Yesterday, the media covering the Big 12 released their pre-season awards and all-conference team. Today, they gave us their poll of the Big 12, which to no one’s surprise, Oklahoma is sitting at the top by a comfortable margin.
The rest of the poll looks like this, and first place votes are in parentheses:
1. Oklahoma (32)
2. West Virginia (7)
3. Texas
4. Oklahoma State
5. TCU (1)
6. Kansas State (1)
7. Baylor
8. Iowa State
9. Texas Tech
10. Kansas
Just a few initial thoughts. The media seems to be really high on West Virginia. This could be a result of their Orange Bowl slaughter of Clemson, but regardless, no. 2 isn’t a bad place to start in a conference you have yet to play game in as a member.
Although, it isn’t as shocking as the media putting Kansas State at the no. 6 spot. Is the media really that down on the Wildcats this season, or are they truly expecting Texas Christian and Oklahoma State to contend for the Big 12 championship?
Which another thing, who in Fort Worth gave the Horned Frogs a first place vote? The Frogs will be good, but not that good. TCU should consider themselves lucky to finish third their first year in the conference.
But if you have been keeping up with the Stormin’ in Norman Big 12 countdown, you’ll see the media agrees with me putting Baylor at no. 7. Though, I am a bit surprised to see the Red Raiders down all the way at no. 9. Granted, I had them at no. 8, but still, I wouldn’t be shocked if Tech finished a top half team by season’s end.
One more thing, Oklahoma State sneaked in to the top five. Call me biased, but I don’t see the Cowboys duplicating their success last season. It will be tough for them to have the type of offensive production that kept them alive in a few games, but Mike Gundy and T. Boone Pickens have done an excellent job in Stillwater. Maybe they are starting to gain the respect and benefit of the doubt of the Big 12 media.
This Saturday, we will continue the Stormin’ in Norman Big 12 countdown with no. 6 on our preseason power rankings. The bottom four have been released, and the rest of the poll will be released on a week-by-week basis leading up to the season opener against UTEP.