Three Big 12 Teams Debut in 2022 AP Preseason College Football Top 25 Poll
The 2022 college football season is just around the corner as we roll through the month of August, meaning that the “preseason” is nearly over.
Another sign that we’ve nearly reached the end of the months-long college football drought is that the 2022 Preseason AP Poll was released on Monday.
Three Big 12 teams made the cut, with Oklahoma being the top-ranked Big 12 squad coming into the year at No. 9. Brent Venables and company have a talented roster and one of the top coaching staff in the country, but the turnover at Oklahoma is tremendous, especially after the resignation of longtime assistant Cale Gundy.
Next is Baylor, who is just one spot behind the Sooners at No. 10. Dave Aranda named Blake Shapen the starter at quarterback this spring and the Bears return one of the top offensive and defensive lines in the country from last year.
Then, at No. 12, is the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Mike Gundy will need to replace a lot from one of the top defensive units in the nation last season, but does have a strong duo along the defensive line with Tyler Lacy and Brock Martin returning. Add to that a returning quarterback in Spencer Sanders and you have a squad that just might find itself in the thick of the Big 12 race yet again.
Cincinnati, Houston, and BYU, all of whom are set to join the Big 12 in 2023, are ranked 23rd, 24th, and 25th respectively in the opening poll of the 2022 season.
Texas (164 votes) and Kansas State (14 votes) both received votes in the poll, but neither had enough to crack the Top 25.
Here’s a look at the entire Preseason AP Top 25 Poll.
1.) Alabama (54)
2.) Ohio State (6)
3.) Georgia (3)
4.) Clemson
5.) Notre Dame
6.) Texas A&M
7.) Utah
8.) Michigan
9.) Oklahoma
10.) Baylor
11.) Oregon
12.) Oklahoma State
13.) NC State
14.) USC
15.) Michigan State
16.) Miami (FL)
17.) Pittsburgh
18.) Wisconsin
19.) Arkansas
20.) Kentucky
21.) Ole Miss
22.) Wake Forest
23.) Cincinnati
24.) Houston
25.) BYU
