Daily Bullets (May 12)

The House is Burning Might Burn Later

247 had a solid thought on the Big 12, namely that we’re not to a low point yet.

The Big 12 decided to explore expansion but did not even take a vote. The conference produced just 14 picks in the 2017 NFL Draft, which was 21 fewer than the next-closest Power Five conference and one fewer than the AAC.

So yeah, it’s been tough times for America’s favorite punching-bag conference.

Yet there is hope. Oklahoma is expected to be a CFB Playoff contender, Oklahoma State is a top-10 team, and Kansas State, Texas, West Virginia and TCU could all be preseason top-25 teams. [247 Sports]

Sixty percent of the league could be top 25 preseason. Sure that doesn’t decide your season’s fate (ask Texas who hasn’t had a winning record since 2013 but has folks annually guzzling kool-aid in August) but it darn sure says they’re not the American Athletic or Mountain West.

Now, long-term infrastructure may be as solid as an Oklahoma toll road but the weight of our instability similarly won’t be felt for at least a few more years.

All-Satellite Team

ESPN ranked the Cowboys’ wide receivers at the top of the league and highlighted a strength.

1. Oklahoma State (1): Quarterback Mason Rudolph said this spring that LSU transfer Tyron Johnson was Oklahoma State’s best receiver in space with the ball in his hands. Considering the other components of the Cowboy receiving corps, that’s an incredible compliment and underscored just how deep this Cowboy wideout unit will be. [ESPN]

Disclaimer: it was Walsh not Mason who regularly threw darts to Josh Stewart (my favorite, recent non-Tyreek Cowboy in space). But for a guy who’s been throwing to Washington and McCleskey AKA the kings of yards after catch to say Tyron Johnson is the best in space, that bears weight. It’s not unreal to not only imagine but expect things like this to happen in the fall.

OSU and NCAA Notes

The eigth place Cowboys take on seventh place Baylor tonight at 6:30 at Allie P….Lincoln Riley is never leaving OU, $1.3m per year….Make sure and get (your girlfriend/mom/wife) signed up for Women’s 101….OSU women’s golf missed the cut for the NCAA championships….The Michigan AD, head football coach and both coordinators are now endowed positions….Charlie Strong came to an understanding with a critical Florida judge

Men’s tennis newcomer of the year? Not bad at all.

#Big12TEN Newcomer of the year Arthur Dubinski heads into the NCAA Championship with a 9-6 record for @cowboytennis.

A post shared by Big 12 Conference (@big12conference) on May 11, 2017 at 12:06pm PDT

Would have laughed out loud if you told me this was coming ten years ago:

Also, 5 times in the last 7 seasons. #okstate’s 68 wins since 2010 is ninth among Power Five schools this decade. Sustained success. pic.twitter.com/7G5g2bf6K9

— Cowboy Football (@CowboyFB) May 11, 2017

Hopefully Bullet, Pete and the gang are all safe and sound:

Stunning photo of the scary weather in Stillwater today by @asexton20 pic.twitter.com/L7yBdQsol3

— Jeannine Edwards (@jeanninee12) May 12, 2017

What You Missed on PFB

• The Pokes added a new non-conference opponent for 2020
• Walk-on Cowboy wide receiver to transfer out
• Take a look at the Cowboy dual-threat QB’s of the future
• Jawun has a record-setting wingspan per the Combine
• Cowboy football set a new water-mark in academic progress rates
• Baker Mayfield continues to… be a toolbag Baker Mayfield

Other Stuff I’m Reading

Fun soccer story on a young girl schooling all the boys….Final piece of the Harden trade: Something between Buddy Hield 2.0 and a younger J.J. Reddick….Interesting concept: playoffs if the Warriors and Cavs disappeared

Weather update from Green Country:

No one knows where this carport came from. It ended up in the middle of the road. #OwassoTornado #Okwx pic.twitter.com/jLUlWyw8wn

— Eric Bailey (@EricBaileyTW) May 11, 2017