IRVING, Texas — The Big 12 preseason media poll surfaced Thursday, and the case for Oklahoma looks overwhelming.
Then again, the media hasn’t gotten the champion right since 2011. Last year’s favorite TCU settled for third place, while 2014 frontrunner OU slipped to fourth. No one foresaw the Baylor uprising in 2013 (Bears were picked fifth) or K-State’s climb in 2012 (picked sixth).
See where you agree/disagree with this year’s projections:
1. Oklahoma (24 first-place votes): 258 points
Sooners won the offseason by gaining a re-vote on Baker Mayfield’s 2017 eligibility, and now the media arrives at near consensus on OU winning the conference.
2. TCU (2 first-place votes): 222 points
Don’t forget: Gary Patterson’s injury-shredded team came within a batted-down two-pointer of beating Oklahoma in Norman. This year’s rematch opens Big 12 play on Oct. 1.
3. Oklahoma State: 202 points
The Cowboys bring a three-game losing streak into 2016, but there’s optimism over Barry Sanders, who chose to play in the shadow of his dad at OSU instead of the shadow of Christian McCaffrey at at Stanford.
4. Baylor: 156 points
The Bears have enough talent for one final hurrah before slipping back to the bottom half of the Big 12. But with Jim Grobe shepherding a leftover staff from the Art Briles scandal, this will make for some strange game-planning.
5. Texas: 151 points
Would a middle-of-the-pack finish pacific Charlie Strong’s detractors? Would a 1-3 start (vs. Notre Dame, at Cal, at OSU) write Strong’s eulogy before the schedule eased up?
6. Texas Tech: 141 points
That Guns-Up offense could be even more efficient if Pat Mahomes curbs his bad decisions, though he could be pressured into more of them behind an O-line that loses 131 career starts.
7. West Virginia: 126 points
Could WVU become Texas Tech a la 2015? Dana Holgorsen should have a top-flight offense and a questionable defense. The good news is the Mountaineers have five league home games. Bad news is they’re 8-10 in Big 12 home games under Holgorsen.
8. Kansas State: 88 points
The Wildcats squeaked into a bowl game last year thanks to an easy noncon schedule and WVU’s fourth quarter from hell. Playing a 13th game this season might not be in the cards, with six road trips to endure—including one at Stanford.
9. Iowa State: 59 points
New coach, new system, same mission—try like hell to reach 6-6. Such are the reasonable expectations in Ames, where the fans just want the occasional bowl game and a fair shake from the Big 12 refs.
10. Kansas: 27 points
At least one of the 26 media voters picked the Jayhawks ninth! That’s a sure sign BeatyBall is taking hold, or PriceWaterHouseCooper flubbed the ballot count.