The Oklahoma Sooners head into the summer as favorites to win the Big 12. It’s a familiar place for Oklahoma, which had won six straight conference titles before failing to reach the Big 12 championship game last year for the first time since it was reinstated in 2017.
But being the favorite doesn’t guarantee anything as we witnessed last season. The Big 12 has gotten better. Nine teams can provide trouble for each other, and, as we saw last year, even Kansas is on the rise.
Remember that time Kansas beat Texas? That was awesome.
In Brent Venables’ first year as a head coach, the expectations for the Oklahoma Sooners remain unchanged. Winning the conference is the first goal. The hope is the Sooners do that in such a way that it positions them for a college football playoff berth.
Though Oklahoma will have to prove it each week on the field, it looks like the team to beat heading into 2022. Much like recent power rankings from national outlets have indicated, College Football News gives the Sooners the highest win projection in the Big 12 for the 2022 season.
Let’s take a look at how the Big 12 shakes out according to College Football News’ win projections.
1. Oklahoma Sooners
April 23, 2022; Norman; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables yells at his team during the spring game at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Win Projection: 10
The Oklahoma Sooners are once again the favorites to win the Big 12. No pressure, Brent Venables. The optimism stems from his work as a defensive coordinator over the last decade at Clemson and having one of the best offensive coordinators in college football, Jeff Lebby. The Sooners still have a few question marks heading into spring, but this looks like a team ready to retake its Big 12 crown.
2. Oklahoma State Cowboys
Oct. 2, 2021; Stillwater; Oklahoma State Cowboys quarterback Spencer Sanders (3) looks to pass during the third quarter against the Baylor Bears at Boone Pickens Stadium. Brett…