CFB: The Team No One Saw Coming
Since college sports are so difficult to predict and preview, given the injuries, slip-ups, upsets, and more, there is almost always a team that comes out of nowhere, steals the show, and has an enormous impact on how the playoff field turns out and who eventually wins the championship.
In 2014, the first year of the College Football Playoff, Mississippi State and TCU went from being unranked in the preseason to finishing in the top-10, as Mississippi State reached the No. 1 spot and TCU peaked at No. 3. The following season, in 2015, Houston, Iowa, and Stanford all played in a New Year's Six bowl, finished in the top-10, and combined for a 37-5 record, while none of them started the season in the top-20. And then last year, USC went from No. 20 to No. 3, Penn State from unranked to No. 7, and Washington from No. 14 to No. 4 and a College Football Playoff appearance.
Which team is going to begin the season under the radar, and by late December, will be sitting pretty, preparing for the CFP? There are a handful of teams that I believe have potential to do so, namely Georgia, Kansas State, and South Florida, but my pick, has to be Oklahoma State.
The Cowboys went 10-3 (7-2 Big 12) last year, after starting a disappointing 2-2, following a controversial loss to Central Michigan, 30-27, in Week 2. Oklahoma State also lost to No. 16 Baylor in Week 4 and No. 9 Oklahoma in Week 13, before running over No. 10 Colorado, 38-8, in the Alamo Bowl.
While the 'Boys aren't exactly a common playoff pick, they do have a ton of potential, because of the talent coming back. Mason Rudolph, senior quarterback, threw for 4,091 yards, 63.4 percent completion, and 28 touchdowns, to just four interceptions.
Alongside Rudolph, James Washington, arguably the best wide receiver in the country, who caught 71 receptions for 1,380 yards last season, will be back. In the backfield, sophomore running back Justice Hill is extremely underrated, and because of his explosiveness and quickness, he could have a breakout campaign.
Mike Gundy's crew also has an athletic and experienced defense on the other side of the ball, and with a schedule that sets up for a deep run, the Cowboys have a realistic shot at reaching the playoffs. After facing Tulsa, South Alabama, and Pittsburgh in the first three weeks, the Cowboys should start the season 3-0.
In the first five games of the Big 12 conference schedule, Oklahoma State plays three road games against Texas Tech, Texas, and West Virginia, and two home games against TCU and Baylor. The matchup against the Mountaineers in Week 9 could be a difficult matchup, but other than that, I see Oklahoma State starting 8-0 heading into the Bedlam Series against rival Oklahoma.
The Sooners, who have Heisman candidate Baker Mayfield returning and Lincoln Riley beginning his head coaching career, are expected to be the best team in the Big 12, but with this game being at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma, the Cowboys have an upper hand. Then towards the end of November, with games slated against Iowa State, Kansas State, and Kansas in the final three weeks of the year, Oklahoma State has a legitimate chance of going 11-1 or 12-0.
If the Cowboys can reach that level of success, behind Rudolph and Washington, they'll likely be in the Big 12 Championship Game, possibly against Oklahoma. Obviously there are no locks in this day and age, but Oklahoma State has as good of a chance as anybody to win at least 11 games and reach the first College Football Playoff in school history.
Photo Credit: Scout and Sports Illustrated.
