In the Big 12 South, everything revolves around Texas and Oklahoma. But Texas Tech is looking to make the move from a minor bowl bid to actually competing with the big boys. After a 7-5 season in 2001 that ended with a 19-16 loss to Iowa in the Alamo Bowl, the pieces could be in place for a one-for-the-books 2002 season in Lubbock, Texas.

	Texas Tech QB Kliff Kingsbury threw 42 TDs and completed 66.8 percent of his passes this season.

The problem, though -- and it's a big one -- will be surviving a tough non-conference slate that includes a trip to Ohio State on Aug. 24 and home games against Ole Miss (led by QB Eli Manning) and N.C. State (led by QB Philip Rivers).

And just before coach Mike Leach's Red Raiders move into the Big 12 schedule, they face dangerous New Mexico in Albuquerque. After that, they have difficult road encounters with Texas A&M, Iowa State, Colorado and Oklahoma. Nine of their 13 games are against teams that had a winning record last season.

OFFENSE
Record-setting senior QB Kliff Kingsbury returns to lead the aerial attack.

Last season, Kingsbury played pitch-and-catch on a regular basis, completing 68.2 percent of his passes for nearly 4,000 yards and 26 TDs. If he can direct the Red Raiders through their brutal schedule and elevate his squad to compete with Texas and Oklahoma in the Big 12 South, Kingsbury will deserve some Heisman Trophy consideration.

The receiving targets are once again in place to do serious damage through the air. Junior Carlos Francis is a tremendously consistent performer, while physically gifted senior Anton Paige (6-foot-4½, 210) is fresh off a great spring and appears poised to take his game to a new level. Last year, Paige had 23 receptions but averaged just 8.5 yards per catch as he made the transition from the juco ranks. This season could be a different story.

Exciting junior Wes Welker is a dangerous punt returner and a major weapon for Kingsbury in the slot. Junior Mickey Peters was second on the '01 team with 59 catches for a 10.7-yard average. And don't forget sophomore Nehemiah Glover, who gives Kingsbury a fifth proven option in the lethal Tech passing attack. There's no tight end in Leach's system, so opponents must deal with four or five receivers on the field at the same time.

With the field spread so much, RB Ricky Williams was able to rush for nearly 800 yards last season, averaging 5.0 yards per carry and scoring 14 TDs. He also led the team with an incredible 95 receptions. But he's moved on, becoming an undrafted free agent with the New Orleans Saints. Four candidates are competing for the starting running back spot: junior Foy Munlin, the only back with any experience; redshirt freshman Taurean Henderson, junior Loliki Bonga-Wanga, and juco transfer Johnnie Mack (5-7, 168). Mack benefited from being able to participate in spring practice.

The offensive line is led by outstanding senior RG Rex Richards. He's been a starter since his freshman campaign and ranks as one of the more consistent trenchmen in the nation.

DEFENSE
Even though outstanding FS Kevin Curtis -- who finished his career in Lubbock with 422 tackles and 10 interceptions -- has moved on to the San Francisco 49ers, the Red Raiders still have some star power on defense.

Senior DE Aaron Hunt and senior MLB Lawrence Flugence lead the way. Incredible explosiveness allows Hunt to wreak havoc off the edge, while Flugence has made his mark as one of the most productive linebackers in the nation. Last season Hunt recorded 23 stops behind the line of scrimmage, 14 sacks and 14 QB hurries. Flugence led the team with 153 tackles and had 14 QB hurries. These two are as good as it gets at their positions in the Big 12. By the way, after checking in at 220 pounds early in his college career, Flugence is now up to 244 and has retained his sideline-to-sideline quickness and mobility.

With Texas Tech's talent level and depth improving in recent years, I'm told that defensive coordinator Greg McMackin will be able to work in his entire defensive scheme for the first time in his three seasons. Besides Hunt and Flugence, other key notables include sophomore OLB Mike Smith, senior CB Joselio Hanson and junior SS Ryan Aycock.

OVERVIEW
Last year, except for an overtime loss to Kansas, the Red Raiders beat the teams they were expected to beat for the most part, but fell to Texas, Nebraska and Oklahoma (and Iowa in the Alamo Bowl). So while Leach's pitch-and-catch offense figures to again put up big numbers with top-notch QB Kingsbury and a host of talented options at wideout, the schedule presents a number of huge hurdles. The Red Raiders live and die by the pass, but the replacement for RB Williams must provide a running threat.

Hunt and Flugence lead a fast and aggressive defense under the direction of highly regarded coordinator McMackin. However, the graduation loss of Curtis has to be factored in; his production will be difficult to replace. And with such a pass-happy offense, the concern for McMackin's stop troop is wearing down in the fourth quarter. Overall, the Red Raiders qualify as an opponent every team should fear. But whether they survive a long, grueling 13-game regular season will ultimately determine just how successful the 2002 campaign is.