Big 12 spring football primer: Power Rankings, burning questions for every team

The Big 12 title will likely come down to a battle between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State again—unless Tom Herman can make quick progress at Texas.

For the first time since 2010, the Big 12 will decide its champion with a game. Who will be playing in it? For the last two years, the battle in the state of Oklahoma has defined the conference’s top tier, and that looks likely to continue based on where the teams stand entering spring practice.

Still, the biggest story in the Big 12 focuses on neither of the top two teams in SI’s Big 12 Power Rankings, but rather (of course) on Texas. Can Tom Herman refashion the Longhorns into legitimate contenders as quickly as he revamped Houston? He may have the talent to do it, despite last year’s 5–7 campaign.

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1. Oklahoma Sooners

RECORD: 2016 11-2

The Sooners lose most of their skill position talent but return quarterback Baker Mayfield and offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley. They’ll be fine. The defense should build on the progress it demonstrated over the second half of the season when it lowered its scoring average from 36.7 points allowed per game to 19.7 over the final six games (all wins).

2. Oklahoma State Cowboys

RECORD: 2016 10-3

Once again the Bedlam Game may wind up deciding the Big 12 title. The Cowboys received the best news of any team leading up to the NFL draft declaration deadline when Mason Rudolph and James Washington opted for another year in Stillwater. The offense, which also returns running back Justice Hill, should be loaded.

3. Texas Longhorns

RECORD: 2016 5-7

Yes, this is pretty high for a team coming off a 5–7 season and a coaching change, but with the talent Texas has, there’s no reason the Longhorns shouldn’t make some noise in coach Tom Herman’s first year. Texas returns 17 starters, young, highly touted prospects who should be even better with another year of experience. The Longhorns would have been poised for a big leap even if Charlie Strong has been retained.

4. Kansas State Wildcats

RECORD: 2016 9-4

Can Kansas State make one more (last?) run under Bill Snyder? The Wildcats have plenty of experience on offense, including dual-threat quarterback Jesse Ertz, and rising sophomore Alex Barnes has loads of potential at running back after averaging 7.9 yards per carry in 2016. Losing star linebacker Elijah Lee hurts, but K-State got some key juco pieces to reinforce the defense.

5. TCU Horned Frogs

RECORD: 2016 6-7

The Horned Frogs tie with Texas for the most returning starters in the conference (17), including seven players from a defense that ended the year as one of the better units in the Big 12. But any progress is going to likely rely on Kenny Hill to improve his Big 12-worst 13 interceptions or on four-star recruit Shawn Robinson to be able to step in and start right away.

6. West Virginia Mountaineers

RECORD: 2016 10-3

It’s an off-season of transition for the Mountaineers, who—with the possible exception of Texas—may hold the widest range of outcomes of any team in the conference. If transfer quarterback Will Grier shows the form that made him a brief sensation at Florida and safety Dravon Askew Henry returns from injury to solidify the defense, the Mountaineers could make another run at double-digit wins. But if the upheaval of returning just eight starters, including only three on defense, is too much, last year’s success could quickly become a distant memory. I’m hedging my bets for now.

7. Baylor Bears

RECORD: 2016 7-6

New coach Matt Rhule did an excellent job rescuing the Bears’ 2017 recruiting class, but that success won’t pay dividends until a few years from now. For now Rhule is left with a program growing increasingly vacant of the talent that made it a Big 12 threat under Art Briles. The on-field product might get worse before it gets better.

8. Iowa State Cyclones

RECORD: 2016 3-9

The Cyclones finally look like a Big 12 team, capable to piling up points and giving them up too. With star wide receiver Allen Lazard and the emergence of Jacob Park as a passer, Iowa State is a legitimate offensive force. The question is whether they’ll be able to outscore enough opponents to get to bowl eligibility for the first time since 2012.

9. Texas Tech Red Raiders

RECORD: 2016 5-7

Even with one of the best quarterbacks in college football, the Red Raiders still couldn’t make a bowl game. Now that Patrick Mahomes is gone, how far will Texas Tech slide? Even if new quarterback Nic Shimonek fills Mahomes shoes admirably, it’d be hard to progress while continuing to allow 7.05 yards per play.

10. Kansas Jayhawks

RECORD: 2016 2-10

The Jayhawks will almost certainly spend another year in the conference cellar, but they continue to make small steps forward that should continue in 2017. Hiring Doug Meacham to run the offense should provide a spark, as should signing Octavius Matthews, the top juco running back in the class of 2017.

10 players to watch in the Big 12

Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma QB

Greg Nelson

After finishing fourth and third in the Heisman Trophy voting the past two seasons, could 2017 be the year Mayfield claims the award. To do so, he'll need to identify a new go-to receiver now that Dede Westbrook is gone.

James Washington, Oklahoma State WR

Brett Deering/Getty Images

After catching 71 passes for 1,380 yards with 10 touchdowns, Washington could have easily moved on to the NFL. Luckily for college football fans, he's opting to spend another year in Stillwater.

Connor Williams, Texas OT

John Rivera/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images

A second-team All-America lineman in 2016, Williams is back to protect the blindside for whoever emerges as the Longhorns' starting quarterback.

Allen Lazard, Iowa State WR

David Purdy/Getty Images

One of the biggest offensive weapons Iowa State has had in a while, the 6'5" Lazard caught 69 passes for 1,018 yards with seven scores in 2016.

Dalton Risner, Kansas State OT

Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images

Risner moved from center to tackle last season and didn't miss a beat. He anchored a Wildcats offensive line that tied for second in the Big 12 in sacks allowed.

Travin Howard, TCU LB

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One of the busiest defensive players in the country, Howard ranked sixth in the country last season with 130 tackles. That was a step up from the already impressive 105 he posted in 2015.

Justin Crawford, West Virginia RB

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The former juco product surpassed all expectations in his first FBS season, rushing for 1,184 yards on 7.3 yards per carry in 2016. As the Mountaineers transition to Will Grier at QB, they'll look to Crawford to keep the offense rolling.

Dorance Armstrong, Kansas DE

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Who would have guessed one of the best defensive players in the Big 12 would come from Kansas? Armstrong is a disruptive force who led the Big 12 in tackles for loss (20) and finished second in sacks (10).

Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Oklahoma LB

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Okoronkwo is a ferocious pass-rushing linebacker who finished third in the Big 12 with nine sacks in 2016. Not bad for his first season starting.

Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State QB

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Like his favorite target, James Washington, Rudolph passed on the NFL despite throwing for over 4,000 yards with 28 touchdowns last season. Now he and Washington get to light up Big 12 secondaries again.