Nick Krug/Journal-World Photo Kansas running back James Sims is pushed out of bounds by Colorado linebacker Liloa Nobriga during the fourth quarter, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010 at Kivisto Field.

I was driving home from work late Saturday night when I glanced about 10 yards ahead of my car and saw a few empty beer bottles on the road.

No one was present at the intersection by 23rd and Louisiana Streets, but it was clear that Kansas fans did some serious partying in Lawrence following the Jayhawks’ epic 52-45 comeback victory over Colorado.

I had to maneuver the Accord for a little juke action, but I avoided the bottles of what I thought were Keystone (come on, guys and gals, you can do better) and proceeded on my way without incident.

That wasn’t all. It was a pretty adventurous ride home.

Every night on my drive, I pass Brothers (oh, the memories) around closing time, and it’s quite common outside of the bar to see guys making last-minute attempts to capture that coveted phone number of the pretty girl they saw on the dance floor. Saturday night, I saw a different sort of situation at the fabled Lawrence establishment.

Some dude — couldn’t put an age on him — was running around outside wearing a Kansas football jersey, screaming at the top of his lungs. On a normal night, I’d think to myself, who in the name of H-E-double toothpicks is this crazed maniac, running around like an idiot?

On Saturday, though, I didn’t even begin to have such a thought. I knew. Saturday night wasn’t a run-of-the-mill night in Lawrence where exchanging phone numbers would be the highlight. Saturday night was an atypical scene of comical lunatics running around because they could, and because anyone with an ounce of football knowledge in their brain wouldn’t think anything of it.

A few hours earlier, of course, Kansas pulled off a miraculous and monumental fourth-quarter comeback of epic proportions to stun Colorado. The Jayhawks, at one point, trailed 45-17 in the fourth quarter.

Nick Krug/Journal-World Photo Kansas running back James Sims is pushed out of bounds by Colorado linebacker Liloa Nobriga during the fourth quarter, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010 at Kivisto Field.

Five touchdowns and 11 game minutes later — KU hadn’t scored 35 points in its last three games combined — and the Jayhawks had pulled off their biggest fourth-quarter comeback in school history.

So, right on, crazed lunatic running around like a chicken with its head cut off. Soak up the college experience for historic sports moments like Saturday. Hope that guy isn’t enrolled in a public speaking class because he probably doesn’t have a voice today.

KU’s shocker was among a plethora of bizarre happenings around the Big 12 this weekend.

For my reaction on the wild weekend, check out the latest episode of Conference ChatterTV:

If you’re at work, though, and can’t crank up the volume, here’s a briefing on the Big 12 madness:

• No. 11 Oklahoma continued to struggle on the road, dropping a 33-19 contest at Texas A&M. So much for those BCS Championship aspirations.

• Texas continued its decade-long struggle against Kansas State, falling flat in a 39-14 drubbing in Manhattan. The Wildcats have now won three straight over the Longhorns.

Kansas State running back Daniel Thomas (8) gets past Texas safety Christian Scott (6) and defensive end Sam Acho (81) to score a touchdown during the first quarter of a college football game Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010 in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

• No. 14 Missouri looked average at best — quarterback Blaine Gabbert was 12-of-30 for 95 yards … huh? — in losing a 24-17 contest at Texas Tech. The Tigers’ Big 12 North dreams took a serious hit.

• No. 9 Nebraska needed overtime to take out Iowa State, 31-30, in Ames, Iowa. Cyclones coach Paul Rhoads dialed up an aggressive call in overtime and tried to win the game on a fake extra point, but Nebraska’s defense was ready. That was a whole lot closer than anticipated, though.

So … what to make of all this?

What to make of Nebraska with four conference wins, and three other teams in the North right behind the Huskers with three wins?

What to make of Oklahoma State leading the South at 4-1, with Baylor at 4-2, Texas A&M at 3-2, Oklahoma at 3-2 and Texas Tech at 3-4? And how in the name of Mack Brown is Texas (2-4) in last place in the South, needing to win two of its final three games to simply make a bowl?

A lot to think about. But this much is clear: 2010 is a different beast in the Big 12.

There’s no BCS Championship-caliber team in the North or South. Forget about it.

Oklahoma has trouble away from Norman.

Nebraska doesn’t have a healthy quarterback (Taylor Martinez didn’t play Saturday).

Missouri’s dreams are over.

Oklahoma State only has one loss, but still has two road games left, and faces Oklahoma at home to close the season. And I still have concerns about the Cowboys’ defense.

All that said … it makes for exciting weekends. No longer are Oklahoma and Texas unbeatable. Catch the Sooners on the road or the Longhorns in general and you have a chance to beat the big boys this season.

It reminds me a bit of the NFL, one of the many reasons it’s the most popular viewed sport in America. On any given day, anyone can beat anyone.

In the Big 12 this season, nothing’s a given. Not a 42-17 Colorado lead in the fourth quarter. Not a Sooners’ team that had won seven games in a row against Texas A&M. Not an upstart Missouri team that clearly looked better than a reeling Texas Tech squad. Not a nationally-recognized Texas team that may have its own network before too long against a Kansas State team that completed exactly two passes for nine yards, got sacked twice, yet still won.

Yes, it’s an odd year in the Big 12. But it’s undoubtedly an exciting one where anything can happen.

Here’s the latest edition of the Sorrentino Scale. The number that follows in parentheses is what the team was ranked last week:

1 (2). Nebraska (8-1): … Aaaand the top team changes again. Huskers don’t look like they should have this spot, but no one else in the Big 12 looks like it should either.
2 (4). Oklahoma State (8-1): Cowboys have one loss this year: Nebraska.
3 (1). Oklahoma (7-2): Sooners stuffed three different times against Aggies on fourth-and-1 from A&M’s 1-yard line.
4 (3). Missouri (7-2): Tigers on two-game losing skid after 7-0 start.
5 (5). Baylor (7-3): Bears couldn’t stop Oklahoma State’s prolific offense.
6 (6). Kansas State (6-3): Huge win over Texas for ‘Cats, who have to play last three games on road (at Missouri, Colorado and North Texas).
7 (9). Texas A&M (6-3): Probably the best single game the defense has played under coach Mike Sherman in his three years in College Station.
8 (7). Iowa State (5-5): Aggressive call with fake extra point, and also a costly one. Cyclones must win at Colorado next week to secure bowl berth. Don’t want to leave it up to playing host to Missouri in finale.
9 (10). Texas Tech (5-4): QB Taylor Potts benched, then saves the day for Red Raiders.
10 (8). Texas (4-5): ‘Cause they’re free ….. free falling.
11 (12). Kansas (3-6): Jayhawks’ remarkable comeback takes them out of cellar for first time in a while.
12 (11). Colorado (3-6): Coach Dan Hawkins’ seat needs a fire extinguisher.

That should be all for now, friends. As always, discuss.