West Coast Revisited
The Huskers kick off their 116th season September 3rd with a new leader on offense. Zac Taylor is expected to take over the job as the starting quarterback.

Taylor arrived from Butler Community College this year and took over the number one spot on the depth chart. Taylor is poised to become starting quarterback in the season opener.

The JUCO transfer picked up the West Coast Offense in spring ball and came away with a record setting performance in the Red-White game. Taylor completed 20 of 27 passes for 357 yards as 61,000 fans looked on in Memorial Stadium while collectively polishing the 2005 crystal ball.

Taylor has worked with the number-one unit all through fall camp and the Husker quarterback believes the second year of the West Coast Offense will be much more effective.

One of the biggest battles this fall has developed at the number-two quarterback position. The question remains: Who will be the backup signal caller to Zac Taylor?

Last year Joe Ganz was running the scout team offense. This fall the red-shirt freshman has vaulted up the depth chart to the number-two spot and Ganz says he's ready to run the West Coast.

The freshman to watch at quarterback is Harrison Beck but the highly touted newcomer from Clearwater, Florida is still working on the tough transition to the college game.

The QBs have a talented group of running backs to hand the ball to and Cory Ross leads the way in the '05 campaign.

The running backs could find some big holes behind a solid offensive line. Three starters return.

The D
Graduation and the lure of the NFL have hit the Nebraska Blackshirts hard. The Huskers have only five starters back.

The strength of the defense will be in the front four, where the Huskers return three starters. Senior tackles Titus Adams and Le Kevin Smith give Nebraska plenty of experience. Both have lettered each of the past three years.

The biggest addition will be freshman Ndamukong Suh from Oregon, who stands 6' 4" tall and cranks the scale to 300 pounds.

Nebraska returns three experienced defensive ends with Adam Carriker, Jay Moore, and Wali Muhammad. Carriker had a strong off-season, where he was named the Nebraska lifter of the year.

One of the areas where the Blackshirts were hit hardest by graduation was at linebacker. Three seniors left, including the school's all-time leading tackler, Barrett Ruud. The successor to Ruud at linebacker should be red-shirt sophomore Corey McKeon, who won the job this fall.

SAM linebacker Stewart Bradley is the lone returning starter, who finished second on the team with 67 tackles last year.

The most highly contested position is at WILL linebacker, where junior Steve Octavian is locked in a battle with sophomore Bo Ruud.

The departure of Josh Bullocks and Fabian Washington to the NFL has left a big hole in the secondary. The pass defense will be anchored by Josh's brother Daniel Bullocks, who intercepted five passes last year.

There is a three-way battle at the free safety spot, where junior Andrew Shanle, senior Blake Tiedtke, and freshman speedster Leon Jackson will battle for a starting spot.

At cornerback, Cortney Grixby, newcomer Zac Bowman and Tierre Green will see most of the action.

Five returning starters and added depth in the defensive line could provide the foundation for the Blackshirts to return to dominance in the Big 12.

North v. South
The Big 12 spotlight is shining all over the South Division this year and whoever wins the South will be a huge favorite over the North winner in the conference championship game in Houston on December 3.

The North was the standard bearer when the league began 10 years ago, but Nebraska and Kansas State aren't what they used to be and neither is the division. Colorado and Iowa State tied for the best record last season at 4-4. That would've tied for fifth in the South.

Things are so out of whack between the divisions that there's been talk of getting rid of the structure and letting the two best teams slug it out in the title game.

That debate has quieted and it's just as well for conference commissioner Kevin Weiberg. He has plenty of other things to worry about as head of the BCS.

Big 12 Capsules
South
Texas _ RBs Selvin Young, no relation to Vince, and Ramonce Taylor will get the ball plenty. But also keep an eye on freshman RB Jamaal Charles. ... The knock on Vince Young is his accuracy. He had 12 TDs and 11 INTs last season. ... With unproven receivers, don't be surprised if Young's favorite target is TE David Thomas, a preseason all-conference pick.

Oklahoma _ RB Adrian Peterson, a Heisman Trophy finalist last year as a freshman, may be wondering where everyone went. The Sooners had 10 players drafted off last year's team, plus lost 2003 Heisman winner Jason White. ... The battle to replace QB White is between junior Paul Thompson and redshirt freshman Rhett Bomar. Sophomore Tommy Grady, the backup last season, is transferring.

Texas A&M _ The Aggies rebounded in Year 2 under coach Dennis Franchione and look to keep it up with QB Reggie McNeal back for his senior season. ... A&M has nine games to prepare for a finish that includes a game at Norman and home against the Longhorns 13 days later.

Texas Tech _ Expectations are high in Lubbock following a solid victory over California in the Holiday Bowl. ... QB Cody Hodges will run coach Mike Leach's offense _ and probably lead the nation in passing like his predecessors. ... Taurean Henderson needs 26 catches to become NCAA career leader in receptions for a running back and the conference's career leader for any position.

Oklahoma State _ Offensive coordinator Mike Gundy replaced Les Miles as head coach. ... Having lost their leading rusher, the Cowboys will throw more to a WR corps led by D'Juan Woods, younger brother of former star WR Rashaun Woods. Another brother, Donovan Woods, is the starting QB, but being challenged by Bobby Reid.

Baylor _ The women's basketball team won the national championship, bringing joy to a campus and community that sorely needed it. The football team's lone bright spot last year was beating A&M at home, the Bears' only win their last eight games. The outlook remains grim for the league's only private school.

North
Colorado _ For all their off-field turmoil, the Buffaloes have won three of the last four North crowns. Last season's title-game berth earned Gary Barnett the league's coach of the year award. ... QB Joel Klatt is back for a third season running the offense, but the RB spot is less settled. ... The Buffs have a superb kicking tandem in K Mason Crosby and P John Torp.

Iowa State _ The Cyclones are set at skill positions on offense and the defense is getting back Jason Berryman. The league's 2003 defensive newcomer of the year missed last season while in jail stemming from an assault case. The talented end must work his way up from the scout team, but it shouldn't take long.

Kansas State _ The offense lost RB Darren Sproles to the NFL and returns QBs Dylan Meier and Allen Webb, which may or may not be a good thing. ... The Wildcats allowed at least 31 points in all seven of their losses. ... Coach Bill Snyder has removed the players' names from the back of their jerseys after going from 6-2 division champs to 2-6 cellar-dwellers.

Nebraska _ The last time the Cornhuskers had a losing season, they rebounded with nine wins. Forty-three years later, coach Bill Callahan is counting on JUCO transfer QB Zac Taylor to ease the transition from running team to passing club. ... Nebraska has an NCAA record 268 straight sellouts. In that span, the Huskers have more victories over ranked foes (38) than total losses (31).

Missouri _ Mizzou fans are hoping QB Brad Smith will return to the elusive, entertaining style that yielded big plays as a freshman and sophomore. He was too conservative last season. ... Coach Gary Pinkel may need a big season to save his job after high expectations last season resulted in a 5-6 record, including a five-game losing streak.

Kansas _ Charles Gordon, who can catch passes, cover receivers and is fun to watch on kick returns, is the Jayhawks' best hope for avoiding a 12th straight non-winning season. Coach Mark Mangino may need it; he's 12-24 over three seasons. ... Five of last season's seven losses were by six points or less.

The Bowls
All Times Eastern