MU, Colorado lead race for Big 12 North

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- It would be pretty safe to fill in half of the Big 12 Conference title game bracket in ink.

Bring a pencil for the other line, though, and keep an eraser handy.

No. 2 Texas' 52-17 thumping of Texas Tech on Saturday established the Longhorns as the overwhelming favorite to win the Big 12 South.

The only clear thing in the North Division is that a pair of record-breaking quarterbacks, both wearing black and gold, have put their teams in contention to reach the conference title game Dec. 3 in Houston.

That's assuming Missouri and Colorado, who meet Nov. 5 in Boulder, can pass this coming weekend's road tests after big home victories on Saturday.

"Respect in this business goes week to week," Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said after the Tigers beat Nebraska 41-24 behind a school-record 480 yards of total offense from quarterback Brad Smith. "The more you win, the more confidence you get as a football team."

Colorado, the defending North champion, got four touchdowns from Joel Klatt -- who now holds the school record with 41 career TD passes -- in a 44-13 win over Kansas.

The Buffaloes and Missouri are both 5-2 overall and 3-1 in conference play, with each team's lone Big 12 loss coming to the Longhorns.

"We're pretty good to this point, but we've just got to keep working hard," said Pinkel, whose team has won three straight but now must try to break a two-game losing streak against Kansas.

Colorado will also travel to Sunflower State this weekend to take on a frustrated Kansas State team. The Buffaloes have won three of their last four against Kansas State.

"We really need to continue to take care of our own business," Klatt said, "because we control our own destiny, and working hard and executing could take us to Houston."

Nebraska (5-2, 2-2) is theoretically still in the North picture despite Saturday's loss. Given the division's unsettled nature this year, even Iowa State and Kansas State -- both 4-3 overall and 1-3 in the North -- have outside shots.

The Cyclones, who lost in two overtimes at Nebraska and in overtime to Missouri, picked up their first conference win on Saturday by beating Oklahoma State 37-10.

Last year, Iowa State started 0-3 in the Big 12 -- then won four straight before falling just short of the title game.

"The guys have been just sick of those heartbreaking, tough losses," Cyclones coach Dan McCarney said. "Now, hopefully those are behind us, and hopefully we can go out and have a real good season."