Oklahoma has won seven Big 12 championships since 2000 and has never gone back-to-back seasons without winning the Big 12. The best times of that run were in the early 2000s when Mike Stoops was leading his big brother's defense and they began the millenium with a national championship.
Well, Bob Stoops brought baby brother back this year and the Sooners didn't win the Big 12 in 2011. Should we go ahead and crown them now? Or is it finally time for the consistency to end?
Best-case scenario: Unlike 2011, Oklahoma lives up to the hype of its preseason selection as the Big 12 champion. The Sooners roll through the Big 12 and take advantage of a generous home-road schedule -- their only road game against a team in the Big 12's preseason top five is at West Virginia. Remember when Landry Jones struggled at the end of 2011 after Ryan Broyles was lost for the season? Jones doesn't either. Jones thanks his current receivers -- freshman sensation Trey Metoyer, junior Kenny Stills and Penn State transfer Justin Brown -- during his Heisman acceptance speech. And OU's dominant defense returns and finally ends the SEC's reign when the Sooners knock off Alabama in the national championship game.
Worst-case scenario: Oklahoma's patched-together offensive line struggles to keep Texas pass rushers off Jones during the Red River Rivalry. The Sooners are able to shake off the beating the Longhorns delivered them and travel to West Virginia at 8-1 with a chance to still win the Big 12. That defense that was expected to be fixed by Mike Stoops can't keep up with Geno Smith and the speedsters in Morgantown. The next week is more of the same when Oklahoma State knocks off OU for a second straight year, and then Oklahoma finishes the season with a third straight loss to TCU. The Sooners lose their bowl game and finish 8-5, the same record as 2009 when Jones had to take over for Sam Bradford and a potentially great season turned into a dud.
Most-likely scenario: A repeat of 2009 would be the worst nightmare for Sooner fans. The similarities are there with Jones deciding not to enter the NFL draft, a decision that Bradford made after he won the Heisman that didn't work out so great. Yes, the OU line has had some bad breaks this month with senior G Tyler Evans tearing his ACL and senior C Ben Habern forced to end his career because of neck and back issues, but the Sooners had good depth. Jones and the talent he has at wideout should be able to put up a lot of points on the board, and Mike Stoops' presence should help improve the defense. Look for the Sooners to slip up at least once -- at Morgantown or the next week against Oklahoma State would be our prediction. Will a one-win Big 12 team get a place in the national championship game? That wasn't the case last year for Oklahoma State, and it's likely the Sooners will head to the Fiesta Bowl, as Jerry Palm predicted.
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from Big 12 bloggers C.J. Moore and Patrick Southern, follow @CBSSportsBig12 on Twitter.
