Big 12 Preview: Can anyone slow down Baylor's offense?

This year, the Big 12 has two top teams with the potential to reach the first ever College Football Playoff, but also several more with opportunities to push themselves into conference title contention. 

Baylor, of course, returns as the defending conference champions, featuring one of the most dangerous offenses the college game has ever seen. Oklahoma, on the other hand, is just as strong in another way, fielding one of the deepest and most talented rosters in the country. But Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Texas and TCU, while each likely a step down, all have pieces in place that give them the potential to compete for the title should the top teams falter.

The Favorites

Oklahoma

Last year's record: 11-2
AP Preseason Poll ranking: 4

What you need to know: Coming off an impressive Sugar Bowl victory over Alabama to end last season, expectations for Oklahoma are quite high in 2014. While the team still has some issues to take care of both on and off the field, their talent level and depth will give them every opportunity to make good on that potential. Should receiver Dorial Green-Beckham be ruled eligible to play after transferring from Missouri, he just may give the offense the boost it needs to get the Sooners into the four-team playoff at the end of the year.

What you probably didn't know: Coming off a season in which they went a perfect 6-0 at home - with a home record of 46-3 in the past seven years - each of the Sooners' 2014 games against preseason top 25 opponents come at home.

Potential Upset: Sept. 20 at WVU. After an unconvincing 16-7 win at home against West Virginia in 2013, Oklahoma taking on the Mountaineers on the road will be a game to watch.

Baylor

Last year's record: 11-2
AP Preseason Poll: 10

What you need to know: With senior quarterback and likely Heisman candidate Bryce Petty returning in Art Briles's system this season, Baylor could have the nation's top scoring offense for what would be the second straight year. However, as has consistently been the case for this team, their fortunes will be dictated by the defense and its ability to get off the field. Their shot at the Big 12 crown will likely come down to a Nov. 8 matchup at Oklahoma, but their schedule is relatively favorable aside from that, and they should have a good chance to earn a spot in the year-end playoff as a result.

What you probably didn't know: At No. 10 in 2014, Baylor has its highest AP preseason ranking since they were ranked No. 7 in 1957.

Potential Upset: Oct. 11 vs. TCU. Despite a disappointing 4-8 season, the Horned Frogs played Baylor within three points in their 2013 matchup, holding the offense in check throughout the game.

Kansas State

Last year's record: 8-5
AP Preseason Poll: 20

What you need to know: They may be the underdog of the three conference favorites, but Kansas State can't be overlooked heading into this season. After a disappointing 2-4 start to the 2013 campaign, the Wildcats managed to turn it around down the stretch, winning five of their last six games, including a bowl victory over Michigan. This year, the offense should rely on the passing game quite a bit more than years past, and with one of the nation's best receivers in Tyler Lockett, they'll be tough to stop.

What you probably didn't know: The Wildcats have been ranked in AP's Preseason Top 25 Poll 11 times in their history. Bill Snyder has been the head coach for 10 of those years.

Potential Upset: Oct. 4 vs. Texas Tech. The Wildcats have defeated the Red Raiders in three straight seasons, but this year's matchup could turn into a shootout that will be anyone's game.

The Suprises

Oklahoma State

Last year's record: 10-3

Oklahoma State is coming off an impressive 2013 campaign, highlighted by convincing wins over Baylor and Texas, but given the large senior class lost heading into 2014, similar success may prove a little more difficult this time around. Among the key starters lost were cornerback Justin Gilbert, quarterback Clint Chelf and receiver Josh Stewart. Even so, the Cowboys remain a team with potential to contend in the Big 12, as head coach Mike Gundy and his coaching staff could very well shorten the turnaround time for what is now a much younger team.

Texas

Last year's record: 8-5

The Longhorns' roster is full of highly touted recruits, but it will be up to new head coach Charlie Strong and his staff to bring the best out of them all this season. A 2013 upset over the then-undefeated Oklahoma Sooners showed what this team is capable of, but otherwise disappointing losses to ranked teams made their deficiencies well-known. If Strong and his staff can make the necessary changes, and are successful in establishing a defensive foundation and solid run game, Texas could be a surprise contender in the Big 12.

TCU

Last year's record: 4-8

Despite posting just a 4-8 record in 2013, TCU remained competitive over the course of the year, keeping within 10 points in all but one loss. The Horned Frogs return nine starters on what is arguably the conference's top defense, and the unit will be the team's strong suit once again. In hopes of creating more offense, however, the team hired co-offensive coordinators Sonny Cumbie and Dough Meacham to implement a high-tempo spread attack. Should the change in philosophy pay off, with the offense putting points on the board on a relatively consistent basis, TCU could certainly end up as the conference's top surprise team, potentially contending by season's end.

The Disappointments

Iowa State

Last year's record: 3-9

Iowa State is coming off a difficult 3-9 season in which both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball experienced their fair share of struggles. The hiring of offensive coordinator Mark Mangino could do well to help the offense generate some scoring, as he does have some talent to work with on the offensive line and at receiver. However, the Cyclones enter the year with plenty to improve upon, and they will struggle as one of the weaker teams in the conference.

Kansas

Last year's record: 3-9

Kansas has yet to improve the way the program would have liked in the two seasons since hiring head coach Charlie Weis, and it doesn't look much better for the Jayhawks in 2014. An offense that was already among the nation's worst has suffered several costly injuries at tailback, and although the defense has potential to play at a fairly high level in comparison, the more the offense's lack of production keeps the defense on the field, the more it hurts their chances overall. While Weis's offensive system could start to pay off eventually, it doesn't look like it'll come this season, and the Jayhawks should struggle once again.

The Leftovers

Texas Tech

Last year's record: 8-5

The 2013 season saw Texas Tech start the season 7-0, only to finish a disappointing 8-5 after struggling against a difficult string of opponents down the stretch. While the offense proved it would remain just as productive under new head coach Kliff Kingsbury, some big questions still surround a defensive unit that was one of the worst in the country. The Red Raiders may well have a big future under Kingsbury, but there is plenty of work to be done on defense before they become a consistent and legitimate threat to the top teams in the conference.

West Virginia

Last year's record: 4-8

Although West Virginia posted just a 4-8 record last season, they were another team that stayed competitive in the majority of their losses - most notably in a 16-7 defeat at the hands of Oklahoma. With senior quarterback Clint Trinkett back under center, it appears as though the passing attack will lead the offense once again, and will be key to the Mountaineers' success overall. An opening game against Alabama likely won't help get their season off to the start they would like, but putting up an overall record somewhere around .500 for the season would go a long way toward showing necessary improvement.