FanHouse Jake Sharp

Maybe it's premature to start trumpeting the return of the Big 12 North, but if the non-conference success of the big-three North teams is any indication this could be an interesting season.

Nebraska and Kansas were expected to dominate the weaker of the league's two divisions, but it appears they will have company. Missouri, which is supposed to be in a rebuilding mode after back-to-back North titles, is off to a surprising 4-0 start that catapulted the program into the Top 25 this week at No. 24.

Last season's biggest rags to riches story, Kansas is hoping to buck history and assemble another top 10 team. Hard enough to do in basketball, but nearly impossible in football. To heck with that though, they'll sure try but things get tougher with Oklahoma and Missouri both expected to be improve.

WHY THEY'LL WIN

Crafty quarterback Todd Reesing is back. Expectations are high but in a place like Kansas, the pressure isn't out of control. Last year taught them how to win consistently and a projected 15 starters are back. Lots of good indicators there.

More importantly, Kansas can run the ball (4.8 yards/carry last year) and stop the run (just 3.1 yards/carry). Three defensive line starters return, but bruising tailback Brandon McAnderson who was tremendous late last year, is gone. Jake Sharp has some nice bounce and totaled 800 yards of his own on the ground but he could use some help from a yet-unknown stablemate.