Nebraska (4-0, 0-0 Big 12)

Last Week: W 17-3 vs. South Dakota State

This Week: at Kansas State (4-0, 1-0)

Quarterback Taylor Martinez passed for 140 yards and rushed for 75, but he turned the ball over three times in an effort that coach Bo Pelini described as embarrassing.

Pelini went on to say that he felt the Jackrabbits outplayed his team while flying around the field and showing more passion than the Cornhuskers.

He said he takes responsibility for the team’s performance, which showed lack of preparation.

Rex Burkhead rushed for 66 yards on 14 carries.

Kyle Minett rushed for 113 yards on 28 carries for South Dakota State.

Wide receiver Niles Paul fumbled for the fourth time in four games for Nebraska, and the Huskers were penalized on six straight plays on their final offensive possession of the first half.

Linebacker Lavonte David recorded 19 tackles and broke up two passes for the Huskers in the victory. Derek Domino finished with 16 tackles and an interception for the Jackrabbits.

Nebraska hasn’t lost to an FBS team since 1956.

The Cornhuskers play their Big 12 opener against Kansas State on Saturday.

Texas Tech (2-1, 0-1)

Last Week: Bye

This Week: Iowa State (2-2, 0-1)

Texas Tech is coming off a bye week following a loss to Texas.

The Red Raiders are averaging 33.7 points per game and are also putting up 275 yards through the air.

Taylor Potts has a chance to eclipse the 1,000 passing-yard mark, as he’s heading into the game against the Cyclones with 810 passing yards.

Kyle Leong has stepped up in the receiving game for the Red Raiders, hauling in 20 receptions for 251 yards and six touchdowns.

Baron Batch has run for 127 yards on 32 carries thus far this season.

The last time these two teams met, wide receiver Michael Crabtree set an NCAA record for receiving touchdowns by a freshman, with three, in which the Red Raiders cruised to 42-17 victory

Graham Harrell was 36-43 for 425 yards and four touchdowns.

Kansas (2-2, 0-0)

Last Week: W 42-16 vs. New Mexico State

This Week: at Baylor (3-1, 0-0)

D.J. Beshears led the way for the Jayhawks, scoring three touchdowns, including one on a 96-yard kick off return.

Jordan Webb threw for 249 yards on 17 completions as Kansas racked up 501 yards of total offense.

It didn’t take the Jayhawks long to put points up on the board, going 88 yards in just three plays to go up 7-0.

Their first possession of the second half had them go up 28-7, racking up 62 yards on five plays,

Kansas has had an up-and-down season in its first under coach Turner Gill. The Jayhawks opened the season with a loss to South Dakota before upsetting Georgia Tech. They then dropped a game to Southern Mississippi before routing New Mexico State.

Kansas has won three straight Big 12 openers, but is 6-8 all time and 0-6 in its last six Big 12 road games.

Baylor was beaten 58-10 in this matchup last season, but that was to a very different and much more talented Jayhawks team.

Defensive end Jake Laptad needs one sack to move into fifth place on the Kansas all-time sack list.

No. 8 Oklahoma (4-0, 0-0)

Last week: W 31-29 vs. Cincinnati

This week: vs. No. 21 Texas (3-1, 1-0)

Something about unranked opponents brings out the worst in Oklahoma. Through three games against unranked conference opponents, the Sooners have outscored their opponents 89-77.

But, when they played No. 17 Florida State? Oklahoma won 47-17 and put up 140 more yards than the Seminoles. Those numbers don’t bode well for No. 21 Texas, next on the slate for Bob Stoops’ boys. Add in the fact that Texas was soundly defeated by UCLA last week, and you’ve got a recipe for a bad day of football at the Cotton Bowl.

Oklahoma is 34th nationally in total offense, averaging 429.5 yards per game. The Oklahoma defense, though, has not been as much fun for OU fans to watch. The unit has allowed 421.25 yards per game – 148 yards more per game than last season – 97th in the nation.

But, offensively, Landry Jones has not been a disappointment. The sophomore has completed 64.5 percent of his passes, has 1,221 yards, nine touchdowns and only three interceptions. After this matchup, the Sooners have Iowa State, Missouri and Colorado in consecutive weeks, closing out their schedule against the Big 12 North.

Colorado (2-1, 0-0)

Last week: Bye

This week: vs. Georgia (1-3)

Before the season if you had told Dan Hawkins he’d be facing a 1-3 Georgia squad, he probably would have laughed you out of his office. Well, oddly enough, that’s what faces the 2-1 Buffaloes in their final non-conference game. The Buffaloes are also coming off of a bye week, meaning that the offense has had plenty of time to prepare for a Georgia defense that has only allowed 307 yards per game. Compare that to Colorado’s 333 yards per game, and something will have to give.

Will Tyler Hansen, a near-default choice at quarterback after the struggles at the positions last year, be able to move the ball against the Georgia pass defense? The Bulldogs have only allowed 198.5 yards per game this season and have forced four interceptions.

Hansen? He’s accounted for 186 yards per game and four interceptions. So, the difference might come down to the running game. The Buffaloes are led by Rodney Stewart, who has gone for 253 yards and two touchdowns this season.

Colorado will begin conference play against Big 12 North opponent Missouri on Oct. 9.

Missouri (4-0, 0-0)

Last week: W 51-13 vs. Miami (OH)

This week: Bye

The Tigers will take a week off after completing their non-conference schedule against the Redhawks with a 51-13 win Saturday. Missouri moved up from No. 24 to No. 23 in the USA Today/Coaches Poll, but has yet to crack the more widely accepted Associated Press poll, but did receive 51 votes of consideration.

No one should get carried away on the Missouri bandwagon just yet, though. While the Tigers are outscoring opponents by an average of 23.75 points per game, they did so against the likes of Miami (OH) and the Championship Subdivision’s McNeese State. The two close games Missouri had – a 10-point win over Illinois and a three-point squeaker against San Diego State – might also be points of concern.

It should also be noted that the Tigers have yet to play a game on the road – including their matchup with Illinois, which was played in supposed midpoint St. Louis – and don’t play a game away from Columbia until Oct. 16 against Texas A&M. After that game against the Aggies? Three of the Tigers’ final five games will be played away from home – one of which is against No. 6 Nebraska – and have a home game against No. 8 Oklahoma. Let’s just say there’s a long way to go yet, Missouri fans.

No. 21 Texas Longhorns (3-1, 1-0)

Last Week: L 34-12 vs. UCLA

This Week: vs. No. 8 Oklahoma (4-0)

Last week would be one that most Longhorns fans would want to forget, as a top 10 team with a top-ranked rush defense got run over by a middling UCLA team.

The offense failed to show up, and the defense couldn’t stop anything up the middle. Texas’ rush offense, pass offense and points per game aren’t even in the top 50 in the country. Forget Colt McCoy, this Longhorns’ offense doesn’t even look to be one of the best in the Big 12 South. The Bruins didn’t even have to pass to win, going one-dimensional on offense and still winning by 22.

If Oklahoma only has Landry Jones throw nine times in the Red River Rivalry at the Cotton Bowl, you can bet the Longhorns are going to be in a world of hurt again. No running game, lack of a down-field passing game, and losing the turnover battle? Texas might have to earn their way back into the top 25 if they fall Saturday.

Texas A&M Aggies (3-0, 0-0)

Last Week: Bye

This Week: @ Oklahoma State (3-0)

The Aggies will get their first real test of the year on Thursday when they travel to Boone Pickens Stadium, and take on the only other Big 12 offense that has had as much wild success as they have.

Quarterback Jerrod Johnson is 11th in the nation in total offense per game, but just two spots above him is Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden. Johnson’s opposing quarterback wasn’t as highly touted coming into the season with a deeper backfield and lower expectations, but expect the statuesque No. 1 to bring his A-game on the road to do his single-handed best to preserve an undefeated start.

The bye week should help an Aggie defense that hasn’t seen similar speed yet, but offensively, it’s hard to believe you’re going to find a better game to watch on Saturday than what should occur in Stillwater, Okla., on Thursday. The boys from College Station were supposed to right in the thick of the battle for the Big 12 South, and a road win against an explosive Oklahoma State would be a great start.

Kansas State Wildcats (4-0, 1-0)

Last Week: W 17-13 vs. UCF

This Week: Bye

Bill Snyder’s club is lucky enough to get a bye week heading into the Nebraska game, but the timing of the bye week is questionable. The Wildcats are just votes away from entering the top 25 and the consciousness of the national media, and running back Daniel Thomas is on the cusp of becoming a star.

But starting 4-0 and hosting No. 6 Nebraska a week from now at the namesake stadium isn’t a bad beginning to a year in which the Wildcats just wanted to get to a bowl game. The numbers won’t blow you off the page, No. 62 in total offense, No. 58 in total defense, but Thomas’ running ability and the fact that this team is undefeated are undeniable.

It’s doubtful this squad adds any wrinkles to the passing game or to a defense that plays as a sound, fluid unit, ranking seventh nationally in defensive pass efficiency, but Snyder has seen enough football to know that Nebraska is a force the Wildcats must overcome to return to the peak of the Big 12 North. Don’t be surprised if this team is in Big 12 Championship come December.

Baylor Bears (3-1, 0-0)

Last Week: W 30-13 vs. Rice

This Week: vs. Kansas (2-2)

Coach Art Shell can’t be too sure what to make of his team entering week five. He won’t learn too much after this meeting with Kansas either, hosting one of the most inconsistent teams in the country on Saturday. =

The Bears have looked stellar against low-flight competition, and another dominating effort against a Texas-school proved that.

Robert Griffin’s passing numbers look good, and the defense looks strong for the Bears, allowing under 17 points a game, but factor in a 45-10 beatdown loss to TCU two weeks ago, and you don’t know much of anything. Baylor’s rushing offense is spread about four different ways, with back Jay Finley leading the charge with under 60 yards per game, but the team has been able to get it done.

While the Jayhawks are statistically sour, they got their biggest win of the year last week, and are standing in between Baylor only needing two more wins for bowl eligibility and fighting an uphill battle against the Big 12 South. The opponent may not be substantial, but this is a big game in Waco.