Big 12 Football: 3 biggest storylines heading into spring 2020

Big 12 football saw plenty of success during the 2019 season, which presents some big storylines for the upcoming 2020 campaign.

The final image of the Big 12 for the 2019 season was the beatdown Oklahoma received from eventual-national champion LSU in the Peach Bowl, losing 63-28. It was assumed to be a three-team race from the beginning, as many counted the Sooners out from the jump with their lack of defense. There were plenty of highlights for the conference, though.

For starters, Oklahoma making the College Football Playoff, but also Baylor for nearly forcing their way into the conversation. Kansas State totaling eight wins in Chris Kleiman’s first year in Manhattan was a pleasant surprise, and although they finished just 5-7, West Virginia players and fans alike appear to have bought in to Neal Brown’s mantra of, “Trust[ing] the Climb.” And while Matt Rhule’s departure looms large for Baylor, there’s still plenty of talent and potential in the Big 12.

Matt Campbell, Tom Herman, and Gary Patterson will keep their respective programs competitive, but will that be enough for Herman at Texas and Patterson at TCU? Expectations weren’t — and still aren’t — very high for Les Miles and the Kansas Jayhawks in year two, but the upcoming season will be interesting for all three.

However, the biggest storylines will affect the top three teams from a season ago: Baylor, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. What do the returns of Chuba Hubbard and Tylan Wallace mean for Oklahoma State? What about Baylor and Matt Rhule? Who takes snaps for the Sooners, and when will we have a starter?

With LSU and Alabama replacing quarterbacks and plenty other top teams reloading, these Big 12 questions could impact national storylines.