The highest of the Huge 12 standings have usually been reserved for Oklahoma at season’s finish, however 2021 noticed a little bit of upheaval with Baylor and Oklahoma State battling it out in AT&T Stadium for the convention crown in December. Finally, the Bears have been victorious as they capped off a dream-like run throughout coach Dave Aranda’s second season.
With a full offseason within the books, consideration now turns as to if the Sooners, led by first-year coach Brent Venables, can return to their extra acquainted spot atop the convention. If there’s one factor the Huge 12 usually has going for it, although, it is a deep, succesful pack of groups prepared and keen to make an surprising soar. Along with Baylor and Oklahoma State, there are most likely one other three or 4 groups that, given the suitable breaks, might make their very own Huge 12 championship goals come true in 2022.
Considered one of them is Texas, doubtless essentially the most polarizing and perplexing program in faculty soccer. There is no denying the Longhorns’ blue-blood pedigree and expertise — led by new beginning quarterback Quinn Ewers — however this program will not really be “again” till it exhibits in any other case. Will second-year coach Steve Sarkisian put the items collectively for a long-awaited title run, or will the Longhorns as soon as once more fall in need of expectations? That is however one of many myriad Huge 12 storylines for the upcoming fall.
Our CBS Sports activities faculty soccer consultants are right here to make sense of all these urgent questions as they supply their picks and predictions for the Huge 12 forward of the 2022 season. Verify all of them out under.
Most overrated crew
Texas: Idiot me as soon as, disgrace on me. Idiot me, like, 4 billion instances, disgrace on the faculty soccer offseason hype machine. Texas could be again someday, however forgive me for taking an “I am going to imagine it after I see it” strategy. Certain, there are many causes to be enthusiastic about this offense, however the Longhorns scored greater than 35 factors per recreation final season … and nonetheless went 5-7. Until the protection takes a big step ahead, it will be one other disappointing 12 months in Austin. — Tom Fornelli (additionally Dennis Dodd, David Cobb, Jerry Palm)
Oklahoma: The Sooners have been the mannequin of consistency over the previous six years, however they’re coming into a brand new period. Greater than 40% of the roster is new, in accordance with Venables. Gone are the highest two quarterbacks, high two rushers, 4 of the highest 5 receivers and the highest three sack leaders from final season. There’s loads of new expertise to switch the losses, however they have not performed collectively. The teaching workers is new, and the scheme and philosophy are new. This is not a turnkey operation, and we can’t see one of the best of Oklahoma till November. — Shehan Jeyarajah (additionally Barrett Sallee)
Oklahoma State: Coach Mike Gundy is nice for giving the Cowboys a run on the Huge 12 title each few years, however I believe we’ll see them fall again to the pack a bit. The lack of defensive coordinator Jim Knowles to Ohio State, coupled with proficient gamers leaving for the NFL and switch portal, suggests a step again on that aspect of the ball. It is a crew that didn’t eclipse 30 factors in eight video games final season. If Oklahoma State wants extra from quarterback Spencer Sanders and the offense to match its 2021 success, a couple of of these shut video games are going to interrupt the opposite manner. — Chip Patterson
Most underrated crew
Baylor: Yeah, I do know. It sounds bizarre to peg the Huge 12’s defending champions as underrated, however the feeling appears to be that 2022 is a rebuilding 12 months. Do not buy it, and do not be stunned if the Bears win 10 video games and repeat. Coach Dave Aranda is a grasp tactician and has executed an efficient job within the portal. How he handled the quarterback scenario was genius. Incumbent starter Gerry Bohanon was minimize free so the crew might get used to Blake Shapen. Left sort out Connor Galvin could be one of the best lineman (offense or protection) within the Huge 12. Do not sleep on the Bears. — Dodd (additionally Fornelli, Sallee)
Kansas State: The Wildcats are simply 2-10 towards Baylor, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas in coach Chris Klieman’s tenure up to now, however 12 months 4 below Klieman ought to carry a pair extra victories towards that group. The Wildcats boast an elite defensive entrance and one of many nation’s high offensive playmakers in operating again Deuce Vaughn. Nebraska switch Adrian Martinez is a wild card at quarterback, however he ought to enhance now that he is in a steady program with confirmed playmakers round him. — Cobb (additionally Jeyarajah)
TCU: The highest-end expertise at key positions is all there for coach Sonny Dykes in his return to the Energy 5 degree. TCU has two high quality quarterback choices, one of the best deep menace within the Huge 12 (Quentin Johnston) and the league’s finest cowl nook (Trevius Hodges-Tomlinson). Although the struggles from 2021 have been widespread, essentially the most clear and alarming drop off was on the defensive finish. Nevertheless, simply altering up the voices within the room ought to result in some higher play on that aspect on a week-in, week-out foundation. The league’s media is not anticipating a lot, putting the Horned Frogs down at No. 7 in its preseason ballot, however all of the items are in place for a top-three end and a late-season push for the Huge 12 Championship Sport. — Patterson
West Virginia: The Mountaineers don’t get quite a lot of consideration as a result of they don’t seem to be usually within the Huge 12 championship race. They’re persistently aggressive, nonetheless, greater than virtually another crew within the convention. West Virginia has made a bowl recreation in 18 of the final 20 seasons. Solely Oklahoma (20) and Oklahoma State (19) have extra bowl appearances over that point. The Mountaineers might not win the league, however you higher present up able to play them. — Palm
Daring predictions
- Dennis Dodd: Huge 12 commissioner Brett Yormark will add 4 Pac-12 groups through the season in a renegotiated take care of ESPN that can begin in 2024. As a consequence, Texas and Oklahoma will probably be set free of their deal a 12 months early and start enjoying within the SEC in 2024.
- Tom Fornelli: I do not know the way daring it really is, however after all of the hype it is obtained within the offseason, Texas will battle to succeed in 8-4 on the season. Neither Quinn Ewers nor Hudson Card will play effectively sufficient to ascertain themselves because the beginning QB.
- Chip Patterson: Oklahoma will win as many video games in Brent Venables’ first season because it did in Lincoln Riley’s remaining season (11).
- Barrett Sallee: Throw a blanket over spots 1-9. The Huge 12 will probably be so mixed in that it’s going to knock itself out of the Faculty Soccer Playoff because of a number of inexplicable outcomes. In different phrases, do not “fly over” the flyover states. It will be wild.
- Shehan Jeyarajah: The Huge 12 will not produce a Faculty Soccer Playoff crew in 2022, however three groups will end within the high 10. Nevertheless, not one of the three will probably be Texas or Oklahoma.
- David Cobb: Oklahoma will win the breakup with Lincoln Riley and wind up in a extra prestigious bowl recreation than the Trojans with a greater remaining file. The Sooners will probably be within the Faculty Soccer Playoff image coming into the Huge 12 Championship Sport.
- Jerry Palm: Oklahoma won’t solely win the Huge 12 in Brent Venables’ first season, however make the Faculty Soccer Playoff.
Huge 12 predicted order of end
Huge 12 champion
Oklahoma: Brent Venables hasn’t coached a recreation, however he is strung collectively some offseason wins that may assist Oklahoma regain its acquainted spot atop the Huge 12. Hiring offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby and touchdown former UCF quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who performed a few of his most profitable soccer with Lebby as his OC with the Knights, units up the Sooners offense to stay among the many most explosive within the league. But, retaining offensive line coach Invoice Bedenbaugh and different key workers members permits for some continuity. Admittedly, the resignation of receivers coach Cale Gundy is not supreme, however the expertise on the roster alone is robust sufficient to get the Sooners into competition. — Patterson (additionally Fornelli, Cobb, Palm)
Baylor: It looks like all the faculty soccer world is looking for a option to choose any crew aside from Baylor, despite the fact that it must be clear that the defending champion Bears have endurance. Blake Shapen seems to be like a budding celebrity at quarterback, and the defensive entrance is loaded with expertise and depth. Coach Dave Aranda is an ideal match for this system and the brand new, defensively pushed Huge 12. The schedule does not arrange completely, however the Bears are able to navigating roadblocks on their option to AT&T Stadium in December — the place it can hoist the Huge 12 championship trophy for the second straight 12 months. — Sallee (additionally Dodd, Jeyarajah)
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