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Underrated/Overrated: Big-12 Edition

On3 imageby:Justin Hopkins•08/23/23
Steve Sarkisian
Steve Sarkisian (Ricardo B. Brazziell / Austin American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK)

Well the final update in this series of my opinions on top 25 teams by conference. I’ve made the round trip all the way back to the Midwest and a conference that has generated a lot of buzz this past year.

With the Pac-12 falling apart at the seams, the Big-12 was proactive in adding some of those teams. But the Big-12 needed that inventory after losing Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC.

Personally I’ve felt the Big-12 has been overrated for much of the last decade. And that was with Oklahoma and Texas. Adding the four corner schools from the Pac-12 will replenish inventory but I’m not sure it will lead to more playoff appearances.

That’s neither here nor there at the moment. Let’s look at who pollsters ranked in the top 25 with my thoughts.

AP Poll

Coaches Poll

Texas: Overrated

AP: 11

Coaches: 12

This one was easy for me. Steve Sarkisian, whom I actually like, has had his share of issues at Texas since taking over. He generates as much offseason buzz as anyone in the country, every year. Did you know Texas faces Bama in Bama in week two? Four weeks later they host Oklahoma and in between are no sure wins against Baylor and Kansas. We could easily see a 3-3 Texas thru 6 games.

Kansas State: Underrated

AP: 16

Coaches: 17

Right now K-State only faces two ranked opponents all season, Texas and TCU. They return their starting quarterback, head coach and both coordinators. As well as several other key pieces to the team. Call me crazy but I like how the stars have aligned for K-State this year. The Big-12 isn’t especially strong and K-State might be this year’s ‘TCU.’

TCU: Overrated

AP: 17

Coaches: 16

I feel like Sonny Dykes is the least underrated coach in CFB. It’s not necessarily the schedule that I think will be tough for TCU. It’s just going to be the pieces they lost that makes it tough for me to get behind them this season. In the last two years they signed recruiting classes ranked in the mid to lower 20’s. That’s a decent gap they’ll need to overcome.

Oklahoma: Underrated

AP: 20

Coaches: 19

This is a pivotal year for Brent Venables at Oklahoma. The Sooners finished 6-7 last season and 3-6 in conference play. They play Texas and finish the season with TCU, outside of that, it’s a very winnable schedule for Oklahoma. I’m going to call them underrated for now but I would be they finish in mid-to-high teens. If they don’t, well that will be even more interesting.

Texas Tech: Underrated

AP: U/R

Coaches: 24

It’s a tale of the bookends for Tech. Your second game is Oregon, your last is Texas. Those will be two key chances for Tech to climb, stay or even get back into the top 25. If you’re an Oregon fan you want to beat them and hope they have success the rest of the season. I don’t think this is a top 10 team, but I can see top 15.

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