Smith leads sterling group of Big 12 quarterbacks

Published Oct. 1, 2012 11:29 p.m. ET

foxsports

Typically a league that loses a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback and another who threw 37 touchdown passes is going to see its overall passing numbers slip.

There's nothing typical about the Big 12.

The departure of Baylor's Robert Griffin III and Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden has done nothing to limit the league's passing games.

Four of the nation's top five quarterbacks in passing efficiency play for Big 12 schools, a category led by West Virginia's Geno Smith and Texas's David Ash. Smith and Baylor's Nick Florence rank first and second in passing yards per game.