2016 Big 12 preview: Battles at the top and battles for survival define conference

The Big 12 isn't short on intrigue in 2016, from the race for a conference title and College Football Playoff berth to what will happen at Baylor to whether Charlie Strong will earn another year as Texas's coach.

From the SEC and Big Ten to the Sun Belt and Conference USA, the race for league titles is always fascinating. The Big 12 is no exception. The battle between defending conference champ Oklahoma and TCU and Oklahoma State should be thrilling and will likely have College Football Playoff implications.

But what sets the Big 12 apart this season might be its intrigue beyond the title race. After an appalling scandal led to Art Briles’s dismissal this off-season, Baylor is one of the toughest teams to project. Texas coach Charlie Strong will be coaching for his job following a combined 11–14 record in his first two seasons with the Longhorns. West Virginia’s Dana Holgorsen may similarly be coaching for his job while legendary Kansas State coach Bill Snyder aims to prove he still has one more trick up his sleeve.

From the top to the bottom, the Big 12 is filled with storylines—and that’s not even counting the teams who might be joining.

• More 2016 conference preview: Group of Five | ACC

TEAM	Record	TEAM	RECORD
Oklahoma	11–1 (8–1)	Kansas State	6–6 (4–5)
TCU	10–2 (7–2)	Texas Tech	7–5 (4–5)
Oklahoma State	8–4 (5–4)	West Virginia	6–6 (4–5)
Baylor	8–4 (5–4)	Iowa State	5–7 (3–6)
Texas	7–5 (5–4)	Kansas	2–10 (0–9)