Projected Standings
1. Oklahoma Sooners
Schedule Strength: Moderately Easy
Key Losses: FB Trey Millard, WR Jalen Saunders, OLB Corey Nelson, and CB Aaron Colvin
NFL Draft Prospects: QB Trevor Knight, WR Jaz Reynolds, LT Tyrus Thompson, RT Daryl Williams, LG Adam Shead, DE Charles Tapper, DT Jordan Phillips, OLB Eric Striker and ILB Frank Shannon
Summary: Four straight wins at the end of last season including a Sugar Bowl win over Alabama has the Sooners as one of the favorites for the new College Football Playoff. And why not? They have the momentum, nine starters back on defense, their QB back, and a schedule that sees all their top games at home. QB Trevor Knight has star written all over him.
2. Baylor Bears
Schedule Strength: Moderately Easy
Key Losses: RB Lache Seastrunk, WR Tevin Reese, LG Cyril Richardson, CB Demetri Goodson, and SS Ahmad Dixon
NFL Draft Prospects: QB Bryce Petty, RB Shock Linwood, WR Antwan Goodley, WR Levi Norwood, LT Spencer Drango, DE Shawn Oakman and ILB Bryce Hager
Summary: Even with only ten starters back, they'll still be one of the favorites to win the Big 12. Mainly because star QB Bryce Petty will be leading a speedy offense that returns plenty of weapons. But the key like every year will be the defense. Oakman is the player to watch. He has the potential to take over games, but disappears way too often. Their November 8th game at Oklahoma will be the de facto conference title game.
Key Losses: RB Lache Seastrunk, WR Tevin Reese, LG Cyril Richardson, CB Demetri Goodson, and SS Ahmad Dixon
NFL Draft Prospects: QB Bryce Petty, RB Shock Linwood, WR Antwan Goodley, WR Levi Norwood, LT Spencer Drango, DE Shawn Oakman and ILB Bryce Hager
Summary: Even with only ten starters back, they'll still be one of the favorites to win the Big 12. Mainly because star QB Bryce Petty will be leading a speedy offense that returns plenty of weapons. But the key like every year will be the defense. Oakman is the player to watch. He has the potential to take over games, but disappears way too often. Their November 8th game at Oklahoma will be the de facto conference title game.
3. Texas Longhorns
Schedule Strength: Tough
Key Losses: No Players Drafted
NFL Draft Prospects: RB Malcolm Brown, WR Jaxon Shipley, LG Sedrick Flowers, C Dominic Espinosa, DE Cedric Reed, DT Malcolm Brown, OLB Jordan Hicks and CB Quandre Diggs
Summary: Talent has never been a question for the Longhorns, but the Longhorns have underachieved under Mack Brown. Charlie Strong has to be happy because he walks into a talent rich defense. Look for DE Cedric Reed to be one of several players to blossom under Strong. However as we've seen in the past, the Longhorns will be nothing more than average till they find a difference maker at QB. David Ash isn't that guy.
Key Losses: No Players Drafted
NFL Draft Prospects: RB Malcolm Brown, WR Jaxon Shipley, LG Sedrick Flowers, C Dominic Espinosa, DE Cedric Reed, DT Malcolm Brown, OLB Jordan Hicks and CB Quandre Diggs
Summary: Talent has never been a question for the Longhorns, but the Longhorns have underachieved under Mack Brown. Charlie Strong has to be happy because he walks into a talent rich defense. Look for DE Cedric Reed to be one of several players to blossom under Strong. However as we've seen in the past, the Longhorns will be nothing more than average till they find a difference maker at QB. David Ash isn't that guy.
4. Kansas State Wildcats
Schedule Strength: Tough
Key Loss: OT Tavon Rooks
NFL Draft Prospects: QB Jake Waters, WR Tyler Lockett, LG Cody Whitehair, C BJ Finney and DE Ryan Mueller
Summary: The job that Bill Snyder has done at Kansas State is nothing short of amazing. They don't have a team built to contend for the conference title, but we didn't think that back in 2012 either. Having QB Jake Waters back brings some stability to the offense that won't have trouble putting up points. However their defenses (5 returning starters) doesn't look like it's going to be able to regularly slow down this high powered Big 12 offenses. Eight or nine wins should be the ceiling for them.
Key Loss: OT Tavon Rooks
NFL Draft Prospects: QB Jake Waters, WR Tyler Lockett, LG Cody Whitehair, C BJ Finney and DE Ryan Mueller
Summary: The job that Bill Snyder has done at Kansas State is nothing short of amazing. They don't have a team built to contend for the conference title, but we didn't think that back in 2012 either. Having QB Jake Waters back brings some stability to the offense that won't have trouble putting up points. However their defenses (5 returning starters) doesn't look like it's going to be able to regularly slow down this high powered Big 12 offenses. Eight or nine wins should be the ceiling for them.
5. TCU Horned Frogs
Schedule Strength: Moderately Easy
Key Loss: CB Jason Verrett
NFL Draft Prospects: DE Devonte Fields, DT Chucky Hunter, CB Kevin White, SS Sam Carter and FS Chris Hackett
Summary: It's been a disappointment since joining the Big 12, but it's nothing to do with their defense. The Horned Frogs under Gary Patterson are always going to play tough defense. Now if they can get their offense up to speed they could contend for a league title. This season they brought in Co-OC Sonny Cumbie and A&M transfer QB Matt Joeckel to run an uptempo attack. Could this be the magic touch, or a desperate move? We'll find out.
Key Loss: CB Jason Verrett
NFL Draft Prospects: DE Devonte Fields, DT Chucky Hunter, CB Kevin White, SS Sam Carter and FS Chris Hackett
Summary: It's been a disappointment since joining the Big 12, but it's nothing to do with their defense. The Horned Frogs under Gary Patterson are always going to play tough defense. Now if they can get their offense up to speed they could contend for a league title. This season they brought in Co-OC Sonny Cumbie and A&M transfer QB Matt Joeckel to run an uptempo attack. Could this be the magic touch, or a desperate move? We'll find out.
6. Oklahoma State Cowboys
Schedule Strength: Tough
Key Loss: CB Justin Gilbert
NFL Draft Prospects: LT Daniel Koenig, DE Jimmy Bean, DT James Castleman and CB Kevin Peterson
Summary: A combination of a tough schedule and depleted (8 total starters back) team could cause the Cowboys to fall down the standings. JW Walsh inherits the starting job after Clint Chelf graduated. Walsh is the key to the season, but he'll need to improve on last year's shaky season. If not, don't be surprised to see the Cowboys in the bottom half of the conference.
Key Loss: CB Justin Gilbert
NFL Draft Prospects: LT Daniel Koenig, DE Jimmy Bean, DT James Castleman and CB Kevin Peterson
Summary: A combination of a tough schedule and depleted (8 total starters back) team could cause the Cowboys to fall down the standings. JW Walsh inherits the starting job after Clint Chelf graduated. Walsh is the key to the season, but he'll need to improve on last year's shaky season. If not, don't be surprised to see the Cowboys in the bottom half of the conference.
7. Texas Tech Red Raiders
Schedule Strength: Moderate
Key Losses: TE Jace Amaro and ILB Will Smith
NFL Draft Prospects: RB Kenny Williams, LT Le'Raven Clark and LG Alfredo Morales
Summary: With a more balanced schedule you won't see the Red Raiders feast on the easy teams before not winning another regular season game. Nine starters return including QB Davis Webb are back and will continue to score around the 40 point per game mark. But as it always is with Tech, the defense is what is going to win games for them. They gave up 29 points per game last year and that could get even worse this year.
Key Losses: TE Jace Amaro and ILB Will Smith
NFL Draft Prospects: RB Kenny Williams, LT Le'Raven Clark and LG Alfredo Morales
Summary: With a more balanced schedule you won't see the Red Raiders feast on the easy teams before not winning another regular season game. Nine starters return including QB Davis Webb are back and will continue to score around the 40 point per game mark. But as it always is with Tech, the defense is what is going to win games for them. They gave up 29 points per game last year and that could get even worse this year.
8. Iowa State Cyclones
Schedule Strength: Moderately Tough
Key Losses: ILB Jeremiah George
NFL Draft Prospects: TE EJ Bibbs and C Tom Farniok,
Summary: After a uncharacteristic three win season last year there are plenty of changes in Ames. Mainly the hiring of former Kansas HC Mark Mangino who is the new OC. Mangino is a proven offensive mind and having ten starters back on offense could lead the Cyclones to putting up points. But they're still lacking elite talent and will struggle having to play every team in the conference. Looks like another year without bowling for ISU.
9. West Virginia Mountaineers
Key Losses: ILB Jeremiah George
NFL Draft Prospects: TE EJ Bibbs and C Tom Farniok,
Summary: After a uncharacteristic three win season last year there are plenty of changes in Ames. Mainly the hiring of former Kansas HC Mark Mangino who is the new OC. Mangino is a proven offensive mind and having ten starters back on offense could lead the Cyclones to putting up points. But they're still lacking elite talent and will struggle having to play every team in the conference. Looks like another year without bowling for ISU.
9. West Virginia Mountaineers
Schedule Strength: Tough
Key Losses: RB Charles Sims and DE William Clarke
NFL Draft Prospect: LG Quinton Spain, DE Shaquille Riddick and FS Karl Joseph
Summary: Coming into the Big 12 the Mountaineers were thought to be a yearly contender. Instead they finished with four wins and no expectations. They also lack elite talent which spells disaster in this league. QB Clint Trickett is back for his second year but they don't have the same playmakers that made them successful in the past. It's going to be a long year and the heat could be turning up on Dana Holgerson.
10. Kansas Jayhawks
Key Losses: RB Charles Sims and DE William Clarke
NFL Draft Prospect: LG Quinton Spain, DE Shaquille Riddick and FS Karl Joseph
Summary: Coming into the Big 12 the Mountaineers were thought to be a yearly contender. Instead they finished with four wins and no expectations. They also lack elite talent which spells disaster in this league. QB Clint Trickett is back for his second year but they don't have the same playmakers that made them successful in the past. It's going to be a long year and the heat could be turning up on Dana Holgerson.
10. Kansas Jayhawks
Schedule Strength: Moderate
Key Losses: No Players Drafted
NFL Draft Prospect: ILB Ben Heeney and S Isaiah Johnson
Summary: If it wasn't for the quick firing of Turner Gill (after two years) you would think that Charlie Weis would have already been gone. In his first two years the Jayhawks have been flat out awful and they don't look to be getting any better. Weis was suppose to be the savor who brought in all the talent. Instead they've been flat out bad.
Key Losses: No Players Drafted
NFL Draft Prospect: ILB Ben Heeney and S Isaiah Johnson
Summary: If it wasn't for the quick firing of Turner Gill (after two years) you would think that Charlie Weis would have already been gone. In his first two years the Jayhawks have been flat out awful and they don't look to be getting any better. Weis was suppose to be the savor who brought in all the talent. Instead they've been flat out bad.
Coaching Carousel
Coach of the Year: Bob Stoops, Oklahoma
Coach on the Hotseat: Dana Holgerson, West Virginia
Coordinator for Hire: Josh Huepel, Oklahoma (Co-Offensive Coordinator)
Top 20 Prospects for the 2015 NFL Draft
1. Levi Norwood WR Baylor
2. Bryce Petty QB Baylor
3. Quandre Diggs CB Texas
4. Cedric Reed DE Texas
5. Antwan Goodley WR Baylor
6. Devonte Fields DE TCU
7. Shawn Oakman DE Baylor
8. Malcolm Brown RB Texas
9. Eric Striker OLB Oklahoma
10. Malcolm Brown DT Texas
11. Spencer Drango OT Baylor
12. Karl Joseph S West Virginia
13. Quinton Spain G West Virginia
14. BJ Finney C Kansas State
15. Jordan Phillips DT Oklahoma
16. Bryce Hagar ILB Baylor
17. Tyrus Thompson OT Oklahoma
18. Cody Whitehair G Kansas State
19. Jordan Hicks OLB Texas
20. EJ Bibbs TE Iowa State
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