Big 12 spring football recaps

With spring football wrapped up and the start of another season just four months away, let’s take a look at what we’ve learned and what we still need to learn for each Big 12 team.

Dave Wilson and Bill Connelly break down Baylor’s quarterback situation, how the new-look Sooners will jell on offense, how Texas gets back on track and more.

What we learned this spring: Coach Dave Aranda named Blake Shapen the starting quarterback after the spring game, and last year’s starter, Gerry Bohanon, who led the Bears to a magical 12-2 season, is headed elsewhere after entering the transfer portal. Against the Oklahoma State defense, one of the nation’s best last season, Shapen completed his first 17 passes in the Big 12 title game and finished the game 23 of 28 for 180 yards and three touchdowns. The return of Craig Williams at running back after a knee injury last year bodes well, as Aranda said after the spring game that the team’s leading rusher two years ago could still be Baylor’s most “electric” player.

What we need to learn by Week 1: Aranda has proved his mettle as a defensive coach and despite losing key pieces such as Jalen Pitre and Terrel Bernard, there’s reason for optimism that the defense that helped the Bears win a Big 12 championship can still be salty. If Williams is healthy, it’s a big boost, but the Bears also lost most of their production at wide receiver, and those position battles are still ongoing. The leading returner on the roster is Gavin Holmes, who started four games in 2017 and nine in 2020, but missed 2018-19 with knee injuries and redshirted last season. With inexperience at quarterback and receiver, how much time will the offense need to find its groove again?

What we learned this…