Missouri has the smartest Big 12 Athletes

The NCAA released its report on Academic Progress Rates (APR) this week, and every team in the Big 12 was in good standing for the 2009-10 school year.

The APR measures of eligibility and retention for Division I student-athletes for every sport on a term-by-term basis. It was developed as an early indicator of eventual graduation rates.

If any team scores below 925 out of 1,000 it will incur scholarship losses, practice restrictions and other penalties may follow. The rates are based on scores from the 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 academic years.

That 925 ranking equates to about a 60 percent graduation rate.

Here's where the Big 12's programs ranked. Nebraska and Colorado are included, for obvious reasons.

1. Missouri -- 967

2. Oklahoma -- 960

3. Nebraska -- 958

4. Kansas -- 952

5. Baylor -- 951

6. Texas Tech -- 944

7. Oklahoma State -- 942

8. Texas -- 941

9. Kansas State -- 940

9. Texas A&M -- 940

11. Iowa State -- 932

12. Colorado -- 929

2011 Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship Schedule

2011 Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship Schedule
Wednesday, May 25
Game 1 No. 4 Oklahoma State vs. No. 5 Baylor [Big12Sports.com] 9:00 a.m.
Game 2 No. 1 Texas vs. No. 8 Missouri [Big12Sports.com] 12:30 p.m.
Game 3 No. 2 Texas A&M vs. No. 7 Texas Tech [Big12Sports.com] 4:00 p.m.
Game 4 No. 3 Oklahoma vs. No. 6 Kansas State [Big12Sports.com] 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 26
Game 5 Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser [Big12Sports.com] 9:00 a.m.
Game 6 Game 3 Loser vs. Game 4 Loser [Big12Sports.com] 12:30 p.m.
Game 7 Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner [Big12Sports.com] 4:00 p.m.
Game 8 Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Winner [Big12Sports.com] 7:30 p.m.

Friday, May 27
Game 9 Game 7 Loser vs. Game 5 Winner [Big12Sports.com] 3:15 p.m.
Game 10 Game 8 Loser vs. Game 6 Winner [Big12Sports.com] 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 28
Game 11 Game 7 Winner vs. Game 9 Winner [Big12Sports.com] 9:00 a.m.
Game 12 Game 8 Winner vs. Game 10 Winner [Big12Sports.com] 12:30 p.m.
Game 13* If necessary Game 7 Winner vs. Game 11 Winner [Big12Sports.com] 4:00 p.m.
Game 14** If necessary Game 8 Winner vs. Game 12 Winner [Big12Sports.com] 7:30 p.m.***

Sunday, May 29
Game 15 Championship Game [FSN] 1:00 p.m.

Big 12 Football Media Day 2011

The talking fest known as media day is now set. Team’s have been assigned media days, and below is the schedule. Word is, it will be shown on ESPN News.

Monday, July 25

• Texas A&M
• Baylor
• Oklahoma State
• Missouri
• Texas

Tuesday, July 26

• Texas Tech
• Kansas
• Iowa State
• Kansas State
• Oklahoma

Former Texas A&M quarterback Jerrod Johnson taken first overall

It is every players dream to go first overall in a football draft… just not necessarily the UFL football draft. That being said, former Texas A&M quarterback Jerrod Johnson, who went undrafted in the 2011 NFL draft, was able to live a part of that dream when he was taken first overall in the UFL draft.

Congrats Jerrod, hopefully you can show Big 12 football can tear it up not only in the NFL, but the UFL also.

Shot out to former Oklahoma football player and the charity work they are doing in Africa

We at the Big 12 Football Blogspot would like to take the time and give a shot out to a group of former Oklahoma University and Big 12 football players who are doing an outstanding job showcasing that the Big 12 is bigger than jus being a football conference that entertains fans, it is an organization that develops outstanding athletes that are as much stars on the field as they are off.

Take a look at the charitable group started by former Oklahoma University standouts, Roy Williams, Adrian Peterson, Tommie Harris, Mark Clayton and Gerald McCoy. The group is called, “Pros for Africa”

The group has risen over $100,000 in 2010, and recently joined up with the Starkey Hearing Foundation, which fitted over 2,000 hearing aids for the nation, where hearing loss due to what would likely be a routine ear infection elsewhere is common.

Top 5 potential candidates to win Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year

The current Big 12 offensive player of the year, Oklahoma States junior standout wide receiver Justin Blackmon will look to repeat.

Oklahoma wide receiver Ryan Broyles will be looking for the award also.

However, Texas A&M running back Cyrus Gray will be looking to intercept the award from those two receivers in the state of Oklahoma.

Then on the quarterback side of things, look out for Oklahoma QB Landry Jones and OSU QB Brandon Weeden to contend for the award considering who they are throwing too.

Comment below as to who you think will win.

Oklahoma is the favorite

With yesterdays blog post showing the University of Oklahoma Sooners having the toughest non-conference schedule out of all the Big 12 it means they are looking towards not only a Big 12 title but a national title as well.

With how the idiotic BCS works, it all about strength of schedule, and by having a tough schedule the greater chance you have of going the national championship game.

With the amount of talent the Sooner’s have don’t be surprised if they clean house and win both titles.

That being said, there are many other teams with the potential to destroy Oklahoma’s dream of winning the Big 12 title.

Oklahoma state came close last season, so question can the finally knockoff their rivals.

Texas is the wildcard here. With so much talent, the longhorns are sure to rebound after a disappointing 5-7 season.

Also, Texas A&M was the hottest team in the league at the end of the regular season, but finished the year with a lopsided loss to LSU. Can the Aggies shake it off, as well as the loss of Von Miller, and win their first Big 12 title since 1998.

The Sporting News ranks toughest non-conference schedules

Listed in most difficult to least difficult starting with OU

Oklahoma: Tulsa, at FSU, Ball State

Texas A&M: SMU, Idaho, vs. Arkansas

Texas: Rice, BYU, at UCLA

Iowa State: Northern Iowa, Iowa, at UConn

Oklahoma State: Louisiana-Lafayette, Arizona, at Tulsa

Missouri: Miami OH, at Arizona State, Western Illinois

Baylor: TCU, Stephen F. Austin, Rice

Kansas State: Eastern Kentucky, Kent State, at Miami

Kansas: McNeese State, Northern Illinois, at Georgia Tech

Texas Tech: Texas State, at New Mexico, Nevada

We got Gus Johnson

In the past 10 years no sportscaster has a voice so iconic, so memorable and so entertaining quite like Gus Johnson.

And with The Big 12's new television deal with Fox allowed for games to be broadcast on FX, a network owned by Fox. Fox's newest acquisition means one of college sports' most recognizable voices will be behind the mic for regular games this year, as well as the Cotton Bowl.

Gus Johnson always adds to the game without ever taking away from it. Boy, oh boy am I excited for some Big 12 Football!

ESPN Post Spring Big 12 Rankings

1. Oklahoma

2. Oklahoma State

3. Texas A&M

4. Missouri

5. Baylor

6. Texas Tech

7. Texas

8. Kansas State

9. Iowa State

10. Kansas

Von Miller Goes #2 Overall to Denver Broncos

The highest selected player in the 2011 NFL Draft from the Big 12 was linebacker Von Miller from Texas A&M. He was selected behind Cam Newton, quarterback from Auburn by the Carolina Panthers. Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert went #10 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars who traded up to grab him.