ESPN gets rights to BCS

Starting in 2011, ESPN will hold the rights to air all Bowl Championship Series games except the Rose Bowl — which has a seperate contract with ABC that runs til 2014.

ESPN will air the Fiesta, Orange and Sugar Bowls in prime time on it’s network from 2011-2014, and will have the BCS championship game for all those years except 2014 — when it will be hosted by the Rose Bowl. Along with the TV rights, ESPN will hold the radio rights and the internet marketing.

ESPN currently reaches 98 million homes, and they expect that number to increase before the contract takes effect in 2011.

Muschamp set to coach Texas after Brown retires

Highly energetic Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp reached a new deal with the Longhorns. This deal while still being finalize will boost his salary to $900,000 starting in January, and will designate him as the coach in waiting.

Ganz wins Big 12 award

Nebraska quarterback Joe Ganz (12) is tackled by Kansas State linebacker Alex Hrebec, top, during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Manhattan, Kan., Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008. Ganz accounted for 365 yards of offense and four touchdowns, leading Nebraska to a 56-28 win over Kansas State. (AP)

Nebraska senior quarterback Joe Ganz was honored with the Big 12 offensive player of the week.

Ganz amassed 365 total yards en route to a 56-28 win over Kansas State in Manhattan, KS., on Saturday. Ganz went 16-for-25 for 270 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He also ran for 95 yards on 11 carries and scored two touchdowns.

The 95 rushing yards were a career-high for Ganz and the most by a Nebraska quarterback since Jammal Lord ran for 109 yards against Texas A&M in 2003. Ganz lead the Huskers to a new season-high 610 total yards.

This represents the second time that Ganz has received the award. He also was given the award after beating Kansas State 73-31 in Lincoln. In that game, Ganz went 30-for-40 for a Nebraska record 510 yards and seven touchdowns.

Ganz’s award is the fourth Big 12 Player-of-the-Week honor this season for the Huskers. Ndamukong Suh received the defensive honor for his effort against Kansas, Niles Paul (San Jose State) and Nate Swift (Virginia Tech) have earned special teams honors.

Nebraska outscores Kansas State

Nebraska quarterback Joe Ganz (12) passes to a teammate during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Manhattan, Kan., Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008. Ganz accounted for 365 yards of offense and four touchdowns, leading Nebraska to a 56-28 win over Kansas State. (AP)

Nebraska (7-4, 4-3) drove down to Manhattan, KS., and played a good offensive game en route to a 56-28 victory. The Huskers dominated the majority of the game, however, it was still in question with more than 14 minutes left in the fourth quarter.

The Husker defense was constantly in the face of Kansas State (4-7, 1-6) quarterback Josh Freeman and hit him hard over and over again. The Blackshirts gave up two big pass plays — a 63-yard TD and a 51-yard pass that set up a third quarter TD — but otherwise only gave up 133 more yards to the Wildcats.

The Huskers started off on the wrong foot, as Joe Ganz’s first pass was intercepted by KSU safety Courtney Herndon and returned 57 yards for a touchdown. With the Wildcats on top so quickly the Huskers needed a scoring drive, and they got just that on their very next possession.

Breaking down Nebraska vs. Kansas State

Roy Helu Jr. and Nebraska will head on the road to visit Josh Freeman and Kansas State in Manhattan, KS., on Saturday. The Huskers hope to run away from one of the Big 12's worst teams and continue it's fine road form. (Photo illustration, Michael Mason-D'Croz)

This weekend brings with it a very important game for the Nebraska Cornhuskers (6-4, 3-3), but a game that is even more important for the Kansas State Wildcats (4-6, 1-5).

Nebraska heads on the road to play against Kansas State in Manhattan, KS., and goes in as the clear favorite. However, the Cats need a win here to keep their bowl dreams alive, and will give Nebraska all it has.

Kansas State needs to win out to get to six wins and bowl eligibility and gets its final two games at home — this week against Nebraska, next week against Iowa State. However, Nebraska is playing to keep momentum and move forward towards a higher bowl.

At this point in time it looks likely that Nebraska will win their final two games of the season and end with an 8-4 record. With that record the Huskers will be looking at either the Gator Bowl, Sun Bowl or Alamo Bowl — all of which the Huskers would happily accept.

With that in mind, here’s a look at the positional breakdown.

Cody Glenn suspended indefinitely

LB Cody Glenn checks out the replay board after making a stop against Western Michigan on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2008. Glenn has been suspended indefinitely for "violating team rules." (Michael Mason-D'Croz)

Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini announced in a statement today that star outside linebacker Cody Glenn will be suspended indefinitely for “violation of team rules.”

In the statement, Pelini said that the coaching staff and players won’t comment any further on the issue to help Glenn’s privacy.

This announcement came as little surprise to me after hearing a report on Sunday about Glenn. I won’t go into details, because it hasn’t been made public and at this point I am speculating. However, on Sunday the Journal Star was tipped off about a criminal investigation that may involve Glenn, and although the paper couldn’t find anything that night, it seems as though this case has something to do with the suspension.

With that in mind, Glenn’s name has not appeared in any city or campus arrest reports, and thus any talk would be — as I already said — “speculation.”

Pelini said that he will not pull a redshirt at this juncture on any player to replace Glenn on the roster. Instead, defensive coordinator Carl Pelini mentioned Blake Lawrence — who saw quite a few snaps against Kansas — LaTravis Washington and Thomas Grove as possible replacements against Kansas State.

So far this season, Glenn is third on the team in tackles with 51 — despite missing the Texas Tech game. He has six tackles for loss, four pass breakups and four quarterback hurries.

Blackshirts sited
After dominating Kansas at the line of scrimmage on Saturday, it seems

Tech stays atop the Big 12 rankings

Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree scores touchdown against Oklahoma State's Quinton Moore and Jacob Lacey during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008 in Lubbock, Texas. (AP)

After another great week of Big 12 games, the conference rankings have shaken up a bit — but not much. Obviously the Texas Tech Red Raiders remain atop the standings, but they will face a very tough challenge in what I think is the best team in the Big 12 in Oklahoma. That game doesn’t come for another two weeks because of Tech’s bye week, but it will be a great game to watch when it does hit our TV sets.

So without further ado, here’s this week’s Power Rankings:

1. Texas Tech (10-0, 6-0) beat a good Oklahoma State team at home 56-20. I honestly thought it would be a close game, but I was very very wrong. Every since Nebraska put a scare in Texas Tech they have looked like a completely different team — especially defensively.
2. Texas (9-1, 5-1) is waiting for Tech to fall and hoping for a chance to jump back up to where they were. Last week they overpowered Baylor and after starting sluggishly, they cruised to a 45-21 win.
3. Oklahoma (9-1, 5-1)could still play in the BCS championship. If the Sooners are able to beat Tech in two weeks they will more than likely climb to No. 2 in the BCS and would at that point hold the three way tie-breaker between Texas, Texas Tech and themselves — despite losing to Texas.
4. Oklahoma State (8-2, 4-2) lost badly to Tech, but so have a lot of teams. The thing I’m concerned about

Nebraska uses big second half to beat Kansas

Nebraska quarterback Joe Ganz throws against Kansas during the second half of an NCAA college football game, in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008. Nebraska beat Kansas 45-35.(AP)

The Kansas Jayhawks football team hasn’t won in Lincoln in forty years, and yesterday was no different as the Jayhawks lost 45-35 to the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

The Huskers used a mix of a potent offense and a timely defense to be able to contain the powerful attack of Kansas and become bowl eligible. The Huskers put up 495 total yards to Kansas’ 422 yards. However, that figure for Kansas is a little bloated with late game yards.

The Husker defense came out aggressive and was constantly applying pressure to Kansas quarterback Todd Reesing — who finished 15 for 30 for 304 yards, three touchdowns and one interception — and made Reesing leave the pocket. Reesing is quite apt at this, and showed some moxie in gaining his 35 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. However, Reesing was seeing red all day, as the Huskers caused hurries and sacked the Kansas QB five times.

For the Huskers, Joe Ganz had another efficient day — going 28 for 37 for 324 yards, three touchdowns and one interception — and helped lead the Huskers in the cold blustery conditions. The Huskers also

Breaking down: Nebraska vs. Kansas

Nebraska will host Kansas at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb., on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2008. The game is set for a 1:30 kickoff and will be available on pay-per-view. (Photo illustration by Michael Mason-D'Croz)

It’s that time of the week, which means it’s time to break down yet another Nebraska football game. This week it’s Nebraska vs. Kansas.

Kansas will visit Nebraska — where the Jayhawks haven’t won since 1968 — and face a much better foe than they did last season in Lawrence. They come into Lincoln holding a 6-3 record overall and is 3-2 in the Big 12.  The Jayhawks possess a very potent offense, but a porous defense — meaning they get into a lot of “shootouts.”

Kansas is well equiped for the “shootout” game, but then again, it seems as though Nebraska is as well. And with that in mind, it’s time to take a look at the positions.

Question of the BCS

President-elect Barack Obama points to supporters after his acceptance speech at the election night rally in Chicago, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008. (AP)

In the past couple of days there has been much talk about the BCS. Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops, USC head coach Pete Carroll and Jo Pa from Penn State have all come out against college football’s championship.

Not only that, but leading up to the elections of the past week, now President-elect Barack Obama spoke out against the BCS saying “it’s time for a playoff.” However, some people still like the BCS and don’t mind how it stirs conversation and controversy in the land of college sports.

With that in mind I can’t help but think about the different choices and what I would like to see done. Obviously, there are a few changes that I think should happen in the college football landscape.

Tech now atop Big 12

Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree (5) lifts up his arms after he caught the game-winning pass from quarterback Graham Harrell (6) in the final seconds of an NCAA college football game against Texas in Lubbock, Texas, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008. Texas Tech won 39-33. (AP)

Ok, this is a day late but I’ve been busy with class and everything. Because I’m so late, I’m going to do a different format, no game by game breakdown, but I’ll speak on each team individually.

So here’s your look at the Big 12 after last weekend.

1. Texas Tech (9-0, 5-0), previously No. 3, is now atop the standings for the Big 12. This past weekend the Red Raiders impressed by beating the Texas Longhorns in Lubbock, TX., in what is obviously an “instant classic.” This game is well worth watching if it’s replayed anywhere.
2. Texas (8-1, 4-1), previously No. 1, lost to Tech but at the last second when it looked as though they had the game in their hands. I must say that after watching that game I came away still thinking Colt McCoy deserves the Heisman — he did everything he could to win that game and the defense let him down.
3. Oklahoma(8-1, 4-1), previously No. 3, beat down on a mistake-prone Nebraska team in Norman over the weekend. The Sooners showed just how fast their offense can move, and it is truly scary to watch. I’m just glad I’m not a defensive coordinator who will have to deal with that offensive machine.
4. Oklahoma State(8-1, 4-1), previously No. 4, stayed steady with a win over Iowa State in Ames, IO. The Cowboys once again showed how good they can be, and so far in Big 12 play they have the best scoring defense in the league. This weekend they will travel to Lubbock