Big 12:

1. Oklahoma State. 7 starters return n offense including QB Rudolph. Only 5 starters return on defense. Last season, after a loss at Baylor, State ran off 7 straight wins, only to fall short at Oklahoma. This season the schedule is doable, with both TCU and OU visiting Stillwater.

2. Oklahoma. Everyone's pick except mine, OU returns QB Mayfield and 8 others on offense and 7 on defense. OU ran the table after startging 1-2 last season, but there is the rub. They were out of the playoff picture in September. That makes life a lot easier. They go to Ohio State and Oklahoma State and get a rematch with Tom Herman, who is now at Texas.

Others. TCU returns 10 startes on offense and their QB, plus 7 on defense. HC Patterson won but 6 games last season, very poor by his standards. The schedule is not that friendly, with a game at Arkansas, and two in Oklahoma, but the do host Texas. Speaking of which, the 'Horns return 7 on offense including their QB and 10 on defense. This team started 2-0 last year with a stunning win over Notre Dame, but then slid to 3-7 the rest of the season, including a loss to Kansas. The only tough away game is at USC, but they do get OU and Oklahoma State back to back. What can Herman do?