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You shouldn't be surprised that I've run out of lighthearted financial humor four weeks into the season. Let's get to it. Rising: First-year starting linebackers
The conference's top two tacklers are both first-year starters at their positions. After making 19 stops against South Dakota State, Nebraska's Lavonte David has taken the lead with 44 tackles for the Huskers, three ahead of No. 2, Iowa State's A.J. Klein. Klein and David are the only two players in the conference averaging more than 10 tackles per game.
Falling: Texas' rush defense
It's one of the (several) reasons the Longhorns lost to UCLA, but Rick Neuheisel and Norm Chow's pistol formation shredded the nation's best rush defense for 264 yards -- 303 without sacks. It kept the Longhorns' pass rush from becoming a big factor and kept Garrett Gilbert and the Texas offense on the sidelines. Now, Texas ranks 20th in rush defense. Oklahoma will try to take advantage of that on Saturday, but Texas defensive linemen Sam Acho, Kheeston Randall and Eddie Jones have combined for 18 tackles for loss through four games.
Rising: Baylor kicker Aaron Jones
They call the 6-foot-2, 175-pound walk-on "Stork." But the Stork has been delivering through four games this season. He's made 8-of-10 attempts, including 3-of-4 against Rice in his first game on the road. His eight field goals are tied with Missouri's Grant Ressel for the conference lead and sixth nationally, though he did miss from 26 yards on Saturday. He's also made all 12 PATs on the year.
Falling: Nebraska's rush defense
The Huskers have surrendered a league-low seven rushing touchdowns -- fifth-fewest nationally -- and ranked fourth in yards per carry, at 2.78. Washington ran for 175 yards, Washington State ran for 179 yards and FCS South Dakota State ran for 141 yards on Saturday against the Huskers. Last year, only six teams topped 100 yards against the Huskers, but it took time for the Blackshirts to hit their stride last season too. They gave up 100 years to three of their first four opponents in 2009. They'll need to pick it up again to make a run at a Big 12 title. Only Kansas State and Colorado reached 100 total yards rushing in Nebraska's final seven games.
Rising: Texas turnovers/Falling: Oklahoma turnovers
Need a telling stat for Saturday's Red River game? Oklahoma has the conference's best turnover margin, at plus-8. That's good for No. 4 nationally. Texas, meanwhile, is at minus-3, which is 92nd nationally. Oklahoma has intercepted six passes and recovered six fumbles, while losing just one fumble and throwing three interceptions. Texas has recovered four fumbles and has three interceptions. On offense, it has lost six fumbles and thrown four interceptions.
To combat those interceptions, Gilbert has thrown four touchdowns. Oklahoma's Landry Jones has thrown nine, second in the Big 12 behind Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden.
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