The University of Missouri is a member of the Big 12 North division. On Saturday, Mizzou will take on the University of Illinois at the Edward Jones Dome in the annual Arch Rivalry football game. I am fortunate enough to be attending the game and will be in my black and gold, cheering on the Tigers. College football is the second ingredient to my Fall Sports Stew that I find absolutely fantastic. Starting September 5th, the college football season adds itself to the mix with the Fall Classic and I become about as happy as a pre-teen girl at a Jonas Brothers concert.

The Big 12 conference actually has 12 teams (the Big 10 conference, which Illinois is a member of, has 11 teams) and is divided into two divisions, the Big 12 North and the Big 12 South. Missouri is joined by University of Nebraska, Iowa State, University of Colorado, University of Kansas and Kansas State to round out the Big 12. In the 2008 season, Mizzou won the Big 12 North title and advanced to play the University of Oklahoma, the controversial winner of the Big 12 South, in the Big 12 Championship Game. Mizzou fell to Oklahoma 21 to 62.

Iowa State and the University of Colorado are, generally speaking, the sleepers of the Big 12 North. Iowa State’s record last year was 2 and 10 (2 wins, 10 losses) and they did not reach a bowl game. Colorado had a slightly better season with 5 wins and 7 losses, though they also did not reach a bowl game. Neither team are expected to pull off any large upsets, though Iowa State has a second year coach with Paul Rhodes and Colorado has a fourth year coach with Dan Hawkins. While the Big 12 never hands out a cake walk schedule, Colorado and Iowa State will receive more than a fair share of lumps. Colorado will play the underdog to the majority of their opponents, including Big 12 South favorite Texas and the looming Oklahoma State, while Iowa State has to deal with Nebraska and Kansas (numbers one and two, respectively, in the media preseason poll) with Oklahoma State on the side.

Kansas State, under the reigns of coach Bill Snyder, between 1989 and 2005, became a force to reckon with. And then in 2005, Ron Prince took over the coaching duties and K State began spinning their wheels. In reverse. Last year the finished with a 5 and 7 record and lost their dominating quarterback, Josh Freeman, to the NFL draft. However, with Bill Snyder back as head coach for the 2009 season, things may be looking up for the recovering Wildcats. Kansas State has potential for resurgence this season, if they are able to fill Freeman’s large shoes.

According to the 2009 Big 12 North Media Poll, the University of Kansas is ranked second in the Big 12 North. KU returns plenty of offensive pop but will face a vicious schedule, having to take on Texas, Oklahoma and Texas Tech (all three teams tied in the 2008 season for the best record in the Big 12 south), and of course, the ever popular Border War game against Missouri. Coach Mark Mangino will be looking to returning QB Todd Reesing to keep his offense their spark plug and improve on 2008′s 8 and 5 record. While the University of Nebraska is ranked number one in the Big 12 North media poll, there are many reasons to think the Jayhawks will come out with the Big 12 North title. Cornhusker’s coach Bo Pelini will face a slightly less rough schedule (they will not see Texas in the regular season), he has to adjust to the loss of his three biggest offensive playmakers, Joe Ganz, Todd Peterson and Nate Swift. However, Nebraska’s defense returns with few holes and another year of experience.

The University of Missouri, after winning the Big 12 North title in 2008, falls midstream in the 2009 media poll at number three. Mizzou is confidently rebuilding in 2009 after charismatic QB Chase Daniels, dynamic wide receiver Jeremy Maclin and the under appreciated tight end Chase Coffman have all departed. The quarterback position is expected to be filled by local favorite, sophomore Blaine Gabbert. Gabbert will be protected by an experienced offensive line and will have returning running back Derrick Washington to look to for more game experience to feed from. With Mizzou’s new offensive coordinator Dave Yost, Tiger fans can look to see more running and less throwing while the team adjusts to their new strengths and weaknesses.

How would you rank the Big 12 North this year? Do you agree with the media poll, which Nebraska edging out Kansas for the number one spot? Is Mizzou under or over appreciated after the loss of the bread and butter of their offense? I, for one, cannot wait to find out!