Column: Analyzing OSU's 2012 football schedule

It took what felt like an eternity, but the Big 12 finally released its 2012 football schedule Monday.

Oklahoma State will have seven home games next season, including two featuring the Big 12's newest members, TCU and West Virginia.

Here are some thoughts I have about OSU's 2012 football schedule:

The Good

Iowa State and Homecoming:

OSU had a great season in 2011, but Iowa State derailed a potential national championship appearance.

Combine the revenge factor with America's biggest homecoming, and Stillwater will be buzzing the week leading up to Oct. 20.

Wonder if the Cowboys are already thinking about Iowa State? Offensive lineman Lane Taylor tweeted this after the schedule was released:

"Uh ohhhh. Iowa State for homecoming."

OSU may have overlooked Iowa State in 2011, but no one on the team is doing that in 2012.

Dana Holgorsen returns:

Holgorsen, the mastermind behind OSU's offense and the world's fastest Red Bull drinker, will lead his team into Stillwater on Nov. 10 for his first trip back since leaving for West Virginia.

The game is between two teams who won BCS bowls this past year, and Holgorsen has since added Joe DeForest, former OSU special teams coordinator, and Andrew McGee, a former OSU player and graduate assistant, to his staff.

Easy Road Trips:

OSU fans will have a tough time making the trip to Tucson to see their team play Arizona on Sept. 8.

However, the other four road games are within a six hour drive of Stillwater. Kansas (Oct. 13) and Baylor (Dec. 1) also have had issues in the past selling all of their tickets, so seats will likely be available.

With the short drive and access to tickets, I expect to see lots of orange on the road this season.

The Bad

Season finale against Baylor:

I had the impression the final weekend of the season was reserved for teams to play against rivals.

OSU and Baylor are anything but that.

The Cowboys have won the past five against the Bears by a combined score of 227-79. No matter the teams' records, Bedlam football on the final weekend would have been a better option because the recent history and intensity each team brings.

Other Big 12 games on Dec. 1 include Texas-Kansas State and Kansas-West Virginia, not the ideal TV matchups for the conference to compete against the SEC and Big 10 championships.

Savannah State has a football team?:

I understand the need for an easy victory for the first game of the season, but Savannah State is bad even for Division I FCS standards.

The Tigers have won four games combined the past three seasons against what would not be considered tough competition.

Savannah State was probably not OSU's first selection for an opponent, but uncertainty with the conference and scheduling likely left OSU's athletic department with few options.

Two bye weekends in three weeks:

Another result of conference schedule uncertainty was the placement of the Cowboys' bye weeks.

OSU will have its first bye week on Sept. 22. It will play Texas in the Big 12 opener on Sept. 29 and then have another weekend off.

How important are bye weeks? A team is able to rest, let injuries heal and have an extra week of preparation for its next opponent. Two of OSU's most impressive wins (Kansas, Oklahoma) occurred after the Cowboys had a bye week.

The first bye week will not be an issue, but it is unlikely the Cowboys will need another week to rest after playing Texas. Coach Mike Gundy would probably have preferred the second bye week to be later in the season.

Instead, the Cowboys will have no time off between the final eight games.