SeniorFrog
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14. TCU Horned Frogs: TCU limped to a 7-6 record in its first season in the Big 12, but it might have been Gary Patterson's best coaching job. The Horned Frogs were stung by a drug bust that cost them four players in the offseason, then lost quarterback Casey Pachall to off-field problems after four games (he might return in 2013). By the end of the 2012 campaign, TCU's leading passer (Trevone Boykin), rusher (B.J. Catalon) and pass-rusher (Devonte Fields) were freshmen. TCU will benefit next season, with six starters coming back on offense and 10 on defense. In fact, TCU played 28 freshmen this season, tied with LSU for the most in the country. Linebacker Kenny Cain, TCU's top tackler, is the only defensive starter leaving. The Horned Frogs' schedule won't be any easier; they open the 2013 slate against LSU at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and also play at Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Kansas State.
Opponents:
11. Texas Longhorns: Will the Longhorns finally move back among the sport's elite? If quarterback David Ash plays the way he did in the second half of a 31-27 victory over Oregon State in the Alamo Bowl, UT will have a chance to be a lot better in 2013. But if Ash and backup Case McCoy continue to struggle, it might be another long season for coach Mack Brown, who might be on his last legs in trying to turn things around. The Longhorns started five freshmen and sophomores on offense last season, so there's a lot of experience coming back. Former UT quarterback Major Applewhite takes over the play calling (former offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin left to become Arkansas State's coach), and he's promising more toughness. The defense was even younger, with seven freshmen and sophomores starting in the Alamo Bowl. Only star end Alex Okafor and free safety Kenny Vaccaro are leaving. The returning players should have a better understanding of coordinator Manny Diaz's aggressive scheme. The Longhorns play nonconference games at BYU and home against Ole Miss, as well as Big 12 contests at TCU, West Virginia and Baylor (and against Oklahoma in Dallas).
13. LSU Tigers: The Tigers' surprising loss to Clemson in the Chick-fil-A Bowl further exposed their problems on offense. LSU struggled to protect quarterback Zach Mettenberger, who was mediocre in his first season as a starter. The Tigers were supposed to open their vertical passing game this past season, but they ranked only 92nd in passing (200.5 yards per game) and 85th in total offense (374.2 yards). Part of the problem can be attributed to having such a young offensive line (two freshmen and a sophomore started against Clemson), but Mettenberger also needs to improve his accuracy. LSU still finished 10-3 because of its menacing defense, but it's losing the heart of that unit to the NFL draft. Safety Eric Reid, cornerback Tharold Simon, linebacker Kevin Minter, talented junior ends Barkevious Mingo and Sam Montgomery, and tackle Bennie Logan have all declared for the NFL draft. Punter Brad Wing and tailback Spencer Ware are also leaving for the NFL. That's a boatload of talent to replace, even for a team as deep as LSU.
17. Oklahoma Sooners: The Landry Jones era at OU ended with a thud in the Sooners' ugly loss to the Aggies at the Cotton Bowl. Now coach Bob Stoops and offensive coordinator Josh Heupel will begin the task of replacing Jones, a record-setting quarterback, who threw for 4,267 yards with 30 touchdowns and 11 interceptions this past season. Sophomore Blake Bell, affectionately known as the Belldozer because of his 6-foot-6, 254-pound frame, is the favorite to win the starting job, but he'll have to hold off junior Drew Allen and freshmen Trevor Knight and Kendal Thompson. The Sooners also will have to rebuild their defensive line and replace a couple of starters in the secondary. Even after former Arizona coach Mike Stoops took over the defense, it still struggled against high-powered offenses in the Big 12. The Sooners will play some difficult away games next season, with contests at Notre Dame, Kansas State and Oklahoma State, along with their annual showdown against Texas in Dallas
24. Oklahoma State Cowboys: If the Pokes can settle on a starting quarterback and stick with him -- they rotated freshmen Wes Lunt and J.W. Walsh and junior Clint Chelf throughout this past season -- they'll have a chance to improve on their 8-5 record of 2012. It still wasn't a bad rebuilding campaign after OSU lost quarterback Brandon Weeden and receiver Justin Blackmon from its record-setting offense in 2011. The Pokes will have plenty of firepower behind the quarterbacks next season, with running backs Joseph Randle and Jeremy Smith returning to school. The Cowboys had 20 players make their first career starts this past season; only five other FBS schools had more first-time starters. That experience should pay off in 2013, when OSU plays TCU, Kansas State and Oklahoma at home.
14. TCU Horned Frogs: TCU limped to a 7-6 record in its first season in the Big 12, but it might have been Gary Patterson's best coaching job. The Horned Frogs were stung by a drug bust that cost them four players in the offseason, then lost quarterback Casey Pachall to off-field problems after four games (he might return in 2013). By the end of the 2012 campaign, TCU's leading passer (Trevone Boykin), rusher (B.J. Catalon) and pass-rusher (Devonte Fields) were freshmen. TCU will benefit next season, with six starters coming back on offense and 10 on defense. In fact, TCU played 28 freshmen this season, tied with LSU for the most in the country. Linebacker Kenny Cain, TCU's top tackler, is the only defensive starter leaving. The Horned Frogs' schedule won't be any easier; they open the 2013 slate against LSU at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and also play at Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Kansas State.
Opponents:
11. Texas Longhorns: Will the Longhorns finally move back among the sport's elite? If quarterback David Ash plays the way he did in the second half of a 31-27 victory over Oregon State in the Alamo Bowl, UT will have a chance to be a lot better in 2013. But if Ash and backup Case McCoy continue to struggle, it might be another long season for coach Mack Brown, who might be on his last legs in trying to turn things around. The Longhorns started five freshmen and sophomores on offense last season, so there's a lot of experience coming back. Former UT quarterback Major Applewhite takes over the play calling (former offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin left to become Arkansas State's coach), and he's promising more toughness. The defense was even younger, with seven freshmen and sophomores starting in the Alamo Bowl. Only star end Alex Okafor and free safety Kenny Vaccaro are leaving. The returning players should have a better understanding of coordinator Manny Diaz's aggressive scheme. The Longhorns play nonconference games at BYU and home against Ole Miss, as well as Big 12 contests at TCU, West Virginia and Baylor (and against Oklahoma in Dallas).
13. LSU Tigers: The Tigers' surprising loss to Clemson in the Chick-fil-A Bowl further exposed their problems on offense. LSU struggled to protect quarterback Zach Mettenberger, who was mediocre in his first season as a starter. The Tigers were supposed to open their vertical passing game this past season, but they ranked only 92nd in passing (200.5 yards per game) and 85th in total offense (374.2 yards). Part of the problem can be attributed to having such a young offensive line (two freshmen and a sophomore started against Clemson), but Mettenberger also needs to improve his accuracy. LSU still finished 10-3 because of its menacing defense, but it's losing the heart of that unit to the NFL draft. Safety Eric Reid, cornerback Tharold Simon, linebacker Kevin Minter, talented junior ends Barkevious Mingo and Sam Montgomery, and tackle Bennie Logan have all declared for the NFL draft. Punter Brad Wing and tailback Spencer Ware are also leaving for the NFL. That's a boatload of talent to replace, even for a team as deep as LSU.
17. Oklahoma Sooners: The Landry Jones era at OU ended with a thud in the Sooners' ugly loss to the Aggies at the Cotton Bowl. Now coach Bob Stoops and offensive coordinator Josh Heupel will begin the task of replacing Jones, a record-setting quarterback, who threw for 4,267 yards with 30 touchdowns and 11 interceptions this past season. Sophomore Blake Bell, affectionately known as the Belldozer because of his 6-foot-6, 254-pound frame, is the favorite to win the starting job, but he'll have to hold off junior Drew Allen and freshmen Trevor Knight and Kendal Thompson. The Sooners also will have to rebuild their defensive line and replace a couple of starters in the secondary. Even after former Arizona coach Mike Stoops took over the defense, it still struggled against high-powered offenses in the Big 12. The Sooners will play some difficult away games next season, with contests at Notre Dame, Kansas State and Oklahoma State, along with their annual showdown against Texas in Dallas
24. Oklahoma State Cowboys: If the Pokes can settle on a starting quarterback and stick with him -- they rotated freshmen Wes Lunt and J.W. Walsh and junior Clint Chelf throughout this past season -- they'll have a chance to improve on their 8-5 record of 2012. It still wasn't a bad rebuilding campaign after OSU lost quarterback Brandon Weeden and receiver Justin Blackmon from its record-setting offense in 2011. The Pokes will have plenty of firepower behind the quarterbacks next season, with running backs Joseph Randle and Jeremy Smith returning to school. The Cowboys had 20 players make their first career starts this past season; only five other FBS schools had more first-time starters. That experience should pay off in 2013, when OSU plays TCU, Kansas State and Oklahoma at home.
