The good folks at CBS Sports and 247Sports put together their 1-131 preseason rankings for the 2022 season. With plenty of familiar faces ahead of them, the Oklahoma Sooners sit at No. 7. That ranking is the best in the Big 12.
247Sports and CBS Sports took an average of their writers’ ratings to come to a consensus. All 2021 Power 5 conference champions (plus Cincinnati and Notre Dame) are counted in the top 25.
There are two more Big 12 teams in the top 25 behind OU: Baylor at No. 10 and Oklahoma State at No. 13. Just outside the top 25 is Texas at No. 29.
This is where each Big 12 team ranks.
7. Oklahoma Sooners
April 23, 2022; Norman; Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Marvin Mims (17) celebrates quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) after scoring a touchdown during the spring game at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
10. Baylor Bears
January 1, 2022; New Orleans, LA, USA; Baylor Bears wide receiver Tyquan Thornton (9) scores a touchdown against the Mississippi Rebels in the fourth quarter of the 2022 Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome. Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
13. Oklahoma State Cowboys
December 29, 2016; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys running back Justice Hill (27) runs the ball for a touchdown against the Colorado Buffaloes during the second half at the Alamodome. Oklahoma State defeated Colorado 38-8. To see also : Olympia Sports is closing its stores. Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
29. Texas Longhorns
October 9, 2021; Dallas, Texas, United States; Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Billy Bowman (5) and defensive back Justin Broiles (25) tackle Texas Longhorns running back Bijan Robinson (5) during the first half at the Cotton Bowl. To see also : MSU Sports Medicine keeps athletes and the public moving. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
37. Kansas State Wildcats
September 26, 2020; Norman; Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Drake Stoops (12) runs with the ball as Kansas State Wildcats defensive back AJ Parker (12) chases after him during the game at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Read also : Longtime Nashville TV and radio personality Mark Howard dies at 65. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
43. Iowa State Cyclones
November 20, 2021; norman, oklahoma, united states of america; Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Brock Purdy (15) fumbles to Oklahoma Sooners linebacker David Ugwoegbu (2) during the game at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
60. TCU Horned Frogs
September 14, 2019; West Lafayette, IN, USA; Purdue Boilermakers defensive end Kai Higgins (98) attempts to drag TCU Horned Frogs running back Darius Anderson (6) to the ground during the second half of play at Ross-Ade Stadium. The TCU Horned Frogs defeated the Purdue Boilermakers 34-13. Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
66. West Virginia Mountaineers
September 1, 2018; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers quarterback Will Grier (7) looks to pass the ball in the second half against the Tennessee Volunteers at Bank of America Stadium. Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
68. Texas Tech Red Raiders
December 28, 2021; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback Donovan Smith (7) runs for a touchdown during the second half against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Liberty Bowl Stadium. Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
102. Kansas Jayhawks
October 23, 2021; Lawrence, Kansas, United States; Kansas Jayhawks cornerback Cam’Ron Dabney (16) celebrates after a touchdown against the Oklahoma Sooners during the second half at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Observation
My take on the current pecking order in the Big 12 is this: Until they start pummeling conference opponents again, the Sooners don’t deserve to be seen as the dominant force they’ve been. Early returns to the Brent Venables era are looking good, but we need to play some football games.
The Big 12 lack a true No.1 team entering the season. Five teams in the conference could possibly make a run at the Big 12 Championship, maybe six if Matt Campbell can work some magic on Ames.
The path to the Big 12 title won’t be as easy for the Sooners as it has been in the past. The roster and coaching staff had a massive turnover. More teams in the conference appear ready to make some noise.
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