2022 Big XII Schedule

Today we continue our series on the power five 2022 schedules and key games and today’s focus is on the Big Twelve Conference.

Baylor – key games – TCU, Oklahoma, Kansas State, and Texas. The Bears are coming off a Big Twelve title run and are looking to repeat and get into the CFP. They get Texas and Oklahoma in Waco but two tough road tests with Kansas State and TCU late in the season.
Iowa State – key games – Baylor, Kansas State, Texas, West Virginia– The Cyclones were a roller coaster a year ago, beating Texas and Oklahoma State but losing two heart-breakers to the Sooners and Red Raiders. This team needs to complete games. Beating Iowa wouldn’t hurt either.
Kansas – key games – West Virginia, TCU, Baylor, Kansas State– The Jayhawks played admirably last season, even if their record shows else. However, 2022 should be more favorable for a team looking to make their mark again on big time college football. Kansas gets West Virginia, Oklahoma, Baylor, and Kansas State at home. They just need to get more offensive production this season and I believe they will.
Kansas State – key games – Oklahoma, TCU, Oklahoma State, Baylor– The Wildcats had a record of 8-5 in 20201 with a season-ending victory over SEC opponent LSU in the Texas Bowl. To get to the Big Twelve Championship, the Wildcats need to win on the road in Waco and Morgantown late in the season.
Oklahoma – key games – Kansas State, Texas, Baylor, Oklahoma State– The Sooners have a new head coach but the talent is still there. Venables will need Dillion Gabriel all season to get the Sooners back in the Big Twelve hunt. Bedlam and Baylor are on the road and the red river shootout in the middle of the season will be tough.
Oklahoma State – key games – Baylor, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Texas– The Cowboys were almost there last season but lost a close game to Baylor in the Big Twelve Championship. To repeat, they need to win tough road games in Austin and Morgantown. Bedlam is at home and the Sooners will be breaking in a new head coach so that shouldn’t be an issue for Gundy’s crew.
TCU – key games –Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, West Virginia, Baylor– The Horn Frogs had a 5-7 2021 season which is definitely sub-par for this program. Thankfully, they get both the Sooners and Cowboys at home, along with Kansas State. The true tests come at the end of the season with Texas and Baylor on the road.
Texas – key games – West Virginia, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Baylor– It’s year two for head coach Steve Sarkisian and he is ready to take the Longhorns back to where they belong which is one of the top programs in the nation. The horns should be favored at the red river shootout but have three tough road games with West Virginia, Iowa State, and Baylor. The Longhorns will be tested early when Alabama comes to Austin in week two.
Texas Tech – key games – Texas, Oklahoma State, West Virginia, and Baylor – The Red Raiders have a brutal road schedule in 2022- at Texas, at Oklahoma, at West Virginia, and at Baylor. It will be a tough task to reach the Big Twelve Championship.
West Virginia – key games- Texas, Baylor, TCU, and Oklahoma – The Mountaineers are another team that always proves critics wrong and if they can get by Oklahoma and Kansas State on the road this season, they could be looking at a run for the Big Twelve Title.

Oklahoma has been for the Big Twelve what Clemson has been for the ACC- a shining star. They’re the only team in the playoff era to make it to the four-team playoff since its inaugural season in 2014. The issue is they get curb stomped in the playoff by Clemson or someone from the SEC like LSU or Alabama. The Big Twelve needs Texas, Kansas State, or someone else to step up their game and make this conference great again. I think Texas is the next team to do it with coach Sarkisian who was able to get Arch Manning to come to Austin in 2023. Baylor has been playing with greatness for a decade and they’re a good program but they still need to get over the CFP hump. Who comes out on top in 2022? We will find out soon enough.