No. 23 Nebraska Cornhuskers (3–1)

Last week: vs Louisiana Lafayette (W 55–0)

This week: @ Missouri (Oct. 8)

Nebraska obliterated Louisiana Lafayette last weekend after its crushing loss at the hands of Virginia Tech in week three, and the Huskers now take a week off before heading into conference play against Missouri in the second week of October.

The Huskers looked good in their three non-conference home games this season — albeit they faced no major-conference opponents at home  — and allowed only 12 points in the games. However, when they played ACC foe Virginia Tech on the road, they struggled offensively and lost in the closing seconds of the game. While the offense got rolling against Louisiana Lafayette after not scoring a touchdown against Virginia Tech, the defense of Nebraska pitched itstheir first shut out since 2006, when they blanked Troy 56–-0.

Senior running back Roy Helu, Jr. leads the Big 12 in rushing, averaging 116 yards per game and amassingammassing five touchdowns, including a 163-yard effort against Virginia Tech.

Missouri Tigers (4–0)

Last week: @ Nevada (W 31–21)

This week: vs. No. 23 Nebraska

The Big 12 currently has five teams that hold spots in the Top 25. Missouri is knocking on the door of adding its name to the mix. The Tigers’ explosive 4–0 start is starting to gain recognition, as Missouri was only one spot out of the Top 25 this week. Missouri capped off the non-conference portion of its season by squeaking past Nevada last week 31–21. Sophomore Blaine Gabbert, who has statistically been one of the top quarterbacks in the Big 12 this year, threw for 414 yards and three touchdowns against the Wolf Pack. The question of whether or not Gabbert and the Tigers are for real will be able to be answered early on in Big 12 play as Missouri will face ranked teams in the next three games (No. 23 Nebraska, No. 14 Oklahoma and No. 2 Texas).

Colorado Buffaloes (1–2)

Last week: BYE

Next week: @ West Virginia

If there was any team in the Big 12 that was in need of a week off, Colorado was the obvious candidate. After beginning the year on a 1–-2 clip, the Buffaloes were idle in week four.

Although a dismal 0–2 start was tempered by a win in week three against Wyoming, the Buffaloes have still not shown any drastic signs of improvement this season. Colorado finds itself near the bottom of the Big 12 in several of the major stat categories. The Buffalo defense is dead last in scoring and rushing defense, while the offense is putting up similar numbers, ranking 10th in scoring offense and 11th in rushing offense. Colorado will need to hope the week off did wonders for the team as the Buffaloes head to Morgantown, W. Va., to face off against an offensively charged Mountaineer squad.  A loss this week could put the Buffaloes in a precarious position, with their first two conference games coming against two of the Big 12’s top teams, No. 2 Texas and No. 18 Kansas.

No. 14 Oklahoma State Cowboys (3–1)

Last week: vs Grambling (W 56–6)

This week: @ Texas A&M (Oct. 10)

For the first time in 2009, the Cowboys will hit the road. Their first road trip will not be an easy one, though, as they head to College Station, Texas, to face Texas A&M and the 12th Man. Quarterback Zac Robinson finally got back into his 2008 form against Grambling last weekend, even without top target Dez Bryant, who sat out the game with a sore hamstring. The missing weapon didn’t slow Robinson down as he completed 13 of his 16 passes, tossed one touchdown to receiver Dameron Fooks and ran for another score.

The running game took a hit Saturday, too, with the loss of Kendall Hunter, who missed the game with a sore ankle. Hunter, who has missed the last two games, rushed for 1555 yards last season and had only 104 yards on 32 carries this season before getting injured in Oklahoma State’s loss to Houston in week two. Head coach Mike Gundy said Monday that Hunter’s status is still doubtful for the Big 12 opener against Texas A&M.

No. 8 Oklahoma Sooners (2–1)

Last week: BYE

This week: @ No. 17 Miami (Fla.)

The time is now for the Sooners to make a move back to the top of the pack in the national title hunt on the road against No. 17 Miami, however, several questions still remain for the 2008 national runners-up.

It was reported this week that head coach Bob Stoops would not commit to Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford playing against the Hurricanes, but he also said Bradford had made good progress since his week one shoulder injury.

If Bradford is unable to go, redshirt freshman Landry Jones will get his first test at the helm of the Oklahoma offense t after pouring in nine touchdowns (including a school-record six touchdowns in week three) against powerhouses Idaho State and Tulsa in the last two games, leading the offense to a combined 109 points.  The Miami defense has allowed 28 points per game in theirits first three games, but against teams the likes of then-No. 18 Florida State (34 points), then-No. 14 Georgia Tech (17 points), and No. 6 Virginia Tech (31 points).

The Oklahoma defense will also face its biggest challenge of the season after allowing only 20 points in its first three games — all 20 allowed in the loss to BYU in week one followed by two shutouts. The Miami offense has scored 26 points per game, but was held to just seven in itstheir week three loss to Virginia Tech.

No. 2 Texas Longhorns

Last week: vs UTEP (W 64–7)

This week: BYE

The Longhorns followed up another inauspicious start with an emphatic victory. Texas quarterback Colt McCoy threw an interception to Melvin Stephenson three minutes into the game. Stephenson returned the interception 49 yards for a game-tying touchdown. The Longhorns didn’t lose focus, however, as they racked up a 40-point halftime lead and never looked back. Texas has this week off as it prepares for the Big 12 portion of its schedule, which opens at home against doormat Colorado.

Texas Tech Red Raiders

Last week: @ No. 17 Houston (L 29–28)

Next week: vs New Mexico

Although Texas Tech is on a two-game losing streak, the Red Raiders lost those two games by a combined 11 points against No. 2 Texas and No. 17 Houston (they have moved up to No. 12 in this week’s polls). Last week the Cougars needed a 95-yard drive, scoring with 49 seconds left to take the game away from the Red Raiders.

The offense rolled up big numbers again for Texas Tech as Taylor Potts passed for 321 to supplement the 163 yards on the ground. The Red Raider’s competition looks less intense the next couple weeks as they follow New Mexico with Kansas State, both at home.

Texas A&M Aggies

Last week: vs UAB (W 56–19)

Next week: vs Arkansas

Aggies quarterback Jerrod Johnson was impressive again, throwing for 290 yards and three touchdowns and rushing for three more against UAB. Johnson will have to prove that he can have success against an SEC defense in order for Texas A&M to come out of next week’s clash with Arkansas victorious. Although the Razorbacks are just 1–2, both of their losses came against ranked teams, including No. 3 Alabama.

Kansas Jayhawks (4–0)

Last Week: vs. Southern Miss. (W 35-28)

This Week: BYE

The Jayhawks are getting a well-deserved break, and won’t kick off their conference schedule until an Oct. 10 home date against Iowa State. The Golden Eagles heading back to Hattiesburg with a loss was a bigger win than most pundits might think, as Southern Miss. was on an eight-game win streak coming in. Kansas’ offense put 35 on the scoreboard, and the defense made stops when it needed to.

Assuming the team doesn’t get assaulted by the basketball squad, they should shore up any injuries and have plenty of time to plan for the Big 12 schedule, which features Texas, Texas Tech and Oklahoma.

Kansas State Wildcats (2–2)

Last Week: vs Tennessee Tech (W 49–7)

This Week: vs Iowa State @ Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Mo.

Carson Coffman still hasn’t had a good game, but he didn’t need one Saturday after two kickoff touchdowns by speedster Brandon Banks and the emergence of Daniel Thomas from the backfield. The Wildcat defense has had some recent success, even in the team’s losses, with UCLA’s 23 points in the Rose Bowl the most the team has given up all season.

A Snyder-coached football team might smell like Metamucil, but strong defense and a straightforward running game are the trademarks. Don’t expect the boys in purple to change that on Saturday, in what should be an interesting neutral site game.

Baylor Bears (2–1)

Last Week: vs Northwestern State (W 68-13)

This Week: vs Kent State

The 55-point victory on Saturday would have been of little solace to Baylor coach Art Briles, who saw his team leader/star/do-it-all quarterback Robert Griffin III go out for the season from an ACL tear after this game. Griffin has completed 65 percent of his passes with no interceptions on the season, and while his backup was the starter the season before the super sophomore arrived, he can’t be as fast as Griffin on the scramble. The Bears defense will need to step up and shoulder the load, with starting running back Jay Finley out for a few weeks with an ankle injury as well.

Games against Northwestern State and Kent State should help pad the stats in Waco, but if the Bears can win three games in the Big 12 South without Griffin, Briles will get a Texas-sized bonus.