Defense: Who needs it?

Oklahoma avoided giving up 30 points in a fourth straight game for the first time in school history in its 62-28 victory over Nebraska. Then again, when you’re scoring at a league-leading 49.8 points-a-game clip, who’s counting?

Bad blow for Buffs

When it rains it pours. Sagging Colorado’s hopes of a strong finish suffered a blow when freshman Rodney Stewart, the Buffs’ leading rusher, suffered a broken leg after a horse-collar tackle by Texas A&M’s Von Miller.

Baylor bowl unlikely

Baylor seems likely to remain the only Big 12 team without a bowl appearance since the league’s inception in 1996. The Bears would have to win their last three games to become bowl eligible and two of those three are road trips to Texas and Texas Tech.

Griffin streak ends

Baylor freshman quarterback Robert Griffin’s streak of passes without an interception ended at 209 when Missouri’s Brock Christopher picked him off in the waning seconds of the 31-28 loss to the Tigers. Griffin was just four passes short of Todd Reesing’s record in a season with 213 attempts without a theft.

Kickoff return woes

Oklahoma State is averaging more yards on its punt returns (19.5) than Kansas is on its kickoff returns (15.2). KU continues to rank last among the nation’s 119 Bowl Championship schools in returning kickoffs.

Tech shrugs flags

Just how significant are penalties in football? Texas Tech, for example, has surrendered more penalty yards – about 70 per game – than any other conference school, yet the Red Raiders are also the Big 12’s lone unbeaten team and the No. 2 team in the nation.

Peas in a pod?

On paper, Nebraska’s Joe Ganz and KU’s Todd Reesing are the same quarterback. Ganz has completed 68.6 percent of his passes and thrown eight touchdowns.

Reesing has completed 68.4 percent and tossed nine TDs. On the QB efficiency chart, Ganz rates 152.2 and Reesing 150.3.

Dez sez score

Rarely does a wide receiver lead the league in scoring – it’s usually a running back – but Oklahoma State’s Dez Bryant has already caught 17 TD passes good for a league-high 102 points.

Say it isn’t so, Joe

He was a first-team All-Big 12 linebacker last season after leading Kansas in tackles with 108 in 13 games, but Joe Mortensen is having a so-so senior year so far with about half as many stops (55) in the Jayhawks’ first nine games.

Big South tie?

What if Texas, Oklahoma and Texas Tech wind up in a three-way tie for the Big 12 South title? It’s a possibility, and if all the tie-breaker procedures cancel out, the South champ would be determined by the highest ranking in the BCS standings.

Stop the masses

Texas coach Mack Brown, noting that Texas Tech fans swarmed the field twice late in Saturday’s game, said it. “We limit the number of people on the sideline. Right after the game, we let everybody … run on the field and push coaches and players. I really think we’re headed for a tragedy if some of this isn’t stopped.”

Speedy Cyclone

Iowa State true freshman Leonard Johnson set an NCAA record against Oklahoma State when he returned nine kickoffs for 319 yards, including one for 73 yards and another for 72.