Oklahoma bounced back from a slow start to run the table in the Big 12 and finish with a conference championship. The Sooners are once again considered the favorite to win the Big 12 with Oklahoma State, Kansas State, West Virginia and Texas all expected to be in the mix. Here is a look at the biggest strengths of the top Big 12 teams.
Oklahoma – Pass Offense
The Sooners are the only team in the country with a quarterback that twice finished in the top five in Heisman trophy voting in Baker Mayfield. The junior quarterback completed 71-percent of his passes for 3,965 yards and 40 touchdowns compared to just eight interceptions last season while leading Oklahoma to an 11-2 record, including a 9-0 mark in Big 12 play. Mayfield is one of the most accomplished passers in the entire country and he is a big reason why the Sooners are primed to contend for a Big 12 title and a spot in the College Football Playoff.
The key will be for Mayfield to stay out of trouble off the field. This hasn’t been a consistent issue with him but a recent DUI has raised some red flags. Hopefully he keeps his focus on the field.
Oklahoma State – Pass Offense
Oklahoma State has an excellent quarterback in its own right with Mason Rudolph, who is coming off a monster season in which he completed 63.4-percent of his passes for 4,091 yards and 28 touchdowns compared to just four interceptions. Rudolph has the potential to put up monster numbers in the Cowboys offense with top wide receiver James Washington back as well. Washington is coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and with a strong cast of talent behind him on the wide receiver depth chart the Oklahoma State passing game should be one of the best in the country in 2017.
Kansas State – Pass Defense
The Wildcats are considered a team on the rise in the Big 12 after winning nine games a year ago and their pass defense will be one of the keys to their success this season. Cornerbacks D.J. Reed and Duke Shelley make up one of the best tandems in the nation with Reed named the Defensive Newcomer of the Year in the Big 12 last season and Shelley set to start for the third year in a row. Oklahoma and Oklahoma State both have elite passing attacks so it’s fitting that Kansas State will need to rely on its elite pass defense.
West Virginia – Running Game
The Mountaineers have arguably the best group of running backs in the country with Justin Crawford, Russell Shell III and Kennedy McKoy leading the way. Crawford ran for 1,184 yards and four touchdowns last season while Shell ran for 514 yards and five scores and McKoy pitched in with 472 yards and four scores. Will Grier could be a substantial upgrade at quarterback for West Virginia but their running game is undoubtedly the strength of this team. That’s a really good sign for head coach Dana Holgersen as he knows how to get the passing game to work. Led by quarterback Will Grier, who is a transfer from the University of Florida, the Mountaineers figure to have one of the most balanced, lethal offenses in the country in 2017.
Texas – Offensive Line
Texas has an incredible sheer amount of talent throughout their roster with 37 former ESPN 300 recruits on their roster. They are strong at quarterback, running back and wide receiver on offense but their biggest strength might be their offensive line, led by tackle Connor Williams, who is one of the best in the Big 12. The Longhorns will lean on that offensive line to maximize their potential both in the run and passing game as they attempt to contend for a conference title this season. Even with so much talent, though, the task will be on new head coach Tom Herman to get the most out of them. He will be in his first year on the job in Austin and there will be big demands on him to get more out of this roster. The previous regime, led by former head coach Charlie Strong, recruited very well but couldn’t get this team to win big games. We’ll see if Herman can do more with them.
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