let's be reality.....the "Big 12 doesn't play defense" is a complete MYTH and I'm tired of hearing it on ESPN, etc.
The fact is, the spread offenses are just too good. When the Big 12 plays other conferences like Big 10, SEC, etc., the games are fairly normal scoring wise.
Look what TCU did to Ole Miss, WVU pretty much shutout Maryland, OU defense held Tenn is check that whole 2nd half, Texas Tech held their own against Arky, but gave up 50+ to TCU. Playing against "normal" offenses is easier.
Schematically, nobody can shutdown these offenses. Mich St was a damn good defense last year, and they gave up 600 yards to Baylor in that bowl game. 600!