CBS Sports picks Big 12's overrated, underrated teams for 2021

CBS Sports released a list of the most overrated and underrated teams in the Big 12 ahead of the 2021 season. There were two teams that clearly belonged on neither list: Kansas and Oklahoma.

The Jayhawks have won just two Big 12 games in the past four seasons and no one expects them to make any noise this year. Oklahoma enters as a national title contender and winners of the past six Big 12 championships.

Where do the teams in the middle fall?

Big 12 teams that are overrated

Texas: Each year the fans declare that Texas is back and each year it seems to fail to prove that. The Longhorns lose their starting quarterback and coach yet enter the season at No. 21 in the AP poll. They are widely considered to be the third-best team in the Big 12 after the Sooners and Iowa State. Still, this is a program that has won more than seven regular season games just once since Mack Brown’s last year in 2013. It’s going to take a lot more than talk to convince the rest of the college football world Texas is for real.

TCU: The Horned Frogs are just 18-17 in the past three seasons including 12-15 in the conference. Many believe the Horned Frogs can push through thanks to the experience of coach Gary Patterson and quarterback Max Duggan. They are consistently listed as a dark horse candidate in the conference and right outside the top 25 (40 votes in AP poll). CBS Sports’ Tom Fornelli isn’t buying it.

Iowa State: The Cyclones are coming off of a Fiesta Bowl victory and return the nation’s leading rusher in Breece Hall. They also bring back starting quarterback Brock Purdy and tight end Charlie Kolar, a Mackey Award finalist in 2020. There is no doubt that Iowa State is a talented football team, but Chip Patterson questions whether it is worthy of a No. 7 preseason ranking.

Oklahoma State: The Cowboys were the first team outside of the AP poll with 107 votes. The problem that CBS Sports’ David Cobb sees is that OSU will have to rely on its defense again in 2021. Other than quarterback Spencer Sanders, it loses almost all of its major production offensively. They lose their leading rusher as well as three of their top four receivers and it’s hard to see that not having an impact.

Teams that are underrated

TCU: Although Fornelli believes the Horned Frogs are overrated, Dennis Dodd is on the opposite end of the spectrum. Duggan is the first quarterback in 70 years to lead the team in rushing and returns as one of the best dual-threat options in the conference. Dodd also thinks the defense will be much improved and that TCU could be 5-0 entering a game against Oklahoma on Oct. 16.

Oklahoma State: The Cowboys are the second-best team in the Big 12 since 2008 with 129 wins. As mentioned above, the defense should be the anchor of this team in 2021. Malcolm Rodriguez and Kolby Harvel-Peel are both back after back-to-back All-Big 12 seasons. If Sanders can stay healthy at quarterback, OSU could surprise and finish in the top three or four teams in the Big 12.

Texas: The third team to make both the overrated and underrated Big 12 lists, the Longhorns certainly have plenty of talent and many believe Steve Sarkisian could be the coach to turn things around. Bijan Robinson has a case for the best running back in the Big 12 after Breece Hall. Two of Texas’ three losses last season came to Oklahoma and Iowa State. Fornelli thinks the Longhorns have as good a chance as anybody to challenge OU for the league crown.

West Virginia: The Mountaineers had the best defense in the Big 12 this past season and return eight starters. Running back Leddie Brown is back after a 1,000-yard rushing season as are several key weapons at receiver. CBS Sports writer Barrett Sallee says the offense will take a step forward and make this a dangerous West Virginia team.

Kansas State: The Wildcats were picked to finish seventh in the conference in the preseason poll, which seems incredibly low. They get quarterback Skylar Thompson back after he missed most of last season and running back Deuce Vaughn is coming off a spectacular freshman year. K-State should finish in the top half of the conference and has a chance to reel off a couple of upsets. Definitely not overrated, Kansas State rounds out the underrated teams in the Big 12.