Highlights from Gary Pinkel’s Monday teleconference:

Asked if this year’s Missouri team is better than  last year’s: “It’s debatable. The league is so good this year, all the teams are playing at an all-time level. We had a couple of bumps in road, that’s going to happen. The bigger key is how you rebound and make yourself better. I can entertain that statement possibly but that’s a great statement for our league. Hard to say (which areas may be better than last year), very difficult to say. We are about where I expected us to be. I’m still not satisfied. We turn it over too much. We have some inconsistency. I’m just not satisfied. That’s who I am. “

On how having clinched Big 12 North affects game with Kansas on Nov. 29: “Not at all. That game is big all by itself. It’s Kansas. Doesn’t matter the record or where it’s played or anything. We will focus on that game as we would have. Obviously, it’s a huge, important game.”

On watching the Texas Tech-Oklahoma game, which could decide the South champion: “(Our players) will. It’s like last week with Texas-Kansas. They know what’s going on. They don’t live in a cave. That’s OK. We don’t start our Kansas prep until next week. Everybody’s going to watch. Should see some great things. I enjoy watching. It’s kind of fun this week. You always beat bye. Just relax and watch.”

On the top three teams in the Big 12 South: “All are alike in many ways … outstanding quarterbacks, high-level offenses, good defensive teams. There are parallels in all three. Tech is playing better defense and running more than in the past. Three great coaches, three great teams. See how whole thing sorts out.”

On the Big 12 tiebreaker that could use BCS standings to determine South champion: “Depending on which end of the table you are, it could be good or be bad. Somebody suggested a mini-playoff with the week but that’s not going to happen.”

On playing the KU game at Arrowhead: “We have to maintain six home games. As long as it’s healthy for us a and a plus financially, for the foreseeable future, be all for it from my standpoint.”

On winning North title: “It’s so hard to win, such a great league, feel very fortunate. The only way to win a Big 12 title is to win the division first. It’s been our goal since the beginning of the year.”