According to the media, it’s the Sooners and Longhorns with the most talent in the conference, but on Thursday the members of the Big 12 media selected Oklahoma and Oklahoma State to finish first and second this season.
| 2017 BIG 12 PRESEASON MEDIA POLL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rank | School (First-place votes) | Points |
| 1. | Oklahoma (19) | 303 |
| 2. | Oklahoma State (12) | 294 |
| 3. | Kansas State (1) | 231 |
| 4. | Texas | 213 |
| 5. | TCU | 202 |
| 6. | West Virginia | 183 |
| 7. | Baylor | 129 |
| 8. | Texas Tech | 85 |
| 9. | Iowa State | 83 |
| 10. | Kansas | 37 |
Oklahoma received 19 of 32 possible first-place votes, with Oklahoma State getting 12 and Kansas State receiving 1. The Sooners will be gunning for their third consecutive conference title with 16 starters from last year’s team that went 9-0 in conference play. Nine of Oklahoma’s returning starters are on the offensive side of the ball, including quarterback Baker Mayfield who could be Heisman finalists.
The Cowboys also have a potential Heisman candidate in quarterback Mason Rudolph. With Rudolph at the helm of the offense, O-State finished 11-2 in 2016, including a 38-8 blowout of Colorado in the Alamo Bowl. Rudolph threw for 4,091 yards and 28 touchdowns to just 4 interceptions last season.
After the two teams squared off to settle the Big 12 championship on the season’s final weekend of 2016, the Sooners and Cowboys will have an earlier date in 2017. Oklahoma State will host the Bedlam game on November 4th, with the two likely destined to face-off again on December 1st in the renewal of the Big 12 Championship Game.