Big 12 Football 2018: Usual suspects top Week 1 Power Rankings

Kansas State feels like the forgotten contender in the Big 12 this year. They were pretty disappointing last year, finishing 8-5, but this team returns a lot of key players. Eight offensive starters are back, including quarterbacks Alex Delton and Skylar Thompson, running back Alex Barnes, and an entire offensive line that was pretty awesome last year.

I’ve got concerns about the defense, but they’re not massive. Just five returning starters isn’t encouraging, but the front four and the back four should both be pretty solid. If Kansas State’s coverage is better this year, in a bit of a down year for Big 12 quarterbacks, they could have one of the better defenses in the conference. That could mean nine wins for the Wildcats.

Texas is back! Well, kind of. The Longhorns are entering their second season under Tom Herman, and while year one was a bit of a disappointment, things are trending in the right direction for Texas. They bring back 14 starters, including seven from an awesome defense last year. If the defense can continue on that trend, Texas will be one of the toughest opponents in the conference this year.

The offense should also be improved. Tim Beck is still an awful coach, but Sam Ehlinger, Keontay Ingram, Lil’Jordan Humphrey and Collin Johnson make for a pretty great skills corps. The line isn’t in a great place, but I just can’t see anywhere to go but up for an offense that was pretty dreadful last season. Is Texas ready to win the conference? Probably not. Can the win ten games? Maybe.

The Horned Frogs have been among the best teams in the Big 12 for all but two years since joining, and last year was no different. Despite losses to Iowa State and Oklahoma (twice), the Horned Frogs still found 11 wins, and were pretty obviously the second best team in the conference. With Baker Mayfield gone, this could be TCU’s year to overtake Oklahoma.

Unfortunately, TCU is also breaking in a new quarterback. I like Shawn Robinson a lot, but with Ohio State in week three, and road trips to Texas and West Virginia, among others, this is a really tough year for the Horned Frogs to make that jump. They return just 11 starters, but I do think that their talent and depth, along with the excellence of Gary Patterson can carry them to ten wins.

Even with just 12 returning starters (six on each side), and with a new quarterback, Oklahoma is still the leader in the Big 12 entering this season. The Sooners are simply too talented, and too deep for me to call for any teams to overtake them at this point. Obviously, this can change, especially is Kyler Murray struggles, or Mike Stoops’ defense continues to do what it does.

However, I don’t expect that. I think Murray will probably be fine, and while they may get smacked around in Week 1 by FAU’s offense, they should be fine overall, especially with a lack of elite offenses in this conference this year.

I’m expecting Oklahoma to be pretty good, and drop a game or to, probably to two of TCU, Texas, Oklahoma State, Kansas State, West Virginia or FAU. Ten wins would be great for this roster.