Over the past two seasons the Big 12 has lost four teams and gained 2 teams making the Big 12 a 10 team league. After a bit of a down season last year for the conference this year should be a big bounce back year.
3 Things
1. Sooner or later Oklahoma has to live up to preseason hype.
Every preseason the Sooners have high expectations and often are picked atop the Big 12 but every year since winning the Championship in 2000 the Sooners have some how manage to disappoint by either losing to an inferior conference opponent or losing a BCS Bowl game. Since their Championship Oklahoma has played in 7 BCS games and lost 5 of them. Oklahoma is once again ranked high in the preseason and Bob Stoops needs to start getting it done to maintain his top coach status in this what have you done for me lately world we live in.
2. Texas 2-step with Ash and McCoy
Since Colt McCoy’s departure Texas has struggled to find an adequate replacement. David Ash has apparently won the job early but I’m sure the leash is pretty short and a bad performance may lead to Case McCoy getting his shot. With a good defense and a great running game the Longhorns just need one of these guys to not mess up. They don’t have to win games, just don’t lose them.
3. The Newcomers make an impact.
Over the years TCU has had pretty good teams but unless they were to finish undefeated they wouldn’t get much National Championship love. They would argue that they were as good as any of the BCS conference school but it was obvious they didn’t play the same type of competition. So now they join the Big 12 and they have the opportunity to prove their selves. West Virginia is a top program who jumped ship from a sinking Big East. They landed in a better situation in the Big 12 but can they compete in the much better league.
Surprise Team
Kansas State unexpectedly won 10 games last year. People don’t think they can duplicate that success but Collin Klein might have something to say about that. Last year Klein ran for 1,100 yards and 27 TDS. He threw for another 2,000 and 13 TDS. Klien is a force to be reckoned with.
The Rest
Baylor and Oklahoma State have to replace star QBs and Receivers. Texas Tech is having identity crisis. Weis gets another job and chance to fail in Kansas,( How many chances do this guy get) while Iowa State lives in the basement.
Best Non-Confernce Game
Oklahoma Vs Notre Dame
This game is probably bigger in name alone and for the history of the two programs, Oklahoma has to win this game to be taking serious.
Best Conference Game
Oklahoma vs Texas
The Red River will once again decide the conference champ.
Champion
Texas Longhorn
The Defense and the run game is just to good and I don’t think Ash or McCoy can mess this up.
Best Coach–Bob Stoops(Oklahoma)
Best QB–Geno Smith( West Virginia)
Best Skill Player– WR Tavon Austin(West Virginia)
Best Defender–DE Alex Okafor(Texas)
Impact Freshman– QB Wes Lunt(Oklahoma)
