BIG 12 NORTH

• Colorado (started Saturday) — Coach Dan Hawkins has opened all spring practices, with only credentialed media allowed to take notes, photos or video. The Buffs’ 15 workouts will be spread over 34 days because of spring break in the middle.

• Missouri (starts Tuesday) — Nobody should want to get back to work more than the Tigers after their embarrassing 35-10 mauling by Navy in the Texas Bowl, which has helped firmly install Nebraska as the North Division favorite for 2010.

• Kansas State (starts March 21) — Chris Cosh takes over at defensive coordinator for Vic Koenning, inheriting a unit that held seven opponents to 17 points or fewer but gave up 66 to Texas Tech, 42 to Oklahoma and 38 to Missouri.

• Iowa State (starts March 23) — Alexander Robinson is third among returning Big 12 backs in career rushing with 2,289 yards, behind only Kendall Hunter of Oklahoma State (2,633) and DeMarco Murray of Oklahoma (2,471).

• Nebraska (starts March 24) — Offensive improvement will be an emphasis for a unit trying to find itself after ranking No. 99 in total offense (322.8 yards per game) and No. 75 in scoring (25.1 points) last season.

• Kansas (starts March 27) — One of head coach Turner Gill’s first moves was to remove players’ names from the backs of KU jerseys, now replaced by a Jayhawk logo. Also gone will be the red stripe on the helmets.

BIG 12 SOUTH

• Texas (started Feb. 26) —- Coach Mack Brown had staff from Boise State on campus last month, including head coach Chris Peterson, to discuss how to add some innovation and trickery to the Longhorns’ offense.

• Oklahoma (starts Monday) — Sophomore quarterback Landry Jones has the luxury of tailback DeMarco Murray and receiver Ryan Broyles deciding to skip the NFL draft and play another season in Norman.

• Oklahoma State (starts Monday) — Former minor league pitcher Brandon Weeden, 26, has the inside track to run the offense that first-year offensive coordinator and Mike Leach disciple Dana Holgorsen brings from Houston.

• Baylor (starts March 16) — Two Robert Griffins should be better than one. In addition to dynamic quarterback Robert Griffin III returning from a torn ACL, the Bears have added JC transfer Robert Griffin (6-6, 350) to their offensive line.

• Texas Tech (starts March 20) — First-year head coach Tommy Tuberville has said he wants a No. 1 quarterback to step forward during spring practice, leaving Taylor Potts and Steven Sheffield to resume their competition.

• Texas A&M (starts March 23) — The Aggies can score with quarterback Jerrod Johnson, now it’s up to former Air Force defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter to fix the defense that ranked No. 105 in 2009 (426.3 yards per game).

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