Big 12 Football Preview
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The Big 12 comes into the 2011 season in limbo. After losing Nebraska and Colorado in the summer, Texas A&M recently announced they would be leaving as well. With just 10 teams this year and 9 in 2012, there will no longer be a conference championship game. Also gone are the North and South divisions. Each Big 12 team will play the other 9 teams in the conference and the champion will earn a BCS bid. Enough of the buildup, let’s get to the predictions.
Oklahoma Sooners
The Sooners come into this season as national championship contenders. QB Landry Jones returns to lead a potent Sooner offense that includes not only a top level offensive line but some home run hitters at the WR position. Ryan Broyles and Kenny Stills can get behind defenses and could propel Jones to a Heisman. The defensive suffered the tragic loss of LB Austin Box in the offseason and LB Travis Lewis will miss up to 6 weeks with a toe injury. DE Frank Alexander and LB Tony Jefferson will have to lead this defense to make some plays. Their offense is legit, but their national title hopes will rest on defense.
Predicted finish: 11-1 (1st in Big 12)
Texas A&M Aggies
They’re bolting from the Big 12 after this season mainly to escape the shadow of the rival Texas Longhorns. They’ve escaped that shadow on the gridiron and could contend for a conference title. QB Ryan Tannehill, RB Cyrus Gray, and WR Jeff Fuller are a dynamic trio and could put up massive numbers offensively. Defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter has turned around the Aggie defense and is in line for a head coaching job in the near future. Even with the loss of Von Miller to the NFL, this unit will be formidable.
Predicted finish: 10-2 (2nd in Big 12)
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Is this the year they finally take the throne from the in state rival Sooners? Not so fast. QB Brandon Weeden and WR Justin Blackmon may be the best QB/WR tandem in the country. They will put up points but can their defense do enough to stop teams? They gave up over 400 yards a game last season and will have to do better if the Cowboys want to land in the BCS.
Predicted finish: 9-3 (3rd in Big 12)
Missouri Tigers
Blaine Gabbert leaving for the NFL draft has left a big hole for the Tigers. James Franklin takes over at QB and he’s got big shoes to fill. Franklin can run so the Tigers will likely tailor their offense to showcase his talent. Their defense is great. Where their offense may lack this season, the defense will be there to pick up the slack. This team is very hard to predict and we will learn a lot about them as they travel to Arizona State in week 2.
Predicted finish: 8-4 (4th in Big 12)
Baylor Bears
The Bears ended their bowl drought last season with an appearance in the Texas bowl and star QB Robert Griffin III returns. Art Briles’ teams never have been able to play much defense so as RG3 goes, so go the Bears. They open the season at home against TCU in what could be a springboard to a breakout season. If they can beat a revamped TCU side this team could do big things. The only thing that could stop them is their abysmal defense.
Predicted finish: 6-6 (Tied 5th in Big 12)
Texas Longhorns
A lot of people would tell you that the Longhorns are the reason for the Big 12’s breakdown. The Aggies and other teams were not happy with the Longhorn Network but that’s all for another article. The Longhorns won just 5 games last season and that kind of season will not fly on the 40 acres. Garrett Gilbert returns at QB after a shaky 1st season starting. He will have to do better or the faithful will be calling for backup, and brother to Longhorn legend, Case McCoy. Defensive coordinator Will Muschamp left to become head coach at Florida and offensive coordinator Greg Davis was let go. Manny Diaz and Bryan Harsin, from Miss State and Boise State respectively, take over as coordinators. This is a big year for the Horns but they’ve got to show me and everyone else that they can return to prominence.
Predicted finish: 6-6 (Tied 5th in Big 12)
Texas Tech Red Raiders
Tommy Tuberville is continuing to rebuild the Red Raiders from their old gun slinging days under Mike Leach. Their offense may struggle as Seth Doege takes over at QB with just on returning starter at WR. The defense is also a question mark as new defensive coordinator Chad Glasgow brings in the 4-2-5. Can Doege continue on the long line of QBs at Tech who put up big numbers? Can RB Eric Stephens provide some balance to the offense? Can the new defense gel in time to stop the big offenses in the conference? There are a lot of questions in Lubbock.
Predicted finish: 5-7 (7th in Big 12)
Iowa State Cyclones
The Cyclones had an up and down year with a win in Austin over the Longhorns but they failed to reach a bowl game with a 5-7 record after a three game losing streak to finish the year. Their offense was terrible at times and last year’s starting QB Jerome Tiller is ineligible this season. The key seems to always be their defense and it will be again this year. They have a formidable non-conference schedule that could make them or break them as they head into conference play.
Predicted finish: 4-8 (Tied 8th in Big 12)
Kansas State Wildcats
The Wildcats made it to a bowl game last season under Bill Snyder and will look to build on this accomplishment. RB Bryce Brown is a big talent but can he stay out of trouble and excel in Manhattan? They make a trip to Miami to take on the U in the third week of the season before a tough conference schedule. They get Oklahoma, Baylor, Missouri, and A&M at home so they could shock some people.
Predicted finish: 4-8 (Tied 8th in Big 12)
Kansas Jayhawks
The Jayhawks bring the basketball prestige to the conference but they will struggle mightily in 2011. Turner Gill continues to rebuild in Lawrence and QB Jordan Webb returning is a plus. Their defense returns just have starters and their offensive line is extremely bad, nearly getting Webb killed last season. Their first game of the season against McNeese State could be their only win.
Predicted finish: 1-11 (10th in Big 12)
