WATCH: John Paul Richardson turns on the jets, flies by defenders for early touchdown

Sparks are flying early for the No. 12 ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys during their season opener against Central Michigan. Less than five minutes into action, quarterback Spencer Sanders’ pass to John Paul Richardson on a curl route that ended up going 45 yards and into the end zone.

John Paul Richardson takes the short pass 45 yards to the house!!! #OKST pic.twitter.com/MqGnywerBe

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That play gives Richardson a hot start to the year after a 2021 freshman campaign that saw him in a limited role, hauling in 23 receptions for 168 yards and two touchdowns. In one play – a good chunk of those yards are already covered (precisely 27 percent).

Since the play, Central Michigan has evened the score at seven. Head over to FS1 to watch the remainder of the Cowboys’ matchup against the Chippewas.

ESPN predicts season record for every Big 12 team, conference champion

The college football season is upon us and the Big 12 is in one of the final seasons with their current members. With BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF on the way in and Texasand Oklahoma on the way out, this will be the last season with the Big 12 as we’ve known it as of recent. Based on ESPN’s latest predictions, it should be another great year in the conference.

An article by Mark Schlabach at ESPN predicted the records for every Power 5 conference in the nation. For the Big 12, he has the Sooners still taking the conference even with all the changes from the offseason in Norman.

1. Oklahoma Sooners: 10-2, 7-2
2. Baylor Bears: 9-3, 6-3
3. Oklahoma State Cowboys: 9-3, 6-3
4. Texas Longhorns: 7-5, 5-4
5. Kansas State Wildcats: 7-5, 5-4
6. Iowa State Cyclones: 6-6, 4-5
7. West Virginia Mountaineers: 6-6, 4-5
8. TCU Horned Frogs: 7-5, 4-5
9. Texas Tech Red Raiders: 5-7, 3-6
10. Kansas Jayhawks: 3-9, 1-8

Big 12 champion: Oklahoma

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2021’s Big 12 champion and Big 12 runner up in the Baylor Bears and Oklahoma State Cowboys slot in at two and three. The Texas Longhorns slide in at No. 4 with Kansas State rounding out the Top-5.

Based on this projection, ESPN is expecting an important season across the Big 12. Schlabach’s projections have eight of the ten teams in the conference as bowl eligible. It’s a long way to go before we get there, but the season and conference slate are right around the corner with Big 12 play opening September 10th.