College Football Power Five Preview: Big 12 Edition… Can Oklahoma bounce back?

College football season is finally upon us after months of wild changes, a transfer portal full of surprises, and a potential conference re-alignment nightmare ahead.

For now, we can finally end months of speculation and watch some kids hit each other on some of the biggest stages in America.

This is part three of the DailyMail.com‘s five-part series dedicated to previewing all of the Power Five conferences in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).

Throughout the week, we will be grouping each of the teams in the biggest conferences into four categories: 

• 1. College Football Playoff Contenders: the teams we expect to be in the national conversation all year long. 

• 2. Cinderella Hopefuls: the teams that will be close to the top of the college football landscape, but will probably just miss out on glory.

• 3. Also-rans: the teams we expect to be in the bowl conversation, maybe even playing close to New Year’s Day, but will probably not shake the tree of the CFB elite. 

• 4. Bottom feeders: be it a tough schedule, a new coach, or just a young team in complete transition, these are the squads that will probably not make any noise in college football this year.

Today we will be taking a look at the 10 teams in the Big 12…

College Football Playoff Contenders    

No. 9 Oklahoma

The Sooners enter a new dawn after head coach Lincoln Riley departed for USC in November of last year. 

Now, it enters the Brent Venables era. After six-straight conference titles, Oklahoma surrendered its stranglehold on the Big 12 with a loss to rivals Oklahoma State shattering their chances of competing in the title game.

Venables’ move from Clemson’s defensive coordinator to Oklahoma’s head coach has not gone smoothly so far, due to a major shakeup on his coaching staff. Assistant coach and former Sooners quarterback Cale Gundy stepped down after repeatedly saying a ‘racially charged’ term to his players during a film session, according to the school. Gundy, the brother of Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy, insists he uttered the offending term inadvertently while reading it aloud off a player’s iPad.

Regardless, the Sooners have a new quarterback in Dillon Gabriel, who threw for more than 70 touchdowns and 8,000 yards during three years at UCF.

Oklahoma will face stiff competition for the Big 12 crown, but with games against rivals Baylor and Oklahoma being played in Norman, the Sooners could top the Big 12 and beyond. 

OSU head coach Mike Gundy recently revealed he interviewed for the Tennessee job in 2017

 No. 12 Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State will undeniably have their eyes on a Big 12 title after their 12-2 record (8-1 conference) last season. 

The Cowboys defeated Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl, in which returning All-Big 12 quarterback Spencer Sanders lit up. 

Seven of OSU’s eight top receivers are back in Stillwater while stud pass rusher Trace Ford returns to a defense that averaged four sacks a game last season. 

Trips to Waco and Norman in October and November, respectively, will likely decide the fortunes of OSU. 

The Cowboys took care of both those teams last season, albeit at home. If they replicate those efforts, the Cowboys could ride to their first Big 12 title in a decade. 

Cinderella Hopefuls

Blake Shapen led Baylor to their first Big 12 championship since 2014 with three TDs and 0 INT

No. 10 Baylor 

After stunning the Big 12 last season, the reigning-champion Bears will be out to prove it was much more than a mere fluke. 

Baylor has lost its two leading rushers — Abram Smith and Trestan Ebner — but should have a higher ceiling at quarterback with Blake Shapen embedded as their starting signal caller.

The Bears lost six players to the draft and have a more unsettled defense, plus more depth concerns at running back than the team had last season. 

Baylor may find it difficult to repeat but if they are able to grab wins against Oklahoma, Texas and BYU on the road and beat Oklahoma State in Waco, they will have every chance to move beyond the Big 12 championship game.

Quinn Ewers will be under instant pressure as Texas’ QB following his transfer from Ohio State

Texas

In all likelihood, the Longhorns will only go as far as new quarterback Quinn Ewers takes them. Steve Sarkisian will hope for greater stability under center after last season.

Running back Bijan Robinson is the foremost college football star in Texas and will contend for the Heisman Trophy if he can replicate his most recent season. 

After a stunning sophomore year with 1,127 yards and 11 touchdowns (and 4 receiving TDs) from 195 carries, Robinson will hope to scale even greater heights in season three.

Texas doesn’t play outside the state of Texas until an October 22 trip to No. 11 Oklahoma State – including five games at home in Austin. 

In spite of the home field advantage, they do have the eighth hardest schedule in the country, including a Week 2 visit from the nation’s No. 1, Alabama. 

Also-Rans 

Deuce Vaughan is set to star for K-State this campaign after rushing for 1,404 yards last season

Kansas State 

After a reasonable 8-5 record last season, Kansas State should be competitive again in most of its games. 

A schedule ranked only 56th should allow them to produce another winning year. 

The Wildcats will be able to wreak havoc in Manhattan with a formidable defensive front. But there are questions as to how effective Nebraska quarterback transfer Adrian Martinez can be. 

K-State’s most important new piece will be bolstered by the supporting cast of running back Deuce Vaughan, first-team All-Big 12 left tackle Cooper Beebe and receivers Phillip Brooks and Malik Knowles all returning.

Georgia transfer JT Daniels will be an giant boost to the Mountaineers if he can remain healthy

West Virginia 

Morgantown is looking to their Mountaineers to do more than merely make up the numbers this season. 

On the back of boom transfer JT Daniels – now on his third school – and offensive coordinator Graham Harrell from USC, West Virginia should be a fun watch, if nothing else.  

Top receiver Winston Wright and running back Leddie Brown have departed but Daniels should have enough talent to work with to open the offensive floodgates. 

WVU’s defense should be able to bring the heat and will certainly be aided by the addition of linebacker/safety Jasir Cox Sr. from North Dakota State.

The Mountaineers are likely to go as far as Daniels can take them, which could be anywhere from competitive to a bowl game winner.

Senior Tyler Shough will open the season as Texas Tech’s starting quarterback vs. Murray State

Texas Tech

The ninth-hardest schedule in the nation has Texas Tech fans less than optimistic – and rightly so. 

Out of conference games against ranked NC State and Houston will make life very hard for the Red Raiders who host Texas and Oklahoma in Lubbock.  

The Red Raiders are coming off a winning season and a Liberty Bowl win, so there is hope with new offensive coordinator Zach Kittley on board and Tyler Shough as their quarterback.

Kittley guided Western Kentucky and New England QB Bailey Zappe to the No. 1 passing offense in the nation last season. 

With first-year head coach Joey McGuire known for his defensive mind, Tech will hope to tighten the screws on the back end to at least win another bowl game.

Hunter Dekkers has been given the gargantuan task of replacing Brock Purdy at Iowa State

Iowa State 

After a reasonably disappointing season in Ames, the Cyclones found themselves on the end of numerous critical departures. 

All-American running back Breece Hall is now in New York with the Jets and Brock Purdy now has a home with the San Francisco 49ers. Replacing the pair is a nigh-on-impossible task for head coach Matt Campbell. 

Hunter Dekkers will take over the quarterback position after studying and learning from Purdy during last season. 

The Cyclones have just three returning defensive starters from 2021 but they will be buoyed by the return of Big 12 sack leader, Will McDonald.

While Iowa State will have the capability to cause upsets all season long, expect a bowl game to be the goal in this campaign. 

TCU QB Max Duggan will be hoping for a rise in wins and productivity during his senior year 

TCU 

The horned frogs have undergone a seismic change during the offseason after longtime head coach Gary Patterson was relived of his duties. 

In steps Sonny Dukes for his first season in Fort Worth despite not making a conference championship – nor winning a bowl game – at previous employer, SMU. 

Max Duggan will return as the team’s starting quarterback after he threw for 2,048 yards, 16 touchdowns and six picks as the Horned Frogs went 5-7.

TCU was a sole win away from a bowl game last season and should have that in reach again with games against South Alabama, Tarleton State and Colorado on their schedule.

Bottom Feeders

Kansas head coach Lance Leipold will have his work cut out to keep pace with their Big 12 rivals

Kansas

The Jayhawks had moments of success in Lawrence despite their paltry 2-10 record. Kansas provided the nation with a gift in the form of a 57-56 overtime win against Texas in Austin. 

Jalon Daniels will start at quarterback for Kansas after showing signs of promise after starting the final three games of last season.

The traditional basketball power were the worst-rated offense and defense in a slew of categories. 

Likely, nothing will change there. However, with the Jayhawks’ strength of schedule ranked 21st, perhaps a few more shocks are to come.