Sooners Picked to Win Eighth Title

Oklahoma was the pick by the media to win the 2012 Big 12 Football Championship.

Coach Stoops

IRVING, Texas -- Oklahoma has been picked to win its eighth Big 12 championship in the 2012 Big 12 Football Preseason Poll, voted on by media representatives who cover the Conference.

Thursday's announcement from the conference marks the third straight year that OU has been tabbed as the preseason favorite.

The Sooners received 32 of 41 first-place votes and totaled 396 points. West Virginia was chosen second with 339 points and garnered seven first-place tallies. Texas was picked third, followed by Oklahoma State in fourth.

TCU and Kansas State each received a first-place vote and finished fifth and sixth, respectively. Baylor, Iowa State, Texas Tech and Kansas rounded out the poll.

West Virginia and TCU will begin their inaugural season of Big 12 competition after joining the league on July 1. Both won their previous conferences' titles last year (West Virginia in the Big East and TCU in the Mountain West).

Oklahoma leads the Big 12 with its seven Conference championships (2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010) while Texas is the next closest with three Big 12 crowns.

Sooner Big 12 Media Days Central | 2012 Preseason All-Big 12 Team | OU's Big 12 Titles

Prior to the current format of the Big 12, the Sooners were picked first in the South division eight times in previous media preseason polls and finished the season at the top in six of those years.

Next up for the Sooners is the annual Big 12 Media Days in Dallas, July 23-24, where OU will be represented by head coach Bob Stoops, Landry Jones, Ben Habern and Demontre Hurst. SoonerSports.com will once again provide complete coverage of OU's session at Big 12 Media Days on Monday, July 24.

2012 Big 12 Football Preseason Poll
Rank (First Place Votes)	Points	Big 12 Championships
1. Oklahoma (32)	396	2010, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2004, 2002, 2000
2. West Virginia (7)*	339	-
3. Texas	291	2009, 2005, 1996
4. Oklahoma State	267	2011
5. TCU (1)*	260	-
6. Kansas State (1)	257	2003
7. Baylor	162	-
8. Iowa State	121	-
9. Texas Tech	116	-
10. Kansas	46	-

* First Season in League

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