Players of the week
Offense: Missouri wide receiver Danario Alexander. The senior from Marlin, Texas, caught 10 passes for 200 yards and three touchdowns (54, 16, 80 yards) in a 38-12 win over Kansas State.
Defense: Oklahoma State safety Perrish Cox. The senior from Waco, Texas, intercepted two passes and broke up three more in a 24-17 win over Texas Tech.
Special teams: Kansas State place-kicker Josh Cherry. The junior from McCook, Neb., kicked a career-best four field goals (47, 34, 35, 33 yards) in a 38-12 loss to Missouri.
South on North
Coach Mack Brown of Texas, the presumed Big 12 South champion, offered a few words Monday about the deciding game in the North Division between Nebraska and Kansas State.
“Both Bo Pelini and Bill Snyder have done a tremendous job coaching this year,'' Brown said. “You see how much the team at Nebraska has improved since the first of the year.
“And then you go on the other side of the spectrum, maybe even moreso at Kansas State.
“It's one of those games I'll definitely TiVo. Because we're playing at the same time, I won't get to see it.''
Stat of the week
Colorado coach Dan Hawkins arrived four years ago touted as an offensive innovator and guru. But after last week's 17-10 loss to Iowa State, the Buffs have fallen short of the 20-point mark 24 times in 47 games — 51 percent of the time — under Hawkins.
Quote of the week
Texas Tech coach Mike Leach on dealing with his offense's inconsistency:
“We have a soft group of receivers who I plan to slaughter this week.''
Bits and pieces
Missouri wide receiver Jared Perry (46 catches, 696 yards) will miss the final two regular-season games with a leg fracture. He might return in time for a bowl game. ... Texas kickoff return specialist D.J. Monroe (35.8-yard average, two touchdowns) has been suspended indefinitely after being arrested Sunday on suspicion of drunken driving. Jordan Shipley will replace Monroe. ... Baylor's Derek Epperson is second nationally in punting at 45.6 yards. ... Paul Rhoads is the first Iowa State coach to win six games in his first season since 1915. ... Texas quarterback Colt McCoy is 42-7 as a starter, tying Georgia's David Greene (42-10) on the Division I-A wins list.
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