COLORADO

Last season: 10-3 (7-1 Big 12)

2002 prediction: 9-3

Key game: Nebraska

Colorado’s strength of schedule helped them last year and this year is no different. The Buffaloes play seven bowl teams in 2002, including road games against Oklahoma and a tough contest at Nebraska to finish the season.

Last year’s Big 12 Championship is only one year removed from a 3-8 season, but Colorado has the best chance to repeat as Big 12 North champions. Gary Barnett’s squad has 15 returning starters, including a talented running back corps led by Chris Brown. Bobby Purify, another tailback for the Buffaloes, is recovering from shoulder surgery, but will also contribute in 2002.

Craig Ochs, who missed three games with injuries in 2001, must stay healthy or it could be trouble for the Buffaloes.

IOWA STATE

Last season: 7-5 (4-4 Big 12)

2002 prediction: 7-5

Key game: Nebraska

The Cyclones’ plan is simple: win every home game and get to a bowl for the third straight year.

In order to do that, they’ll need to beat Nebraska for the first time in 10 years. A brutal road schedule features trips to Oklahoma and Texas – both expected to challenge for the conference championship.

All-everything quarterback Seneca Wallace showed what he is capable of in Iowa State’s loss Saturday against Florida State. In 2001, the senior threw for over 2,000 yards and ran for 475 more.

Head coach Dan McCarney has said this year’s crew of linebackers is the best since he’s been here. It all starts with Matt Word at middle linebacker, who had 108 tackles last year.

The Cyclones will be challenged to find a seventh consecutive 1,000-yard rusher this season. Hiawatha Rutland and Michael Wagner look to replace Ennis Haywood in the backfield.

KANSAS

Last season: 3-8 (1-7 Big 12)

2002 prediction: 5-7

Key game: Iowa State

Mark Mangino begins his first season as a head coach. Clearly, Kansas is a ways off from being able to compete for the Big 12 crown, but the attitude in Lawrence has improved.

The Jayhawks found out earlier this month that last year’s top receiver Harrison Hill had decided to leave the football team because of a history of dehydration.

Byron Gasaway is candidate number one to replace Hill.

He has the size and speed at wide receiver for the Jayhawks that concerns opposing coaches. Derick Mills also has some nifty moves in his bag of tricks as kick returner.

The linebackers are the strength of the squad. Leo Etienne had 94 tackles last year and eight tackles for loss.

KANSAS STATE

Last season: 6-6 (3-5 Big 12)

2002 prediction: 8-4

Key game: Colorado

Kansas State is probably the biggest question mark in the North this season. Bill Snyder enters his 14th year at the helm for the Wildcats after last year’s 6-6 disappointment.

Only three starters are back on offense but seven defensive starters from 2001, including cornerback Terence Newman and linebacker Terry Pierce have returned. Newman was a second team All-Big 12 selection and Pierce was third on the team in tackles in 2001 with 68.

If Ell Roberson can make this team his own in 2002 and the Wildcats ground game can build off last season’s record-breaking performance, there could be title talk in Manhattan. Kansas State averaged over 250 rushing yards per game last season, but leading rusher Josh Scobey has completed his eligibility.

MISSOURI

Last season: 4-7 (3-5 Big 12)

2002 prediction: 6-6

Key game: Kansas

Larry Pinkel’s only been the head coach at Missouri for one season, in which the Tigers went 4-7, but has already signed a two-year contract extension to stay in Columbia through 2007.

Missouri struggled last year with its passing game, coming in at ninth in the conference in passing offense. Pinkel has named redshirt freshman Brad Smith his starter at quarterback after he beat out last year’s starter Kirk Farmer. Smith will be the first freshman ever to start a season-opener at Missouri. How Smith handles the pressure could be a big factor in how far the Tigers go this year.

Smith has a great target in wide receiver Justin Gage. The first team All-Big 12 pick is fourth all-time at Missouri in career receptions and receiving yards after just two years as a starter.

Word out of Missouri is that strength and speed have improved on defense, with linebacker Sean Doyle and defensive tackle Keith Wright leading the way. Doyle racked up 129 tackles in 2001 and Wright boasted 10 tackles for loss and two sacks.

NEBRASKA

Last season: 11-2 (7-1 Big 12)

2002 prediction: 10-3

Key game: Colorado

The Huskers’ game against Colorado at the end of the season has all the implications of a big-time contest. Nebraska was shelled in Boulder last year, 62-36, costing them a chance to play in the Big 12 Championship game.

This year the game could determine the North champion again, but the game is in Lincoln, where Nebraska is close to invincible. And the Huskers have revenge on their minds.

Some say it’ll be a down year in Lincoln, but that just means they might drop out of the AP top 10. The schedule favors another Nebraska run at the Big 12 title.

Jammal Lord takes the reigns from Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch in 2002. He rushed for over 100 yards in Nebraska’s season-opening victory against Arizona State.

The backfield is set with last year’s conference rushing leader Dahrran Diedrick and fullback Judd Davies carrying the load.

Dejuan Groce anchors the secondary at cornerback position. The senior has 33 career pass breakups for a group that ranked ninth nationally in passing defense in 2001.