With the new 16-team league, everything is wide open in the Big 12, but Oklahoma State is among the best.
Utah and Kansas State were ranked ahead in the Big 12 preseason poll and are favorites to win the conference. Although OSU was ranked third in the preseason poll, the team has a good chance of making it to Arlington and claiming its first Big 12 title since 2011.
In Bleacher Report’s recent article on the 2024 conference championship betting odds, Adam Kramer picked OSU as the Big 12 favorite. At +750, OSU has solid value, especially given the amount of returning talent it has.
The Cowboys’ continuity could help them stake their claim in the Big 12 in the first few weeks of conference play. After an interesting non-conference schedule, the Cowboys open conference play with the Utes in Stillwater before traveling to Manhattan to play the Wildcats a week later.
READ MORE: Oklahoma State star LBs on Butkus Award watch list
If OSU comes through those games unscathed and beats West Virginia the following week, they will have an off week and then play six games against teams that all finished in the bottom half of the Big 12 preseason poll.
In recent weeks, OSU’s roster has been honored with numerous watch list spots. From Ollie Gordon’s inclusion on the Doak Walker Award watch list to Nick Martin and Collin Oliver being named to the Bednarik, the Cowboys have many players who are among the best in college football.
Last season, OSU stumbled in the first week of conference play but finished the Big 12 season 7-1, earning a spot in the championship game, where they eventually lost to Texas. The Cowboys’ bad luck early in last season ended any underdog chance at a College Football Playoff appearance. However, the new 12-team format, which guarantees a spot to the top five ranked conference champions, gives Mike Gundy one of his best chances to compete for a national title if all goes well.
READ MORE: Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt believes Oklahoma State will be ‘really good’ in 2024
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