As the the offseason unofficially comes to a close during Big 12 Media Days in Dallas, The Daily‘s sports editor Joe Buetter and digital managing editor Brady Vardeman took a stab at how the conference will look at the end of the 2015 regular season.

Joe’s Poll

1. TCU

2. Baylor

3. Oklahoma State

4. Oklahoma

5. Texas

6. Kansas State

7. West Virginia

8. Texas Tech

9. Iowa State

10. Kansas

Offensive Player of the Year

Trevone Boykin, TCU — This award (and conference) is Boykin’s to lose. He has all the tools to make a big run through the Big 12 in his final season, and he’ll have plenty of big stages in November to make his case. Boykin is, also, the most-sure thing at quarterback in the conference.

Defensive Player of the Year

Shawn Oakman, Baylor — The Bears’ defense should be frightening in 2015, and it all starts with Oakman. He accumulated 11 sacks and three forced fumbles a season ago, and he’ll be the driving force for the Baylor defensive line this year. 

Newcomer of the Year

Dede Westbrook, Oklahoma — Oklahoma’s new offense is tailored to the speedy JUCO transfer. OU has few proven receivers outside of senior Sterling Shepard, so Westbrook has a shot to step in right away and become a playmaker in his first year in Norman, Oklahoma.

Bold Prediction

TCU will drop a game before November. The Frogs are the conference favorites, and, for a team unfamiliar to the spotlight, early road trips to Lubbock, Texas and Manhattan, Kansas spell danger. TCU luckily plays a back-ended schedule with Oklahoma and Baylor to end the season. Those late games should help them remain in playoff contention if they drop an early conference match-up.

Brady’s Poll

1. TCU

2. Baylor

3. Oklahoma State

4. Texas

5. Oklahoma

6. Kansas State

7. Texas Tech

8. West Virginia

9. Iowa State

10. Kansas

Offensive Player of the Year

Trevone Boykin, TCU – Boykin broke out with the Frogs in 2014, passing for 3,901 yards and 33 touchdowns. He finished as the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and fourth in Heisman voting. This season, there is no reason to not expect more of the same. In fact, Boykin is my pick to win the big one in New York come December.

Defensive Player of the Year

Emmanuel Ogbah, Oklahoma State – Ogbah finished with 11 sacks under his belt, as many as consensus media preseason DPOY Shawn Oakman despite being a year younger. Furthermore, Ogbah walked away from 2014 with 18 tackles for loss – all but two of which solo.

Newcomer of the Year

Mark Andrews, Oklahoma – Andrews redshirted 2014 but the 6-6, 225 pound wide receiver/tight end hybrid impressed coaches in spring practice. In the spring game, where he looked as good as any receiver with two catches for 56 yards, Andrews dragged a defender 15 yards downfield at one point. The best comparison for this physical monster would be Texas Tech’s Jace Amaro, who owns the all-time record for single-season reception yards by a tight end with 1,352.

Bold Prediction

Kansas will win more than one game. This seems like the boldest prediction of them all, sure. But after hearing Jayhawks coach David Beaty talk about his team Monday at Big 12 Media Days, I’m a believer. Kansas dismissed two of its top playmakers in running back Corey Avery and wide receiver Rodriguez Coleman in June, so the climb to two wins is very much uphill. However, FCS South Dakota State and the Big 12’s own Iowa State could be two victories on the Jayhawks’ 2015 slate.