Baylor Bears (7-6, 4-4 Big 12 last season)

Key Player: QB Robert Griffin III — 304-454 pass completions, 3,501 yards, 22 TD, 269.3 yards/game last season

Outlook: Baylor is coming off its first bowl appearance — a 38-14 loss to Illinois in the Texas Bowl — since 1994 led by Robert Griffin III. The junior quarterback combined for 30 total touchdowns — 22 passing and eight rushing — last season and was also second on the team in rushing yards with 635.

Kansas Jayhawks (3-9, 1-7)

Key Player: LB Steven Johnson — 95 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks last season

Outlook: Turner Gill is coming off a nightmare of an inaugural season as the Jayhawks’ coach, with the team’s only conference win coming off of a 52-45 comeback against now-departed Colorado. Running back James Sims led the Jayhawk ground attack with 742 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on 168 carries in 11 games as a true freshman.

Kansas State Wildcats (7-6, 3-5)

Key Player: DB David Garrett — 92 total tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 1 interception last season

Outlook: The departures of quarterback Carson Coffman and running back Daniel Thomas will prove to be a major setback for Kansas State, which is coming off of a 36-34 loss to Syracuse in the inaugural Pinstripe Bowl. Bill Snyder will be entering his 20th overall season as coach of the Wildcats, as well as his third since taking over after the firing of Ron Prince in 2009.

No. 21 Missouri Tigers (10-3, 6-2)

Key Player: TE Michael Egnew — 90 receptions, 762 receiving yards, 8.5 yards/catch, 5 TD, 58.6 yards/game last season

Outlook: The absence of quarterback Blaine Gabbert, who was picked 10th overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in last April’s NFL draft, will create some big questions for Missouri. The Tigers led the Big 12 in scoring defense last season, allowing only 16.1 points per game, which was good for sixth nationally.

No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners (12-2, 6-2)

Key Player: QB Landry Jones — 405-617 pass completions, 4,718 pass yards, 38 TD, 337.0 yards/game last season

Outlook: The Sooners come into the 2011 season as the No. 1 team in college football. Senior wide receiver Ryan Broyles led the Big 12 in receptions last season with 131 with 14 touchdown receptions and is poised for another breakout year as junior quarterback Landry Jones’ premier target.

No. 9 Oklahoma State Cowboys (11-2, 6-2)

Key Player: WR Justin Blackmon — 111 receptions, 1,782 receiving yards, 16.1 yards/catch, 20 TD, 148.5 yards/game last season

Outlook: Despite entering the season ranked No. 9 in the preseason AP top 25 poll, Oklahoma State has played the role of little brother to instate rival Oklahoma, which has beaten the Cowboys eight straight times dating back to 2003. All eyes will be on quarterback Brandon Weeden and receiver Justin Blackmon, who were both near the top in nearly all statistical categories in the Big 12 last season.

Texas Longhorns (5-7, 2-6)

Key Player: LB Keenan Robinson — 106 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions last season

Outlook: The Longhorns settled for an unthought of 5-7 season last year, missing a bowl selection for the first time since 1997 and the first time in the Mack Brown era. All eyes will be on quarterback Garrett Gilbert, who completed only 59 percent of his passes and threw for only 10 touchdowns as the starting quarterback last season.

No. 8 Texas A&M Aggies (9-4, 6-2)

Key Player: RB Cyrus Gray — 200 carries, 1,133 rush yards, 5.7 yards/carry, 12 TD, 87.2 yards/game last season

Outlook: After having expressed interest in departing from the Big 12, Texas A&M will be hoping to make a statement in what it hopes will be its last season in the conference. Returning for the Aggies is wide receiving tandem Jeff Fuller and Ryan Swope, who combined for 1,800 receiving yard and 16 touchdowns last season.

Texas Tech Red Raiders (8-5, 3-5)

Key Player: RB Eric Stephens — 127 carries, 668 rush yards, 5.3 yards/carry, 6 TD, 51.4 yards/game last season

Outlook: TTU coach Tommy Tuberville is finally getting his feet under him, having led the Red Raiders to an 8-5 season that included a 45-38 victory over Northwestern in the TicketCity Bowl. Junior Seth Doege will be taking over for Taylor Potts at quarterback this season, having only played in two games and throwing for no touchdowns last season.