Big 12 blitz: Predicted order of finish, bowl teams and games to watch

(Editor’s note: This story is part of The Star’s annual football preview, which will appear in three special sections in the Sunday, Aug. 28 print edition and also on KansasCity.com and The Star’s Red Zone Extra app.)

Projected finish

1. Oklahoma >> 11-1, 8-1

Sooners must navigate tough early schedule

2. Oklahoma State >> 10-2, 7-2

QB Mason Rudolph poised for a big season

3. Texas >> 9-3, 7-2

Pressure is on Charlie Strong to produce a title-quality team

4. Baylor >> 9-3, 6-3

Expectations have changed with coaching change

5. TCU >> 7-5, 4-5

With Boykin and Doctson gone, focus returns to defense

6. Kansas State >> 6-6, 4-5

Perhaps the injury bug won’t bite Wildcats this season

7. West Virginia >> 6-6, 4-5

Rebuilding stout secondary is priority

8. Texas Tech >> 6-6, 3-6

QB Patrick Mahomes looks to build on great sophomore season

9. Iowa State >> 4-8, 2-7

Big task for first-year coach Matt Campbell

10. Kansas >> 2-10, 0-9

If Jayhawks don’t beat Rhode Island in opener …

Games of the year

Sept. 4: Notre Dame at Texas

Major statement opportunity for Longhorns

Oct. 8: Oklahoma vs. Texas at Dallas

Sooners look to avenge lone blemish in 2015 regular season

Dec. 3: Oklahoma State at Oklahoma

Bedlam could be Big 12 championship game

Bowl teams

College Football Playoff: Oklahoma

Sugar: Oklahoma State

Alamo: Texas

Texas: Baylor

Russell Athletic: TCU

Liberty: West Virginia

Cactus: Texas Tech

Armed Forces: Kansas State

Offensive player of the year

Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma quarterback

Mayfield finished fourth in the Heisman voting last year after leading the Sooners to a College Football Playoff appearance. And now there’s a rule unofficially named for him after he was granted an additional year of eligibility by the Big 12.

Defensive player of the year

Charles Walker, Oklahoma defensive tackle

He’s a 6-2, 304-pound freak of an athlete who came off the bench last season and still managed 10 tackles for loss and six sacks.

This story was originally published August 27, 2016 at 3:12 PM with the headline "Big 12 blitz: Predicted order of finish, bowl teams and games to watch."