Written by Jon Lee
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Oklahoma is the overwhelming favorite in the conference projected to finish with the best record 64 percent of the time. The Sooners return Landry Jones at quarterback along with the “Bell-dozer” Blake Bell. The running back corps is deep. The only real question on offense were the receivers, but newcomer Trey Metoyer is expected to step right in, and Jazz Reynolds and Trey Franks will eventually be reinstated from their suspensions.

The real question for Oklahoma is the defense which should improve with the return of Mike Stoops as defensive coordinator. The Sooners are a cut above the rest in the Big 12, but are not perfect and will probably find a way to lose a game or two and stay out of the national championship picture.

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The rest of the conference is tightly bunched together with Texas next in line. The Longhorns have had a few subpar years in a row now, but could finally be return as a threat to OU. The quarterback situation is still a mess with Case McCoy and David Ash, but both players were incredibly young and inexperienced last year and whoever plays/starts will be better. The offense returns all but one starter, and either quarterback should be able to rely on the running game with Joe Bergeron, Malcolm Brown, and elite freshman Johnathan Gray in the backfield. The defense was actually elite last season, and should be once again with Alex Okafor and Jackson Jeffcoat terrorizing opposing QBs.

TCU and West Virginia both make the jump into the big leagues this year with the former being known for defense and the latter for offense. The Mountaineers are the team built more like a typical Big 12 team with the wide-open offense of Dana Hologorsen mirroring that of the rest of the conference. TCU meanwhile has hung its hat on the defensive side of the ball, but will find it much more difficult going against high-powered offenses week in and week out. Both teams could be contenders behind Oklahoma, but will have to adjust to better competition in the Big 12.

Simulations view Kansas State somewhere between legitimate and frauds. The Cats definitely overachieved last year squeezing out close games, but they are still bowl teams according to simulations. They should remain competitive as all Bill Snyder teams typically are, but will need to find more help for quarterback Collin Klein to make a true leap into the upper tier of the Big 12.

It might be surprising that Oklahoma State is projected for a 5-4 conference season, but look at the facts. The Cowboys are going with a true freshman quarterback in Wes Lunt, a move that almost never works out. Justin Blackmon is gone as well. And the defense was still suspect last year, and the offense can’t be counted on to the same degree once again. Expect the team to be competitive, just not for the conference title.

Texas Tech, Iowa State, Baylor, and Kansas will have to resort to playing spoiler this season. All four teams appear to be rebuilding and far away from contention.