It’s “way-too-early” season as analysts across the college football world release their early power rankings as spring ball winds down.
Pro Football Focus had the Sooners No. 9 in their power rankings. College Football News has the Sooners No. 1 in the Big 12.
Still more than four months away, everything’s pointing to Oklahoma being the team to beat in the Big 12. Of course, the Sooners will need to prove it on the field, but with questions about many of the Big 12 teams, there isn’t a team that stands above the rest. Oklahoma looks good on paper, but that paper wasn’t worth much last season.
But new year and new coach and fans and analysts are overwhelmingly positive about the Sooners prospects in 2022. In USATODAY Sports recent Big 12 power rankings, Erick Smith put the Sooners as the top team in the conference.
Applying conventional wisdom, there would be an expectation that the Sooners would take a step back after losing their coach and several players to the transfer portal, including quarterback Caleb Williams. Venables, however, is bringing a fresh approach, especially on defense, that has been embraced by the holdovers. Central Florida transfer Dillon Gabriel steps in behind center with former Ole Miss coordinator Jeff Lebby leading the offense. Venables, who was the architect of Clemson’s title-winning defenses, knows how to get that until performing. This is still the team to beat, though the race won’t be easy. – Smith, USATODAY Sports
What’s stood out about the Big 12 over the last several years is the depth of the conference. It’s a league where teams 1-5 are pretty close. Oklahoma may be the favorite, but Texas, Oklahoma State, Baylor, and a trip to Iowa State will provide challenges to Oklahoma’s return to the Big 12 throne.
Let’s take a look at how Erick Smith ranked the Big 12.