I wish I had more for you here. There just isn't much to say anymore. We knew coming into the season that Mizzou was a very good team that we likely wouldn't beat, but after everything that happened this week, the game really seemed like an afterthought to me. I appreciate that it was far from an afterthought for our players, and as always I commend them for working hard to represent the University.
That said, you kind of got the feeling Mizzou was just toying with us. Chase Daniel had a mediocre game by his standards, throwing for only 271 yards and two interceptions. Of course, that looked all-conference compared to the day Josh Freeman had, 121 yards and zero touchdowns.
I would say I'm impressed by the 194 rushing yards the Cats put up, but when you consider that 93 of them came on one play by the inimitable Brandon Banks, the number loses a bit of its shine. Take away that play, and we netted 101 yards on 32 attempts.
To give Freeman some credit, he really has developed into a good runner. Before subtracting the 17-yard sack, Freeman had a fairly impressive 73 yards rushing. Also, from watching the NU/KU game today, I hope Bo Pelini teaches his safeties a thing or two about safe tackling before next weekend. On a first-half play, Todd Reesing scrambled to the right, and one of NU's safeties (can't remember which one now), tried to lay the wood. Reesing shrugged off the hit and found an open receiver for a touchdown pass. If that safety tried that next week against Freeman, he may end up hurt. It may be the only thing we have going for us.
I guess that's as good of a lead-in as any to where we're headed. Next weekend is another installation of what used to be the preeminent Big 12 North, (heck, maybe the entire Big 12) rivalry. Of course, the days of 1997-2003 seem so far away now in these South-centric times, and for the fourth time in the last five years, the K-State/Nebraska game will not even be televised*. The Cornhuskers have reached bowl eligibility with yesterday's win over KU, ensuring that I will undoubtedly endure a brutal holiday season with my family up in Nebraska as I'm constantly reminded that Bo Pelini is now Nebraska's coach, and the order is certain to soon be restored.
Hit the jump for a review of other Big 12 games.
*Pay-per view doesn't count
Texas 45, Baylor 21: Only caught a few moments of this one because the bar decided the retard fights Big 10 games were more interesting. From what I saw, it looks like Robert Griffin provided his requisite few scares before the general ineptitude of the Bears took over and the Longhorns pulled away. Texas keeps its conference and national title hopes alive with the win, moving to 9-1, while Baylor falls to 3-7 and out of bowl contention with the loss.
For More: Burnt Orange Nation
Nebraska 45, KU 35: This was a hard-fought slugfest in brutally cold and windy conditions in Lincoln. A 14-14 halftime tie and 21-17 third-quarter deficit turned into an important Husker win when Nebraska's running game started gashing the KU defense for big gains. With the win, Nebraska extends its 40-year winning streak in Lincoln over the 'beaks, and moves to 6-4 on the season. KU is also 6-4 after the loss, and finishes with games against Texas and Missouri.
For More: Corn Nation, Rock Chalk Talk
Oklahoma 66, Texas A&M 28: Is there an offense playing better than the Sooners' right now? OK, maybe Texas Tech, but we'll get to that in a minute. Seriously, though, OU has scored 58, 62 and 66 points in its last three games, and the 58 points against us could have been a whole lot more, considering the Sooners scored 55 of them in the first half. Like Texas, OU keeps its conference and national title hopes alive with the win and its 9-1 record. Texas A&M is now 4-6 and has an uphill climb to get to bowl eligibility with games against Baylor and Texas remaining on the schedule.
For More: Crimson and Cream Machine, I Am The 12th Man
Colorado 28, Iowa State 24: A slugfest between two moribund North teams turned into a wild finish. Trailing 10-0 at half, Colorado inserted left-for-dead quarterback Cody Hawkins, who only proceeded to throw for four touchdowns and a 28-24 CU lead. Of course, the game wasn't quite over as Iowa State drove to the CU one-yard line before being stopped as time expired. Colorado moves to 5-5 with the win and has at least a decent shot at bowl eligibility with games remaining against Oklahoma State and at Nebraska. The woe continues for Iowa State, as the Clones drop to 2-8 with the loss, and are still searching for their first conference victory of the season.
For More: The Ralphie Report, Clone Chronicles
Texas Tech 56, Oklahoma State 20: The supposed second game of the year fizzled as the Red Raiders, with stunning efficiency and ease, dispatched the Cowboys. Stop me if you've heard this before: Tech wins big after scoring on [insert large number] straight possessions. Oh, you have heard that before? Never mind. The Red Raiders are now 10-0, would be ranked No. 1 if the pollsters had any brains, and get a week off before traveling to Norman, Okla., for a game with Oklahoma that defies hyperbole. Okie State essentially falls out of the South race, and at 8-2 has games against Colorado and OU remaining.
For More: Double T Nation