What a crummy time to be a sport columnist. It’s that time of the year where nothing at all is happening. The baseball playoffs have yet to start, Barry Bonds is closing in on a record but no one cares because he’s a jerk, nothing big has happened in ISU sports, and so far, I’m four-for-four in my columns talking about college football.

So what should I talk about? How about college football?

This is semi-important because the way the Big 12 North is unfolding this year, Iowa State could have a serious chance at making a run, or at least doing much better than many people expected.

Iowa State, depending on what quarterback is starting this Saturday, could get a win against Northern Illinois, a team that won 10 games last year.

That would put them in great position going into conference play, with a conference that, as of now, is very shaky.

Kansas State, last year’s Big 12 champions and favorites to win the North this year, are on the verge of self-destruction. A team that is known for perennially scheduling cupcake teams in the beginning of the season lost last week. Pre-season Heisman favorite Darren Sproles only had rushed 37 yards in the loss to Fresno State.

Sproles, who rushed for almost 2,000 yards last season, is being heavily depended on with last year’s quarterback Ell Roberson graduating. The previous week the Wildcats narrowly squeaked by lowly Western Kentucky.

Missouri was another team in the North that was picked by many to finish first. They, too, are falling apart. Mizzou has also started 1-1, getting a dominating win against barely Division I team Arkansas State, then losing by 10 points to Troy, a team that has only been a Division I team for a couple of years.

The biggest flaw in Missouri is the fact that the only real threat on the team is quarterback Brad Smith. Smith, who also was a Heisman contender, has figured out that he can’t do it himself — although last year Smith almost single-handedly beat Iowa State.

The only other preseason Big 12 North contender, Nebraska, seems to be in disarray after a surprising loss to Southern Mississippi at home last weekend. After the firing of Frank Solich and the hiring of Bill Callahan, Nebraska may be in a rebuilding mode, trying to change from a run on first, second, third and, if necessary, fourth-down type offense to the pass-happy West Coast offense.

Nebraska is also a mystery this season, following up a convincing 56-17 win over Division I-AA opponent Western Illinois with the 21-17 loss to Southern Miss. So what lies ahead for the Big 12 North? Obvious surprises, as the expected bottom of the conference are all competing for first place.

Kansas, a team no one expected to be on top, is 2-0 so far, accomplishing a feat no one anticipated. The University of Kansas isn’t just waiting for basketball season anymore.

Behind the defensive leadership of junior linebacker Gabe Toomey, a former standout from West Des Moines Valley High School, Kansas is building off its bowl berth from last season.

Possibly the biggest surprise of the young season for the Big 12 North is Colorado. The Buffaloes were hit with several allegations in the off-season, ranging from rape charges to charges of women being paid to have sex with recruits.

Colorado has stormed into the season, despite the claims, knocking off in-state rivals Colorado State in week two and highly touted Washington State last week. Although this was my preseason favorite to win the Big 12 North, many do not look for them to continue with all of the controversy surrounding the university and head coach Gary Barnett.

Although some may call this season in the Big 12 North a bad season, I call it a fun one.

Finally, there will not be one runaway winner. It’s much better to watch three teams that are 5-3 in the conference duke it out than it is to watch a team that is 8-0 run away with it.

No one gave Iowa State a real chance this season, including me, but if it keeps playing well and a few personnel changes are made, Iowa State has as good of a chance as every one else to win the North division.