The Big 12 is known to be an offensive powerhouse and this list resembles just that concept. While there is some talent on the defensive side of the ball, the firepower on offense overwhelms the conference which is why this list consists of mostly running backs, quarterbacks, and wide receivers. This list consists of players from the top teams in the conference such as Oklahoma and Texas, both schools have assembled talent at the next level and these guys are soon to follow. The five players are ranked on a scale that takes into account their skill, how they fill the stat sheet, and the impact they have on winning football games. If you want to check out the top five players in the Pac-12, click here.

5. Marvin Mims - Oklahoma, Wide Reciever

Marvin Mims is Spencer Rattler’s partner in crime on the football field. Together, this combination provides nightmares for opposing defensive coordinators. Mims is Rattler’s security blanket and go-to guy. In 2020, Mims was a freshman and had 37 receptions for 610 yards along with nine touchdowns. It is simple, Mims was a problem for defenses and he will only get better as he matures with experience. Mims is a vertical threat taking the top off of defenses and he has a massive catch radius. Mims will look to improve on his already outstanding numbers in 2021 and try to get the Sooners back into playoff contention.

4. Josh Sills - Oklahoma State, Offensive Line

Josh Sills is the best offensive lineman in this conference and potentially one of the most versatile in the nation. Sills has the experience, the transfer from West Virginia has competed in over four years of collegiate football. Sills has a big frame, standing at 6 foot 6 inches and weighing 330 pounds, he has the make-up of physical talent. In 2020, he was named First Team All-Big 12 and led the Cowboys in knockdowns with 35. What separates Sills from other linemen is his versatility, he can play both the guard and tackle position. Sills has long arms, enabling him to extend out at the point of contact and take care of opposing defenders. In 2021, Sills will be leading the offensive line in Stillwater hoping to carry the Cowboys to a Big 12 championship. 

3. Bijan Robinson - Texas, Running Back

Bijan Robinson is likely to have a breakout sophomore campaign because of newly hired head coach Steve Sarkisian. Just as he did at Alabama, Sarkisian loves to get his playmakers involved and Sark led Alabama to have the best offense in the nation in 2020, hence why Robinson will have a monster year. Robinson was a five-star prospect and was ranked as the number one running back out of high school. Robinson runs hard and explosive, in 2020 he had almost 900 total yards and six touchdowns and these numbers will only increase this upcoming year. The running back will look to bring promise to Texas and kickstart a new era with coach Sarkisian. 

2. Breece Hall - Iowa State, Running Back

Breece Hall is the most talented running back in the nation, his skill level is even getting his name mentioned in preseason Heisman Trophy rankings. Hall is a workhorse running back and he fills up the stat sheet. In 2020, he accumulated over 1,500 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns. Furthermore, Hall triumphed for over 100 yards in nine of Iowa State’s 12 games and was named a First Team All-American. His accolades continue as he was the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and was named as a top-six Heisman Trophy contender in 2020. Hall has good short-area bursts and can make quick cuts contributing to his success as a runner. Hall will look to lead the Cyclones to a Big 12 championship in 2021 and hopefully collect some hardware in the Heisman Trophy race. 

1. Spencer Rattler - Oklahoma, Quarterback

Coming in at number one is Spencer Rattler who is the most electric playmaker in college football. Rattler is a unique prospect, he reminds me of Kyler Murray and Patrick Mahomes. Yes, I realize that is huge praise but I am focusing on their ability to scramble out of the pocket, using their elusive talent to extend plays. Rattler can make all the throws on the field, hence why he threw for over 3,000 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2020. He thrives out of the pocket and his mobility allows him to be a threat with his feet. He has great accuracy throwing on the run allowing for coach Lincoln Riley to draw up multiple schemes. Rattler is the Heisman Trophy favorite for 2021, only time will tell if he can live up to the hype during his Sophomore year. 

References Stats: https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/

Writer

-By: Justin Howard

Earlier this week, I touched on my thoughts for the early Pac-12 Conference Standings predictions. Today, I’ll touch on my early predictions for the Big 12. It should be an extremely interesting race at the top of the conference, so let’s get into it.

1. OKLAHOMA

The six-time reigning Big 12 champion Sooners hold the top spot in the early preseason predictions, and for good reason. The Sooners are returning an abundance of talent on both sides of the ball. Among those returning: QB Spencer Rattler, WR Marvin Mims, and seven other starters on an offense that again led the conference in scoring. Nine starters return from the conference’s third-ranked unit in scoring. In summary, the Sooners are loaded.

Rattler finished the 2020 season on fire, and a big reason to peg the Sooners atop the conference. After struggling out of the gate, throwing six touchdowns and four interceptions during a two-game losing streak in late September, Rattler and the Sooners caught fire. Rattler cut down on the turnovers (four interceptions during the eight-game win streak), the Sooners won 6/8 by two scores and beat the brakes off Florida in the Cotton Bowl 55-20. If that’s the Sooners team we get next year, that’s easily a top-five team.

2. IOWA STATE

The Cyclones lost a heartbreaker of a Big 12 Title Game to Oklahoma but made up for it with a Fiesta Bowl win over Oregon. Brock Purdy, Charlie Kolar, Big 12 DPOY Mike Rose, and Breece Hall all return. HC Matt Campbell inked an eight-year contract extension in February. Life is pretty good in Ames.

If it wasn’t for Oklahoma, the Cyclones would have their best shot to win the program’s first-ever Big 12 title. This might be one of the most talented teams they have ever had. Credit Campbell for keeping this group together and running it back in 2021.

3. TEXAS

How will Steve Sarkisian look in his first head coaching role since being fired from USC? Time will tell. The Longhorns were a talented mess under Tom Herman, where lack of detail and obsessive amounts of penalties held back the program in the four years under his control. Enter Sark, who coordinated one of the most efficient offensive seasons in college football history and whose offense swept the major offensive awards in 2020 while leading the Crimson Tide to a National Championship.

Out from under the umbrella of Nick Saban, Sark has to deal with the loss of senior QB Sam Ehlinger, who started 43 games over the course of his career but returning is stud RB Bijan Robinson. The roster ranks as the fifth-most talented in all of college football, per the 247 Talent Composite Rankings. This third-place finish is expected to be the bare minimum for Sark in year one.

4. TCU

The Horned Frogs have a lot to be excited about in 2021. QB Max Duggan should take a big leap in his third season under center, after only throwing for ten touchdowns as a sophomore in 2020. The rest of the roster has plenty of depth, Kendre Miller, Zach Evans, and Darwin Barlow anchor the RB room, and WR Quentin Johnston out wide. Much of the defense returns as well, building off a strong 2020 season. I’m not sure if this team gets past eight wins, but they should be very fun to watch.

5. OKLAHOMA STATE

While Mike Gundy has always put together solid teams, how he puts together his team in 2021 will be interesting. The main catalyst of the offense the last two years, Chuba Hubbard, is off to the NFL. Spencer Sanders has got to show some improvement in 2021, throwing 30 touchdowns and 19 interceptions in his first two years as a Cowboy. If not him, maybe Gundy will turn to highly-rated sophomore Shane Illingworth. The defense might take a slight step back from its 2020 production (23.5 pts/g) but will remain solid. Now about beating Oklahoma……..

6. WEST VIRGINIA

The Mountaineers capped off a 6-4 2020 season with a Liberty Bowl win over Army. Much returns to the WVU offense, RB Leddie Brown, and four of the top five pass catchers. The Mountaineers will need more stability under center, whether it be from Jarret Doege or Garrett Greene. If the team wants to emerge higher than this No. 6 spot, it’ll need another solid season from its defense, which led the conference in scoring last season. It doesn’t help that star corner Dreshaun Miller transferred to Auburn in the offseason.

7. KANSAS STATE

The return of Skylar Thompson and the further emergence of RB Deuce Vaughn should boost the Wildcats offense in 2021, along with Chabastin Taylor, Malik Knowles, and Phillip Brooks returning out wide. The defense struggled mightily last year and will need to see some improvement after allowing over 32 pts/g last season, led by senior DB Jahron McPherson or senior LB Cody Fletcher. I have a hard time finding a reason to rank them any higher than this.

8. TEXAS TECH

2021 is the tipping point for Matt Wells. He’s 8-14 in his first two seasons in Lubbock and could get the boot if there isn’t a substantial improvement. The Red Raiders return Henry Colombi under center, with the addition of Tyler Shough through the transfer portal, and All-Big 12 receiver Erik Ezukanma and running back SaRodorick Thompson. Add on TCU transfer T T.J. Storment and the Red Raiders might find some consistency on offense. Defense? Well, we know how that usually goes.

9. BAYLOR

It’s a tough situation in Waco. Although the Bears made a splash hiring of OC Jeff Grimes away from BYU, Baylor lost QB Charlie Brewer to Utah in the transfer portal. With a full offseason, maybe we can see some improvement on the defensive side of the ball like Aranda had at LSU. Plenty of the two-deep returns on both sides of the ball, so work needs to be done.

10. KANSAS

I don’t even need to address much here. HC Les Miles was fired and AD Jeff Long stepped down after allegations of sexual harassment during Miles’ time at LSU. They haven’t won more than three games since 2009. They might stay in this spot for another decade.

Writer

-By: TJ Mathewson

What a weekend in the Big 12.

After months of uncertainty for the 2020 college football season, the first weekend of football being played in the Big 12 lived up to the entertainment factor, and the addition of a non-conference game to the nine-game conference schedule caused more problems then it seemed to solve on the opening weekend.

Conference favorites No. 3 Oklahoma and No. 9 Texas looked up to par against inferior Missouri State and UTEP respectively, behind strong debuts from redshirt freshman Spencer Rattler (14-17 290 yards and four touchdowns) and redshirt senior Sam Ehlinger (25-33 426 yards and five touchdowns). Neither team seemed to break a sweat as they cruised to easy victories.

There will be eyes on Rattler all season to see if he can uphold the impossibly high expectations that come with being the starting quarterback at Oklahoma under Lincoln Riley, but if he can keep making throws like this, I think he’ll do just fine.

Both Ehlinger and Rattler will be pushed a little bit harder in the coming weeks as conference play starts, well at least we hope. The rest of the conference this past weekend didn't give any indication that it was ready to push the two blue bloods away from the conference title.

To start off, three teams (Oklahoma State, Baylor, and TCU) didn’t even play due to COVID-19 concerns. Baylor at least salvaged another non-conference game next weekend (Sept 19.) vs Houston. Oklahoma State will now play Tulsa on that day as well, and TCU will jump right into conference play vs Iowa State on Sept. 26.

Speaking of Iowa State……. yikes.

That performance against Louisiana-Lafayette left a lot to be desired for the then 23rd-ranked Cyclones, falling 31-14 at home. The special teams allowed two return touchdowns, Brock Purdy looked out-of-sorts all day (16-35 145 yards and one interception), and it all reflected on the scoreboard.

It won’t be a problem for the Cyclones trying to reach the Big 12 title game, they have the whole conference schedule to prove that they deserved their preseason ranking. Lucky for them and the rest of the Big 12, they don’t have to play another game against the Sun Belt in 2020!

Kansas State and Kansas each had their own struggles against the Sun Belt. K-State falling to Arkansas State and Kansas getting throttled by Coastal Carolina.

Each team was missing a considerable amount of players to quarantine, but that doesn’t make the loss sting any less.

It was especially embarrassing for Kansas, who fell behind 28-0 to Coastal and clawed back to make the score look a little bit more respectable, 38-23. The Chanticleers had never won a power five football game until scheduling Kansas, now they have beaten the Jayhawks in back to back years.

Hiring Les Miles before the 2019 season sure looked like a splashy hire at the time, but a year-plus in and Kansas continues to look like it doesn’t belong in a power five conference. Miles is now 3-10 at Kansas with two losses to Coastal Carolina, and it won’t get any easier entering conference play.

Texas Tech didn’t look ready to go either, barely scooting by FCS Houston Baptist 35-33 while surrendering 600 yards.

In Summary:

After one week, it looks like nothing has really changed in the Big 12. Judging how the October 10th Red River game in Dallas goes, we should know if Texas is for real or not. Besides that, Oklahoma looks like it should cruise through this conference and win it for the sixth straight year.

And maybe not get blown out in the playoff this time.

Writer

-By: TJ Mathewson