2022 Big XII Conference Preview
With an uncertain future and a plethora of changes coming for the Big XII following 2022, this could be the final stable season for the conference that could be the calm before the storm.
Coming into the 2022 Football Campaign, Baylor looks to defend its first Big XII title from a year ago. Coach Dave Aranda has the Bears pointed in the right direction and looks to wear the “hunted” tag as well as anyone in the conference that was not named Oklahoma in the last 15 years. Baylor’s 2021 team held opponents to 5.2 yards per snap and 18.3 points a game. But replacing key starters including linebacker Terrel Bernard and defensive back Jalen Pitre will not be easy. Easing that task with a defensive line anchored by nose tackle Siaki Ika, the Bears will be among the best in college football. Dillon Doyle leads a solid linebacker corps, but the biggest challenge could be patching up a sparse defensive backfield in a pass-happy Big XII. On the offensive side of the ball Blake Shapen leads the way for the Bears for an offense that averaged 31 points per game. But losing two quality receivers to the NFL will make life harder on Bear’s offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes in addition to finding a go-to running back in Waco. Baylor also faces a daunting schedule that includes a tough road contest at future Big XII rival BYU and conference tilts at WVU, OU and Texas.
Going thru the biggest changes in 2022, Oklahoma will be without Head Coach Lincoln Riley, who headed west to USC. Brent Venables replaces Riley in what could be a transition year for OU. Also, the Sooners do not have that signature signal-caller they have leaned on in the past when the going got its toughest. All of this being said, the Sooners should be right in the mix for the conference title and a playoff berth. Dillon Gabriel, the UCF transfer, gets the nod under center in Norman. His favorite target should be Marvin Mims, who could be in for an All-American season. The biggest question for OU could be how quickly the O-line gels prior to conference. Venables entrance into Norman should be good news for the Sooners on the defensive side of the ball. A loss of several key players will have Venables looking to shore up the Sooners in recruiting and the transfer portal before heading into the rugged SEC in 2025.
With four teams vying for the top spot in the conference, Texas and Oklahoma State will have something to say about who wins the title. Texas could be anywhere from first to fourth under second year head coach Steve Sarkisian with a lot of roster improvement in the off-season. Defense is the biggest question mark for a Longhorns team that allowed 31 points per contest and that will have to improve dramatically for Texas to rise up the Big XII ranks. Quinn Ewers, former Southlake Carroll standout, transfers home from Ohio State under center. With mega-talented Arch Manning waiting in the wings, Ewers will have to make an immediate impact to the Longhorns offense that will be led by the best running back in the country, Bijan Robinson. Talented receivers Isaiah Neyor and Xavier Worthy lead way for the Horns.
In a case of close, but no cigar, Oklahoma State missed the Big XII title and a potential playoff berth by the slimmest of margins. But key losses on both sides of the ball will have Mike Gundy’s team scrambling early to fill those voids to keep the Cowboys in contention for the top of the conference. The best quarterback in the conference from 2021, Spencer Sanders, is back under center, but will have to limit his mistakes to keep the Cowboys offense humming. On defense, OK State has huge holes to fill and this could be the biggest downfall for the Cowboys. Gone are all four starters in the defensive backfield and that will be problematic in Stillwater. Also, a grinding schedule for the Cowboys, with conference trips to K-State, Baylor and Bedlam in Norman could be the downfall for Oklahoma State.
The Best of the Rest…
Kansas State could be the sleeper that could sneak up on the predicted top four of the Big XII. With a solid running game lead by Deuce Vaughn and Nebraska transfer Adrian Martinez under center, the Wildcats offense will be a handful for conference defenses to contain. One of the best defenses in the conference returns five starters and more experience for a team that allowed 21 points per game. Filling out a quality secondary will be the biggest issue in Manhattan in 2022.
Can Iowa State survive all the losses from 2021 to be a top-tier team. Led by the exit of Breece Hall, the Cyclones will look to replace one of the best offensive weapons in the country. Jirehl Brock gets the call to replace Hall and Hunter Dekkers will start under center and likely find leading receiver Xavier Hutchinson consistently. On defense, Iowa State will need to find the consistency that was the third best defense in the Big XII in pass efficiency.
For the first time since 2000, Gary Patterson will not be leading the Horned Frogs onto the field at Amon Carter Stadium. New coach Sonny Dykes comes in from SMU to take over in Fort Worth and the challenges will be a-plenty as the more offensive minded Dykes will try to push TCU up the offensive ranks of the Big XII. A true quarterback battle may not be settled early as Chandler Morris and Max Duggan vie for signal-calling duties. Kendre Miller will lead the rushing attack and Quentin Johnson should emerge as the go-to receiver. On defense, the Horned frogs will have to improve on a squad that was in the lower half of the conference in most defensive metrics. TCU should have quality options leading the way with Dylan Horton on the D-line, linebacker Dee Williams and corner Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson.
In Morgantown, WVU Head Coach Neal Brown could be on the hot seat after compiling a less than impressive 17-18 mark in his first three seasons. Defense should lead the way for the Mountaineers, as has been their calling card for the past few seasons. Led by Dante Stalls, the WVU defense will need to replace key losses in the linebacker and secondary corps. The biggest improvement should come on offense as Georgia transfer JT Daniels takes over under center and has a variety of offensive weapons to work with. With new offensive coordinator Graham Harrell having a previous working knowledge of Daniels at USC, the WVU offense could keep the Mountaineers in the race thru September.
With a full rebuild on in Lubbock, Texas Tech turns to a new Head Coach Joey McGuire to guide the future of the Red Raiders. The first question will be to iron out the quarterback position for what will be a high octane offense. Tahj Brooks and SoRodorick Thompson lead the rushing attack and a top receiver will have to emerge. Defensively, Tech has to find a way to cut down on opponents’ big plays that led to more than a 30 points –per-game average over the past decade.
Can the Jayhawks escaping last place and earn a winning record for the first time since 2008? That is the task for Head Coach Lance Leipold. Kansas stunned the Big XII with a November upset against Texas in 2021 and later lost by one score to both TCU and WVU. Sixteen starters are back in Lawrence, with QB Jalon Daniels returning after a promising 2021 season. Devin Neal leads the rushing game which should be bolstered by Minnesota transfer Ky Thomas. Defensively, the Jayhawks will have to improve on the worst rushing defense in the conference. Kenny Logan, Jr. should bolster the Kansas defensive backfield in 2022.
PROJECTIONS
Baylor | 10-2
Oklahoma | 10-2
Texas | 9-3
Oklahoma State | 8-4
Iowa State | 7-5
Kansas State | 7-5
West Virginia | 6-6
TCU | 5-7
Texas Tech | 4-8
Kansas | 2-10
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