Missouri Wins Big 12 North, Which Still Exists

It's okay if you forgot the Big 12 had two divisions. Ever since Missouri lost to Oklahoma State and Texas on successive weekends, both the Tigers and the division they call home have been nearly invisible.

Since you forgot about the Big 12 North, you probably also thought that Missouri had locked up the division title a couple weeks ago. In fact, the Tigers needed Kansas to lose to Texas today to make it possible for them to clinch. All they had to do was beat Iowa State, who came into the game 2-8 and winless since September 6.

No problem on both counts. Texas made it look easy, beating the Jayhawks 35-7 in a game that wasn't even that close. The Tigers knew this before their game kicked off and knocked the Cyclones all the way from Ames to Keokuk, winning 52-20.

So the Tigers win the division no matter what happens against Kansas in two weeks. They'll face whoever survives the South, but whoever it is, Mizzou will be the underdog, and probably a sizable one. Given the strength of the South, the Tigers could slip all the way to the Holiday Bowl. And as for the rest of the division?

Bo Pelini has brought some joy back to Lincoln. The Huskers are 7-4 and all alone in second place in the North. Kansas is 6-5 but could well get a bowl bid even if they lose to Missouri over Thanksgiving weekend. Such is the state of affairs in the Big 12. Colorado also goes bowling if they Nebraska in two weeks. If they lose, they finish 5-7 and the Big 12 finds itself with as many as three unfilled bowl bids. Kansas State and Iowa State have already lost more than six games, so they won't be going anywhere for the holidays.

It may seem a foregone conclusion that the Big 12 South winner will roll Missouri like a burrito, but if we've learned anything from the era of conference championship games, we've learned that you should never assume anything until the scoreboard shows 0:00. Since their two-game losing streak, the Tigers have outscored their opponents by 110 points. They're not a bad football team, folks. They just happen to play in an invisible division.