Print edition: 
Nebraska
Head coach: Bo Pelini (20-8, two seasons)
Last year's record: 10-4, 6-2 (1st in North)
Returning starters: 9 offense, 6 defense
Who's gone: DT Ndamukong Suh, LB Phillip Dillard, S Larry Asante, S Matt O'Hanlon, C Jacob Hickman
Who's back: DT Jared Crick, CB Prince Amukamara, RB Roy Helu Jr., QB Zac Lee, WR Niles Paul, TE Mike McNeil, K Alex Henery
Best-case scenario: Nebraska's "Blackshirt" defense is back and here to stay after giving up a nation's-best 10.4 points per game last season.
Worst-case scenario: The Cornhuskers miss Suh, the nation's most dominant defensive player and a Heisman Trophy finalist a year ago, and drop off defensively.
Baylor
Head coach: Art Briles (8-16, two seasons)
Last year's record: 4-8, 1-7 (6th in South)
Returning starters: 6 offense, 6 defense
Who's gone: LB Joe Pawelek, FS Jordan Lake, WR David Gettis, C J.D. Walton
Who's back: QB Robert Griffin, WR Kendall Wright, OT Danny Watkins, FS Tim Atchison, LB Antonio Johnson
Best-case scenario: Griffin, who tore his ACL in the third game of last season, shows himself to be as explosive as he was as a freshman, when he threw for 15 touchdowns and rushed for 13 more.
Worst-case scenario: Baylor discovers that its talent, despite residing in the rich recruiting ground of Texas, still isn't up to par.
Texas A&M
Head coach: Mike Sherman (10-15, two seasons)
Last year's record: 6-7, 3-5 (5th in South)
Returning starters: 6 on offense, 10 on defense
Who's gone: FS Jordan Pugh, LT Michael Shumard, WR Howard Morrow
Who's back: QB Jerrod Johnson, OLB Von Miller, WR Jeff Fuller, RB Christine Michael, WR Uzoma Nwachukwu, WR Ryan Tannehill, RB Cyrus Gray
Best-case scenario: No team in the Big 12 has as much star power returning as Texas A&M, which features the Big 12 offensive and co-defensive preseason players of the year in Johnson and Miller, respectively.
Worst-case scenario: The Aggies, which ranked 105th nationally in total defense last season, still can't stop anybody.
Iowa State
Head coach: Paul Rhoads (7-6, one season)
Last year's record: 7-6, 3-5 (4th in North)
Returning starters: 8 offense, 4 defense
Who's gone: LB Jesse Smith, DE Chris Lyle, WR Marquis Hamilton, C Reggie Stephens
Who's back: QB Austen Arnaud, RB Alexander Robinson, SS David Sims, WR Jake Williams, OT Kelechi Osemele
Best-case scenario: The Cyclones went 7-6 last season after losing the last 10 games of 2008 and now appear poised to improve with Arnaud and Robinson returning as seniors.
Worst-case scenario: Bringing back just four returning starters on defense is bad news for Iowa State.
