Getty ImagesFollowing a 10-3 season and a win in the Insight Bowl, Oklahoma should be heading back to the BCS.
Or, so says the Big 12 preseason media poll. The Sooners received 32 of 41 possible first place votes for 396 points. If the top of the standings hold, it would be Oklahoma’s eighth Big 12 conference championship, with their last one coming in 2010.
Big 12 newcomer West Virginia is projected to finish second and received seven first place votes. TCU, also new to the league, and Kansas State each received one first place vote.
Oklahoma State won the Big 12 in 2011, its first in football.
Team (first place votes) Points
1. Oklahoma (32) 396
2. West Virginia (7) 339
3. Texas 291
4. Oklahoma State 267
5. TCU (1) 260
6. Kansas State (1) 257
7. Baylor 162
8. Iowa State 121
9 Texas Tech 116
10. Kansas 46
Sounds about where I thought everyone would be. Thought WVU might end up third (behind Texas) and didn’t expect Texas Tech to be quite that low. However, I admit to not really following the entire conference as closely as I now will.
Let’s Goooooooo Mountaineers!
My money is on WVU! OKLAHOMA dosn’t have the defense to stay with them. WOW they just scored on Clemson again!!!!!!!!!!
There are always “IFes” to everything. If Ohlahoma has no injuries. If WV does, then Oklahoma may go all the way. However, If WV does not get the big head like Boyd and the Honey Badger, they could be number one instead. The mountaineers are new to the conference and that could make a difference. They do however, have a great team. If they play every game as if it is the most important game they could very easily win it all. I will be screaming at my TV GOOOO MOUNTAINEERS!!!!!
PS Let the games begin
OU has a better defense than WVU does…
I seem to remember a time when OU petitioned the NCAA that they did not want to play WVU – because they had just lost their coach and a win over them in their bowl game would not be as impressive as a win over Virginia Tech. Just sayin’ -
I just hope I don’t have to wait another 20 years for Baylor to have another winning season.
WVU is going to face tougher competition than Syracuse (lost), Louisville (lost), and Clemson (gave up 33).
Good to see so many WVU fans. The game in Stillwater should be good.
I would flip Texas and OSU. Ya, ya, we lost Weeden to Blackmon. But we still have the top running back & rb core in the Big 12 w/ a top receiving core, and possibly the best secondary in the Big 12. All eyes are on Lunt but I have faith!
Where was OU ranked pre-season last year? I think anyone in the top 4 has a chance.
I also agree with where Kansas St is ranked. Some national people have them higher but Arkansas showed what happens if they play an opponent that takes them seriously. Their QB plays out of his mind, but will be lucky to stay healthy
Our coaching staff is more familiar with the Big 12 and the style of play and tendencies of the other teams in the conference than they were with the Big East. That is a great head start for a team just joining the conference, and is likely why we’re ranked so highly in the preseason. As long as we don’t get ahead of ourselves and Geno can control his habit of going for the long ball on every play, we have a damn good chance to take the conference championship.
To Bertenheim: How long did you think we would take Clemson seriously. We had them 63 to 20 before we quit playing. So we gave up 13 more. Big deal.
I do not think it will be an easy schedule next year. We do have he ability. Just have to wait and see about how they will play. Sense our defense is new, can’t say about that. Best of luck when playing everyone else. See ya in Morgantown.
@gopokes0714
Best RB stable in the Big 12? Really? Brown, Bergeron, and Gray at Texas are going to be tough to keep up with. Also, the DBs at Texas will be top 5 in the country with the overall defense being a top 10 unit. I’ll eat crow if I’m wrong. Conf winner will be a coin flip between OU/TX with WVU a strong contender. OSU will finish 4 or 5. You loose too much at QB to contend. Also, having the 107th ranked defense last year puts you behind the 8 ball. Even remarkable improvement on D only puts you in the top 25-50. Expect your offense to struggle early in the year and the D will have to pick up he slack. Can they do that? Too many unknowns.
@deuce…a coin flip between OU and Tex? Really? The horns will have an excellent defense but you need to score some points. That offense is still middle of the pack or lower. Good runners, indeed. But who is gonna block for them? If anything, Texas is closer to 5th place than they are 1st place in the big 12.
@gorilladunk
We’ll have to see what Saturdays hold to settle the debate. By all preseason reports, the new S&C program has paid dividends with an improved OL. Texas has a decent starting 5, but an injury could be very harmful becaus depth is still an issue. Also, David Ash has gotten starters reps all spring and summer and looks to be improving greatly. Once again, it’s fun to debate but we’ll have to see.
Ok State should be #2, way better than Texas, WVU is unproven playing in a tough conference. Texas offense stinks, they will get worked in Stillwater……
@deucez2
I didn’t say there weren’t other teams with great RB tandems. But with Randle & Smith we have to be near the top.
Yes our QB is unproven but I would bet money he is better than Ash.
Listen I know who Texas is and its weird seeing them finish in the middle of the pack. But until they actually get back to the top I can’t vote them there based on a name. The main reason being that your top ten defense hasn’t slowed us down the last 2 years.
IMO the style Texas has gone to does not do well in the Big 12. You can have have the number 1 defense in the nation but as soon as one of these high flying offenses gets up, its over. The ground and pound makes it very hard to play from behind. OSU, WVU, OU may not score 50+ but its only going to take 10-21 points to win.
@Gopokes, I will guarantee Lunt will be a much better Qb than Ash this year!!!! pokes offense will keep on rolling. Randle and Smith are by far the besr RB tandem in the Big12…….. http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/article.aspx?subjectid=231&articleid=20120720_231_B1_CUTLIN460260