Big 12 football power rankings after spring portal closes: Did Red Raiders get better?

Last year, Oklahoma State rode the nation's top running back, Ollie Gordon II, to the Big 12 Championship Game. This year, they may be able to let him gallop all the way to the College Football Playoff.

One key for the Cowboys was that eventual starting QB Alan Bowman stayed healthy for the first time in his career after emerging as QB1 in the middle of the season. He's back for his seventh year of college football and another solid season from him could propel the Pokes to a conference title.

Also making the Cowboys tough this year will be a veteran offensive line, one that returns intact after opening the way for Gordon last year. That will be a key to their success in the fall.

The schedule sets up well for OSU with winnable road games at BYU, Baylor, TCU, and Colorado. However, a home game vs. Utah and a road game at Kansas State to open the conference season will both be huge tilts in the conference race.