Each week, HuskerExtra.com's Curt McKeever takes an inventory of the Big 12 Conference.

BUY: Texas. Load up even more on the Longhorns after Saturday's big turnaround against Oklahoma State. Mack Brown's team needs but a win at Kansas and then one against A&M in Austin on Nov. 26 to mail in a 10-1 campaign and its BCS bowl RSVP.

SELL: Missouri. It's time to cut your losses and get out. The Tigers started the season ranked No. 19 and were the pick to win the North Division. Any hopes of a late resurgence came to a crashing halt after they blew their third double-digit lead of the season, Saturday  against Kansas State.

BLUE CHIPPER: Charles Gordon. Kansas' MVP had two interceptions, a fumble recovery, a sack, a 22-yard reception and a 22-yard punt return during Saturday's 30-21 loss to Colorado. Gordon played mostly at cornerback against the Buffs after spending most of his time at receiver the previous game against Iowa State. "I haven't seen all the major-conference schools in person," Kansas coach Mark Mangino said after Saturday's game, "but he's got to be among the top 10 or 15 players in the country."

INSIDER TRADING

Nebraska's hope of being the North Division's representative in the league championship could be dashed as soon as Saturday, or the Huskers might end up having to wait until Nov. 27 — the final day of the regular season — to find out whether they are headed to Kansas City, Mo., for the Dec. 4 game.

NU would be eliminated from contention if, on Saturday, it loses at Oklahoma and Kansas State wins at Colorado. Should the Huskers lose and the Buffaloes win, Nebraska would earn the division crown if these scenarios play out: a) Kansas State wins at home against Iowa State on Nov. 20; b) the Huskers beat Colorado on Nov. 26, and: c) Missouri wins at Iowa State on Nov. 27.

Vince Young completed a school-record 12 straight passes to cap his 18-of-21 performance that helped  Texas produce the largest comeback in school history Saturday against Oklahoma State. The Longhorns, down 35-7 in the first half, won 56-35. They've outscored their past two opponents 66-0 in the second half. … Cedric Benson added five TDs to bring his career total to 62 and moved past former Nebraska quarterback Eric Crouch for fourth place on the NCAA's scoring list.

In order to try and keep tender-shouldered tailback Bobby Purify fresher, Colorado gave freshmen Hugh Charles and Byron Ellis a combined 13 rushing attempts against Kansas. Despite sitting out most of the fourth quarter, Purify had 14 carries for 52 yards to move past Chris Brown into fourth place on the Buffaloes' career chart with 2,724 yards. … CU limited the Jayhawks to 92 yards rushing. The Buffs had given up no fewer than 164 in their six previous games.

Missouri running back Damien Nash returned from his one-week suspension to rush for 188 yards on just 12 carries and add 33 yards receiving. He was suspended for the Nebraska game after questioning the Tigers' game plan following a 20-17 loss to Oklahoma State. Mizzou then struggled, rushing for 51 yards against the Huskers, in a 24-3 loss. Nash bit his lip when asked how difficult it was to watch that contest. "I can't comment on that," he said.

A&M quarterback Reggie McNeal, who appeared to hurt his right shoulder when he was sacked by Oklahoma's Dan Cody during the third quarter, practiced Sunday and is expected to be in the lineup against Texas Tech.

Here's an example of why Oklahoma is in the national championship hunt. At Texas A&M's notoriously loud Kyle Field, the Sooners didn't have a turnover and, facing the nation's co-leader in turnover margin, ended up plus 3. OU also didn't have to call a timeout because it was late coming out of the huddle, nor did it commit a false start.

If you're wondering about Oklahoma pulling a planned redshirt season from freshman cornerback Marcus Walker, consider this. The only previous time coach Bob Stoops did that to a freshman so late in a season was in the eighth game of 1999, when running back Quentin Griffin moved from the scout team to the starting lineup after a rash of injuries. As a sophomore, Griffin helped the Sooners win the national championship.

Walker, slowed by a preseason ankle injury, replaced Eric Bassey after the Sooners gave up a long TD pass to fall behind 21-7. He'd been on emergency call since the Sooners lost Antonio Perkins to a knee injury against Texas.

After missing four games with a broken right forearm, Oklahoma State cornerback Darrent Williams returned to action against Texas wearing a soft cast. Williams, though, had to leave after tackling the Longhorns' Tony Jeffery on the fourth play. His status for the rest of the season is questionable.

The news is worse for Kansas quarterback Jason Swanson, who appeared to injure his right shoulder in the first quarter against Colorado. Swanson isn't expected back, and now John Nielsen, a senior who walked on after playing two seasons at Palomar (Calif.) Junior College, is expected to be the Jayhawks' third starter in the last three games.

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

Oklahoma quarterback Jason White, Texas linebacker Derrick Johnson and Colorado punt returner Stephone Robinson were named Big 12 offensive, defensive and co-special team players of the week, respectively. 

White threw for 292 yards and five TDs in the Sooners' 42-35 victory at No. 22 Texas A&M. Johnson had 18 tackles, 14 solo, in the Longhorns' 56-35 come-from-behind win against No. 19 Oklahoma State. Robinson took a third-quarter punt 48 yards for a TD to give the Buffaloes the lead for good in their 30-21 win at Kansas.

MARKET QUOTES

"You can get rid of all that soft talk. You can get rid of all the negatives. Most teams would have laid down." — Texas tailback Cedric Brown, on the Longhorns overcoming a 35-7 deficit against Oklahoma State.

"We have too much talent on this team to be an average team. We're not average, by no means." — Missouri senior wide receiver Thomson Omboga, after the Tigers lost their fourth straight game to fall to 4-5.

"We're playing to go to a bowl game. We ain't playing to go home for Christmas." — Kansas State running back Darren Sproles, after the Wildcats erased a 21-0 deficit to stay in the North Division race.