With the Big 12 football season officially done let's take a look at how the conference fared and who the top performers were.
Holiday Bowl
The Longhorn's 52-34 victory was possibly the conference's most impressive victory not from the standpoint of who they beat but by their margin of their victory over the Sun Devils. Jamaal Charles ran over Arizona State's defense, finishing with 161 yards and 2 touchdowns, and then announced that he'd be running from Austin and into the NFL.
Alamo Bowl
Penn State's 24-17 over the Aggies was a long way off from being the conference's most disappointing but given that they jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and then were outscored 24-3 the rest of the way had to be frustrating to the fans.
Independence Bowl
The Buffs were the total opposite of A&M. After getting blasted for 20 points in the first quarter the Buffaloes came roaring back to outscore the Crimson Tide 24-10 but it was too little too late as they would fall 30-24.
Insight Bowl
Oklahoma State steam rolled the Hoosiers and made them like it. The game wasn't anywhere near as close as the 49-33 final score. OSU quarterback was stellar making only one real mistake but his 302 yards and 3 touchdowns far outweighed it.
Cotton Bowl
As impressive as the Longhorns' Jamaal Charles was Missouri's Tony Temple was even more so. Temple averaged 11.7 yards a carry while running through the Arkansas defense for 281 yards and 4 touchdowns leading the Tigers to a 38-7 blowout win.
Gator Bowl
You can just about guarantee that anytime the Red Raiders are trailing in the second half of a bowl game. Aided by a costly Virginia turnover the Red Raiders scored 17 points in the 4th quarter to rally to a 31-28 victory.
Fiesta Bowl
Yeah, I've already talked about this and can't really think of anything more to say other than Quentin Chaney's 129 yards on four receptions was encouraging. There is no doubt that the Sooners were the conference's most disappointing loss.
Orange Bowl
The Jayhawks definitely posted the Big 12's most impressive bowl victory with their 24-21 win over Virginia Tech. Kansas played inspired team ball and while they may not have been the best team in the conference they were the best of the bowl season.
Big 12 All-Bowl Team: Offense
QB: Graham Harrell, Texas Tech
RB: Tony Temple, Missouri
RB: Jamaal Charles, Texas
OL: Cedric Dockery, Texas
OL: Chris Hall, Texas
OL: Adam Spieker, Missouri
OL: Tyler Luellen, Missouri
OL: Colin Brown, Missouri
WR: Des Bryant, Oklahoma State
WR: Quentin Chaney, Oklahoma
TE: Brandon Pettigrew, Oklahoma State
Big 12 All-Bowl Team: Defense
DL: Chris Harrington, Texas A&M
DL: Ziggy Hood, Missouri
DL: Brian Orakpo, Texas
DL: Marquee Fountain, Oklahoma State
LB: Mike Rivera, Kansas
LB: Roddrick Muckelroy, Texas
LB: Curtis Lofton, Oklahoma
CB: Aqib Talib, Kansas
CB: Brandon Foster, Texas
S: William Moore, Missouri
S: Andre Sexton, Oklahoma State