Lots of love goes out to the guys at Rock M Nation for making this Big 12 Roundtable happen. Just wanted them to know that they were appreciated and maybe, just maybe, if I suck up a little they'll include a quote or two from CC Machine in the recap.

Now, on to this week's questions. How are you feeling about the loss of Robert Griffin? Keep reading to see my thoughts (Hint: I feel a lot worse for Baylor than I do the Big 12) but we want to know yours on all the questions and not just this one. Let us know by using the comments section.

1. Is it time for the Big 12 to collectively pour one out for the departure of Baylor quarterback Robert "Hot Tub" Griffin? Even if your team benefits from his injury, are you sad to see one of the conference's premier playmakers done for the season?

Yes! I hated to see his injury and even worse to know that it was season ending. The Big 12 will be fine without Griffin because there is no shortage of players with star caliber around the conference but the Baylor Bears won't be fine without him. Without Griffin the Baylor Bears are reduced to being...well...the Baylor Bears. They are on a direct course to a last place finish in the Big 12 South and they hype of a possible bowl appearance will die a miserable death. I have little to no confidence that Blake Szymanski will lead them to the type of bigger and better things Griffin was expected to.

In a freaky ironic twist the Bears picked up a verbal commitment from Robert Griffin on Tuesday.  

2. Play the role of Mythbusters for us. If you could dispel one national perception of your team, what would it be? 

Well, the national perception of Oklahoma is that they are a great team that plays very well in the regular season, wins lots of conference championships but just can't seem to win a bowl game. How am I supposed to dispel that?

I guess that I could point out that Bob Stoops and his team did win the 2000 BCS Championship 13-2 over Florida State in the Orange Bowl, or the 2002 Cotton Bowl, or the 2003 Rose Bowl or even the 2005 Holiday Bowl. I just don't think those answers would suffice. Oh...wait...you mean the actual team on the field?

Well there is the perception that the offensive line if horrible and un-cohesive. I can dispel that very quickly by telling you to look at the last two games. Sure I realize that the competition was Idaho State and Tulsa but the issues with this line weren't physical they were mental. The last eight quarters of Sooner football have shown this unit to be mentally focused to reach their physical potential.  

3. Give us the name of one player on each side of the ball on your team that everyone else in the conference may not know about or fully appreciate.

Who doesn't know the names on Oklahoma's offense? Even the backup quarterback was named the National Player of the Week. However, Brandon Caleb looks to be a name that you'll want to keep up with. Much of the attention in the receiving corps is going to Ryan Broyles who leads the nation in touchdown receptions but Caleb is quietly having a solid season himself. In Oklahoma's last game, against Tulsa, he caught 5 passes for 104 yards and 2 touchdowns.

On defense Ryan Reynolds is making a name for himself again. The kid is literally making plays all over the field. Tackles behind the line of scrimmage, quarterback sacks, interceptions and smashing hits have been the norm for this kid in the first three games of the season. Against Tulsa he had 10 tackles in the first half.

4. OU vs. Da U: Who ya' got?

You're just going to have to keep reading this week to find out the answer to this question.

5. Give us your Offensive Player of the Week, Defensive Player of the Week, and Storyline of the Week for last week.

Offensive Player of the Week: Danario Alexander (WR Missouri) - 9 catches, 170 yards, 2 touchdowns.

 

Defensive Player of the Week: Earl Thomas (S Texas) - 2 INT's

 

Storyline of the Week: The pirate ship is sinking at Texas Tech. The Red Raiders have lost two in a row (coaching can be questioned in both losses), offensive lineman Brandon Carter has been suspended indefinitely and Twitter has been banned. Sounds like someone needs a come to Jesus meeting.

 

6. Power Poll! Rank the teams 1-12 based on who would win on a neutral field.

1. Texas

2. Oklahoma

3. Kansas

4. Oklahoma State

5. Nebraska

6. Missouri

7. Texas Tech

8. Texas A&M

9. Kansas State

10. Baylor

11. Iowa State

12. Colorado