There are several new faces around the Big 12 conference heading into spring football practices.
Several programs will have a new starter under center, while some have a new head coach taking over. Oklahoma, Texas Tech and TCU each have new leaders, while numerous quarterback battles are expected to take place this offseason.
It’s one of the hardest years to generate Big 12 power rankings with so many new pieces in place. Athlon Sports released their rankings on Thursday, and Texas fell just outside of the top three.
Their reasoning for the Longhorns landing at No. 4 was primarily due to needing to get better in the trenches and overall improvement of the defensive unit, especially with stopping the run.
The Sooners are no longer viewed as the top team in the conference, while the Jayhawks should continue to improve under Lance Leipold. Here’s a look at Athlon Sports’ Big 12 power rankings ahead of spring practices.