Around the North | Week #5
Sunday, September 30, 2007 at 09:37AM
DJ Goodwin in Big 12 North Rundown -- 2007

Who Has the Power Now?


The Cats could have the spotlight all to themselves, but Colorado (3-2) steals the show with a win over an OU team the everyone thought was legitimate. There have been signs that CU is getting better and they certainly have played solid competition. Colorado immediately is a big deal. A national title is out, but a Big 12 Championship is workable. It looks like the toughest challenge will just be surviving the North. Missouri and Kansas State obviously have game -- we'll find out about Kansas next Saturday.

Awesome! Kansas State (3-1) rolls into Austin and deliver a verdict on a Texas team with question marks. Yep, the Longhorns were found guilty of being a poorly coached team with loads of talent. Yes Mack, special teams are a part of the equation and if you don't cover as a unit all the speed in the world can't protect you. Not to take anything away from KSU -- State is officially in the conversation now for a Big 12 championship and that is going to make for an awesome atmosphere in Manhattan next Saturday. KU wants a legitimate win and K-State wants payback for the 'Hawks spoiling last year's Texas upset party. It was questionable before, but now a win would most certainly put KU in the polls for the first time during the Mangino era. NOTE: Auburn beats #4 Florida 20-17 -- moral victory restored.

Missouri (4-0) has to be feeling pretty good about the 27-20 Illinois upset of #21 Penn State. The Illini have won four straight after dropping that initial game against MU. The Tigers are looking legit and they get to kick off Big 12 play by hosting the defenseless Huskers. The season is going as planned for Mizzou. Is CU the new frontrunner or now that the power has shifted in the Big 12, do we need to see how they compete against a North team before giving them MU's spot. NOTE: Western Michigan won at Toledo 42-28.

Kansas (4-0) is probably itchin' to get in the mix against the big boys after a weekend of watching upsets. The opportunity is there next Saturday against State as KU once again has that early season game that can open the door to a great season (Northwestern '04, Tech '05, Nebraska '06). They have yet to jump that hurdle, but it's all the 'Hawks have been focused on since spring practice started. Plus, how about this for motivation on an individual player level? Remember the kid from Texas that was high school player of the year, but was overlooked by all of the Texas schools due to a height issue? Do you think he might be salivating at the opportunity to go out and show his skills against KSU one week after Colt McCoy stunk it up against the Cats?

The 35-17 Nebraska (4-1) win over ISU was pretty predictable. It took until the second half to get the Clone's in check. It's a division win that comes as the team is recovering from two weeks of emotional disaster. So, the Huskers only have one loss and have an offense that should make every game interesting. They'll head into Columbia as underdogs, but it could be a shootout and that could mean it comes down to who has the ball last. A win gets the Huskers mojo back.

Iowa State (1-4) should have really taken the opportunity to kick the Huskers when they were down. Take a look at their upcoming schedule -- @Tech, Texas, OU, @MU. Ouch.

North Sagarin Rankings -- Rank/Schedule
Missouri -- 18/95
Kansas St -- 19/52
Nebraska -- 26/33
Kansas -- 33/171
Colorado -- 36/9
Iowa St -- 104/53

Full Rankings

Article originally appeared on Kansas Football Blog-Rock Chalk Jayhawk-KU (http://hawkdigest.squarespace.com/).
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