Oklahoma State is the real Big 12 favorite in 2017

The Big 12 has seen a lot of change going into this season. While the focus is on new hires at Texas and Oklahoma, the Oklahoma State Cowboys are the team to talk about.

Much has been made about the Big 12 Conference since the inception of the College Football Playoff. Whether it’s the up-and-down nature of the conference or a prolific coaching carousel, it’s been an interesting time for everyone. Through all of this, Mike Gundy and his staff at Oklahoma State have been working on something that could very will strike gold this season.

This is a big season with plenty of expectations for the Cowboys. Needless to say, the battle for supremacy in the state of Oklahoma could be some of the best competition we’ve seen from the two programs in a rich and storied history.

However, the Cowboys have to really like the product they are putting on the field this year. While they aren’t returning every starter and some new faces will have to step up, they are returning several key players. Experience matters when winning a conference championship and competing for a playoff spot. That’s the luxury of having quarterback Mason Rudolph once again lining up under center for the team.

He’s one of the most skilled passers in the nation and has an elite skill set that has draft scouts salivating over his potential at the next level. Having a stud quarterback is one big plus for the Cowboys and it’s in those tight moments where it matters the most to have that experience.

With that being said, every great quarterback has a wide receiver that they have a famous connection with. For the Cowboys, that superstar wide receiver has been James Washington. He’s one of those receivers that can beat his man in a variety of ways and the highlight play certainly hasn’t shied away from him.

That’s critical to achieving the success the Cowboys want to continue to have after a strong finish to last year. Those two players alone instantly put the program among the highest in the nation and within reason. Johnson’s monster numbers last season could become even bigger this year. It’s a conference where secondaries don’t exactly shut down opposing offenses either. When looking at early awards watch lists, this is one of the players to start with.

In a division where the Oklahoma Sooners have Baker Mayfield returning to lead the charge, having an equally exciting quarterback is an absolute must. Much will be made over the year about Lincoln Riley and the job that he does taking over for Bob Stoops. Bedlam could very well end up being for the conference and a chance to make the College Football Playoff.

This is where schedule and having home field come into play. The Sooners have to play the Ohio State Buckeyes once again this season. While that doesn’t affect their conference record, it won’t make life easier when trying to reach the College Football Playoff. It would virtually guarantee they have to go perfect in their conference schedule with no slip ups.

Gundy’s team has a much more favorable schedule and a chance to run through it if they live up to their potential. Getting the Sooners at home is absolutely huge. While anything can happen in a rivalry game, having it in front of the home crowd beats going on the road to a raucous environment in Norman any day of the week.

All of this aside, there’s a difference between being a contender for the Big 12 and a contender for the College Football Playoff. If Oklahoma State wants the latter, they pretty much have to go perfect with their particular schedule. However, like many top teams they might be afforded one slip up if they win the conference.

What also helps their cause in that regard is that a conference championship game will return in 2017. The Big 12 had really hurt themselves by not having one and it made the resumes of other conference champions that much stronger in the long run. With one back, the Big 12 now should be able to eliminate that particular worry.

While they have the dynamic offensive connection between Rudolph and Washington along with a strong running game, the “prove it” area will be the defense. This can be said for a good majority of teams in the conference, though. Ultimately, the team that comes away with the conference crown will have seen their defense step up just a little more than the rest.

The Cowboys have the pieces on the other side of the ball to excel. Chad Whitener and company are going to have their hands full with the explosive offenses in the conference. Containing the likes of Mayfield and others is no tall task.

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At the end of the day, this conference is there for the taking right now. The Cowboys are throwing out a talented roster during a time where a transition period in the conference seems to be taking place. The pieces are falling in place for the season that they want to have.