Oklahoma State vs. Texas A&M: Which Program Will Win a Conference Title First?

With news breaking earlier that Dan Beebe is out as commissioner of the Big 12, conference realignment appears to be done, at least for the moment.

Nevertheless, Texas A&M will still be heading east to the SEC, and Oklahoma State is tied with Oklahoma—and likely Texas and Texas Tech—with regard to any future move.

Much has been made about Texas A&M’s move, with some saying there is no way they can win a conference championship. But who would win a conference championship first out of these two schools?

Let’s break it down and find out.

Recruiting

The clear edge must go to Texas A&M in this category. The Aggies are already in one of the most fertile recruiting states in the country, and now they are in the conference in which almost every recruit wants to play, the SEC.

Oklahoma State simply can’t hold a candle to that, but it is important to note that other SEC schools will likely have more recruiting success in Texas now that they will be playing in that state every year.

Fortunately, there should be enough talent to go around.

Coaching

This category is more of a push, but Aggie defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter is the deciding factor. Since coming from Air Force, the defense has gone from awful to great, and it is continuing to improve with every year he is in College Station.

Mike Gundy has steadily improved the Cowboys, and his offenses have been some of the most prolific in the country. The next step is for him to win a big game—particularly against rival Oklahoma—and become a real player on the national stage.

Home-Field Advantage

In order to make a successful conference title run, a team almost always has to win all of their home games.

While Boone Pickens Stadium is a great place to play and has some crazy students with their signature big heads, the advantage has to go to Texas A&M. Kyle Field is home to the 12th Man and is widely considered one of the toughest places to play in the entire country.

Conference Alignment

Even though it is uncertain where Oklahoma State will ultimately end up, they have to get the obvious advantage. A&M will be in the SEC West, which is one of the toughest divisions in the sport.

Alabama and LSU are mainstays in the national title race, and Auburn just won a title of their own (and have been highly successful in recruiting this year in order to keep it there). You also can’t forget about Bobby Petrino or Dan Mullen at Arkansas and Mississippi state, respectively.

Oklahoma State’s only real competition in the Big 12 lies in Oklahoma, Texas and Missouri, and everyone but Oklahoma has been underwhelming this season. In a Pac-16, life would be a little harder, but the Pokes fit in really well with everything else that other teams in that league do.

Conclusion

Texas A&M may have won most of the categories, but they lost the one that matters most: conference alignment.

While I believe fully in the Aggies and think they can go far, winning the SEC is a gateway to the national championship.

For Oklahoma state, a conference title means a BCS Bowl appearance and that is likely it.

The Pokes have continued to improve every year under Mike Gundy, and you have to get the feeling that the time is near for them to get over the hump and win a big game, which would propel them to a conference championship before the Aggies.