Oct 13, 2012; Lawrence, KS, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys head coach Mike Gundy on the sidelines in the first half against the Kansas Jayhawks at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
43 members cast their ballots, voting for who they think will win the Big 12 conference this season. The results are in and the media has spoken. Oklahoma State, was picked to win the conference. Edging out OU by 10 points in the voting calculations.
Oklahoma State garnered 15 of 43 first place votes. While 5 other Big 12 teams received at least one 1st place vote, Oklahoma State trumped them all. Teams receiving 1st place votes were;
Oklahoma State (15)
Oklahoma (8)
TCU (9)
Texas (8)
Baylor (2)
Kansas State (1)
For much of the off season many members of the media(myself included) had placed the Big 12 teams in 3 separate tiers. Unanimously, the top tier of teams included – Oklahoma State, Texas, OU and TCU – in no particular order. Tier 2 was filled by Texas Tech, Kansas State, and Baylor. Again, in no particular order. Lastly, tier 3 was made up of Iowa State, Kansas and West Virginia.
After the preseason rankings today, seeing the first place votes and the large gap back to OU at second, it could be claimed that Oklahoma State is in a tier all their own this year. Now, we have been around long enough to know that predictions are just that, predictions. No prediction ever seems to go exactly as predicted. Let’s face it none of us are psychics. We can all look at stats and analyze character and coaching staffs and compare this team to the other until we are blue in the face and we would have about 1 in quadrillion chance(thanks to paypal for bringing that number to the media) in getting it exactly right.
Though, as many seem to believe – Oklahoma State will be putting a very good football team on the field each Saturday, which brings me to ask this question – Has Mike Gundy brought Oklahoma State to be a tier 1 team in the big 12 for good or is this just temporary success they are experiencing? Or heck, maybe the media has just fallen in love with their upwards of 50 different uniform combinations like the media has with Oregon! Hey, whatever gets you noticed, right? recruits are definitely noticing.
Stillwater seems to be a ‘jumpin’ little juke joint‘ again this season!!
44 days until kickoff!!