Barfknecht: Three-team race

Things we think we know two weeks into the Big 12 football season:

1. The Big 12 North looks more and more like it will come down to the round-robin of games among Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri.

All three are good teams, not great. Each has some warts and some things it does extremely well. The quality of depth for the three is decent, but not enough to withstand a couple of key injuries.

So where are those key games played?

Nebraska: at Missouri, at Kansas.

Kansas: Nebraska at home, Missouri in Kansas City.

Missouri: Nebraska at home, Kansas in Kansas City.

Another key for NU, KU and MU is to avoid stumbling against the bottom three in the North. Iowa State, Kansas State and Colorado are the kind of opponents no contender can afford to lose to.

2. Colorado coach Dan Hawkins apparently reads different statistics than the rest of us.

Out of 120 teams nationally, the Buffaloes (0-2) are 107th in scoring defense, 109th in rushing offense, 111th in total defense, 112th in rushing defense and 119th in pass efficiency defense.

Yet from listening to Hawkins on Monday's Big 12 teleconference, things are good after losses of 23-17 to Colorado State and 54-38 to Toledo.

On his players' mental state after questions about their effort against Toledo: “They're good. They hustled Friday night and we practiced hard Sunday morning.''

On an offense ranked 78th and special teams units floundering in the lower half of the nation: “I think we're starting to find ourselves.''

On falling behind 20-3 to Colorado State and 30-3 to Toledo: “I thought we did better last week.''

On a defense that has allowed 1,000 yards in two games: “We've just got a couple of things we've got to clean up.''

Huh?

Now add two more warning shots — the Boulder Daily Camera already has calculated Hawkins' buyout if he is fired (about $3 million), and some orally committed recruits are wobbling.

Running back Mister Jones of Littleton (Colo.) High, who committed in June, told the Camera why he now will make more official visits.

“I mean, it's obvious,'' Jones said. “They lost to like Toledo and Colorado State the last couple of weeks. The CU program isn't doing too good right now.''

3. The Big 12 needs to stop thinking about surpassing the Southeastern Conference as the nation's best and worry more about beating non-BCS opponents.

In just two weeks, the Big 12 has two losses to the Mountain West (BYU, Colorado State), one to Conference USA (Houston), one to the Sun Belt (UL-Lafayette) and one to the Mid-American Conference (Toledo), with another major scare against the MAC (Bowling Green).

Two Top 10-ranked teams have fallen (No. 3 Oklahoma, No. 5 Oklahoma State). Even No. 2 Texas struggled into the third quarter Saturday against a Wyoming team picked to finish last in its division in the Mountain West.

What should we make of these early struggles?

“You guys can make a deal out of whatever you want,'' Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said. “There are a lot of good teams. If you're not at your best, anybody can beat you.

“But I don't know that that's unlike any other year or any other conference.''

Nebraskan struggles

Despite some major place-kicking struggles at Kansas State, coach Bill Snyder said Monday he is fully behind junior Josh Cherry from McCook, Neb.

“He practices well and hits the ball well,'' Snyder said. “I think he's going to be OK.''

In Saturday's 17-15 loss at UL-Lafayette, Cherry missed field goals of 24 yards (tipped) and 47 yards (wide) and an extra point (glanced off upright). Also, a 39-yard field goal try never came off when the holder misplayed the snap.

Cherry now is 0 for 3 on field goals. He missed a 38-yarder against Massachusetts.

“The major thing now is to re-establish his confidence,'' Snyder said. “He's a very intent guy. He really cares. He's pained by it.

“But I have great confidence in him. We'll continue to work with him, and I think he'll eventually become the kicker I'm quite confident he's capable of becoming.''

Few happy returns

Whom does Missouri miss most out of its six NFL draft choices off last year's team?

For now, my vote goes to Jeremy Maclin in the return game. Maclin forced opponents into night sweats trying to figure out ways to contain him on punts and kickoffs.

Last Saturday night, Bowling Green had no such concerns while nearly upsetting the Tigers.

On seven punts Missouri fielded, cornerback Carl Gettis fair caught six. On the other, he fumbled after a return of 1 yard. Also, four kickoff returns from two players netted a 22.5-yard average.

The improved field position Maclin created and his touchdown explosions are sorely missed.

Quote of the week

Colorado coach Dan Hawkins, apparently channeling ex-Nebraska coach Bill Callahan, when asked about his team's 0-2 start:

“I know this: Inside our program, we're doing things right.''

Players of the week

Offense: Texas Tech quarterback Taylor Potts. The junior from Abilene, Texas, completed 36 of 57 passes for 456 yards and seven touchdowns in a 55-10 win over Rice.

Defense: Kansas end Max Onyegbule and Texas tackle Lamarr Houston. Onyegbule, a senior from Arlington, Texas, had six tackles and two sacks in a 34-7 win over UTEP. Houston, a senior from Colorado Springs, Colo., had two sacks and five quarterback hurries in a 41-10 win over Wyoming.

Special teams: Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant. The junior from Lufkin, Texas, returned a punt 82 yards for a touchdown in a 45-35 loss to Houston.

Bits and pieces

Colorado quarterback Cody Hawkins (concussion) is expected to play this week. Oklahoma State tailback Kendall Hunter, the defending Big 12 rushing champ, is doubtful (ankle). Missouri linebacker Jeff Gettys, a special-teams phenom, suffered a season-ending knee injury against Bowling Green. ... OSU's Perrish Cox, with 2,300 kickoff return yards, has broken the Big 12 career record held by Josh Davis of Nebraska (2,265). ... Texas quarterback Colt McCoy has thrown a touchdown pass in 19 straight games, tying Major Applewhite's school record. ... Oklahoma's 25 consecutive home wins tied the school record.

Contact the writer:

444-1024, lee.barfknecht@owh.com

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