Cut the chatter concerning the new glance and long term of the Big 12 for a few weeks. There is a very acquainted glance to the highest of the convention because it approaches crucial time of the school soccer season.
Soon-to-be-gone league stalwarts Texas and Oklahoma, in addition to longtime members Oklahoma State and Kansas State, are all ranked in the Top 25 and stay in the running for spots in the Big 12 Championship Game on Dec. 2.
No. 7 Texas and No. 21 Oklahoma State can clinch berths by means of successful regular-season finales this week.
No. 13 Oklahoma and No. 19 Kansas State want to beat TCU and Iowa State, respectively, in addition to get some out of doors lend a hand to finally end up in the title game.
Texas is the Big 12’s best one-loss group. A win Friday at house towards Texas Tech would additionally stay the Longhorns (10-1, 7-1) in competition for the College Football Playoff.
Oklahoma State (8-3, 6-2) rebounded from dropping two video games in September to paintings its manner into the Top 25 with a five-game successful streak capped by means of a three-point Bedlam competition win over Oklahoma. The Cowboys shut the steady season at house towards BYU.
The Big 12 has 8 bowl-eligible groups, with an opportunity for extra. TCU and league beginners BYU and UCF all input the overall weekend with an opportunity to get to 6 wins.
The convention is assured 8 bowl spots. The Big 12 champion will cross to any other of the New Year’s Six video games if it does not make the four-team College Football Playoff and play in one among this season’s nationwide semifinal video games: the Sugar Bowl or Rose Bowl.
Although the Big 12 may just finally end up with extra bowl-eligible groups than assured spots, it’s imaginable all would finally end up enjoying a postseason game as a result of a scarcity of bowl-eligible groups around the nation.
Star energy
While not one of the Big 12’s most sensible performers have generated Heisman Trophy buzz, there isn’t a scarcity of remarkable gamers who’ve had stellar seasons. Oklahoma’s Dillion Gabriel leads the convention in passing and has accounted for 38 touchdowns (27 passing, 11 dashing). The league additionally boasts six 1,000-yard rushers, led by means of Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon with 1,414 yards and 16 overall TDs. Defensive standouts come with Oklahoma’s Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma State’s Nickolas Martin, UCF’s Jason Johnson and Houston’s Nelson Ceasar, who has a conference-leading 9½ sacks.
Going bowling
Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Kansas State, West Virginia, Iowa State, Texas Tech and Kansas are all bowl eligible, with six of the 8 having no less than seven victories heading into the overall weekend of the steady season. Three five-win groups — TCU, BYU and UCF — can clinch eligibility by means of successful this week. Baylor and league beginners (*12*) and Houston is probably not enjoying a bowl game this 12 months.
Hot seats: Baylor trainer Dave Aranda. The Bears are 23-24 in his 4 seasons and feature misplaced 12 in their closing 15 video games total. Aranda were given a protracted contract extension after Baylor received the Big 12 championship game in 2021, then the Sugar Bowl for a school-record twelfth win. There could be a dear buyout if the personal faculty made up our minds to make a transformation.
Dana Holgorsen turns out secure at Houston, however the Cougars should display development in their 2d Big 12 season subsequent 12 months. This will likely be Holgorsen’s 3rd dropping list in his 5 seasons at Houston, the newest coming in the varsity’s long-awaited Power Five debut. He was once up to now in the Big 12 with West Virginia.
Youth motion: Texas and Oklahoma, which might be headed to the Southeastern Conference subsequent season, each wanted lend a hand defensively heading into 2023. The Longhorns discovered some in LB Anthony Hill Jr., who has 3 sacks and 5½ tackles for loss. S Peyton Bowen and DL Adepoju Adebawore have had an affect as true newbies for the Sooners.
Recruiting watch: With their imminent strikes to the SEC, Texas and Oklahoma are set to go out the Big 12 with the league’s most sensible recruiting categories, in keeping with the 247 Sports Composite. They are the one present Big 12 groups with any five-star recruits dedicated, and likewise the one ones with greater than 10 four-star recruits. TCU, which has long past from being the nationwide runner-up closing season to in search of bowl eligibility in its ultimate game, and Texas Tech are tops a few of the proceeding Big 12 members. Utah, one of the vital 4 Pac-12 groups transferring to the Big 12 subsequent season, is 3rd in its present league.
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