Four Big 12 Teams Featured in the 2023 Preseason AP Poll
The inaugural AP Poll for the 2023 college football season dropped on Monday, and the Big 12 is well-represented to begin the year.
Texas enters as the highest-ranked Big 12 team to start the year, coming in at No. 11 just ahead of Tennessee and behind Washington at No. 10. Expectations in Austin are sky-high, as always, but heading into Steve Sarkisian’s third year, there’s no excuse for anything less than double-digit wins.
Kansas State, the reigning Big 12 champion, is the next Big 12 team at No. 16 to begin the year. It’s the highest start for Kansas State since 2004 when the Wildcats began the year ranked 13th. With Will Howard and the entire offensive line back from a year ago, as well as a host of supporting cast, K-State is expected to be a contender once again.
After making the College Football Playoff National Championship and finishing with a 13-2 record a season ago, TCU enters the Preseason AP Poll at No. 17. The Horned Frogs have a wealth of talent to replace this season after losing several key pieces to the NFL, but a hefty haul in the transfer portal should help with that. If Chandler Morris and Kendall Briles can mesh quickly, TCU should contend yet again.
Oklahoma begins the 2023 season ranked No. 20, its lowest ranking to begin a season since 1999, when it opened up the season unranked. In Brent Venables’ first season, the Sooners went 6-7, capped off by a heart-breaking 35-32 loss to Florida State (No. 8) in the Cheez-It Bowl. OU has revamped its roster heading into the year and hopes to get back to its winning ways before heading to the SEC.
After an 8-5 finish in 2023, the Texas Tech Red Raiders are out to prove they belong at or near the top of the Big 12 in Joey McGuire’s second season. However, the Red Raiders just missed on making the poll, coming in as the highest of the teams “receiving votes” with 101.
Here’s a look at the entire 2023 Preseason AP Poll. courtesy of the Associated Press.
| RANK | TEAM (FIRST-PLACE VOTES) | POINTS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia (60) | 1572 |
| 2 | Michigan (2) | 1490 |
| 3 | Ohio State (1) | 1400 |
| 4 | Alabama | 1398 |
| 5 | LSU | 1276 |
| 6 | USC | 1245 |
| 7 | Penn State | 1177 |
| 8 | Florida State | 1147 |
| 9 | Clemson | 1032 |
| 10 | Washington | 977 |
| 11 | Texas | 882 |
| 12 | Tennessee | 868 |
| 13 | Notre Dame | 863 |
| 14 | Utah | 811 |
| 15 | Oregon | 732 |
| 16 | Kansas State | 501 |
| 17 | TCU | 416 |
| 18 | Oregon State | 406 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | 386 |
| 20 | Oklahoma | 296 |
| 21 | North Carolina | 292 |
| 22 | Ole Miss | 281 |
| 23 | Texas A&M | 227 |
| 24 | Tulane | 224 |
| 25 | Iowa | 131 |
Texas Tech 101, South Carolina 73, UCLA 66, UTSA 64, Arkansas 22, Boise St. 17, Pittsburgh 16, Kentucky 14, Louisville 10, Troy 10, Kansas 10, Auburn 7, Minnesota 6, Toledo 4, Duke 4, Mississippi St. 4, Florida 4, Illinois 3, Baylor 3, Coastal Carolina 3, South Alabama 1, NC State 1, James Madison 1, Liberty 1.
