ESPN predicts the final Big 12 standings and hands out awards
ESPN senior writer Mark Schlabach released a College football predictions, awards and storylines for every conference article on Tuesday morning. He highlighted the Big 12 conference within the article including Baylor.
Schlabach picked the Bears to finish 6th in the conference, linebacker William Bradley-King to be the defensive transfer of the year, and Dave Aranda to be the Coach of the Year. He also predicted Bradley-King to lead the league in sacks.
Predicted Finish
1. Oklahoma
2. Texas
3. Oklahoma State
4. TCU
5. Iowa State
6. Baylor
7. Kansas State
8. West Virginia
9. Texas Tech
10. Kansas
Big 12 champion: Oklahoma
Offensive player of the year: Chuba Hubbard, RB, Oklahoma State
Defensive player of the year: Joseph Ossai, LB, Texas
Offensive freshman of the year: Spencer Rattler, QB, Oklahoma
Defensive freshman of the year: Alfred Collins, DL, Texas
Comeback player of the year: Tylan Wallace, WR, Oklahoma State
Best offensive transfer: Theo Howard, WR, Oklahoma (via UCLA)
Best defensive transfer: William Bradley-King, DE, Baylor (via Arkansas State)
Coach of the year: Dave Aranda, Baylor
Coach on the hot seat: Tom Herman, Texas
Coordinator on the rise: Tom Manning, offensive coordinator, Iowa State
Game of the year: Oklahoma vs. Texas, Oct. 10
Nonconference game of the year: Louisiana at Iowa State, Sept. 12
Upset of the year: Kansas State over Texas, Dec. 5
Three predictions for the Big 12
1. Texas wins Red River Rivalry (but Oklahoma takes Big 12): The Sooners have won four of the past six games in the Red River Rivalry (along with a 12-point victory over Texas in the 2018 Big 12 championship game), but the contests in Dallas have been exceptionally close. Each of the past six were decided by a touchdown or less. This year's matchup at the Cotton Bowl will come down to the wire again, so I'll go with the more experienced quarterback in Longhorns senior Sam Ehlinger, who has already started four times against the Sooners. UT won't go 2-0 against Oklahoma this season, however, as Spencer Rattler and OU's improved defense will avenge the loss in the Big 12 title game to punch a ticket to the CFP for the fourth straight season.
2. Rattler will be a Heisman finalist: Is Lincoln Riley still coaching OU's quarterbacks and running the offense? Rattler, a redshirt freshman from Phoenix, will follow in the footsteps of Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray and Jalen Hurts and put up video-game-like numbers. With top returning rusher Kennedy Brooks reportedly opting out, Rattler will have to carry the load with his arm and feet. He better have some bite.
3. Transfers will lead the Big 12 in sacks and tackles: Baylor lost All-American James Lynch, who led the league with 13½ sacks in 2019. Arkansas State transfer William Bradley-King, who had 14½ with the Red Wolves over the previous two seasons, should be ready to step right in. The same goes for former Arizona linebacker Colin Schooler, who transferred to Texas Tech last week. Schooler is the FBS active leader with 46 tackles for loss, and he had at least 90 tackles in each of the previous three seasons.