Get ready to say goodbye this conference, as in all likely-hood this is the final season of Big 12 action. Texas A&M will be heading to the SEC and it looks like Oklahoma, Ok State and Texas are heading to the Pac 12. The remaining teams are rumored to possibly be heading to the Big East. Big East Basketball will be a 20 team monster.

Let's get to it.

1. OKLAHOMA SOONERS - I have the Sooners as my #1 team in my Pre-Season rankings. HC Stoops is reloaded again and should march to the BCS with QB Landry Jones and WR Ryan Broyles. Sooner defense is no slouch either. This team has 2 tough games. At Florida State Sept. 17 and the season finale at Oklahoma State. They should go undefeated.

2. TEXAS A&M - I have this team as a sleeper for the BCS. If they can upset the Sooners in Norman, they can be in the Championship. With 18 returning starters, 10 on offense this will be a tough team to beat. HC Mike Sherman has a senior leadership at the skill postitions in QB Ryan Tennehill, RB Cyrus Gray and WR Jeff Fuller. They did lose LB Von Miller, but this is still a deep defense.

3. OKLAHOMA STATE - Cowboys lose their OC, but still bring back QB Brandon Weeden and WR Justin Blackmon. RB Joseph Randle will be running behind all 5 returning lineman. The defense will have its work cut out for them in what appears to be one of the tougher Big 12 schedules.

4 TEXAS LONGHORNS - Mack Brown and the 'Horns off a 5-7 season. They have 12 returning starters. DC Will Muschamp left to HC the Gators and there are new co-OC's in Bryan Harsin and Major Applewhite. Manny Diaz is the new DC. Texas lacks the playmakers that the Top 3 teams boost. This is Texas, so you would assume the shelves aren't bare. We will know a bit more about this group after they play BYU and head to UCLA the next 2 weeks.

5. BAYLOR BEARS - Even before the Bears took it to TCU last week (we had Baylor), I was telling people that QB Griffith is the real deal. The offense will be able to generate points. I was high on this team last year and Griffith went down. This year, with 9 starters back on offense, they can run with the big boys. The defense though will have a hard time shutting people down.

6. MISSOURI TIGERS - Tigers bring back 15 starters but not the all-important QB position. This team has some talent, but I can't see them getting to 10 wins again. HC Gary Pinkel will work something out at QB and get the most out of the defense.

7. KANSAS STATE WILDCATS - The ageless Bill Snyder is back for his 20th year in Manhattan. This team brings back 13 starters, and is a more experienced bunch than last seasons 7-6 squad. The defense returns its top 5 tacklers. QB is the question mark for me.

8. TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS - Year 2 of the Tommy Tuberville era. He has 7 starters back on both sides of the ball. It is his 2nd year installing his system, but not sure if they will reach 8 wins again. Breaking in a new QB is never easy, especially road trips into Oklahoma.

9. IOWA STATE CYCLONES - HC Paul Rhoads enters his 3rd year, but with just 12 returning starters, it will be another losing season in Ames.

10. KANSAS JAYHAWKS - Man, this program is barely on life-support. I mean, I guess it can't get much worse then losing at home to North Dakota State 6-3 last year as a 29 point fave. That set the tone for a miserable 3-9 season. With 15 returning starters, HC Turner Gill in year 2 will want to at least match years win total. QB Jordan Webb is back but needs to improve. The defense lost 5 of thier top 6 tacklers.
 

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