Big 12 teams start out behind but still lurking in national championship chase

NORMAN, Okla. – When Big 12 football fans take a quick glimpse at the top of the rankings, there's something missing.

Three weeks into the season and with seven teams still undefeated, the conference doesn't have a team in the top 5 of The Associated Press poll. No. 6 Nebraska, No. 7 Texas and No. 8 Oklahoma are there waiting in the wings, but each has some work to do to get into the mix for the national championship.

BCS analyst Jerry Palm says Big 12 teams shouldn't worry about being behind undefeated Boise State and TCU.

Palm says what any Big 12 team has to fear is going undefeated and still being shut out of the championship game if top-ranked Alabama or No. 2 Ohio State are also unbeaten.