Sports Illustrated Big 12 Sites Unanimous: It's OU

Sooners got every first-place vote in a poll of SI's Big 12 publishers and writers

Can anything break the Sooners’ streak?

Oklahoma is working in a new quarterback (starter still TBA) and lost two first-round draft picks to the NFL. The Sooners have two new position coaches and open the conference season with four ranked opponents.

And yet, in a poll of Sports Illustrated Big 12 writers and publishers, OU was the unanimous pick to win its sixth consecutive Big 12 championship.

Using an inverse scoring system (10 points for a first-place vote, 9 for second, etc.), the Sooners received all six first-place votes, while Oklahoma State received five of the six second-place votes.

SI Big 12 Preseason Poll

1. Oklahoma - 60 (6)
2. Oklahoma State - 53
3. Texas - 45
4. Iowa State - 38
5. TCU - 35
6. West Virginia - 28
7. Baylor - 27
8. Kansas State - 23
9. Texas Tech - 15
10. Kansas - 6

The Cowboys are loaded on both sides of the ball, with FBS rushing king Chuba Hubbard and former Biletnikoff runner-up Tylan Wallace back, quarterback Spencer Sanders has had a year to grow into the position, and 10 starters return on defense, including All-Big 12 safety Kolby Harvell-Peel and All-Big 12 linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga.

Texas was third in the voting. The Longhorns have 14 starters back, including seven on defense and AP preseason offensive player of the year Sam Ehlinger at quarterback.

Iowa State was fourth. The Cyclones return seven starters on defense, including former All-Big 12 defensive end JaQuan Bailey and All-Big 12 safety Greg Eisworth, plus quarterback Brock Purdy, who led the league in passing last season.

TCU, West Virginia, Baylor, Kansas State, Texas Tech and Kansas rounded out the voting.

How SI Sooners publisher John Hoover voted:

1. Oklahoma
2. Oklahoma State
3. Texas
4. Iowa State
5. Baylor
6. TCU
7. West Virginia
8. Texas Tech
9. Kansas State
10. Kansas

How SI Sooners Deputy Editor Parker Thune voted:

1. Oklahoma
2. Oklahoma State
3. TCU
4. Kansas State
5. Baylor
6. Texas
7. Iowa State
8. Texas Tech
9. West Virginia
10. Kansas

Oklahoma returns eight offensive starters, including preseason All-Big 12 selections Charleston Rambo at receiver, Creed Humphrey at center and Adrian Ealy at offensive tackle. Five offensive linemen who made at least eight starts last year, including guards Tyrese Robinson and Marquise Hayes and tackle Erik Swenson, are back. So are all three tight end/H-Backs in Jeremiah Hall, Brayden Willis and Austin Stogner. And running back Kennedy Brooks, a two-time 1,000-yard rusher, returns to the backfield.

OU also returns eight starters on defense, including All-Big 12 defensive end Ronnie Perkins, Big 12 defensive newcomer of the year LaRon Stokes at defensive tackle and defensive lineman Jalen Redmond. Linebackers DaShaun White and Nik Bonitto, cornerback Tre Brown and safeties Pat Fields, Brendan Radley-Hiles and Delarrin Turner-Yell also return.

The Sooners also bring back their punter, Reeves Mundschau, and their kicker, preseason All-Big 12 nominee Gabe Brkic, who posted arguably the best season for a kicker in FBS history last year, when he made 69-of-69 kicks.

The top two finishers in the regular season are scheduled to meet in the Big 12 championship game on Dec. 5. The Sooners have won all three title games since the league resumed the championship game format in 2017, beating TCU, Texas and Baylor.

Last year, four Big 12 teams (OSU, K-State, Iowa State and Texas) finished tied for third place in the standings behind Oklahoma and Baylor, who each went 8-1 during the regular season.

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