All Summer, there has been enough talk of conference realignment and expansion. Let’s talk about who will win the current iteration of the Big 12 Championship. And that team is the Oklahoma St. Cowboys.
Why Oklahoma St. Will Win the Big 12
The Cowboys return 12 starters from last year’s team, spread out through all three levels of offense, defense, and special teams.
An Experienced Quarterback
As I have always said, teams with experienced returning quarterbacks (the most important position on the field) get the nod in my book.
And that’s exactly what the Cowboys have in 4th-year starting quarterback Spencer Sanders.
He has earned preseason All-Big 12 honors for 2022.
Last season, Sanders passed for 2831 yards, 20 TDs, and 12 INTs. He completed 62% of his passes. Sanders also added 664 yards rushing and 6 more scores. And he led the Big 12 in total offense as he averaged 268 yards per game.
After coming up inches short in the loss to Baylor in the conference championship game, the Cowboys redeemed themselves. They earned a berth in the Fiesta Bowl vs Notre Dame.
Against the Fighting Irish, Sanders gained 496 total yards and threw four TD passes in 37–35 win. He earned the game’s MVP award.
Sanders needs 9 wins to become the winningest quarterback in school history. He enters the 2022 season with 6911 passing yards, the 2nd most passing yards at Oklahoma State.
And not surprising, Sanders has been named to three watchlists: the Maxwell Award, the Walter Camp Award, and the Davey O’Brien Award
A Solid Supporting Cast
Sanders will throw to top returning WR Brennan Presley. Presley caught 50 of Sanders’s passes for 603 yards and 5 touchdowns. He also added one rushing TD.
Presley also averaged 32 yards on kick-off returns, returning one for a touchdown (100 yards in the win over Oklahoma). On the season, he totaled over 1000 all-purpose yards.
Two sophomore receivers who saw playing time as freshmen, Blaine Green (21 catches, 314 yards, 1 TD) and John Paul Richardson (23 catches, 168 yards, 2 TDs), will look to contribute more this season.
In the running back room, the top returnee is Dominic Richardson. He gained 373 yards on the ground and scored 4 touchdowns.
But don’t be surprised if freshman running back Ollie Gordon, from Euless Trinity High School in Texas, pushes for playing time immediately. At 6–3, he did arrive on campus for Spring practice 20 pounds heavier than expected (230 pounds), but he rushed for 5200 yards and 74 TDs in his prep career.
The offensive line returns three starters, a unit that allowed just 17 sacks on the season, ranking 14th in the FBS.
A Disruptive Oklahoma St. Defense
Yes, the defense lost some serious production with LB Malcolm Rodriguez and LB Devin Harper moving on to the NFL. Both combined for 226 tackles, 9 sacks, and 26 tackles for loss.
And yes, the Cowboys also lose defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, who had the Cowboys playing lights out. Knowles left Stillwater to take the same position on Ryan Day’s staff at Ohio State.
Under Knowles, the Cowboys’ defense was ranked:
- #4 in Total Defense
- #5 in Rushing Defense
- #9 in Scoring Defense
- #2 in Tackles for Loss
- #3 in Opponents 3rd Down Conversion Pct.
But going into 2022, that side of the ball is not exactly devoid of starters and experience. And they will be coached by Derrick Mason, formerly of Auburn.
In 2021, Mason had Auburn ranked in the Top 30 in the FBS rushing defense (126 yards/game) and scoring defense (21.8 points/game).
Mason welcomes back some playmakers for his defense:
DE Colin Oliver: 29 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, and 10.5 sacks. Oliver was named FWAA Freshman All-American along with being named Big 12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year. He has been named preseason All-Big 12 for 2022.
DT Brendon Evers: 21 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 3 sacks.
DE Tyler Lacy: 34 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 1 pass breakup.
DE Brock Martin: 41 tackles, 14 TFLs, 9 sacks.
FS Jason Taylor II: A preseason All-Big 12 selection, Taylor posted 48 tackles, 2 INTs, 6.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 4 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble, and blocked a kick.
The Oklahoma St. Schedule
The out-of-conference part of the schedule should be no issue. The Cowboys have conference road games at Baylor, TCU, Kansas State, and at Oklahoma. They host Texas Tech, Texas, Iowa State, and West Virginia.
This schedule ranks as the 54th toughest schedule in the country.
Yes, most of the national media are picking Baylor to repeat as the Big 12 champs. But Baylor has chosen to put all their eggs in a true sophomore quarterback’s basket with limited game experience-Blake Shapen (596 yards passing, 5 TDs in 2021). This prompted the more experienced and incumbent starter Gerry Bohannon (2194 yards passing, 18 TDs, 7 INTs) to hit the transfer portal.
And Oklahoma’s best weapons all transferred to USC to play for Lincoln Riley.
Oklahoma State has recorded 10+wins seasons seven times since 2010. They will add an 8th 10+win season in 2022 while hoisting the Big12 championship hardware.
Thanks for reading.