Baylor Football
2016 record: 11-2; 9-0 Big 12
Postseason results: Won Sugar Bowl 35-19 v. Auburn
Coach: Lincoln Riley (1st, 0-0 at OU)
Top three players: QB Baker Mayfield, EDGE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, CB Jordan Thomas
You already know Mayfield. Two consecutive invites to New York put him in an elite group. Granted a fifth year of eligibility going into a third season in Lincoln Riley’s Air Raid offense, expect quite a few Heisman poses this year. No less important though are how effective Okoronkwo and Thomas are. Both were named to the Bednarik Watchlist after stellar 2016 campaigns. Thomas is one of the most efficient cover-men in the conference, swatting 17 passes last season while Okoronkwo’s nine sacks tied Eric Striker’s in 2014 for the most in OU history
Biggest losses: HB Samaje Perine, HB Joe Mixon, LB Jordan Evans, Coach Bob Stoops
Typically, a team has to only worry replacing one running back. The Sooners have to replace two with Mixon leaving a year early for the NFL. Perine and Mixon will go down as one of the most dynamic duos in the 21st century, something sophomores Abdul Adams and Rodney Anderson will struggle to follow up without nearly as much of a thunder and lightning synergy going on yet. Following the act of Jordan Evans isn’t an easy task, either. More of a defensive back than a linebacker, Evans turned two of his team-leading four interceptions into touchdowns while swatting eight balls all season. He also averaged over seven tackles a game the past three seasons, leading the team last season. All those accomplishments can be traced back to Bob Stoops who left the team after spring practice, leaving the team in Lincoln Riley's hands. This team still has Stoops' fingerprints all over it. How quick will Riley put his on the team is yet to be seen but the players have said they aren't the least bit concerned about his youth.
Strength: Offensive line
If there was supposed to be concern last season with Oklahoma’s offensive line, then there shouldn’t be any worries this season. Concern mounted with an inexperienced offensive but the Sooners offense has rarely operated more smoothly. That’s largely due to the Big 12’s top lineman Orlando Brown holding the fort at left tackle. Brown’s back for another round, as his the rest of the starting crew. Even the youngest of the bunch, Bobby Evans at right tackle looks like a turnstile.
Weakness: Back half of defense
There are bits of talent scattered around with the likes of Jordan Thomas and Steven Parker in the secondary and linebackers Caleb Kelly and Obonnia Okoronkwo hold great talent. But there’s too many questions surrounding their counterparts after string of transfers and dismissals (former Baylor commit Parrish Cobb was arrested twice in three months) have the Sooners defense looking an awful lot like the disappointing 2014 squad that lost 48-14 at home to Baylor. OU ranked eighth last season in pass defense and interceptions forced.
Emerging star: LB Caleb Kelly
This guy was easy to fall in love with on the recruiting trail. A five-star prospect out of California standing at a lean 6-foot-3 and 221 pounds with plenty of athleticism, he looked like the perfect replacement for Eric Striker. He has excellent pass rushing skills but his a quiet lurker in coverage as well. That only amounted to 36 tackles in 2016, over five tackles a game as a situational player. Now in a starting role moving to a 4-3, Kelly is an all-conference hopeful.
Impact newcomer: WR Jeff Badet
Norman has been quite the safe haven for transfer receivers lately. DeDe Westbrook was a juco transfer that turned into a Heisman finalist last year; Geno Lewis had a quite but strong campaign transferring from Penn State; and Jalen Saunders led the team in receiving in 2013, winning the Sugar Bowl over Alabama. A graduate transfer from Kentucky, Badet looks to be the next big transfer on campus. While that’d mean more if this was a basketball preview, leading the SEC with 21.6 yards per reception last season is no small feat. Without Westbrook or Lewis around, Baker Mayfield should be making a great friend with Badet in the slot while also fielding kick returns.
Threat to Baylor: Medium-High
If the game was in Norman, it may be a different story and the Bears would be put on high-alert but with the game being Rhule’s Big 12 opener in Waco, McLane has to give some sort of green and gold advantage. Still, the Sooners are favorites to win the conference for a reason with a Heisman-worthy quarterback entering his fifth season of eligibility- Lincoln Riley offenses are always a threat. But there is a blueprint to slow Riley offense as outlined by Rhule’s AAC counterpart Tom Herman last season with Houston. If Rhule and Phil Snow can take defensive philosophies that worked in the AAC against Big 12 opponents, there’s a chance to slow down the crimson and cream enough for a ‘W.’
Big 12 Preview: OU's challenge to move out of Bob Stoops shadow
Oklahoma Sooners
2016 record: 11-2; 9-0 Big 12
Postseason results: Won Sugar Bowl 35-19 v. Auburn
Coach: Lincoln Riley (1st, 0-0 at OU)
Top three players: QB Baker Mayfield, EDGE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, CB Jordan Thomas
You already know Mayfield. Two consecutive invites to New York put him in an elite group. Granted a fifth year of eligibility going into a third season in Lincoln Riley’s Air Raid offense, expect quite a few Heisman poses this year. No less important though are how effective Okoronkwo and Thomas are. Both were named to the Bednarik Watchlist after stellar 2016 campaigns. Thomas is one of the most efficient cover-men in the conference, swatting 17 passes last season while Okoronkwo’s nine sacks tied Eric Striker’s in 2014 for the most in OU history
Biggest losses: HB Samaje Perine, HB Joe Mixon, LB Jordan Evans, Coach Bob Stoops
Typically, a team has to only worry replacing one running back. The Sooners have to replace two with Mixon leaving a year early for the NFL. Perine and Mixon will go down as one of the most dynamic duos in the 21st century, something sophomores Abdul Adams and Rodney Anderson will struggle to follow up without nearly as much of a thunder and lightning synergy going on yet. Following the act of Jordan Evans isn’t an easy task, either. More of a defensive back than a linebacker, Evans turned two of his team-leading four interceptions into touchdowns while swatting eight balls all season. He also averaged over seven tackles a game the past three seasons, leading the team last season. All those accomplishments can be traced back to Bob Stoops who left the team after spring practice, leaving the team in Lincoln Riley's hands. This team still has Stoops' fingerprints all over it. How quick will Riley put his on the team is yet to be seen but the players have said they aren't the least bit concerned about his youth.
Strength: Offensive line
If there was supposed to be concern last season with Oklahoma’s offensive line, then there shouldn’t be any worries this season. Concern mounted with an inexperienced offensive but the Sooners offense has rarely operated more smoothly. That’s largely due to the Big 12’s top lineman Orlando Brown holding the fort at left tackle. Brown’s back for another round, as his the rest of the starting crew. Even the youngest of the bunch, Bobby Evans at right tackle looks like a turnstile.
Weakness: Back half of defense
There are bits of talent scattered around with the likes of Jordan Thomas and Steven Parker in the secondary and linebackers Caleb Kelly and Obonnia Okoronkwo hold great talent. But there’s too many questions surrounding their counterparts after string of transfers and dismissals (former Baylor commit Parrish Cobb was arrested twice in three months) have the Sooners defense looking an awful lot like the disappointing 2014 squad that lost 48-14 at home to Baylor. OU ranked eighth last season in pass defense and interceptions forced.
Emerging star: LB Caleb Kelly
This guy was easy to fall in love with on the recruiting trail. A five-star prospect out of California standing at a lean 6-foot-3 and 221 pounds with plenty of athleticism, he looked like the perfect replacement for Eric Striker. He has excellent pass rushing skills but his a quiet lurker in coverage as well. That only amounted to 36 tackles in 2016, over five tackles a game as a situational player. Now in a starting role moving to a 4-3, Kelly is an all-conference hopeful.
Impact newcomer: WR Jeff Badet
Norman has been quite the safe haven for transfer receivers lately. DeDe Westbrook was a juco transfer that turned into a Heisman finalist last year; Geno Lewis had a quite but strong campaign transferring from Penn State; and Jalen Saunders led the team in receiving in 2013, winning the Sugar Bowl over Alabama. A graduate transfer from Kentucky, Badet looks to be the next big transfer on campus. While that’d mean more if this was a basketball preview, leading the SEC with 21.6 yards per reception last season is no small feat. Without Westbrook or Lewis around, Baker Mayfield should be making a great friend with Badet in the slot while also fielding kick returns.
Threat to Baylor: Medium-High
If the game was in Norman, it may be a different story and the Bears would be put on high-alert but with the game being Rhule’s Big 12 opener in Waco, McLane has to give some sort of green and gold advantage. Still, the Sooners are favorites to win the conference for a reason with a Heisman-worthy quarterback entering his fifth season of eligibility- Lincoln Riley offenses are always a threat. But there is a blueprint to slow Riley offense as outlined by Rhule’s AAC counterpart Tom Herman last season with Houston. If Rhule and Phil Snow can take defensive philosophies that worked in the AAC against Big 12 opponents, there’s a chance to slow down the crimson and cream enough for a ‘W.’
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