Big 12 South
There are few divisions of a conference in college football that are as competitive as the Big 12 South. One needs only to take a look at last season to see that fact. Texas Tech, Texas, and Oklahoma all tied for the Division crown with one loss. Texas lost to Texas tech. Texas Tech lost to Oklahoma. Oklahoma lost to Texas. There was no clear winner, so the conference invoked a controversial tiebreaking procedure. They decided that the team that was ranked higher in the BCS poll at the end of the regular season would go to the Big 12 championship game against Missouri. Though Texas had beaten Oklahoma on the field by 10 points, the Sooners we were rewarded with the division title. Oklahoma went on to stomp Missouri and earned a berth in the national championship game. It was their fourth BCS title game appearance this decade, but third loss.
The 2009 college football season looks to be just as competitive. The Red River Rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma will once again have implications beyond the Big 12 conference as long as both the Longhorns and Sooners take care of business elsewhere on their schedules. Still, there are other teams in this division that will have a say in things.
The Oklahoma Sooners have been one of the most dominant teams this decade in college football. They began the decade by winning the national championship with an undefeated 2000 season. Since then, they have played in five additional BCS bowls and int here of those games they played for another national championship. There are few teams that can hang with that kind of success over the span of any decade, let alone this one. With returning Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford it is almost a sure bet that championship merchandise form the 2009 season will be available at the Oklahoma Sooner store.
Meanwhile, the Sooners’ in-state rival up the road in Stillwater had a fantastic season in 2008. Unfortunately, they were still only the fourth best team in the six team division. Oklahoma State was competitive, but lost all three games against Texas, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma in 2008. Those were the only three conference losses for the Cowboys, who were quite formidable against everyone else in 2008. The Bedlam series against in state rival Oklahoma is a hot ticket in both Stillwater and Norman, and there is plenty of merchandise available at the Oklahoma State Cowboy store.
Then there is Texas. Texas felt robbed in 2008. They lost just one game, to Texas Tech, on the game’s final play. Remove that final play, and there is a very good chance the Longhorns would have been the only undefeated team from a BCS conference in 2008. Quarterback Colt McCoy returns in 2009 as a Heisman favorite. He is hoping to lead his team to the national title game, and has some unfinished business like the Miami Hurricanes had during the 2001 season. The Longhorns can hit up the ‘Canes for ideas of what to put in the Texas Longhorn store relating to unfinished business.
Texas Tech shouldn’t feel as robbed as Texas. The Red Raiders did beat the Longhorns on the field, but when they had a chance at another stunning upset Oklahoma beat them handily in 2008. Texas Tech has one of the most wide open offenses in college football, putting points on the board seemingly at will. Because of that, they will always be a threat to win their division and make some noise in the postseason. That will also sell plenty of merchandise in the Texas Tech Red Raider store.
Texas A&M is probably the odd team out in this quintet of teams. The Aggies are a quality football program, but they are a step behind the other four teams here. Because of that, it is difficult for the Aggies to sustain some season long success. Still, they have just enough talent to be an irritant and even derail the hopes of the four teams in front of them. Sometimes it is better to be the spoiler because you aren’t expected to do much of anything. Because of that, they can stock the Texas A&M Aggie store with plenty of upset related merchandise.
Tags: Oklahoma State Cowboy store | Oklahoma State Cowboy store | Texas Tech Red Raider store | Texas Tech Red Raider store | Oklahoma Sooner store | Oklahoma Sooner store | Texas A&M Aggie store | Texas A&M Aggie store | Texas Longhorn store | Texas Longhorn store