Football is a sport of routine. Game week practices follow the same schedule from week to week. Stretching routines, drills, meetings, break times, et al. are methodical and familiar. The physical schedule remains the same. What differs from week to week is the attitude and enthusiasm an individual player or coach can have within that routine. November is the toughest stretch of the season for college football teams. Players are banged up and teams know where their season stands in reference to preseason goals and expectations.
To an extent, it really doesn't matter whether a team has lived up to expectations or not. Each scenario carries with it challenges to game week preparations. For teams that have seen their goals become unattainable each game becomes an internal fight against giving in. For teams that have success in their sights, each week becomes a battle to avoid complacency on the one hand while keeping a handle on the pressure of increased hope in that August goals are within reach. Add in the fact that each player also has a personal and academic life as well and the task for coaches to get a small army of young men ready to compete on game day is daunting.
Wins in November are almost more of a relief than an accomplishment.
Every team in the Big XII is, of course, is fighting this workaday battle. In the state of Kansas, the battle would seem to be night and day. In Manhattan, the almost unthinkable (a national title) is a real possibility. In Lawrence, a bowl bid is nowhere in sight and a conference win even seems to be a longshot. In both cases though, the ultimate opponent is the same. That opponent is themselves. Players have to fight the same internal battle of the mind, and that is keeping one's thoughts focused on moving forward to success rather than allowing actions of the past to define them.
Teams have absolute control over two things in every practice and every game. They can always play with maximum effort and can conduct themselves with class. To do each is a choice. Each player's state of mind ultimately dictates that choice. Readiness on Saturday depends on preparedness, physically and mentally, throughout the week leading up to the game.
Each team's biggest game of the season is this week. Then next week's game is the biggest. Each week and each Saturday is its own battle. Which teams are ready for this week's games? Follow The Law for some ideas...
Game of the Week: #24Oklahoma State at #2Kansas State (7pm - ABC). Bill Snyder's squad is on schedule for a league title and a shot at the national title. Neither of those goals can be accomplished this week, but both could be lost. The Wildcats' test is to handle the pressure of the hype that comes with lofty expectations. If there has ever been a group that seems equipped to handle the routine of the practice week and the pressure of game day, it is this year's K-State squad.
Mike Gundy knows all too well about how a dream season can be jolted. Just last season it was his Cowboys that were on the very same path K-State is on currently when they let one week get away from them at Iowa State. The defending Big XII champs are themselves still on a track that could earn them back-to-back league titles. A win for the Pokes would put them in the driver's seat to win the conference.
K-State has the one of the best players in college football in QB Collin Klein. He is tough and experienced and has shown to make few mistakes. Klein simply leads his offense to success. LB Arthur Brown similarly leads on the defense. OSU is coming along nicely for a team that lost so much from last year's champions. The Cowboys will go into the game with Wes Lunt at QB, who is very talented, but K-State will likely find ways to pressure the freshman into mistakes. Rule of Law: K-State 38 OSU 24. Outside of themselves, OSU is K-State's toughest test left on the schedule.
Lone Star Pride in Lubbock: #23Texas at #18Texas Tech (2:30pm - ABC). Both teams were in the state of Kansas last week and both found measures of disappointment. Tech was beaten thoroughly by K-State and Texas needed last minute heroics to get past a wretched Kansas team. The Law expects that Tech will be better prepared mentally for this contest. Tech is fighting for credibility after a couple of down seasons. Texas is as well, but the fact they have fallen far short of the mark of where they thought they would be as a team this year may be wearing on them. Also, the game is in Lubbock Rule of Law: Tech 41 Texas 27. Tech will be outfitted this week in unis reflecting the Texas state flag, seen on Twitter.
Newcomer Bowl: Texas Christian at #24West Virginia (2pm - Fox) Sometimes preparations for and the actual game itself take a back seat to reality. Such is the case this week as the state of West Virginia is less concerned with a football contest and more on what the be the final effect of Hurricane Sandy on the area. The storm buried parts of the state in snow. Dana Holgorsen said that the storm will likely have an effect on game week prep. The upside in Morgantown is that they only got rain - a lot of it, but only rain - and they are coming off of an off-week. As for the game, The Law thinks this is a rally week for the Mountaineers. Rule of Law: WVU 35 TCU 27. Presumably WVU has done some work on their defense, which CBS Sports Network's Tony Barnhart describes as "basically tall grass".
Bounce week in Ames: #12Oklahoma at Iowa State (11am - ABC). The Law is pretty sure that one team will take Jack Trice Field and play hard and play with class. That team is Paul Rhoads' Cyclones. They are one win from bowl eligibility. ISU also knows they are capable of taking down a favored team at home in November - they did it just last year against OSU. The question is of how OU will prepare this week for a game after a major defeat, and at least one player showed a lack of class. The Sooners' goals are virtually shot. Can the Stoops boys get their squad ready to play? They can, but will the players be ready? The Law figures they will have just enough, but not by much. Rule of Law: OU 24 ISU 17. The last time OU visited Ames they barely escaped with a win, and that team was lead by Sam Bradford.
Big XII pillow fight of the year: Kansas at Baylor (2:30pm - FSN) Baylor likely knew they weren't going to replicate last year's success but they probably didn't expect that they would be winless in the league going into November. Their offense is certainly good enough to win games, but Art Briles' defense is pretty sad. At this point of the season, a team is what its record says it is. That said, the Bears can gain some momentum towards a bowl bid with a home win. KU took defeat from the jaws of victory last week as they had Texas on the ropes but opportunity gave way to mistakes. The will to win is tested this week in Waco. Rule of Law: BU 44 KU 21. The Law does like Kansas QB Michael Cummings. Maybe this is another growth week even if the Jayhawks lose.
The Law and staff will be watching for the exact moment during this week's games where one team's will is broken.
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A member of the DFN Sports Network, Big 12 Fans brings fans the latest news, standings, previews and Big 12 scores throughout the college football and basketball seasons.
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