Upsets Send Big 12 North's Rep South

So much for the Big 12 North being taken seriously this season.

On a day when division leaders Kansas and Nebraska had a chance to make a statement, both teams were upset, and stunningly so.

No.15 Nebraska was exposed offensively in a 31-10 loss to unranked Texas Tech in Lincoln, Neb. And the 17th-ranked Jayhawks, which hadn't played a quality opponent until Saturday, was stunned, 34-30, by a one-win Colorado team for their first loss of the season.

Both defeats have left the door open for supremacy in the North with darkhorses Colorado and Kansas State perhaps having a shot at the division title. The Wildcats exploded on Texas A&M Saturday for after struggling offensively most of the season.

Nebraska, meanwhile, seems like a team that could be on the verge of big trouble.

A week after head coach Bo Pelini flirted with benching starting quarterback Zac Lee against Missouri, he pulled the trigger Saturday by replacing ineffective Lee with Cody Green in the fourth quarter. There is no word on who will start next week when Iowa State comes to town.

But for the second time in as many games, the Cornhuskers couldn't get anything going in the first three quarters. But unlike against the Tigers, Nebraska was unable to turn it on in fourth quarter against Tech. The Cornhuskers managed just 285 yards of offense for its lowest output since 2007.

"We didn't execute from the beginning to the end," said Pelini, whose team slipped to 4-2, 1-1 Big 12. "On offense, we didn't come off the ball. We didn't catch the ball. We didn't make the right reads at quarterback. We didn't run the ball effectively.

"On defense, we didn't make plays. You can sit there and ask all of the questions you want in the world. It comes down to we got beat because we didn't make plays. We got outplayed and outcoached."

In the Jayhawks road loss, they came across a re-energized Colorado team that was starting Tyler Hansen at quarterback for the first time this season. Hansen may have caused more problems for head coach Dan Hawkins with his performance Saturday.

Hawkins reluctantly benched his son, Cody Hawkins, last week in favor of Hansen. Prior to coming off the bench in the Texas game, Hansen was on his way to a redshirt season after losing out to Hawkins for the starting job during two-a-days.

Hansen sparked the Buffaloes defense with one passing and one rushing touchdown. Hansen completed 14 of 25 passes for 175 yards with one interception while rushing 11 times for 35 yards.

The Jayhawks (5-1, 1-1), meanwhile, were explosive with their trio of quarterback Todd Reesing and receivers Dezmon Briscoe and Kerry Meier. But it was the ground game that took a real hit after finishing with minus-7 yards. Kansas lost the time of possession battle soundly, with Colorado holding a 35:12 to 24:48 edge.

But even still, the Jayhawks had their chances in the end with touchdown passing attempts to both Briscoe and Meier being swatted away to preserve the Colorado upset.

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The University of Miami's fans signal the "U" at the end of the second quarter of a game against The University of Central Florida at Bright House Networks Stadium in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, October 17, 2009. (Joe Rimkus Jr./Miami Herald/MCT)

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Oklahoma State running back Keith Toston heads into the end zone with a touchdown against Missouri in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Baylor's Lanear Sampson, center, is tackled by Iowa State's Kennard Banks, left, and Jesse Smith, right, after making a reception during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009, in Ames, Iowa. Iowa State won 24-10. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Iowa State quarterback Austen Arnaud (4) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter an NCAA college football game against Baylor, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009, in Ames, Iowa. Iowa State won 24-10. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Georgia Tech students tear down the goalpost after the Yellow Jackets' 28-23 win over Virginia Tech in an NCAA college football game in Atlanta, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Missouri kicker Grant Ressel, right, kicks a field goal against Oklahoma State in the first quarter an NCAA college football game in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

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San Diego State head coach Brady Hoke watches from the sidelines during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game against BYU Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009 in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall watches from the sidelines during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game against San Diego State Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009 in San Diego. BYU won 38-28. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)