Tag: Big 12 football predictions

Building the case for every Big 12 championship contender

We defend our pick: Who wins the Big 12 and why?

Texas is not back, but it certainly has the best returning roster in the Big 12 from top to bottom. While starting quarterback Quinn Ewers is unproven, and could certainly nullify the roster advantage the Longhorns have, the team has a decided advantage in proven returning players.

Last season, the starting lineup for the Longhorns was among the least experienced in the league with several freshmen and sophomore players taking on significant roles. With veteran laden teams from last season losing NFL talent, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian returns the majority of his biggest contributors from last season.

If we were to rank the Top 10 players from last year’s team, Jaylan Ford, Kelvin Banks, Ja’Tavion Sanders, Xavier Worthy, Jahdae Barron, Ryan Watts, Jerrin Thompson, Barryn Sorrell, Christian Jones and Jordan Whittington would certainly be worth consideration with many in the group earning recognition.

The loss of NFL talent at TCU and at key positions at Kansas State and Oklahoma leave voids for all three teams to fill. For that reason, we give the Longhorns an edge to win.

Let’s look at the case for all nine of our Big 12 title contenders.

Every Big 12 football team’s biggest game in 2023

We look at the games every Big 12 team should have circled in 2023.

All college football games count the same, but some have an impact that extends far beyond the season. We saw Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher embrace that philosophy in 2021 where the team sauntered through half the season with its entire focus on beating Alabama.

Despite an 8-4 season, A&M’s win over the Crimson Tide helped Fisher and company to the No. 1 recruiting class for 2022. Other teams have certain games on their mind for different reasons.

Rivalry games can swing perception for some programs. High profile wins can aid team confidence as much as they lead to big recruiting classes. For others, stealing a win in the team’s most difficult game can increase the chances of a double-digit win season.

Let’s look at the game each Big 12 team should have circled for the 2023 season.

Former RB Ricky Williams shares expectations for Texas in 2023

“The confidence Texas built in the Bama game is real. I think they can take that and turn it into something special.”

Is this the year the Longhorns finally turn the corner? Former Texas running back Ricky Williams thinks so. Continue reading “Former RB Ricky Williams shares expectations for Texas in 2023”

Bleacher Report explains picking Texas to win the Big 12 conference

Bleacher Report names Texas the Big 12 favorite. Kansas State and Oklahoma are deemed the primary challengers.

Bleacher Report is buying the Longhorns in a more realistic way. While some are projecting Texas to the College Football Playoff, the site simply states the team can win its conference.

College football analyst David Kenyon detailed why the program could not only make its first conference title game since 2018, but leave with a win.

I am not rushing to crown the Longhorns as a national championship threat. That can only happen if Texas beats Alabama and drops a single Big 12 contest or loses to Bama and avoids any conference loss. I do not believe that will be reality in 2023.

Kenyon believes the conference could be in store for several upsets which would end any aspirations of making the national semifinals. For that reason, he stops short of a playoff prediction. Nevertheless, he outlines why he has Texas winning the league.

Texas, though, should be excited for a healthy Quinn Ewers and high-upside receiving corps. Perhaps more importantly, the defense made considerable improvements under first-year coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski.

The college football writer identifies Kansas State and Oklahoma as the team’s primary challengers for the conference in 2023. Texas will host Kansas State on Nov. 4 after taking on Oklahoma on Oct. 7 in Dallas.

Is the Big 12 schedule stacked against Texas in 2023?

What disadvantage does facing K-State, Texas Tech and Baylor pose to Texas in 2023?

Earlier we shared nine potential Big 12 championship contenders for the 2023 season. The Texas Longhorns will face most of them. Head coach Steve Sarkisian and company will host Kansas State, Texas Tech, Kansas, and BYU while traveling to face Baylor and TCU on the road.

The Longhorns’ Red River rival will not face Tech, K-State or Baylor this year. As to why Kansas State will face Texas over its top rival in Oklahoma, we may never know. Instead the Sooners will face what those who cover the team call perhaps the weakest Oklahoma schedule they can remember. Why is that important? Because that’s the primary talking point as to why some are predicting an Oklahoma-Kansas State Big 12 championship.

Let’s be clear about Big 12 hierarchy. Kansas State and Texas appear to be the clear top two teams with Oklahoma and Tech checking in just behind. But again, the schedule sets up for the Sooners to secure a conference title spot. Meanwhile it could be that Texas Tech, Texas, Kansas State, Baylor and TCU among others will play a game of musical chairs for the final spot.

On the flip side, Texas will have opportunities to win head-to-head matchups vs. nearly every other conference contender. It could be an advantage as much as it is a disadvantage.

The reality of the situation is, if Oklahoma has not truly turned the corner as a program it won’t reach the Big 12 championship. If Texas has finally put everything together it will make the conference title game. Both teams will control their own destiny in 2023.

Which football teams have a legitimate chance to win the Big 12?

We share a list of every legitimate Big 12 title contender for 2023.

Who can win the Big 12 in 2023? That’s what we want to determine as we approach the final months of the college football offseason.

The upcoming season has plenty of unknowns, especially in regard to the Big 12 Conference. For starters, we’re unsure how the four newcomers will adjust to their new league.

UCF and BYU stand out to me as teams who could be ready to win now, while Houston and Cincinnati have plenty of uncertainty. Much of the confidence in the first two teams revolves around having seen their starting quarterbacks have success at the college level.

Last season, John Rhys Plumlee led a prolific Central Florida offense. And while it’s been awhile since we’ve seen good quarterback play from Kedon Slovis, he had a strong freshman campaign not long ago at USC.

TCU and Kansas State made surprise appearances to the Big 12 championship game last year. We’ll try to account for how they got there and pinpoint the teams who could legitimately win the conference. Here’s a look at the most likely title winners.

College football analyst leans toward Texas to win the Big 12 in 2023

Texas is the Big 12 favorite, but who is the biggest challenger?

Talking season is ramping up another level as spring football nears its end. The Texas Longhorns are just a week away from the Orange and White game.

Texas is a trending conference title pick for the conference though many will have reservations in choosing the team. As recently as 2020, the Longhorns were tabbed as contenders to unseat the Oklahoma Sooners. Behind veteran stars in quarterback Sam Ehlinger, left tackle Sam Cosmi and edge rusher Joseph Ossai the team looked like a clear contender. Texas started 2-2 and ultimately missed the Big 12 title game.

Unlike that team, there are two identifiable holes (linebacker and edge rusher) for Texas heading into 2023. We anticipate Anthony Hill and David Gbenda to answer the linebacker question. One analyst isn’t too concerned about the Longhorns’ roster either.

Ian Boyd of Inside Texas is leaning heavily toward the Longhorns to win the Big 12 this season. The question is, who will challenge the team from earning the title?

Texas returns 10 of 11 starters on offense. The team now boasts elite talents in wide receivers Xavier Worthy, AD Mitchell and Isaiah Neyor along with two dangerous chains movers in Ja’Tavion Sanders and Jordan Whittington. They can also claim perhaps their best offensive line in a decade and a half.

Here are a few of Boyd’s thoughts on the league.

Which Texas players make the All-Underrated Big 12 football team?

We look at ten of the most underrated players in the Big 12 conference.

Believe it or not, the Big 12 has star power. Some players simply aren’t receiving due credit.

2022 saw a host of TCU Horned Frogs and Kansas State Wildcats emerge as game changers. Max Duggan checks in atop that list.

Duggan went from Game 1 backup to the Heisman ceremony at season’s end. TCU’s 12-1 season gave the Senior quarterback the stage to earn the Davey O’Brien Award after winning Big 12 offensive player of the year.

This year several players enter the 2023 season under the radar. The four conference newcomers are just now getting the opportunity to be recognized on a national scale. Albeit, Cincinnati and Houston simply might not possess the talent for their national television exposure to matter.

Here’s a look at ten of the most underrated players in the Big 12 conference.

Texas Football: Big 12 announces changes to media days

More changes are on the way for the Big 12 conference.

Big 12 media days will be different this offseason. The conference announced the dates the event will take place and the changes to the old model for the 2023 sessions.

The league’s coaches are set to meet the media on July 12 and 13 to answer questions about the upcoming season. The scheduled proceedings will be of added intrigue this year.

According to Chuck Carlton of the Dallas Morning News, all 14 teams are set to participate in both July 12 and 13 media days. It will be worth monitoring how the league manages to fit each team into the two days of media sessions and which teams garner the most attention.

Most eyes will likely be on the two departing teams and the four conference newcomers. The Big 12 adds BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF to the league in the 2023 season.

Oklahoma and Texas part ways with their old conference after this season. The Longhorns look to capitalize in their last opportunity to snap their Big 12 championship drought.

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Record predictions 1.0 for all Big 12 football teams

There could be plenty of parity in the Big 12 conference football standings.

At long last, the Big 12 schedule is official for all 14 teams. The schedule is more favorable for some than others.

The Oklahoma Sooners certainly had a good draw in what could be their final Big 12 season. They avoid road trips to Kansas State and Baylor, both of which defeated them in Norman last season. In addition, they avoid the surging Texas Tech Red Raiders who they lost to at season’s end.

Oklahoma State has an unremarkable schedule as well. The Cowboys face all four of the conference’s new additions, avoiding TCU, Texas, Baylor and Texas Tech.

TCU faces one of the more difficult conference slates. The schedule sees the Horned Frogs play Kansas State, Texas Tech, Texas, Baylor and Oklahoma consecutively.

After picking each game, here are my initial record predictions for the conference.