Brandon Chatmon, ESPN Staff Writer 10y

Big 12 Tuesday mailbag

In today's mailbag we talk the lack of love for West Virginia and Oklahoma, Texas' quarterback situation and pride at Iowa State. As always thanks for your questions, you can submit questions for next Tuesday's mailbag here.

On to the mailbag:


Brandon Wilder in Manchester, Tennessee writes: Why do you think it is that the media is reluctant to show Oklahoma any love? All the analysts want to talk about is Bama, Oregon, FSU and Georgia.

Brandon Chatmon: This sits among the top-5 questions I didn’t expect to find in the mailbag. The Sooners have gotten plenty of love.


Raymond Boggess in Charleston, West Virginia writes: WVU has outplayed every BIG 12 team I have watched except OU. Where is the love?

Chatmon: I’m right there with you. That’s why WVU jumped Oklahoma State in our bowl projections. The Mountaineers still have a ways to go, but I like what I’m seeing thus far.


Michael Hess in Dallas writes: I need good news about Texas Tech ... Go.

Chatmon: True freshman running back Justin Stockton looks like a star. ... Outside of that, um, Kliff Kingsbury has some work to do. But Tech is still 2-0 and a strong performance in a win over Arkansas on Saturday would erase some of the concerns that emerged in the first two games.


Alex in Ames writes: Quenton Bundrage was literally on the field for three plays before tearing his ACL. I know he’s only a junior, but is there any chance he is granted medical redshirt for the year by the NCAA?

Chatmon: I see no reason Bundrage, Iowa State's standout receiver, wouldn’t be eligible for a medical redshirt. I've seen other guys play a lot more before their injury and be granted a medical hardship.


 Tyler Weidler in Weatherford, Texas writes: If Oklahoma and Florida State played today, how would you see that game unfolding??

Chatmon: Good question, Tyler. I think it would all come down to the quarterbacks, Jameis Winston and Trevor Knight. Winston has proven to be clutch -- and a proven championship quarterback --so I’d probably give Florida State the slight edge, based on the fact their players have done it before. I think it would be similar to last year's national title game with FSU pulling out the win late in the game. It’s a game I’d love to watch.


Matt Barnett in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania writes: Would a big win for WVU this weekend against Maryland give the Mountaineers enough momentum to go into Morgantown the following weekend and possibly shock Oklahoma?

Chatmon: Yes. And even if WVU doesn’t win against Maryland that visit to Morgantown, West Virginia is looking like a stern test for Bob Stoops' squad. Oklahoma has been as impressive as any team in the nation during the first two weeks of the season, but the Mountaineers have lost two games by a 10 combined points to the Sooners since they joined the Big 12 in 2012. WVU has the talent to beat OU, and they aren't scared of anyone.


Big12erinACCCountry writes: Just how grossly overrated is Baylor after two no-name, lousy opponents?

Chatmon: I’m not sure, but I think I saw Art Briles polishing his Big 12 championship ring during the second half the other day though.


JP in Mebane, North Carolina writes: Given the godlike awesomeness that is Jake Waters, have your expectations for KSU changed any?

Chatmon: Not really. I’ve always felt K-State would end up third behind Oklahoma and Baylor. Nothing has really changed for me with regards to the Wildcats. Waters and Tyler Lockett are the main reason I felt the Wildcats would find themselves near the top of the Big 12 heading into the season.


 Tom in Austin, Texas writes: Short question but it needs to be asked: Should the Longhorns stick with Swoopes when facing UCLA? What about Jaxon Shipley. Didn't he play QB in high school?

Chatmon: I think Jerrod Heard is the future for Texas offense. And if he’s not quite ready, UT should start getting him ready, no matter what it takes. I get that Tyrone Swoopes wasn’t the problem against BYU so the quarterback position shouldn’t be the No. 1 priority, but that doesn’t change the fact I think Heard will end up being the better long-term option under center. As far as Shipley, I'd only try that if Texas can figure out a way he can throw it to himself.


Derek in Lubbock, Texas: Regarding Big 12 expansion, everyone seems to like this "round robin" schedule right now, but I think we need to expand for numerous reasons. Some people say let's just add BYU, but then we'd need another team. I know who the other team should be. North Dakota State University. BYU and NDSU to the Big 12 for 2015-2016! Let's make it happen.

Chatmon: I’m on the train for adding BYU (eventually) but the plan to add NDSU knocks me off your bandwagon. And even BYU doesn’t change my belief that the Big 12 won’t -- nor needs to -- expand anytime soon. Why add more mouths to feed if you aren’t significantly increasing the overall meal?


Andrew in Phoenix, Arizona writes: So how about them Cyclones, not sure if I can handle the roller coaster of being a fan for them. Which team will show up more this season, the floppers against NDSU or the pride against KSU?

Chatmon: Paul Rhoads’ history makes me think we’ll see Iowa State’s pride showing up more often than not this fall. The two losses aren’t what the Cyclones wanted, but I’ve never watched a Rhoads team and felt like they quit. Pride seems to be a staple of his teams, and I don’t think that will change. I still have questions about their bowl chances, but I feel a lot better about those chances today than I did at this time last week.

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