Oklahoma made the College Football Playoff in 2017, thanks in large part to beating Ohio State in Columbus as well as knocking off two other FBS teams. Unfortunately, the Sooners were the exception rather than the norm as most of the league scheduled at least one game with an FCS squad. The Sooners and Texas are the only Big 12 teams that haven't scheduled FCS teams in 2018, so should either one lose more than once the league could be hard pressed to contend for another CFP berth.
As we mentioned in our ACC schedule preview, grades will be lowered for schools that decide to play FCS teams. C'mon, fellas, you're better than that -- it's the one thing you can control, so take the high road, OK?
BAYLOR
NC sked: Abilene Christian, at UTSA, Duke
Conference sked: Kansas, at Oklahoma, Kansas State, at Texas, at West Virginia, Oklahoma State, at Iowa State, TCU, Texas Tech
NC grade: D+; Only the fact that Duke is solid keeps this from being an F. Yes, UTSA is emerging, but is still not considered a powerhouse, and Abilene Christian, despite being the alma mater of Wilbert Montgomery, isn't enough to boost this slate above the ridiculous level.
Conference grade: B+; Road trips to Norman, Austin, Morgantown and Ames make the league ledger beyond brutal. Most of the winnable games are at home, and even that part has some toughies.
Overall grade: C+
IOWA STATE
NC sked: South Dakota State, at Iowa, Akron
Conference sked: Oklahoma, at TCU, at Oklahoma State, West Virginia, Texas Tech, at Kansas, Baylor, at Texas, Kansas State
NC grade: C-; The annual showdown with Iowa is usually a nailbiter, but Akron is a MAC lightweight and the South Dakota State is another FCS squad. We'll take the Cyclones seriously when they start scheduling seriously.
Conference grade: B-; Oklahoma and WVU are at home, while TCU, Okie State and Texas are on the road. ISU might be hard pressed to come out on the right side of .500 of that quintet, but there are five conference home games.
Overall grade: C
KANSAS
NC sked: Nicholls State, at Central Michigan, Rutgers
Conference sked: at Baylor, Oklahoma State, at West Virginia, at Texas Tech, TCU, Iowa State, at Kansas State, at Oklahoma, Texas
NC grade: D-; Nicholls State has turned into a pretty good team, but it's still FCS, so no soup for the Jayhawks. Central Michigan and Rutgers don't move the meter at all.
Conference grade: B; The Jayhawks get Okie State, TCU and Iowa State at home, and they need all the help they can get. Trips to Oklahoma and WVU could be brutal.
Overall grade: C-
KANSAS STATE
NC sked: South Dakota, Mississippi State, UTSA
Conference sked: at West Virginia, Texas, at Baylor, Oklahoma State, at Oklahoma, at TCU, Kansas, Texas Tech, at Iowa State
NC grade: C; Say this for Bill Snyder, he's at least trying. Getting Mississippi State to come to Manhattan is a plus, but scheduling South Dakota is a minus.
Conference grade: B+; The league office did Snyder no favors in what could (should?) be his final season, making KSU travel to Oklahoma, WVU and TCU
Overall grade: B-
OKLAHOMA
NC sked: Florida Atlantic, UCLA, Army
Conference sked: at Iowa State, Baylor, vs. Texas, at TCU, Kansas State, at Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Kansas, at West Virginia
NC grade: B+; Now, THIS is a schedule -- Lane Kiffin,Chip Kelly and an option offense. The only demerit comes from the Sooners not traveling for any of the contests. The mental chess game between Kiffin and Lincoln Riley should be worth the price of admission.
Conference grade: A-; Nearly every tough game is away -- WVU, TCU, Iowa State -- and the schedule is definitely front loaded, which means Kyler Murray better be good right away.
Overall grade: A-
OKLAHOMA STATE
NC sked: Missouri State,South Alabama, Boise State
Conference sked: Texas Tech, at Kansas, Iowa State, at Kansas State, Texas, at Baylor, at Oklahoma, West Virginia, at TCU
NC grade: C+; Boise State classes up an otherwise garbage slate -- Missouri State? Really? The Bears have nine wins in three years, while South Alabama has failed to post a winning record in any of the last six seasons.
Conference grade: B+; This part is tough, and November could be a problem with Oklahoma, WVU and TCU to close things out -- with only the Mountaineers at home.
Overall grade: B-
TCU
NC sked: Southern University, at SMU, vs. Ohio State
Conference sked: at Texas, Iowa State, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, at Kansas, Kansas State, at West Virginia, at Baylor, Oklahoma State
NC grade: C+; Purely due to the presence of the Buckeyes. Southern should be a cakewalk, and SMU no longer has Chad Morris on the sidelines, which means there should be no problems.
Conference grade: C+; The Horned Frogs get a split on tough contests, getting Oklahoma and Iowa State at home and Texas and West Virginia away. If TCU can navigate the early part of the league slate it could be in for a big November, with only West Virginia appearing to be a better squad.
Overall grade: C+
TEXAS
NC sked: at Maryland, Tulsa, USC
Conference sked: TCU, at Kansas State, vs Oklahoma, Baylor, at Oklahoma State, West Virginia, at Texas Tech, Iowa State, at Kansas
NC grade: B-; Not quite as good as Oklahoma due to the presence of Tulsa, but USC is a brand, even if it is replacing a quarterback, and Maryland beat the Longhorns last season in Austin.
Conference grade: C-; Texas won't play a true home game that's an automatic loss, though West Virginia and Iowa State will be tough. The road slate is pretty easy, with only Oklahoma State being considered the least bit imposing.
Overall grade: C+
TEXAS TECH
NC sked: Ole Miss, Lamar, Houston
Conference sked: at Oklahoma State, West Virginia, at TCU, Kansas, at Iowa State, Oklahoma, Texas, at Kansas State, at Baylor
NC grade: C+; If Lamar was replaced by an FBS team this would have been a B, because Houston will be very good this season, and Ole Miss is a challenge right out of the box, even with roster limitations.
Conference grade: C; Oklahoma, Texas and West Virginia all come to Lubbock, though road trips to Stillwater and Fort Worth in the first three weeks of the league could set the tone for the season.
Overall grade: C
WEST VIRGINIA
NC sked: Tennessee, Youngstown State, at NC State
Conference sked: Kansas State, at Texas Tech, Kansas, at Iowa State, Baylor, at Texas, TCU, at Oklahoma State, Oklahoma
NC grade: B-; Mountaineers, you were thisclose to flirting with an A, but you had to put Youngstown State on the slate. Tennessee is a good first game, and NC State on the road will be a measuring stick.
Conference grade: A-; If WVU can get past NC State there is a good chance it is unbeaten heading into November -- but man, what a November. Texas and Okie State away, TCU and Oklahoma at home.
Overall grade: B+
Friday: Big Ten
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