Editor’s note: This is week 12 of the Daily’s season-long Gridiron challenge. Each week, the Daily’s four football reporters will choose the winner from nine college football games around the country and provide commentary on each game.

1. Nate Sandell — Managing editor of sports (66–34)

2. Jake Lovett — Asst. sports editor (63–37)

3. Michael Zogg — Daily staff writer (61–39)

4. Chris Cuellar — Daily staff writer (56–44)

1. Iowa State @ Missouri

Nate — Missouri — The Missouri highway patrol announced that there will be a Rhoads block on Interstate 70 heading into Columbia this weekend.

Michael — Missouri — The Tigers are tough in Columbia.

Chris — Missouri — Rhoads’ boys deserve better, but the Tigers are finally living up to expectations and working towards eight wins.

Jake — Missouri — No matter how bad they’ve looked, the Tigers may end up with eight wins, again.

2. Minnesota @ No. 13 Iowa

Nate — Iowa — There won’t be roses on Iowa’s Thanksgiving table this year, but I hear the Hawkeyes are replacing turkey with pork [Floyd of Rosedale trophy].

Michael — Iowa — The Gophers barely squeaked one out against South Dakota State.

Chris — Minnesota — Hurricane Vandenberg continues his destruction of January Hawkeye travel plans.

Jake — Iowa — Now that they’ve taken care of blowing the Big 10 title, the Hawks don’t have any other 2009 goals to worry about.

3. Oklahoma @ Texas Tech

Nate — Texas Tech — If Menudo can replace Ricky Martin, Landry Jones can replace Sam Bradford. Mike Leach would be proud.

Michael — Oklahoma — The Sooners finally found their offense without Sam Bradford.

Chris — Oklahoma — The Sooners are like the Hulk: Brute force that can be outsmarted over time, but it’s best not to make them angry.

Jake — Oklahoma — We all knew OU would come around Sooner or later.

4. UConn @ Notre Dame

Nate — Notre Dame — Charlie Weis, for your sake we will all pretend that UConn is a top-25 opponent.

Michael — Notre Dame — Weis has to finish the season strong to have any hope of staying in South Bend.

Chris — Notre Dame — If he had a heart, Touchdown Jesus would want the Huskies to win this one. He doesn’t, they won’t.

Jake — Notre Dame — The Irish have the same record in the last four seasons as Northwestern. Who knew?

5. Army @ North Texas

Nate — Army  — When Army fans chant “four more years,” it takes on a whole new meaning.

Michael — Army  — Both teams are pretty bad this year.

Chris — North Texas — Homefield advantage in Denton, Texas is tougher than the streets of Fallujah.

Jake — Army — The Cadets are good at invading hostile territory. See: Chris Cuellar.

6. No. 25 California @ No. 14 Stanford

Nate — Stanford — The Cardinals and their silly tree mascot will heed Smokey the Bear’s advice: “Only you can prevent forest fires.”

Michael — Stanford — What did I miss? When did Stanford get good?

Chris — Stanford — Trombone players beware, Toby Gerhart is capable of turning brass instruments into WMD’s.

Jake — Stanford — Does a bear lose to a tree in the woods?

7. No. 8 LSU @ Mississippi

Nate — LSU — I hear Waffle House is serving purple Tiger Waffles on Saturday.

Michael — LSU — The Tigers’ only losses this year are still to the No. 1 and No. 2 teams.

Chris — Mississippi — The Rebels are finally catching their stride, but Les Miles is probably going to shove this one in my face.

Jake — LSU — The Rebels just need to give it up. The Civil War ended in 1865.

8. North Carolina @ Boston College

Nate — Boston College — Well, we know one thing, UNC’s football team’s success was not a factor in Harrison Barnes’ decision.

Michael — Boston College — Hmmm, is it just me our should these schools be playing basketball?

Chris — Boston College — BC hasn’t lost at home this year, and the Tar Heels slow down in the cold.

Jake — UNC — You can’t tell me BC has anybody to stop Harrison Barnes in this game.

9. Harvard @ Yale

Nate — Harvard — I would be excited for this game if they ditched their pads and wore sweaters instead.

Michael — Harvard — The Crimson have some pretty athletic smart kids.

Chris — Harvard — The rosters may read like a high school, but you better believe they’d whip up your debate team.

Jake — Harvard — After the game, Yale will argue they found Harvard’s passing attack to be shallow and pedantic.