| Baylor coach Art Briles begins the task of replacing Robert Griffin III with Sunday's game against SMU. (Getty Images) |
Nine of the 10 teams in the Big 12 will be in action on Saturday or Sunday. Some have more difficult matchups than others, but there are several potentially interesting storylines worth following throughout the weekend.
Can Baylor survive a tough opener in its first game without RG3?
In one of the most compelling Big 12 games of the weekend, Baylor faces a respectable SMU team at Floyd Casey Stadium in Waco. The Bears opened as 12-point favorites, but the line was down to 10 as of Friday. Those doubting BU may have good reason, as life should be much different without the services of the team's two biggest offensive stars of 2011: Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Robert Griffin III and running back Terrence Ganaway.
The Mustangs of SMU proved themselves capable of competing with quality opposition on the road a year ago, knocking off then-No. 20 TCU in a 40-33 overtime decision. This Baylor team probably is not as good as that TCU team was, so it's hard to imagine SMU being intimidated heading into the season-opener.
Will any FCS foes keep things competitive?
There are no real marquee opponents for Big 12 teams in the first week of the season, but four of the nine conference schools in action will face FCS opponents: No. 19 Oklahoma State (vs. Savannah State), No. 22 Kansas State (vs. Missouri State), Kansas (vs. South Dakota State) and Texas Tech (vs. Northwestern State).
A loss for any of the Big 12 teams in these games would be nothing less than stunning (yes, even Kansas should start the season with a win), but close games could reveal weaknesses in some of these teams. Can any of the little guys keep pace with their Big 12 opponents? Will there be any outcomes still in doubt heading into the fourth quarter?
Can Steele Jantz lead Iowa State to a home win?
The lone Big 12 underdog for the opening weekend is Iowa State, as Tulsa comes to Ames as a 1.5-point favorite. The Cyclones did a solid job of protecting Jack Trice Stadium in 2011, losing only to a pair of top 20 teams in Ames (then-No. 17 Texas and then-No. 18 Texas A&M).
If ISU is to start 2012 with a home win, it will be up to starting quarterback Steele Jantz to have a strong performance. Tulsa scored 30 or more points on eight occasions in 2011, while Iowa State only did so once in a regulation game last season. The offense will have to keep pace if the Cyclones are to win their opener.
What will West Virginia do for an encore?
When we last saw the Mountaineers, they were setting bowl records left and right in a 70-33 thrashing of Clemson in the Orange Bowl, claiming their third BCS bowl win in six years and setting the stage for their No. 11 preseason ranking. There has been much hype around this Big 12 newcomer, with Geno Smith seen as a potential Heisman Trophy candidate and some pegging WVU as a potential national title contender.
First, though, they must deal with an in-state foe, Marshall, that has made things interesting in recent meetings. Will West Virginia look like the team that put up 70 in the Orange Bowl or the one that lost to mediocre (at best) Louisville and Syracuse teams in 2011?
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from Big 12 bloggers C.J. Moore and Patrick Southern, follow @CBSSportsBig12 on Twitter.