A year after they were snubbed in the inaugural College Football Playoff, the Big 12 earned a playoff berth in 2015 with Oklahoma getting the opportunity to play the top-ranked team in the country in Clemson in the semi-final. The Sooners couldn’t get past the Tigers but it represented a positive step forward for the conference with the Big 12 once again on the map heading in to next season. A lot can change between now and then but already we are looking forward to next year with prediction for how things will play out in the Big 12. Here is a way too early look ahead to next year’s Big 12 power rankings.
1. Oklahoma Sooners
An Orange Bowl loss to Clemson ended Oklahoma’s national title hopes but there is plenty of reason for optimism when it comes to the Sooners’ chances of getting back to the CFP next season. Almost the entire offense will be back and while the defense will have some holes to plug following a handful of key losses it should still be good enough to help Oklahoma contend for another Big 12 title. Non-conference games against Houston and Ohio State certainly won’t be easy but if the offense can continue to build in the right direction then the Sooners will be the best in the Big 12 once again next season.
2. Baylor Bears
The fact that Baylor won a bowl game without its top two quarterbacks is testament to the job that head coach Art Briles has done and there is plenty of reason for optimism looking forward to next year with quarterback Seth Russell set to return for his senior season. The Bears will need to find a replacement for top wide receiver Corey Coleman and defensive tackle Andrew Billings but the program has done an excellent job of reloading every single year and there is no reason to doubt them now with a chance for Baylor to be one of the best in the Big 12 once again next season.
3. Oklahoma State Cowboys
Oklahoma State was beaten up by Ole Miss in last year’s Sugar Bowl but the core group is back for a very talented team. There is every reason to think they can be a contender in the Big 12 once again next year – especially since they fielded such a young team. Some people felt that Oklahoma State was a year or two away, but their development happened much sooner than expected as they were actually the last undefeated team in the Big 12 this season after their 10-0 start. Mason Rudolph will have to take another step forward at quarterback and the Cowboys will have to develop a more consistent rushing attack, but if those two things happen then Oklahoma State will certainly be on the map in the Big 12 again next season.
4. TCU Horned Frogs
The Horned Frogs managed to win 11 games despite a ton of injuries last season and while the losses of quarterback Trevone Boykin and wide receiver Josh Doctson will be a major obstacle to overcome the fact that they did as good as they did this season without so many key pieces is proof that TCU can be a perennial contender under head coach Gary Patterson in the Big 12. The Horned Frogs need to reload but there is enough talent in place that the Horned Frogs can contend if they can find a capable enough replacement at quarterback for next season.
5. West Virginia Mountaineers
A Cactus Bowl win over Arizona State took some of the pressure off of head coach Dana Holgorsen but the Mountaineers haven’t won more than seven regular season games since joining the Big 12 and the expectation will be that they finally get over that hump next season. Quarterback Skylar Howard’s development is extremely important but consistency will be the key as he continues to grow at the position next year. The Mountaineers will also need to reload defensively after losing some key pass-rushers on that side of the football but there is enough talent for West Virginia to be in the mix in the Big 12 and all eyes will be on Holgorsen to see if he can finally get them over the hump.
