QB Cody Hawkins; getboulder.com

Colorado

Refine. Last season highly-touted recruit Darrell Scott was expected to be the breakout star, but it was fellow freshman RB Rodney Stewart who stole the show with a team-best 622 yards in just 9 games. Both will return to the Buffs’ backfield, but they will need help to get Colorado’s offense going. The Buffaloes had the worst offense in the Big 12 last year, averaging just 318.5 total yards per game. One interesting competition in spring football was at the quarterback position, where sophomore Tyler Hansen played just as well as junior Cody Hawkins. If Hawkins or Hansen can give the Buffs’ offense the lift they need, Colorado could put together a solid bowl-worthy season. 

Baylor

Refine. Despite finishing 2008 with a 4-8 record, the Bears got tremendous production from their underclassmen. QB Robert Griffin returns after a sensational rookie campaign in which he accounted for 28 total touchdowns (15 passing, 13 on the ground). Griffin is a dynamic athlete—he holds the Big 12 record in the 400-meter hurdles for the Baylor track team. Fellow freshman receiver Kendall Wright led the team with receptions (50), yards (649), and touchdowns (5). The 2009 schedule lends itself to a winnable record if the young stars can continue to shine in Waco.

Iowa State

Rebuild. The Cyclones’ defense was simply overpowered in 2008—yielding 6.7 yards per play (only North Texas was worse). In order to snap their 10-game losing streak, they will need to tighten things up on defense. Enter first year head coach Paul Rhoades. As defensive coordinator for Pittsburgh (2000-2007) and Auburn (2008), Rhoades’ defenses consistently ranked near the best in the nation in scoring and total defense. He hopes to bring that defensive spark to a team that desperately needs a facelift. Changing the defensive attitude shouldn’t be too difficult, as only 6 starters return for the Cyclones defense. 

Kansas

Refine. Last season, the Jayhawks started two freshmen at offensive tackle, Jeremiah Hatch and Jeff Spikes. Both finished with respectable seasons, but the youth up front showed as Kansas yielded 30 sacks. With 8 returning starters on offense, including QB Todd Reesing, RB Jake Sharp, and WRs Kerry Meier and Dezmon Briscoe, there should be plenty of scoring production as long as the offensive line performs. 

Kansas State

Rebuild. While the Wildcats return 7 starters on offense (and 8 on defense), they lost their best playmaker in NFL first-round draft pick QB Josh Freeman. Freeman accounted for 3,349 yards and 34 touchdowns (20 passing) last season, departing with several career school records. Attempting to fill his shoes will be 6-3 junior QB Carson Coffman, who had a solid performance in the spring game throwing for 334 yards and 3 touchdowns. He will need to distribute the ball to the many offensive weapons in order to keep pace with the rest of the scoring machines in the Big 12. 

Missouri

Reload. The Tigers return only four starters on offense, and four on defense. Most notably, of course, they must replace all-universe talents Chase Daniel and Jeremy Maclin. The Tigers will turn to sophomore QB Blaine Gabbert (6-5, 235), who was one of the most talented high school quarterbacks in the nation when he was drafted in 2008. Despite winning 22 games the past two years, expectations have to be reduced for Missouri fans simply because of the huge loss of returning talent. But with consistent play from the defense, and a solid season by Gabbert, a bowl game is not out of the question. 

Nebraska

Refine. I’m tempted to say “Rebuild” here, but for the Nebraska football machine there is always a new batch of talent. There will be huge holes to fill on offense, where six starters are gone including QB Joe Ganz. But the most interesting thing to watch will be the play of the defense. Head coach Bo Pelini is a defensive mastermind. And, while the 2008 Huskers weren’t exactly the “Blackshirts” of past Nebraska defenses, they seemed to get stronger as the season went on—helping Nebraska win six of their last seven games. In their second year of the new system, this could be one of the best defenses in the Big 12.

Refine. Is there ever a rebuilding year in Norman? Not since I’ve been a fan of college football. The 2009 Sooners will try to repeat a terrific 12-2 campaign last season in which they reached the BCS Championship Game. They will turn to Heisman trophy winning QB Sam Bradford, who will be a favorite to repeat the feat this season. But he will need help from an offensive line that lost four starters, all of whom were invited to the NFL combine. The lone returning starter, OT Trent Williams, will move to left tackle where he will be called upon to protect the blind side of Bradford. If the rest of the offensive line plays up to standards, this could be another sensational year for the Sooners.

Oklahoma State

Refine. With all of the returning offensive firepower in the Big 12, no one is more blessed than the Oklahoma State Cowboys. With perhaps the most talented backfield in the nation, highlighted by QB Zac Robinson and RB Kendall Hunter, the Cowboys also have speed on the outside with WR Dez Bryant, who may be the nation’s most exciting player. The defense should be improved thanks to the addition of defensive coordinator Bill Young. The nation is taking note, as several media sources have ranked the Cowboys as a Top 10 team in their preseason polls. 

Texas

Reload. With the 2008 graduating class, the ‘Horns lost two of their three top receivers Quan Cosby and Chris Ogbonnaya. QB Colt McCoy, who should be a Heisman favorite, will need new targets to replace the 1,663 yards and 13 touchdowns caught by the pair last season. But the good news for Longhorns fans is the return of sixth-year senior WR Jordan Shipley, granted another season due to injuries as an underclassman. He is a favorite target of McCoy and made huge plays last season on special teams. They will also need production from Malcolm Williams and Brandon Collins in order for Texas to return to the BCS. 

Texas A&M

Rebuild. No one in College Station is satisfied with last season’s 4-8 effort. But there were promising moments, highlighted by the play of QB Jerrod Johnson. The 6-5 junior had 24 touchdowns last season (21 passing), and should have a solid season in 2009 behind an experienced offensive line. The success of the season will likely depend on the play of the Aggies’ defense that was very porous last season—last in the Big 12 in rushing defense (219 ypg) and sacks (13.5).  They will need solid play from sophomore defensive ends Eddie Brown and Tony Jerod-Eddie, who both have the speed to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks. 

Texas Tech

Reload. Head coach Mike Leach is a miracle-worker. But it may take a miracle for the Red Raiders to repeat the success of last season, when they were in the running for a national championship bid. QB Graham Harrell and WR Michael Crabtree, certainly two of the best players to ever don the black and red, are gone. But the cupboard is not bare. The offensive line returns three veteran starters, there are several key receivers back for 2009, and RB Baron Batch is poised to have a terrific year. Leach has a knack for developing players to run his offensive assault, and 6-5 junior QB Taylor Potts has the tools to put up solid numbers. The success of the Raiders’ 2009 campaign could come down to their secondary, where they have to replace All-Big 12 safeties Darcel McBath and Daniel Charbonnet. The preseason Top 10 ranking could be premature, but this is a team that thrives on overachievement.