Big 12 Blitz: Predictions, players to watch and can’t-miss games
(This story is part of The Kansas City Star’s Football 2015 special section that publishes Sunday, Aug. 30. Pick one up and check out more here.)
Big 12 predictions
1. Baylor >> 8-1, 11-1
Bears can’t wait to start season after recent turbulence.
2. TCU >> 7-2, 10-2
Trevone Boykin is league’s top quarterback, but there are questions on defense.
3. Oklahoma >> 7-2, 10-2
A Bob Stoops team that flies under the radar can be formidable.
4. Oklahoma State >> 5-4, 8-4
Pokes look to ride momentum of last season’s finish into 2015.
5. Kansas State >> 5-4, 8-4
Starting over at quarterback, but who better to guide the process than Bill Snyder?
6. Texas >> 5-4, 7-5
Quarterback remains the issue in coach Charlie Strong’s second season.
7. West Virginia >> 4-5, 7-5
This could end up being the Big 12’s surprise team.
8. Texas Tech >> 2-7, 4-8
The Red Raiders have to become a more disciplined squad.
9. Iowa State >> 2-7, 5-7
Cyclones coming off winless Big 12 season but have experienced quarterback in Sam Richardson.
10. Kansas >> 0-9, 1-11
Looms as a difficult season in coach David Beaty’s head-coaching debut.
Bowl predictions
▪ College Football Playoff (Cotton): Baylor
▪ Sugar: TCU
▪ Alamo: Oklahoma
▪ Russell Athletic: Oklahoma State
▪ Texas: Kansas State
▪ Cactus: Texas
▪ Liberty: West Virginia
Offensive player of the year
Trevone Boykin, QB, TCU
Boykin spent his first two years as a backup and even briefly moved to wide receiver. But he’s emerged as the league’s top quarterback and a Heisman Trophy candidate.
Defensive player of the year
Shawn Oakman, DE, Baylor
The Penn State transfer who stands 6 feet 9 and weights 280 pounds had 11 sacks and 19 1/2 tackles for loss for the Bears last season, his first as a starter. And his coaches believe he can be much better.
Can’t miss games
Oct. 10: TCU at Kansas State
This looms as the Horned Frogs’ first Big 12 danger game.
Nov. 14: Oklahoma at Baylor
The Sooners have a shot at being undefeated when they arrive in Waco.
Nov. 27: Baylor at TCU
Has replaced OU-Texas as the Big 12 game of the year.
To reach Blair Kerkhoff, call 816-234-4730 or send email to bkerkhoff@kcstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @BlairKerkhoff.
Big 12 football schedules
BAYLOR
Sept. 4 | at SMU | 6 p.m. |
Sept. 12 | Lamar | 6:30 p.m. |
Sept. 26 | Rice | 2 p.m. |
Oct. 3 | vs. Texas Tech* | TBA |
Oct. 10 | at Kansas | TBA |
Oct. 17 | West Virginia | TBA |
Oct. 24 | Iowa State | TBA |
Nov. 5 | at Kansas State | 6:30 p.m. |
Nov. 14 | Oklahoma | TBA |
Nov. 21 | at Oklahoma State | TBA |
Nov. 27 | at TCU | 6:30 p.m. |
Dec. 5 | Texas | TBA |
*at Arlington, Texas
IOWA STATE
Sept. 5 | Northern Iowa | 7 p.m. |
Sept. 12 | Iowa | 3:30 p.m. |
Sept. 19 | at Toledo | 7 p.m. |
Oct. 3 | Kansas | TBA |
Oct. 10 | at Texas Tech | TBA |
Oct. 17 | TCU | TBA |
Oct. 24 | at Baylor | TBA |
Oct. 31 | Texas | TBA |
Nov. 7 | at Oklahoma | TBA |
Nov. 14 | Oklahoma State | TBA |
Nov. 21 | at Kansas State | TBA |
Nov. 28 | at West Virginia | TBA |
KANSAS
Sept. 5 | South Dakota State | 11 a.m. |
Sept. 12 | Memphis | 6 p.m. |
Sept. 26 | at Rutgers | 11 a.m. |
Oct. 3 | at Iowa State | TBA |
Oct. 10 | Baylor | TBA |
Oct. 17 | Texas Tech | TBA |
Oct. 24 | at Oklahoma State | TBA |
Oct. 31 | Oklahoma | TBA |
Nov. 7 | at Texas | TBA |
Nov. 14 | at TCU | TBA |
Nov. 21 | West Virginia | TBA |
Nov. 28 | Kansas State | TBA |
KANSAS STATE
Sept. 5 | South Dakota | 6:10 p.m. |
Sept. 12 | at Texas-San Antonio | 11 a.m. |
Sept. 19 | Louisiana Tech | 2 p.m. |
Oct. 3 | at Oklahoma State | TBA |
Oct. 10 | TCU | TBA |
Oct. 17 | Oklahoma | TBA |
Oct. 24 | at Texas | TBA |
Nov. 5 | Baylor | 6:30 p.m. |
Nov. 14 | at Texas Tech | TBA |
Nov. 21 | Iowa State | TBA |
Nov. 28 | at Kansas | TBA |
Dec. 5 | West Virginia | TBA |
OKLAHOMA
Sept. 5 | Akron | 6 p.m. |
Sept. 12 | at Tennessee | 5 p.m. |
Sept. 19 | Tulsa | 11 a.m. |
Oct. 3 | West Virginia | TBA |
Oct. 10 | vs. Texas* | TBA |
Oct. 17 | at Kansas State | TBA |
Oct. 24 | Texas Tech | TBA |
Oct. 31 | at Kansas | TBA |
Nov. 7 | Iowa State | TBA |
Nov. 14 | at Baylor | TBA |
Nov. 21 | TCU | TBA |
Nov. 28 | at Oklahoma State | TBA |
*at Dallas
OKLAHOMA STATE
Sept. 3 | at Central Michigan | 6 p.m. |
Sept. 12 | Central Arkansas | 6:30 p.m. |
Sept. 19 | Texas-San Antonio | 2:30 p.m. |
Sept. 26 | at Texas | TBA |
Oct. 3 | Kansas State | TBA |
Oct. 10 | at West Virginia | TBA |
Oct. 24 | Kansas | TBA |
Oct. 31 | at Texas Tech | TBA |
Nov. 7 | TCU | TBA |
Nov. 14 | at Iowa State | TBA |
Nov. 21 | Baylor | TBA |
Nov. 28 | Oklahoma | TBA |
TEXAS
Sept. 5 | at Notre Dame | 6:30 p.m. |
Sept. 12 | Rice | 7 p.m. |
Sept. 19 | California | 6:30 p.m. |
Sept. 26 | Oklahoma State | TBA |
Oct. 3 | at TCU | TBA |
Oct. 10 | vs. Oklahoma* | TBA |
Oct. 24 | Kansas State | TBA |
Oct. 31 | at Iowa State | TBA |
Nov. 7 | Kansas | TBA |
Nov. 14 | at West Virginia | TBA |
Nov. 26 | Texas Tech | 6:30 p.m. |
Dec. 5 | at Baylor | TBA |
*at Dallas
TCU
Sept. 3 | at Minnesota | 8 p.m. |
Sept. 12 | Stephen F. Austin | 2:30 p.m. |
Sept. 19 | SMU | 7 p.m. |
Sept. 26 | at Texas Tech | TBA |
Oct. 3 | Texas | TBA |
Oct. 10 | at Kansas State | TBA |
Oct. 17 | at Iowa State | TBA |
Oct. 29 | West Virginia | 6:30 p.m. |
Nov. 7 | at Oklahoma State | TBA |
Nov. 14 | Kansas | TBA |
Nov. 21 | at Oklahoma | TBA |
Nov. 27 | Baylor | 6:30 p.m. |
TEXAS TECH
Sept. 5 | Sam Houston State | 2:30 p.m. |
Sept. 12 | UTEP | 2 p.m. |
Sept. 19 | at Arkansas | 6 p.m. |
Sept. 26 | TCU | TBA |
Oct. 3 | vs. Baylor* | TBA |
Oct. 10 | Iowa State | TBA |
Oct. 17 | at Kansas | TBA |
Oct. 24 | at Oklahoma | TBA |
Oct. 31 | Oklahoma State | TBA |
Nov. 7 | at West Virginia | TBA |
Nov. 14 | Kansas State | TBA |
Nov. 26 | at Texas | 6:30 p.m. |
*at Arlington, Texas
WEST VIRGINIA
Sept. 5 | Georgia Southern | 6:30 p.m. |
Sept. 12 | Liberty | 2 p.m. |
Sept. 26 | Maryland | TBA |
Oct. 3 | at Oklahoma | TBA |
Oct. 10 | Oklahoma State | TBA |
Oct. 17 | at Baylor | TBA |
Oct. 29 | at TCU | 6:30 p.m. |
Nov. 7 | Texas Tech | TBA |
Nov. 14 | Texas | TBA |
Nov. 21 | at Kansas | TBA |
Nov. 28 | Iowa State | TBA |
Dec. 5 | at Kansas State | TBA |
This story was originally published August 31, 2015 at 12:32 PM with the headline "Big 12 Blitz: Predictions, players to watch and can’t-miss games."