Extreme Makeover: Big XII

Despite the uncertainty of the upcoming college football season still in the air, one thing is for sure: the Big XII is going to have some new faces next year. With departures of the league's marquis players, it will be a league of youth next year. Sam Bradford, the first overall pick to the Rams, leaves Oklahoma with questionable at best Landry Jones. Colt McCoy leaves Garrett Gilbert as head of the Longhorns, while Mark Mangino and Mike Leach highlight the coaches leaving the Big XII. Landry Jones has some experience, filling in for most of last season with Bradford out with a shoulder injury. He led Oklahoma to an average year, winning the Brut Sun Bowl. However, he was unpredictable, having unbelievable and terrible games. Garrett Gilbert proved himself when Colt McCoy went down with an injury in the National Championship, but he still doesn't have enough experience to be called ready for action. Meanwhile, Tommy Tubberville and his defensive minded SEC style coaching replaces Mike Leach's run-n-gun offense. Kansas lost both their quarterback and coach and seem to be falling back to the mediocre team they were several years back, portended by their 1-6 end to the 2009-2010 season. Nebraska seems to be the only team with a similar team, less Ndamukong Suh. With coach Bo Pelini and quarterback Zach Lee, they could be major contenders. As for Texas A&M, Baylor, Colorado, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Iowa State, and Missouri, predictions look average to mediocre. The race for Dallas is on and it looks to be open season again in the Midwest.