5 Surprise 2017 college football conference title contenders

Big 12 – Oklahoma State

2014 – Baylor / TCU
2015 – Oklahoma
2016 – Oklahoma

The Oklahoma State Cowboys have been one of the more successful under-the-radar college football teams of the last decade. Head Coach Mike Gundy has compiled a 68-23 record since 2010. He’s 2-5 against Bob Stoops during that stretch. Had he been able to solve Stoops, the Cowboys might have contended for a national title. With Stoops retired, the door is wide open in the Big 12 for the first time in what seems like ages.

Not only has the stage been set, the Cowboys are loaded with talent. They return senior quarterback Mason Rudolph, a 1,000 yard rusher in Justice Hill and a potential top round selection in the upcoming NFL draft at wide receiver, James Washington. According to a recent 2018 draft profile, it’s Washington’s ability to play the ball that makes him as good as he is.

"Washington’s best attribute is his ability to track the football. He quickly finds the ball and puts himself in position to make the catch. His body control also stands out and allows him to shift his frame to make some eye-popping plays."

The Cowboys were the No. 17 scoring offense in the country in 2016, posting just north of 38 points per game. That should put them firmly in the driver’s seat in a league predicated on amassing points. Oklahoma State’s defense isn’t anything to write home about, but they’ve been trending in the right direction over the past three years.

Related: Could Texas win the Big 12 conference in Herman’s first season?

Unless someone like Texas comes out of the weeds and turns some heads, Bedlam is once again going to decide the conference champion in the Big 12. Well, not technically. This is the first year since the Big 12 became a 10 team conference that a conference title game will be played. That could mean the Cowboys and the Sooners will play each other twice in 2017.