Big 12 football 2018 preview: Breakout stars, biggest games, predictions

Conference Champion – Oklahoma Sooners

It might be more likely that Oklahoma doesn’t win the conference in 2018. But there’s not another single team that should have better odds. As much as it may seem like they’ve dominated this preview, 2018 could be the year they are overtaken in the Big 12.

Murray is a bit of an unknown at quarterback, and his story is unique as he prepares for a professional baseball career after this season. While it might be impossible for anyone to fill Baker Mayfield’s shoes, he is a former five-star recruit with starting experience. The offense could still be the conference’s most talented, and could be the best with Riley at the controls.

Ideally, the defense would be more consistent while Murray gets his footing. Last year, they allowed 12.3 points per game over their first three games against UTEP, Ohio State and Tulane. Then they allowed 36.2 over their first six games of conference play. In their last four games before their loss to Georgia, they were solid again, limiting TCU, Kansas, West Virginia (without Grier) and TCU again to 17.8 points per game.