The Mountaineers were chosen to finish in the bottom half of the conference by media representatives.
After winning last year’s conference title and making an appearance in the 2015 College Football Playoff semifinals, Oklahoma has been chosen as the favorite to win the 2016 championship by media representatives who cover the league. This year marks the fourth since 2011 in which the Sooners topped the preseason rankings. They have captured a Big 12-record nine league titles.
OU garnered 24 of 26 first-place votes and tallied 258 points. TCU picked up the other two first-place votes and totaled 222 points. Oklahoma State, Baylor and Texas rounded out the top five followed by Texas Tech, West Virginia, Kansas State, Iowa State and Kansas.
2016 Big 12 Football Media Preseason Poll
1. Oklahoma (24) 258
2. TCU (2) 222
3. Oklahoma State 202
4. Baylor 156
5. Texas 151
6. Texas Tech 141
7. West Virginia 126
8. Kansas State 88
9. Iowa State 59
10. Kansas 24
first-place votes in parentheses