Who is #1 in the Big XII Coaching Power Rankings?
Welcome to the Big XII, where offense thrives, and defenses die. If you like points, this is the conference for you. If you like defense, you might as well turn off the game because it’s rarely played with the exception of TCU. Because of this, it can be hard to determine how the Big XII stacks up against other conferences like the Big 10, Pac-12, ACC and SEC if one side of the ball is, for the most part, neglected. However, the top of the conference is loaded with teams like Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and TCU who regularly compete for a spot in the College Football Playoff.
ICYMI:
Pac-12 Coaching Power Rankings
Big Ten Coaching Power Rankings
Can Lincoln Riley take the Sooners to its third playoff trip? Can Gary Patterson and Mike Gundy lead their teams to the promised land? Let’s take a look at the coaching power rankings for the Big XII.
10. Kansas – David Beaty
Without a doubt, the Big XII program that believes in their coach the most is Kansas. Am I crazy? No, and here’s why. Name one coach in America that can go 0-12 and 2-10 in back-to-back seasons and still earn a contract extension. I’ll name that coach for you. It’s David Beaty. All the credit in the world to this guy for keeping his job despite having a record of 3-33 (!!!) in three years. You can’t help but root for Coach Beaty. The only way to go is up so best of luck to Coach Beaty. Rock chalk!
9. Baylor – Matt Rhule
Matt Rhule is a brave man for taking the Baylor job. He inherited a toxic situation at the university and surrounding the football team in the wake of the allegations under Art Briles tenure as head coach. While Rhule deserves a long leash, he likely won’t get one. The Rhule won 10 games at Temple twice, which is remarkable in itself. The Baylor Bears fan base will be looking for that same success. They are accustomed to 10+ win seasons and won’t settle for excuses. Rhule must drastically improve on his 1-11 record in Waco. Otherwise, his seat temperature will go from cool to inferno very quickly.
8. Texas Tech – Kliff Kingsbury
Kliff Kingsbury’s tenure at Texas Tech can be described with one word: disappointing. He is 30-33 overall, and 6-12 in the Big XII over the last two seasons. But why hasn’t this worked? Kingsbury knows how to develop quarterbacks cc: Case Keenum, Baker Mayfield, Patrick Mahomes. The program loves Kingsbury because he was a legendary quarterback for the Red Raiders. Texas Tech lights up the scoreboard every week. Why is this not working again? Oh, that’s right. Texas Tech is allergic to defense. Two years ago, Kingsbury’s Red Raiders allowed a mind-blowing 554.3 yards per game, which was easily last in the Big XII. However, the defense made some strides last year, and “only” gave up 443 yards per game. The good news is will most of their starters for the upcoming season. If they can improve on the defensive side, even more, Texas Tech will be a dark horse to make the conference title game.
7. Iowa State – Matt Campbell
Iowa State, enjoy Matt Campbell for now because the NFL and college football bluebloods will be knocking on his door soon. That’s how coveted Campbell will be. In two years in Ames, Ames has turned Iowa State into a highly respected team in the Big XII. There are no more guaranteed wins when teams see Iowa State on the schedule. Last season Campbell led the Cyclones to 8 wins, the program’s highest win total since 2000. If he keeps the momentum growing from last year, watch out. Iowa State should be fighting in the top half of the conference all year.
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6. West Virginia – Dana Holgorsen
Is this the year Dana Holgorsen and West Virginia breakthrough and play for a Big XII title? Things started out white-hot in Morgantown. Holgorsen led the Mountaineers to an Orange Bowl victory in 2012. However, since then he has had an underwhelming 43-34 record. In 2018, Mountaineers were voted to finish second in the Big XII preseason poll. The keys to success are all there. The team will go as far as their Heisman hopeful QB Will Grier takes them. Holgorsen hopes to be singing “Take Me Home, Country Roads” as he hoists the winning trophy at the Big XII Title game.
5. Kansas State – Bill Snyder
Let’s get one thing straight. Coach Bill Snyder is a legend, and if this list was for career coaching rankings, Snyder is #1. Snyder is 78 years old, and his Wildcats have had one losing season since his second stint as the head coach began in 2009. Overall Snyder has a 210-110 -1 record at a program that had just one bowl trip before his arrival. However, it may be time for a new voice at the top. Snyder is heading down the same road Bobby Bowden, and other greats have gone down, time to look for a successor. Plans were in place to hire current Oregon defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt, but Snyder squashed those because he wants his son, Sean, to take over K-State. Hopefully, this situation does not get ugly over the next couple seasons because Coach Snyder does not deserve to be forced out.
4. Texas – Tom Herman
Tom Herman is expected to exceed the success of Mack Brown’s tenure at the helm of Texas football. The Charlie Strong experiment backfired, and the fans and boosters are demanding results. Teams in the Big XII must prioritize offense and scoring points. Strong’s teams failed to produce both offensively and defensively with any consistency. Enter Tom Herman, whose middle name might as well be “offense.” After winning a National Title at Ohio State as a coordinator, Herman turned Houston into a named brand after earning a 22-4 record which included a Peach Bowl victory. Now, Herman enters his second year at Texas after a 7-6 first season. The pieces are coming together as Herman dominated the recruiting trail this past year as Texas had the 4th ranked class for 2018. Hook ’em Horns is very close to being all the way back. It’s 10 wins or bust for the Longhorns.
3. Oklahoma – Lincoln Riley
Lincoln Riley could not have asked for a better first year. Following the iconic Bob Stoops was no easy task, but Riley passed with flying colors. 12-2, a Heisman-winning quarterback, and a double-overtime loss in the Rose Bowl is as good as it gets. Yes, I understand Oklahoma did not win the College Football Playoff, but Riley proved that the program is in good hands. It’s crazy to think that this team might be better than last year as they are heavily favored to win the Big XII again. Riley has unfinished business, and his Sooners might be granted a rematch with Georgia if the stars align.
2. Oklahoma State – Mike Gundy
Mullet Mike continues to wheel and deal in Stillwater. Since 2010, Gundy’s teams have had six seasons of 10 or more wins. Losing Mason Rudolph to the draft is a tough pill to swallow, but top-notch coaches reload, not rebuild. Gundy can flat out coach. His 114-53 record at his alma mater leaves no doubt about it. But, T. Boone Pickens and the rest of the Oklahoma State faithful are going to be giving Gundy the side-eye if he doesn’t get them to the promised land soon. If he leads the Cowboys to a College Football Playoff birth, you can make a case for Gundy as the top coach in the Big XII.
1. TCU – Gary Patterson
Remember how I said there could be a case for Mike Gundy as the best coach in the Big XII? I lied. Gary Patterson of TCU is the top dog of the conference, and there is no debate. Patterson’s numbers during his tenure are flat out ridiculous. He has led the Horned Frogs from the WAC conference, to Conference USA, the Mountain West, and finally to the Big XII without missing a beat. Patterson has had 11 seasons of 11 or more wins including victories in the Rose Bowl and Peach Bowl. He is single-handily responsible (aside from the great players and coaches, lol) for making TCU relevant. Unbelievably, Patterson still flies under the radar regarding his coaching ability. Make no mistake about it, Patterson is one of the best coaches in the country.