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Big 12 Football: 5 most important non-conference games in 2017

By Jerran Anderson

Apr 15, 2017; Austin, TX, USA; Texa Longhorns head football coach Tom Herman signals during a post game review during the Texas orange-white spring game at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Gutierrez-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 15, 2017; Austin, TX, USA; Texa Longhorns head football coach Tom Herman signals during a post game review during the Texas orange-white spring game at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Gutierrez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 7, 2017; Waco, TX, USA; Baylor head football coach Matt Rhule (center) sits in the front row of the student section during the first half against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Ferrell Center. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 7, 2017; Waco, TX, USA; Baylor head football coach Matt Rhule (center) sits in the front row of the student section during the first half against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Ferrell Center. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Baylor at Duke, Sept. 16

The Baylor Bears look to start anew in the Big 12 under head coach Matt Rhule, formerly of Temple. Baylor has been the face of scandal for the past few seasons and Rhule hopes to create a more respectable culture in 2017.

Rhule’s first test will be against the Duke Blue Devils in the ACC. The Bears and Blue Devils haven’t met on the football field since 1958. Duke won that matchup 12-7.

The Bears signed the 40th ranked recruiting class in 2017, according to 247Sports. It was the fifth-best in the conference despite the turmoil.

It also helps Rhule nabbed graduate transfer quarterback Anu Solomon, who was a starter with the Arizona Wildcats in 2014 and 2015.

Solomon threw for 6,910 passing yards, 49 passing touchdowns and 16 interceptions in three seasons with the Wildcats.

He joins two other quarterbacks on the Baylor roster including possible starter Zach Smith, giving them the potential to have a quarterback competition up until the fall.

The Baylor defense will be a work in progress but earning a bowl appearance isn’t too far off the radar. A road victory against the Blue Devils should get them there, but they’ll need to be prepared for a battle.

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