Get ready for an epic showdown when Oklahoma makes its maiden voyage to Morgantown on November 17.
The Sooners and Mountaineers are the favorites to finish the Big 12 with the best offense, and sure enough, they're the favorites to finish atop the Big 12 standings, too.
That should equal a fun-filled showdown in an amazing atmosphere in mid-November that could decide the entire Big 12.
Last season, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State met for Bedlam two days after Thanksgiving with the league on the line. Oklahoma State walked away victors. If Oklahoma wants to get back the Big 12 title for the first time since 2010, it'll have to pry it from West Virginia's home stadium. The newcomers are good enough to win the league, but are they good enough to knock off the Sooners with a whole lot on the line?
If the Mountaineers beat OU, they'll only need to beat Iowa State and Kansas (combined 8-17 in 2011) on the final two Saturdays of the season.
Texas and Oklahoma will meet for the Red River Rivalry, but the Longhorns still have plenty to prove, and there's a lot of football to be played after that game on Oct. 13.
Bedlam decided the Big 12 South in 2010, and could be a big one again this year, but the Cowboys are breaking in a new QB and only three first-year starters have ever won a Big 12 title.
West Virginia has a three-year starter in Geno Smith, who'll be playing on his home field with a game that could go down in Mountaineers' history. Oklahoma's four-year starter (basically, anyway) Landry Jones will be in the middle of a brutal late-season schedule, but he seemed to shed his road problems in 2011. He'll need to be at his best to knock off WVU.
What's a sure thing? That game will be the Big 12 at its best in 2012.
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
Richard Durrett
Richard Durrett joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009. He writes about colleges, the Dallas Stars and the Texas Rangers. Richard spent nine years at The Dallas Morning News covering the Rangers, Stars, colleges, motorsports and high schools.
Tim MacMahon
Tim MacMahon joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009. Tim covers the Cowboys and Mavericks. He has covered the local sports scene from high schools to colleges to pros during his six-year tenure at The Dallas Morning News. MacMahon is a graduate of UNT.
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