And since no two teams run the offense exactly the same, coaches have to shift the type of defense they run, almost on a weekly basis.

“You have to be very multiple and be able to effectively deal with everything you’re going to see on a week-to-week basis,” Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said. “You can’t just line up and have one base defense and expect to stop everything you’re going to see over the course of 12, 13 games.”

The spread is relatively new to the Big 12 and defenses are still struggling to figure out how to stop it.

The general consensus so far is that slowing the spread requires pressure on the quarterback, forcing dump-off passes underneath instead of long throws downfield, and sure tackling when the offensive players do get the ball.

But with all the chaos that comes with the spread and the talented quarterbacks who know how to run it, theory and reality don’t always collide.

“I don’t think it matters whether you’re veterans or rookies, you’re going to have some problems with the talent we have in this league,” Colorado coach Dan Hawkins said.

Jayhawks’ schedule

Kansas was criticized for riding a weak schedule to the Orange Bowl last year.

That won’t be the case this year — at least in conference.

While the Jayhawks’ preseason schedule still isn’t all that demanding, with the likes of Florida International, Louisiana Tech and Sam Houston State, the conference schedule includes Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech.

Get through those games, along with rivals Missouri and Kansas State, and it’s going to be hard to complain about Kansas this year.

“We want to be able to play against all the best teams in our league and be able to beat them,” Kansas coach Mark Mangino said. “That’s the test for our program. We will never truly get over the hump, in my eyes — I don’t know how anybody else sees it — until we’re about to defeat those teams as well.”

Without a Wildcat