Michigan’s defense is going to be a problem, FSU loses Deondre Francois for the season

Big 12: The Oklahoma institutions are fun, as expected

With very good reason, there were two teams at the forefront of the Big 12 discussion heading into the 2017 college football season: the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Oklahoma Sooners. On Thursday night and Saturday afternoon, respectively, we got our first glimpses of each team, and yes, we’re in for one hell of a ride from both the next few months.

Oklahoma State: The Cowboys opened their season on Thursday night with a convincing 59-24 win over Tulsa. In the victory the Cowboys racked up 640 yards of total offense and we were pleasantly reminded that Mason Rudolph and James Washington, who both bypassed on the NFL Draft to return this season, may very well be the most unfair tandem in college football this season. Seriously, they’re unfair and should be banned from college football for being too much fun to watch hook up with one another.

Much of the focus when it comes to the Pokes this season will be on Rudolph and Washington, but it also shouldn’t be overlooked that running back Justice Hill is going to be what the kids these days call, “a problem.” The sophomore rushed for 132 yards on 15 carries with a touchdown, while J.D King was right behind him with 95 yards on six carries with a score of his own, giving this Mike Gundy offense some pretty nice balance heading into the year.

Oklahoma: After the rival Cowboys had their stage on Thursday evening, it was the Sooners’ turn on Saturday afternoon in Norman as they welcomed in UTEP, who they throttled 56-7. Now what was the main takeaway from the Sooners’ dominant performance on Saturday?

Baker Mayfield wants his damn Heisman that’s eluded him the past couple years, that’s what.

The senior quarterback had it on full display just why he is one of the best players in the nation and has been since he arrived in Norman. In the beatdown, the senior completed an astonishing 19 of 20 passes for 329 yards and three touchdowns, and also in the passing game, wide receiver Mark Andrews stepped up as expected to haul in seven passes for 134 yards and a score.

Even with the loss of playmakers on offense like Samaje Perine, Joe Mixon and Dede Westbrook, Mayfield showed on Saturday that he’s ready and willing to keep this potent Sooners offense rolling under new head coach and former offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley. And now, in Week 2, Mayfield and his gang have a chance to show the entire nation just how serious they are about a national title run against an Ohio State team that showed some flaws defensively against Indiana in their opener.

Bottom Line: Just like we all discussed leading into the season, the Cowboys and Sooners seem poised to clash for the Big 12 title — and a potential berth in the College Football Playoff — come December and it’s going to be all the fun in the world.

You know, unless the wizard Bill Snyder has something to say about that — which is something you can never leave out of the equation as long as he’s in Manhattan, Kansas.