10 Power 5 National Championship dark horse contenders

For the last several years, the Baylor Bears have been one of the best programs in the Big 12, capable of winning 10-plus games on the regular with their spread offense and near-unstoppable up-tempo approach.

That said, Baylor had to trudge through immense adversity and national scrutiny — almost all of it self-inflicted and deserved — during and after the 2016 season, as a campus-wide sexual assault scandal brought to an end the popular Art Briles era in Waco. In his place steps former Wake Forest Demon Deacons head coach Jim Grobe, who will be tasked with steering a program gone wildly off the tracks.

While Baylor has taken a step back in terms of national perception in 2016, the Bears are still likely a top-four team in the Big 12, and a veritable shoe-in to finish in the top 25.

To his credit, Grobe has won in tough situations before, taking an ACC doormat in Wake Forest to the Orange Bowl after winning the ACC in 2006 with quarterback Riley Skinner at the Demon Deacons’ star player. He’ll have way more talent in Waco that he ever did in Winston-Salem, so Bears fans can at least rest easy knowing Grobe brings some tangible bona fides to the table.

Baylor should have another high-octane offense with quarterback Seth Russell at the helm, assuming he rebounds well after his season-ending neck injury. The Bears also have one of the best tailbacks in the Big 12 in senior Shock Linwood, who should take some much-needed pressure off Russell and Co. If the Bears’ defense has any bite, Baylor could be in the mix to win the Big 12 for the third time in four years.

Baylor again plays a soft non-conference schedule (Northwestern State, Rice, SMU), so the Bears will have to go at least 11-1 (8-1) to be in contention for the 2016 College Football Playoff. Luckily, the Bears draw two of their three toughest games at home this fall: the Oklahoma State Cowboys on Sept. 24th, in a game that could set the tone Baylor’s Big 12 prospects; and arch rival TCU on Nov. 5.

At this point, a road trip to Norman to play the Oklahoma Sooners the week following TCU feels like a certain loss for the Bears. However, Baylor does have a fairly navigable path through the Big 12, where they’ll likely have to go 2-1 versus Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and TCU to make the College Football Playoff. But it’s certainly within the realm of possibility.

If the Bears can unite as a team, this could be easily be a dark-horse National Championship contender.

Next: 9. Louisville Cardinals.