saturday, signaling both teams may have what it takes to win a race that has been as murky as swamp water for most of the season.Barring another unexpected twist to this story line down the stretch, look for the Wildcats (6-4, 4-2 in Big 12) and Cornhuskers (6-3, 3-2) to meet Nov. 21 in Lincoln, Neb. in a winner-take-all battle for the North Division title no one seems willing to win.Part of the problem may be the dubious prize awaiting the North champ: an opportunity to be steamrolled by No. 2 Texas (9-0, 5-0) in front of a national TV audience on Dec. 5 at Cowboys Stadium.Based on Saturday’s returns, however, Orangebloods may want to temper their Cheshire cat grins in anticipation of an impending blowout in Arlington.Without question, Texas, which slipped to third in Sunday’s BCS standings, behind Alabama, would be a significant favorite over K-State or Nebraska.But it would not be a cakewalk unless the Longhorns remember to pack their on-again, off-again ground game.If Texas plays one-dimensional offense or suffers a rash of turnovers — a recurring issue this season — either team is capable of making Longhorns’ fans sweat, or cry, in Jerry World.That is because K-State and Nebraska bring competent defenses to the table, something no one else in the North Division can claim. Especially Nebraska, which just removed then-No. 20 Oklahoma from the national rankings on the strength of Saturday’s 10-3 victory in Lincoln, Neb.By doing so, the Huskers posted their biggest victory in two seasons under coach Bo Pelini. They did so by forcing five turnovers and winning on a night when their punchless offense had more punts (11) than points (10) or first downs (7).Nebraska won despite a 1-for-14 conversion rate on third down by the Huskers’ offense. "Oklahoma is a hell of a football team," Pelini said. "That [OU] defense, that’s the real deal. The game could have gone a lot of different ways, but we found a way to hang in there. We made enough plays to win."Specifically, the Nebraska defense made enough plays to win. That’s the same unit that ranks ahead of Texas — arguably the nation’s top defensive team — in scoring defense and pass efficiency defense.The Cornhuskers rank 11th or higher among FBS schools in four significant categories: scoring defense (2nd, 10.3 points per game), total defense (11th, 274 yards per game), run defense (10th, 94.4 yards per game) and pass efficiency defense (2nd, 89.68 rating).The Huskers don’t score much. But they would present a significant challenge to the pass-happy Longhorns’ offense, which can find itself in a bind when quarterback Colt McCoy is not connecting regularly with receiver Jordan Shipley.Kansas State is not as gifted defensively as Nebraska. But the Wildcats are far from inept. K-State is coming off a 17-10 victory over Kansas.
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