The Big 12 football championship will be won by one of these four teams in 2023 and it’s not one of the newer members.
Big 12 football is going to have a completely different feel in the 2023 season, thanks to the addition of four members: BYU, Cincinnati, UCF, and Houston.
The Bearcats were in the College Football Playoff two years ago, but none of those four teams won their conference championship last season.
When people think of Big 12 football in 2022, TCU might be the first team they think of since the Horned Frogs reached the national championship game, but Kansas State actually won the Big 12 football championship in 2022.
Can the Wildcats repeat in 2023? Can Texas or Oklahoma win the conference title before leaving for the SEC, or can one of the newcomers win it all?
Unfortunately, I don’t see one of the new teams winning the Big 12 football title in 2023, although UCF might have the horses to do it.
We start our list of Big 12 football title contenders with the 2022 national runner-up.
Big 12 football title contender No. 4: TCU
TCU didn’t win the 2022 Big 12 football title, but Sonny Dykes and the Horned Frogs had the best season of any Big 12 team and were one play away from winning the league.
Max Duggan had an epic performance in the Big 12 championship game and nearly won the Heisman Trophy because of it.
However, the Horned Frogs lost their star quarterback and also a number of others. Some key players in the secondary and wideout Quentin Johnston, who was a first-round pick of the Chargers in the 2023 NFL draft, have departed.
TCU does have Chandler Morris expected to start at quarterback, plus added former Oregon State starter Chance Nolan to provide insurance and another starting-caliber player.
The Horned Frogs also added six former SEC players via the transfer portal including four-star transfer JoJo Earle (WR), former Bama running back Trey Sanders, as well as former five-star offensive Tommy Brockermeyer, who was also with the Crimson Tide.
The schedule didn’t do TCU any favors though with road trips to Kansas State, Oklahoma, Houston, Texas Tech, and Iowa State within Big 12 conference play, plus home games against Texas, Baylor, and BYU among others.
The schedule isn’t going to be easy, but TCU is one team to watch in the Big 12 football title race.
Big 12 football title contender No. 3: Kansas State
Chris Klieman’s team surprised everyone last season and won the Big 12 football championship which was a major achievement for the Wildcats
Deuce Vaughn has left but Will Howard is back after playing quarterback in some key games for the Wildcats last season including the Big 12 title game.
Treshaun Ward is rated by 247 Sports as a four-star running back transfer from Florida State and he should help with the loss of Vaughn. Keagan Johnson is another good find in the transfer portal and the offensive line should be solid, as well as the defense.
The Wildcats have a formula and we’ll see if it works again. Howard will be the key though. If he takes the next step, Kansas State will be a Big 12 title contender.
Beyond the talent, the schedule is favorable for the Wildcats. They avoided Oklahoma, although the trips to Texas Tech, Texas, and Oklahoma State won’t be easy.
Big 12 football title contender No. 2: Oklahoma
Yes, Oklahoma went 6-7 last year and had its first losing season in a long time, but I don’t expect that to continue in 2023.
Brent Venables will have the defense playing much better. You can criticize his first season as a head coach. Yet, he’s always been a great defensive coordinator and the Sooners won’t be as bad on that side of the ball.
Dillon Gabriel also returns and Gavin Sawchuck has the potential to be an impact running back for the Sooners. Beyond all of that, Oklahoma ranks seventh in terms of the blue-chip ratio put out by 247 Sports, so OU is easily one of the Big 12’s most talented teams.
The Sooners need to keep Gabriel healthy, play better defense, and win some close games after going 0-5 in one-score contests a season ago.
Big 12 football title contender No. 1: Texas
There are no more excuses for Texas under Steve Sarkisian. Last season was a step in the right direction but it really is a Big 12 football championship or bust for the Longhorns this season.
With Quinn Ewers back, the Texas offense should be the best among Big 12 football teams. Xavier Worthy has another season before declaring for the NFL draft and he might be the second-best wide receiver in college football at the end of the day.
Bijan Robinson left for the draft, but CJ Baxter should help fill the void as the No. 1 running back in the 2023 class according to 247 Sports. The Horns also added Adonai Mitchell, a four-star wide receiver from Georgia in the transfer portal, plus four-star defenders such as safety Jalen Catalon (Arkansas) and cornerback Gavin Homes (Wake Forest).
Texas is ranked even higher than Oklahoma in terms of the blue-chip ratio and even if Ewers gets hurt, with Arch Manning as the backup, an injury shouldn’t derail the Longhorns title hopes.
Winning conference titles will get even harder in 2024, so Texas needs to take advantage of the chance this season to end its 14-year drought.