Book excerpt: The Big 12 Conference became a reality on February 25, 1994, when four Southwest Conference members merged with the Big Eight Conference institutions. The following teams make up this dominant conference: -- Colorado -- Kansas State -- Oklahoma -- Texas -- Iowa State -- Missouri -- Oklahoma State -- Texas A & M -- Kansas -- Nebraska -- Baylor -- Texas TechCertainly few leagues parallel the quality of Big 12 football when competition begins again this fall. Recent history reveals a staggering level of success, both on a team and individual basis within this conference: -- In the final 1995 AP poll, seven Big 12 teams were ranked, including national champion Nebraska, Colorado (5), Kansas State (7), Kansas (9), Texas (14), Texas A & M (15), and Texas Tech (23). -- The Big 12 has produced nine Heisman Trophy winners, 14 Outland Trophy recipients, seven Lombardi Award winners, and four Jim Thorpe Award recipients -- Nebraska's 1995 national championship gave Big 12 schools fifteen No. 1 rankings in either media or coaches polls. Nebraska is in contention to repeat their national championship this year.The Official Big 12 Football Guide gives fans all the statistics, facts, and records from the teams that make up this powerful conference. Included in this book are: -- 1996 Results -- All-Americans -- Bowl results -- Team histories -- Players to watch -- 1997 Schedules -- Coaching records