Oklahoma has been chosen to finish at the top of the standings for the second consecutive year in the Big 12 football preseason poll, voted on by media representatives.

 

West Virginia was picked to finish in the bottom half of the standings. WVU was chosen sixth.

 

This year marks the fifth since 2011 in which the Sooners led the preseason rankings. They have captured a Big 12-record 10 league titles, including the last two. 

 

OU garnered 19 of 32 first-place votes and tallied 303 points to edge out Bedlam rival Oklahoma State. The Cowboys nabbed 12 first-place votes and totaled 294 points while Kansas State picked up the final first-place nod. Texas and TCU rounded out the top five followed by West Virginia, Baylor, Texas Tech, Iowa State and Kansas.  

 

The Big 12 Championship Game resumes in 2017 after a six-year absence, and will feature the top two finishers in the final league standings.

 

The Sooners welcome back 16 starters from offense and defense, including senior quarterback Baker Mayfield, a 2016 Heisman Trophy finalist. Mayfield repeated as the Conference’s Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.