#1) OU will again be favored to win the Big 12. Mayfield will be back.
Not sure about Perine, but Mixon should be back.
OU's biggest loss is their star WR, Dede Westbrook.
OU plays Texas the week before traveling to K-State... though that hasn't been much of advantage for K-State in the past. Plus K-State plays a physical TCU team the week before facing Texas.
IMO, OU is by far the most challenging game on the schedule.
#2) Okie State got great news when Rudolph and James Washington (WR) announced they were coming back for their senior seasons (still sucks that K-State did not beat the Pokes).
But like K-State, the Pokes lose some signficant players on defense.
The Pokes won a close game in Manhattan, it's time for K-State to win a close game in Stillwater.
#3) TCU will likely return to form next season. I believe Kenny Hill will be back.
Outside of 3 starting D-lineman, TCU brings back most everyone else on offense & defense (minus 3 or 4 players). I have a feeling that Patterson is going to have the Frogs back on track in 2017.
The good news is that the game is in Manhattan.
#4) West Virginia will be breaking in a new QB next season.
And for the second year in a row, WV loses a lot of production on defense.
The CATS have WV at home.
#5) Since it's a road game, Texas Tech scares me, but how much depends on rather Mahomes comes back for his senior season (or goes to the NFL).
But yet again, I do not expect Tech to have much of a defense.
K-State returns some really good players in the D-backfield (minus Barnett). Kendall Adams has a potential pro career (ditto for DJ Reed if he continues to improve). This is a good thing.
#6) It's going to take Texas some time to adjust to a new coach and system.
#7) Ditto for Baylor
I like the fact that K-State plays Baylor and Texas back-to-back to open the Big 12 season. I'm thinking they will still be in an adjustment period.
#8) Iowa State should be improved, but maybe not as much as one might exepct. The Clones have to replace three starting D-lineman and three/ four starting O-lineman (it all starts up front). OUCH.
And the Clones still don't have a true #1 QB. Mke Warren took a step back in 2016.
Plus, the game is in Manhattan.
#9) ku .... well like last year, ku can help but get a little better in 2017.
But like Iowa State, this is not a given.
ku loses 5 of the 6 players in their D-backfield that started 2 games or more in 2016. Plus one/ two starting D-lineman and two LBs. On offense ku is in better shape with only losing 1 starting O-lineman, but the birds lose their best RB, Kinner. How in the world do you replace 5 of your 6 DBs in one year in the Big 12, which just happens to throw the ball a little... OUCH.
Yep, I see K-State getting to rest starters in the 2nd half, while giving the 2s playing time.
I'm guessing that K-State will be selected to finish 3rd in the Big 12 in the pre-season rankings by the coaches & media. The CATS might even sneak into the Pre-season Top 25 rankings, but will likely be #27 or #28.
GO STATE !
Not sure about Perine, but Mixon should be back.
OU's biggest loss is their star WR, Dede Westbrook.
OU plays Texas the week before traveling to K-State... though that hasn't been much of advantage for K-State in the past. Plus K-State plays a physical TCU team the week before facing Texas.
IMO, OU is by far the most challenging game on the schedule.
#2) Okie State got great news when Rudolph and James Washington (WR) announced they were coming back for their senior seasons (still sucks that K-State did not beat the Pokes).
But like K-State, the Pokes lose some signficant players on defense.
The Pokes won a close game in Manhattan, it's time for K-State to win a close game in Stillwater.
#3) TCU will likely return to form next season. I believe Kenny Hill will be back.
Outside of 3 starting D-lineman, TCU brings back most everyone else on offense & defense (minus 3 or 4 players). I have a feeling that Patterson is going to have the Frogs back on track in 2017.
The good news is that the game is in Manhattan.
#4) West Virginia will be breaking in a new QB next season.
And for the second year in a row, WV loses a lot of production on defense.
The CATS have WV at home.
#5) Since it's a road game, Texas Tech scares me, but how much depends on rather Mahomes comes back for his senior season (or goes to the NFL).
But yet again, I do not expect Tech to have much of a defense.
K-State returns some really good players in the D-backfield (minus Barnett). Kendall Adams has a potential pro career (ditto for DJ Reed if he continues to improve). This is a good thing.
#6) It's going to take Texas some time to adjust to a new coach and system.
#7) Ditto for Baylor
I like the fact that K-State plays Baylor and Texas back-to-back to open the Big 12 season. I'm thinking they will still be in an adjustment period.
#8) Iowa State should be improved, but maybe not as much as one might exepct. The Clones have to replace three starting D-lineman and three/ four starting O-lineman (it all starts up front). OUCH.
And the Clones still don't have a true #1 QB. Mke Warren took a step back in 2016.
Plus, the game is in Manhattan.
#9) ku .... well like last year, ku can help but get a little better in 2017.
But like Iowa State, this is not a given.
ku loses 5 of the 6 players in their D-backfield that started 2 games or more in 2016. Plus one/ two starting D-lineman and two LBs. On offense ku is in better shape with only losing 1 starting O-lineman, but the birds lose their best RB, Kinner. How in the world do you replace 5 of your 6 DBs in one year in the Big 12, which just happens to throw the ball a little... OUCH.
Yep, I see K-State getting to rest starters in the 2nd half, while giving the 2s playing time.
I'm guessing that K-State will be selected to finish 3rd in the Big 12 in the pre-season rankings by the coaches & media. The CATS might even sneak into the Pre-season Top 25 rankings, but will likely be #27 or #28.
GO STATE !
