SAN ANTONIO (AP) &#8212 This is the time of year when fact and fiction are strictly TBD.

After all, who figured Colt McCoy would throw more touchdown passes as a freshman last season than Vince Young did when he led the Longhorns to the national title?

So instead of prophesying, consider these six questions about what might transpire between Aug. 30 and Dec. 1, when a champion is crowned in San Antonio:

1) Will Missouri’s dazzling offense carry the Tigers atop the North?

Record-setting quarterback Chase Daniel is the reason Mizzou fans think they have a chance at their first conference title since 1969. A leaky defense is the reason some fans are bracing for a 38th straight year without a conference title.

As for Daniel, Pinkel raves: “I’ve been fortunate to be around a lot of guys, several of which have played in the NFL, and I’ve never been around a guy like this guy.”

2) Is Nebraska ready to be NEBRASKA again?

Coach Bill Callahan sure hopes so. With quality quarterbacks, a renewed commitment to the running game and a defense that should be solid, the Cornhuskers hope to return to being a Top 10 program. Doing so would mean traversing a schedule that includes September games against Wake Forest and Southern Cal.

“It’s going to be fun and it’s going to be interesting to see how it all shakes out,” Callahan said.

3) How much better will Kansas State quarterback Josh Freeman be as a sophomore?

Freeman was the first freshman quarterback to start for K-State since 1976 and proved he deserved it. He threw for three touchdowns and ran for another in a victory over Texas. However, the kid had only three other TD passes all season. And he threw 15 interceptions.

Expect that ratio to change as the 6-foot-6 Freeman grows even more comfortable.

4) Are the stars, and the schedule, aligned for Kansas?

The Jayhawks get to avoid playing Texas and Oklahoma, and get Nebraska at home. Coach Mark Mangino may never get another chance this good to claim the division … or at least finish in the top three, something the Jayhawks have yet to do.

“The enthusiasm that (players) have has rubbed off on everybody: on campus, on coaches, on the community,” Mangino said. “They really are a group of kids that want to succeed. And they will succeed.”

5) Did Colorado hire Dan Hawkins just to get his son to play quarterback?

Hopefully Buffaloes fans didn’t trash those “Hawk Love” signs they had last year for their new coach. They may get to break them out again for Cody Hawkins, who is vying to be the starting quarterback. His competition is juco transfer Nick Nelson.

Worth noting: QBs coach Mark Helfrich will pick between them, not dear ol’ dad.

6) By which week will new ISU coach Gene Chizik wish he was back at Texas or Auburn?

Chizik has the dubious task of replacing the winningest coach in school history. But that guy needed 12 years to win 56 games. That’s less than five a year.

Chizik isn’t far removed from winning 29 straight games.

“I certainly didn’t come anywhere to lose,” Chizik said. “I’m not used to it. I don’t like it. I took this job because they had a vision on what it’s going to take to be a champion.”