If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, right? Since no one has beaten the SEC in the last six seasons (at least in terms of claiming a national championship) Texas has moved in a direction that may make the Longhorns resemble an SEC team in 2012.
Perhaps UT's struggles in the last two years came because the Longhorns relied too much on the arm of Colt McCoy and forgot how to run the ball, coach Mack Brown told Cedric Golden of the Austin American-Statesman.
"What we got away from is we couldn't run the football when we needed to," Brown said. "There were games in the fourth quarter where I was so frustrated because we couldn't finish them. We had to play defense and hope we knocked the ball loose because we couldn't put the game away."
With a backfield that features a trio of talented running backs (Joe Bergeron, Malcolm Brown and Johnathan Gray), Texas may have answered that question heading into the season. And Brown's choice at quarterback, David Ash, has less in common with fellow Big 12 quarterbacks Landry Jones and Geno Smith than he does with, say, Alabama's Greg McElroy.
Balanced offense may not be a revolutionary concept in college football, but in the pass-happy Big 12, it may make the Longhorns resemble an SEC team.
"The SEC has provided the blueprint for winning national titles. And Mack has bought into the formula," Golden wrote.
- Baylor QB Florence laying low: Nick Florence has one of the more unenviable jobs in college football this season: attempting to replace Robert Griffin III. But he has embraced the new opportunity while making clear he is different from RG3, wrote Tim Griffin of the San Antonio Express-News.
“I'm just wearing normal brown dress socks,” Florence said, chuckling at the thought of wearing Superman-inspired footwear like his predecessor. “I'm just going to be me. ... Just call me Nick. I'm just a normal guy."
- Facilities upgrades progressing at K-State: Between football and basketball, Kansas State is planning to complete $93 million in facilities upgrades in the next year. The Wildcats’ $18 million basketball practice facility is expected to be finished by October, while a $75 million upgrade to Bill Snyder Family Stadium is already under way. While it may cause a few headaches for those attending games this season, AD John Currie told Ken Corbitt of the Topeka Capital-Journal. “When people come down the street right now, you see those two big cranes that are pretty impressive,” Currie said. “It will be even more impressive and tell more of the story of who we are when you see the finished structure.”
- Horned Frogs? Or mere tadpoles? This TCU team is the youngest Gary Patterson has coached in his tenure, which spans more than a decade, wrote Stefan Stevenson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. More than 10 true freshmen could play this season, and while Patterson said he feels good about the talent level of those players, their mental preparation could be another matter. “That’s the problem with young players. If you’re not accountable, you don’t win close games,” Patterson said. “This is the youngest team I’ve coached in 15 years. It’s not even close.”
- Stills leads OU’s receivers into the season: Jason Kersey of The Oklahoman profiled Sooners receiver Kenny Stills, who enters the season as the veteran leader at his position. With his tattoos, flamboyant hairstyle and an offseason photo wearing a dress, it’s clear Stills has little problem with attention. But he said he has tried to embrace the role of a leader, acting almost as an extra coach on the field as he runs routes, then watches and critiques his younger teammates.
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from Big 12 bloggers C.J. Moore and Patrick Southern, follow @CBSSportsBig12 on Twitter.