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Texas Football: 5 reasons Longhorns can realistically win the Big 12 in 2017

By Connor Muldowney

AUSTIN, TX - OCTOBER 15: Shane Buechele #7 of the Texas Longhorns drops back to pass against the Iowa State Cyclones during the first half on October 15, 2016 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX - OCTOBER 15: Shane Buechele #7 of the Texas Longhorns drops back to pass against the Iowa State Cyclones during the first half on October 15, 2016 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) /
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DALLAS, TX – OCTOBER 08: Collin Johnson #9 of the Texas Longhorns runs the ball past Tay Evans #9 of the Oklahoma Sooners at Cotton Bowl on October 8, 2016 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX – OCTOBER 08: Collin Johnson #9 of the Texas Longhorns runs the ball past Tay Evans #9 of the Oklahoma Sooners at Cotton Bowl on October 8, 2016 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

3. Wide open conference race

When you take a glance at all Power Five conferences in college football, there’s either a clear favorite to win or two programs that will be battling it out for league supremacy. Well, that’s all leagues besides the Big 12.

In the ACC, there’s Florida State and Clemson. In the Pac-12, it’s Washington and USC. The Big Ten has Penn State and Ohio State — and a young Michigan team. Lastly, the SEC seems to be Alabama and a handful of second-tier contenders. As for the Big 12, there’s Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, TCU, West Virginia, Texas and Kansas State who could all contend.

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Heck, even Baylor could shock some people and throw its name in the race for the conference title.

Oklahoma might seem like a favorite, but going from Bob Stoops to a young Lincoln Riley in the middle of the summer, with little warning, could have a negative effect on the Sooners right away. Oklahoma State, on the other hand, seems to have solid teams every year, but can never put a full season together — for example, last year’s loss to Central Michigan.

West Virginia, TCU, Kansas State and Baylor are all wild cards and that could leave a young, hungry team like Texas to surpass the bunch.

This conference is wide open, and that’s good news for the Longhorns.

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