Race for Big 12 football title will be as wide open as it has been in many years | Opinion
Think fast: Who will win the Big 12 this season?
Quick, quick.
No dilly, no dally.
Need an answer now!
It's not easy, is it? Perhaps your answer to that question is always whatever team you fancy ― Oklahoma or Oklahoma State, Texas or whomever ― but if your team isn't also your default, coming up with a quick answer this season is difficult.
That's because the Big 12 is as up in the air as it has been in a long time.
As we enter our final week sans college football, excitement is growing. Even though some teams will kick off this week, we're a week away from any Big 12 team playing. Still, this should fire you up in the interim: the Big 12 is up for grabs.
I know, I know. No trophies are ever awarded in August. Even when we think there's a clear favorite, that team still has to go out and win it. Still, there were lots of years during the past decade where you had a pretty good idea who was going to wear the crown at season’s end.
Not this season.
Five teams received first-place votes in the conference’s preseason poll. Baylor. OU. OSU. Texas. Iowa State.
And in the point totals, Kansas State actually ranked ahead of Iowa State.
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You could easily make a case for any of those six teams to make the Big 12 title game. It definitely wouldn't be crazy to see the Bears or Sooners or Cowboys or Longhorns or Cyclones or Wildcats at JerryWorld in December. And if a team gets there, no reason to think they couldn't win it all.
With so many teams capable of making the conference championship game, that means lots more regular-season games will be deciding factors in the Big 12 race. You don’t have to look far on the schedule to find them.
Before the first weekend of October is over, there are at least three games that could have major ramifications. K-State heads to OU while Baylor goes to Iowa State the last weekend of September, then the next weekend, OSU goes to Baylor.
Those games could be early signs of the chaos that's coming.
The Big 12, lest you've forgotten, has become a league light on drama. Even though who makes the title game ― or in the olden days before the title game was reinstated, who won the conference ― often came down to the last weekend of the season, the teams with a legit shot are often known for many moons.
Sure feels like this season could be different.
Why?
For starters, Oklahoma and Texas aren't seen as super heavyweights. Yes, both are expected to be in the title mix, but neither is expected to be a world beater.
In Norman, the reason for that is uncertainty. Not since Bob Stoops took over the program before the 1999 season has there been so much change with Oklahoma football. In the end, the changes might be great for the Sooners. Brent Venables at the helm might be for the best as the Sooners prepare for a future in the SEC. Things may well work out better than they would've had Lincoln Riley not shocked the college football world, left OU and headed to USC.
But there are no guarantees.
For much of the past decade-plus, Oklahoma was just that — a guarantee. There was no doubt the Sooners were going contend for the conference crown. Even though that seems like that could happen this season, there's still a smidge of doubt.
What if it takes a while for the Sooners to adjust to a new offense and a new defense? What if the pieces just aren't there yet to run Venables' defense or Jeff Lebby's offense? What if Dillon Gabriel struggles with Power 5 competition? Until the games start, the questions are many.
That opens the door to others.
Lots of seasons that would favor the other blueblood in the conference, but Texas is still mired in mediocrity. The Longhorns went 5-7 last season, which included a six-game losing streak during Big 12 play. Within that losing streak was a shocking home loss to Kansas.
Back?
Yeah, back in the pack.
But it's not just that Oklahoma has questions and Texas has problems. Several teams look capable of stepping up and grabbing opportunity regardless of that. Baylor and Oklahoma State made the Big 12 title game last season; why couldn't they do it again? Iowa State had an unexpected dip last season; Matt Campbell is too good of a coach to let the Cyclones fall far. K-State has been solid under Chris Klieman, but now, he may have his first big-time quarterback in Adrian Martinez.
Quick: Who will win the Big 12?
I’ll go with the Baylor Bears.
But in a season with so many possibilities, I wouldn’t go too far out on a limb with them.
Jenni Carlson can be reached at jcarlson@oklahoman.com. Follow her at @JenniCarlson_OK.