Big 12 predictions: Iowa State bowling again, Bill Snyder to coach beyond 2018 and Oklahoma to win league

Randy Peterson | The Des Moines Register

Show Caption Hide Caption Iowa State football: Matt Campbell breaks down his team's spring The third-year Cyclone coach said he's proud of the depth and experience that has been built this spring. Now, he's looking for player leadership.

Bill Snyder will be Kansas State's coach in 2019

ISU junior stars entering the NFL Draft

It's Oklahoma's Big 12

Another 1,000-yard season for Montgomery

Someone at Big 12 Media Days will ask Bill Snyder about the future — specifically about how long he continues as Kansas State’s coach. It’s as predictable as someone outside the conference saying the Big 12 is dying.

Expect it. It will happen sometime during the Wildcats’ appearance in Frisco, Texas next week.

And if you’re waiting for Snyder, 78, to break news ...

Forget it — not because he’ll avoid the question, but because I don’t think he’s planned that far ahead.

What’s on his mind right now is finding a starting quarterback (he’s igniting a QB controversy by bringing two to media days) and keeping the “Cats respectable — and not what he and the fam plans when that inevitable “R” day comes.

Predicting the Hall of Famer’s future is pointless, but what the heck.

Let’s take a stab at that among a dozen Big 12 Conference predictions:

Kansas: A state of coaching change

A search firm will be involved in a head coaching search at one Big 12 program in the Sunflower State — at least. That’d be to find a replacement for Kansas’ David Beaty, who some thought would be out of a job within hours after the May firing of AD Sheahon Zenger.

It didn’t happen then, but by this time next season, new AD Jeff Long will see if a different coach can pump life into Jayhawk football.

I could take this prediction farther — to add that both State of Kansas Big 12 schools will have new head coaches for 2019, but I’m taking the safe route ...

Snyder will be Kansas State’s head coach in 2019 — unless something crazy breaks out within the program or unless administrators suddenly agree that son, Sean, can be his successor.

End of the line for an Iowa State junior or two?

The 2018 season could be a farewell tour for juniors David Montgomery and Hakeem Butler.

Montgomery, Iowa State’s best-ever running not named Troy or Darren, will be good enough to opt for the NFL Draft after becoming the first Cyclone with consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons since Ennis Haywood rushed for 1,237 yards in 2000 and 1,169 yards in 2001.

Another season like 2017, and Butler could be on his way, too.

With Allen Lazard gone, the 6-foot-6 deep threat will be Kyle Kempt’s top target. He’s a combo receiver — an inside guy who can play like a red-zone monster tight end, and an outside guy with highlight reel (remember the Baylor game?) ability.

For them, or at least one of them, it could be no time like the present to start making money — unless, of course, the starchy NCAA very, very quickly allows athletes to market their likeness.

Oklahoma wins Big 12 ...

Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Baker Mayfield, the top overall pick in April's NFL Draft, isn’t hanging around the Big 12 anymore. But that doesn’t mean a sudden Sooner downturn.

There’s a reason reporters made Lincoln Riley’s team the overwhelming pre-season favorite, and it starts with Mayfield’s heir — the electric Kyler Murray.

He’s wearing a baseball uniform on the school’s football web site, but playing for the Oakland Athletics, with whom he signed a contract that included a $5 million bonus, will wait. He’s a five-star high school football recruit from Allen, Texas blessed with incredible play-making tools.

Thus, it’s still OU’s league.

... but doesn’t make the college football playoffs

Too much parity. No great team. No undefeated seasons — either overall or in the conference.

It’s an all right year for the Big 12 — it usually is. But will a two-loss Big 12 conference playoff champion be good enough to get the College Football Playoff nod over a two-loss non-champ from the SEC?

Depends on which SEC team it is. And which Big 12 team it is.

It’d be interesting conversation for the committee, that’s for sure.

More love for Montgomery

Montgomery not only was the first Iowa State running back to be a first-team postseason Big 12 selection since Haywood in 2001 — and he’ll add to that in 2018 by being selected to one of the major All-America teams.

The 5-11, 219-pounder is on the national radar after rushing for 1,146 yards last season. Iowa State being on the radar for a change helps Montgomery’s situation as well.

He’ll be running behind the program’s best offensive line in a while, and as coach Matt Campbell said: “As far as David’s natural running back skillset and talent — I don’t know that we’ve got to see that yet, to be honest with you.”

Important season for Kliff Kingsbury

Texas Tech’s coach would have been canned a year ago, had he not built up so much equity among Red Raiders fans from back when he was their star quarterback.

He’s 22-28 in four years after leading Tech to an eight-win season in 2013, his first as a head coach.

He’s the top pick to get fired, per the CBSsports web site. He’s even ahead of Kansas’ Beaty, which is no small feat.

Two in a row against Oklahoma?

Sure.

The Sept. 15 game is in Ames. With a backup quarterback, Iowa State beat a better OU team last season in Norman.

The Cyclones are expected to be just as good as last season — if not better. That backup quarterback won five games last season, including the Liberty Bowl.

Iowa State over Oklahoma again?

Don’t bet against the Cyclones celebrating a second victory in a row against the Sooners for the first time since 1961.

Will Grier for Heisman? Nope.

It’s unlikely that college football’s top individual award goes to a Big 12 player again this December. He’s good. He’s very good, and with an abundance of very good receivers headlined by Gary Jennings and David Sills — Grier’s the best in the Big 12.

But Heisman good?

Not happening.

Big 12 and the bowls

It's July, but what the heck:

Sugar: Oklahoma

Alamo: West Virginia

Camping: Texas

Texas: TCU

Liberty: Oklahoma State

Cactus: Iowa State

Armed Forces: Kansas State

And the final three ...

Player of the year: Will Grier, West Virginia

Coach of the year: Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma

Championship game: Oklahoma vs. West Virginia

Iowa State columnist Randy Peterson has been with the Register for parts of five decades. Randy writes opinion and analysis of Iowa State football and basketball. You can reach Randy at rpeterson@dmreg.com or on Twitter at @RandyPete.