Big 12 spring football primer: Power Rankings, burning questions for every team
For the first time since 2010, the Big 12 will decide its champion with a game. Who will be playing in it? For the last two years, the battle in the state of Oklahoma has defined the conference’s top tier, and that looks likely to continue based on where the teams stand entering spring practice.
Still, the biggest story in the Big 12 focuses on neither of the top two teams in SI’s Big 12 Power Rankings, but rather (of course) on Texas. Can Tom Herman refashion the Longhorns into legitimate contenders as quickly as he revamped Houston? He may have the talent to do it, despite last year’s 5–7 campaign.
• More Power 5 spring primers: ACC | Big Ten
1. Oklahoma Sooners
RECORD: 2016 11-2
The Sooners lose most of their skill position talent but return quarterback Baker Mayfield and offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley. They’ll be fine. The defense should build on the progress it demonstrated over the second half of the season when it lowered its scoring average from 36.7 points allowed per game to 19.7 over the final six games (all wins).
2. Oklahoma State Cowboys
RECORD: 2016 10-3
Once again the Bedlam Game may wind up deciding the Big 12 title. The Cowboys received the best news of any team leading up to the NFL draft declaration deadline when Mason Rudolph and James Washington opted for another year in Stillwater. The offense, which also returns running back Justice Hill, should be loaded.
3. Texas Longhorns
RECORD: 2016 5-7
Yes, this is pretty high for a team coming off a 5–7 season and a coaching change, but with the talent Texas has, there’s no reason the Longhorns shouldn’t make some noise in coach Tom Herman’s first year. Texas returns 17 starters, young, highly touted prospects who should be even better with another year of experience. The Longhorns would have been poised for a big leap even if Charlie Strong has been retained.
4. Kansas State Wildcats
RECORD: 2016 9-4
Can Kansas State make one more (last?) run under Bill Snyder? The Wildcats have plenty of experience on offense, including dual-threat quarterback Jesse Ertz, and rising sophomore Alex Barnes has loads of potential at running back after averaging 7.9 yards per carry in 2016. Losing star linebacker Elijah Lee hurts, but K-State got some key juco pieces to reinforce the defense.
5. TCU Horned Frogs
RECORD: 2016 6-7
The Horned Frogs tie with Texas for the most returning starters in the conference (17), including seven players from a defense that ended the year as one of the better units in the Big 12. But any progress is going to likely rely on Kenny Hill to improve his Big 12-worst 13 interceptions or on four-star recruit Shawn Robinson to be able to step in and start right away.
6. West Virginia Mountaineers
RECORD: 2016 10-3
It’s an off-season of transition for the Mountaineers, who—with the possible exception of Texas—may hold the widest range of outcomes of any team in the conference. If transfer quarterback Will Grier shows the form that made him a brief sensation at Florida and safety Dravon Askew Henry returns from injury to solidify the defense, the Mountaineers could make another run at double-digit wins. But if the upheaval of returning just eight starters, including only three on defense, is too much, last year’s success could quickly become a distant memory. I’m hedging my bets for now.
7. Baylor Bears
RECORD: 2016 7-6
New coach Matt Rhule did an excellent job rescuing the Bears’ 2017 recruiting class, but that success won’t pay dividends until a few years from now. For now Rhule is left with a program growing increasingly vacant of the talent that made it a Big 12 threat under Art Briles. The on-field product might get worse before it gets better.
8. Iowa State Cyclones
RECORD: 2016 3-9
The Cyclones finally look like a Big 12 team, capable to piling up points and giving them up too. With star wide receiver Allen Lazard and the emergence of Jacob Park as a passer, Iowa State is a legitimate offensive force. The question is whether they’ll be able to outscore enough opponents to get to bowl eligibility for the first time since 2012.
9. Texas Tech Red Raiders
RECORD: 2016 5-7
Even with one of the best quarterbacks in college football, the Red Raiders still couldn’t make a bowl game. Now that Patrick Mahomes is gone, how far will Texas Tech slide? Even if new quarterback Nic Shimonek fills Mahomes shoes admirably, it’d be hard to progress while continuing to allow 7.05 yards per play.
10. Kansas Jayhawks
RECORD: 2016 2-10
The Jayhawks will almost certainly spend another year in the conference cellar, but they continue to make small steps forward that should continue in 2017. Hiring Doug Meacham to run the offense should provide a spark, as should signing Octavius Matthews, the top juco running back in the class of 2017.