Big 12 Record Projections

I thought this -one of many we will see- record projections for the Big 12 looked pretty good.

Something tells me TCU will be a bigger factor this year. I believe WVU looks on the up. OSU overrated in national rankings but looks about right here...again, except I could see TCU moving higher. ISU and UT will be about a push this year which is exactly what they show. I see us settling in firmly ahead of ISU after this season and it being a two man competition for #1 annually..just like the 2000s. For right now, ou still looks like 1 and I see them w 1-2 losses. ISU and UT with 2-3 losses. One x factor is ISU is no longer the hunter and won't sneak up on anyone, so that could affect their plight and record.
Should be a great and close battle for 3-6...Maybe even 2-6...seems the 2 and 3 spot could come down to one game again, though often in the Big12 lately seems there is a healthy rotation of takers to be a clear #2 each year.
Hope it bes gooner this year

Thoughts??
Big 12 Football: CFN predicted each team's record for 2021

 

Kansas should retain their "cellar-dweller" position as I don't see them anywhere near having a winning or even decent season. Having ISU ranked at #2 in a recent poll and this article showing them at 11-1 or a most likely 9-3, seems a tad bit ludicrous. I'll go with 8-4 as their best ceiling with 7-5 most likely. OU will be tough as usual, and nothing would please me more than seeing Sark and Co. knock them off in his first season. I'll pick Moble-homa to finish at 10-2. I hope the Horns are part of their two losses.

K-State, Baylor, other-OSU, Tech, WVU, and TCU are about right with the most probable finish. I'd like to see the Horns win all of those, and no let down games as we saw under the "Binder Kid."

As for the Horns at 9-3 most likely, I have yet to get a really good feeling and since this is Sark's first season with 2 QBs having limited playing time, I'm giving him, like I do all first year HCs, a free pass so, neither a 7-5 nor a 11-1 finish will surprize me. On the other hand, a break even or 5 or less win season would be very disappointing.

 

If Zero U makes any improvement at all on defense, they will be hard to beat - they're loaded on offense. Texas needs to gel quickly - if the Horns find a defensive identity early, they could make it very interesting against the Osoners.

 

Yeah really to the preceding comments. I’m not sure why some of the “experts” are picking ISU to have an 11 win season, make the playoffs, finish in the top 5, etc.

The Cyclones are a solid team with very good coaching. But some folks are getting a bit carried away. They’re good, but they’re not Thaaaaaaaaaaaaaat good...

 

No way ISU goes 11-1, and if Purdy goes down it could get ugly. Too much competition in the B12. Of course 9-3 could be optimistic for Texas with a new coach, new QB and a completely new system. LA is no gimme, Texas better come out firing on at least 7 cylinders to win that one.

 

I see Texas o/u at 3 losses, maybe 2...possibly 4
....2nd or 3rd place in conference
No matter how good what Sark is doing will be...it is extremely difficult to massively overhaul anything and there be no curve for full implementation/recognition/realization.
o/u for losses in '22 will be less

 

The big issue at this time is Kwiatkowsky implementing a new defense and pressing the D players left from the Binder Kid and the old DC, to get their minds right and learn the new system and assignments. All of the players have to buy in to his new system. Under the prior regime, their were too many big plays and scores given up to opposing offenses, resulting in our O having to play more like being in a track meet instead of a football game. This year may be a might tough since the O and D as well as special teams will have new systems, philosophy and expectations to learn and meet or hopefully, exceed.

 

Something reminded me of the 1977 changeover from DKR - Wishbone / Campbell - D to Fred Akers - I-Formation / Leon Fuller - D.

Everything clicked in that changeover season - Horns went 11-0 regular season IIRC.... and many of those wins were with a 3rd string QB.

Anyway, I'm not saying that 11-0 will happen in 2021.... but the W-L results could be much better than we think today.

I suspect our W-L expectations are somewhat tempered or low as a result of poor first season records by Strong & Herman.

We will see....

 

I agree that 9-3 regular season is most likely but 11-1 is possible. It is very hard for the above mentioned reasons, to get a bead on how good Texas will be in 2021. I can see 9-2, 10-2, or 11-1 as all quite possible. Defense may be behind until the 5th game of the season. Seems like the running game will work very well and take a lot of pressure off of the offense. I am less worried about that side of the ball. Largely due to the success Sark had at Alabama. He made fundamental changes to that offense much like he's doing for the Texas offense. It will be interesting how the O and D play against Louisiana Rajun Cajuns on September 4th!

 

According to ESPN we have the fourth toughest schedule for 2021

ESPN FPI 2021 Strength of Schedule:

• Arkansas.
• Auburn.
• Kansas.
• Texas.
• TCU.
• Iowa State.
• LSU.
• West Virginia.

 

Something doesn't give on that list. Half of the list are Big XII teams that play each other. Are they saying that the 5 not on the list are better than the 5 that are on the list?