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Big 12 Football: 5 teams that can dethrone Oklahoma in 2017
Dec 3, 2016; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Geno Lewis (5) scores a touchdown against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the second quarter at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Taking a look at some of the best options in the Big 12 that could possibly dethrone the reigning back-to-back conference champion Oklahoma Sooners.
The Oklahoma Sooners have run the Big 12 over the last two seasons. Quarterback Baker Mayfield led Oklahoma to appearances in the College Football Playoff against the Clemson Tigers in 2015 and a Sugar Bowl victory over the Auburn Tigers last season. There's no doubt that the Sooners have run the Big 12 of late, but they did lose a lot of talent before the 2017 season. Yet they do have Mayfield returning for yet another year.
The obvious question in the Big 12 involves one team stepping up and dethroning Oklahoma. It seems the two likely options to succeed in that hefty task are the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Kansas State Wildcats. A few dark horses include the TCU Horned Frogs, Texas Longhorns (with Tom Herman now at the helm), and the West Virginia Mountaineers. Baylor and Texas Tech will likely experience too much change to compete for the Big 12 Title this season.
Overall, the biggest change to the conference landscape for 2017 is the addition of the Big 12 Championship Game. While the conference did not add any extra teams, they will still have a title game featuring the top two teams in the Big 12 standings at the end of the regular season. For the last two years Oklahoma and Oklahoma State have competed in a de facto Big 12 title game in their annual Bedlam contests. Oklahoma emerged victorious both times.
Knowing all the possibilities of teams that have a chance to knock off OU, let's take a look at the chances of each team actually accomplishing the task.
Oct 15, 2016; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Dede Westbrook (11) runs for a touchdown after a reception against Kansas State Wildcats defensive back Dante Barnett (22) during the third quarter at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
5. Kansas State Wildcats
The good news for Kansas State is that it gets TCU, Oklahoma, Baylor and West Virginia at home. Landing Oklahoma State and Texas on the road is tough but the Wildcats largely have a very favorable conference schedule in 2017.
They also return veteran and dual-threat quarterback Jesse Ertz who can lead Kansas State to enormous success next season if he manages to stay healthy for the entire season. Bill Snyder needs to continue to work his magic that he somehow comes up with every season to make Kansas State a national contender, though.
The tough part for the Big 12, as a whole conference, if Kansas State brings home the conference title is the significance and national relevance of the program. Would a one-loss or even an undefeated Kansas State team garner enough respect to get into the College Football Playoff?
Dec 3, 2016; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Geno Lewis (5) scores a touchdown against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the second quarter at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
4. Oklahoma State Cowboys
Oklahoma State has the best chance, on paper, of knocking off Oklahoma. It's hard to argue that Oklahoma actually has a more talented offense than that of the Cowboys. In fact, Oklahoma State returns Mason Rudolph, James Washington, Justice Hill, Marcell Ateman, Chris Lacy and Jalen McCleskey in 2017. There are so many weapons it's absolutely ridiculous.
Yet you cannot overlook the trouble that Oklahoma State has faced in knocking off OU. The Sooners have dominated the Bedlam rivalry since it started more than 100 years ago. Whether head coach Mike Gundy can finally get over the Bedlam hump or not will determine the success of OK State in 2017 as well as the defense.
The defense does return some talent in the way of players like linebacker Chad Whitener, safety Tre Flowers, and converted safety Ramon Richards. But defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer needs to whip his unit into better shape than they were in during the 2016 campaign.
Oct 8, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) fumbles the ball in the fourth quarter against theTexas Longhorns at Cotton Bowl. Oklahoma recovered the fumble and won 45-40. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
3. Texas Longhorns
The Longhorns are the most interesting team to talk about this offseason, which has become a normal occurrence since Mack Brown left the program. Former Houston Cougars head coach Tom Herman takes the helm in Austin. Hopefully, for the sake of UT fans, Herman can put together a decent season this fall.
Texas has been competitive with Oklahoma in recent years in the Red River Showdown. The Stronghorns (under former head coach Charlie Strong) actually handed OU its only regular season loss during the 2015 season which also almost cost the Sooners their chance at a spot in the College Football Playoff.
The success of the Horns largely lies in the hands of sophomore quarterback Shane Buechele, who had an up and down freshman campaign. Freshman quarterback Sam Ehlinger lies waiting for Buechele to lose a step in the quarterback battle to get his chance to take the reigns of the offense.
The most attractive aspect of Texas winning the Big 12 is the national appeal. Texas is a nationally-respected brand in the college football world and voters would love to have the Horns in the playoff. It would garner great TV ratings and possibly a very interesting matchup with whoever they would be paired with in the semifinals.
Yet the Horns actually have to exceed expectations for the first time in more than five years to even think about the possibility of a College Football Playoff berth.
Oct 1, 2016; Fort Worth, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back Joe Mixon (25) runs past TCU Horned Frogs safety Denzel Johnson (30) during the game at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
2. TCU Horned Frogs
The Frogs are not the "sexiest" option for the Big 12 but they have been a strong competitor in the conference over the last three seasons. They took a share of the Big 12 title in 2014 and finished in the AP Top 25 in 2015.
Head coach Gary Patterson could very well be the second best head coach at "doing a lot with a little" in the Big 12 behind Kansas State's Bill Snyder. Patterson works magic, especially on the defensive side of the ball, each and every year for the Frogs.
The biggest x-factor for the Frogs is at the quarterback position. Senior quarterback Kenny Hill is in his last year in college football and needs to make a consistently positive impact for the first time in his career. Hill had some great games last season, complimented by numerous turnover-heavy performances. KaVontae Turpin's return should assist Hill in a successful 2017 campaign.
Can the Frogs stay healthy and efficient is the biggest question for their overall success entering the 2017 season.
Nov 19, 2016; Morgantown, WV, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back Samaje Perine (32) runs the ball during the second quarter against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
1. West Virginia Mountaineers
The seemingly forgotten team in the Big 12, WVU put together a very solid 2016 campaign. The Mountaineers were clearly the third best team in the conference last season. And they only look to improve under Florida transfer and strong-arm quarterback Will Grier.
Head coach Dana Holgorsen finally got his 10 win season in 2016 but he also needs to make that a consistent result during Big 12 competition. Holgorsen came up short against his former boss in OK State head coach Mike Gundy and got thrashed by the Sooners last season.
Holgorsen needs to take the Mountaineers to the next level this season, on both sides of the ball, to make WVU a true contender for a Big 12 title.
The bad news is, WVU lands OU, BU, TCU and K-State on the road. They only get Oklahoma State and Texas at home in 2017 and both those teams will be tough outs either way. Morgantown seems to be as good of home field advantage as any but West Virginia needs some magic on the road in 2017.
Grier needs to be a game changer and the defense needs to be consistently great after the loss of last season's tragically injured safety, Karl Joseph, to take home the Big 12 title.
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