Barfknecht: Grudge games galore during final weekend

This is what passes for Rivalry Week in Big 12 football.

One is manufactured (Colorado-Nebraska). One is born from being in the same state (Baylor-Texas Tech). Three others are true, blood-in-the-water hatefests (Missouri-Kansas, Oklahoma-Oklahoma State, Texas-Texas A&M).

So let's review the final weekend of the regular season:

No. 3 Texas (11-0, 7-0) at Texas A&M (6-5, 3-4), 7 p.m. Thursday, ESPN:

Texas senior quarterback Colt McCoy is a leading Heisman Trophy contender and has set the Division I-A record for most wins as a starter (43-7). But can you name a Big 12 quarterback who has accounted for more touchdowns and more total offense this season than McCoy?

It's Texas A&M junior Jerrod Johnson, who has 32 touchdowns to McCoy's 24 and is 10th nationally in total offense to McCoy's No. 12 ranking.

Crazy results aren't uncommon in this series. Two years ago, the Aggies upset the Longhorns and a few hours later still fired coach Dennis Franchione.

Texas looks too good, too experienced and too motivated to let a national championship chance slip away this late in the season.

Nebraska (8-3, 5-2) at Colorado (3-8, 2-5), 2:30 p.m. Friday, ABC:

Colorado's Dan Hawkins had the distinct look and sound this week of a guy cleaning up loose ends before leaving town.

The fourth-year head coach with the flammable pants talked about how he regretted bringing in his son, Cody, to play quarterback. He discussed his overzealous offseason prediction of “10 wins, no excuses.'' He said he'll never stop being a “glass-half-full'' guy, despite his 16-32 record at CU.

Two sources with ties to the program told me this week that enough money has been accumulated to buy out Hawkins. Now it's up to Athletic Director Mike Bohn, whose own neck is exposed. The result of this game doesn't matter.

Bohn told the Boulder Camera that he will make a decision on Hawkins’ future on Thursday.

No. 11 Oklahoma St. (9-2, 6-1) at Oklahoma (6-5, 4-3), 11:30 a.m. Saturday, FSN:

First, let's address the Bob Stoops-to-Notre Dame rumor with some facts.

Oklahoma President David Boren loves Stoops, and the feeling is mutual. OU Athletic Director Joe Castiglione loves Stoops, and the feeling is mutual. Ask any head coach for his dream list of wishes and No. 1 is full administrative support.

Also, the Stoops family just finished building a massive new home in Norman and they have three kids in grade school. So tell me again why he would leave?

As for the game, this is a rare opportunity for the Sooners to mess up an Oklahoma State season.

The Cowboys, with a win Saturday and a Texas victory in the Big 12 title game, likely would get a BCS at-large invitation to the Fiesta Bowl, which wants to nurture its relationship with the league.

Oklahoma also wants to win to avoid a possible losing season. The Sooners, 6-5, could drop to 6-7 with a loss to OSU and in a bowl. A losing record would be a first since — hide your eyes, OU fans — the John Blake era.

Missouri (7-4, 3-4) vs. Kansas (5-6, 1-6)

in Kansas City, Mo. 2:30 p.m. Saturday, ABC:

These two hate each other so bad that they can't even agree on the series record.

Missouri claims that it is deadlocked at 54-54-9. The Tigers added a victory when Kansas, in 1960, was penalized for using an ineligible player. KU still counts the forfeited win for a 55-53-9 series lead.

Last year's 40-37 Kansas win was one of the more entertaining college football games in years.

This season, the big story is on the sidelines — whether KU's Mark Mangino is coaching his final game. His public dispute with the Kansas administration has provided 10 days of high drama.

Texas Tech (7-4, 4-3) vs. Baylor (4-7, 1-6) in Arlington, Texas, 5 p.m. Saturday, FSN:

For Baylor, 14-97 all-time in Big 12 play, any chance for a victory is welcome.

For Texas Tech, some wonder if coach Mike Leach — who in the agent community is known as “Happy Feet'' for pursuing so many other jobs — is about to bolt for Louisville.

Last week, Leach broke the victory record for Tech football held by Spike Dykes. With that mark in hand and no relief in sight in the Big 12 South, the Pirate might go swing his sword elsewhere.

Contact the writer:

444-1024, lee.barfknecht@owh.com