Spring camps are fully underway across the Big 12 as all 10 programs enter with more questions than answers at key spots. Outside of conference realignment, big-name coaching turnover has been the dominant storyline within the conference. As a result, Baylor’s Dave Aranda is the only sitting coach with a Big 12 championship to his name in the College Football Playoff era. However, three new coaches at Texas Tech, Oklahoma and TCU will immediately fight for the top spot.
Questions under center persist across the conference, too, as Oklahoma State quarterback Spencer Sanders returns as the only entrenched starter across the 10 teams. Meanwhile, flagship programs like Texas and Oklahoma will rely on key transfers to bring them back to contention. The answers to some of these burning spring questions could ultimately decide which team holds up the trophy at the Big 12 Championship Game in December.
Here are the biggest question marks facing each Big 12 team as they run through their respective spring camps.
Baylor
Who emerges as the workhorse at running back?: After a Big 12 championship season, the Bears lost their top two rushers, Abram Smith and Trestan Ebner, to the NFL. Smith and Ebner combined for 2,400 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns, leaving Baylor without a returning running back that cleared 20 carries.
Outside of the top two, Taye McWilliams was the top rusher with 181 yards on 10.6 yards per carry in the Bears’ physical wide-zone system. Craig “Sqwirl” Williams had 197 yards of his own in 2020 but dealt with injuries in offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes’ first season. Additionally, versatile weapon Josh Fleeks made the switch from running back to wide receiver, while Jordan Jenkins could push his way into the rotation…
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