If the Big 12 wants to rebound after a rough 2016, it needs a strong showing from first-year coaches Tom Herman and Lincoln Riley and Texas and Oklahoma, respectively.
If Thursday's unveiling of the first coaches poll of the 2017 season is any indication, those strong seasons could be on the way.
Oklahoma (No. 8) and Texas (No. 23) were among five Big 12 teams to make the coaches' top 25 list -- nearly doubling the Big 12's mark in last year's final installment of the coaches poll.
Oklahoma State (No. 11), Kansas State (No.