The Big 12 hasn’t made a blip on the national title game in several years. The last time the conference saw an appearance was in 2010, when Texas fell to Alabama; the last victory was a 2006 Rose Bowl victory by the Longhorns against USC.
The conference may have to wait a little longer to reach a College Football Championship.
Long-time Sooners coach Bob Stoops has stepped down as the leader of Oklahoma, possibly marring their status as the favorites to nab the Big 12 crown next season and make a convincing case for CFP inclusion.
“After 18 years at the University of Oklahoma, I’ve decided to step down as the head football coach,” Stoops said in a statement. “I understand there has been some speculation about my health. My health was not the deciding factor in this decision and I’ve had no incidents that would prevent me from coaching.”
Since joining the program in 1999, “Big Game Bob” guided OU to a 2000 national championship, 10 Big 12 titles and double-digit wins in 14 seasons.
Coach Stoops will be succeeded by offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley, who — at 33-years old — will be the youngest head coach in the FBS.
With coach Riley as offensive coordinator, the Sooners were just one of two FBS teams to average over 300 yards passing (313.1) and 200 yards rushing (229.4) per game over a two year span. The first-year HC inherits a deep 2017 class (ranked eighth nationally) and the skillset of returning quarterback Baker Mayfield. After finishing top-4 in Heisman voting three times, the senior is currently second on oddsmaker’s list of Heisman candidates and will likely receive an invite at the conclusion of the season.
The loss of Dede Westbrook and OU’s dynamic running back duo is a blow — as is losing their combined 2,435 rushing yards and 2,168 receiving yards — but a strengthened offensive line and deeper overall talent than the rest of the conference is an additional benefit: five o-line starters return, as well as pass-catching tight end Mark Andrews.
The biggest concern is an inexperienced defense for an offensive-minded coach, but a strong secondary may support a lackluster front seven.
The seat of power in the Big 12 Conference belongs to the Bedlam Series, a rivalry in Oklahoma pitting one collegiate program against the other — right in the middle of the United States. Coach Mike Gundy may be the biggest threat to the Sooners winning ascent. Oklahoma State returns one of the best QB-WR combos in the FBS and are expected to play Oklahoma in Stillwater and again in Arlington for the Inaugural Big 12 title game.
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