This year marks the fifth since 2011 in which the Sooners led the preseason rankings. They have captured a Big 12-record 10 league titles, including the last two.
OU garnered 19 of 32 first-place votes and tallied 303 points to edge out Bedlam rival Oklahoma State. The Cowboys nabbed 12 first-place votes and totaled 294 points while Kansas State picked up the final first-place nod. Texas and TCU rounded out the top five followed by West Virginia, Baylor, Texas Tech, Iowa State and Kansas.
The Big 12 Championship Game resumes in 2017 after a six-year absence, and will feature the top two finishers in the final league standings.