Preseason AP Poll Released: OU, OSU Lead Big 12

The AP Top 25 poll was released Saturday and the state of Oklahoma is well-represented.

Oklahoma was picked fourth, with one first-place vote, while Oklahoma State was placed at 19.

USC was picked first, while Alabama was selected second and LSU third in the poll.

The rankings are pretty much a reversal of where the two teams finished last season, when OU ended up at 16 and OSU third, but the departures of quarterback Brandon Weeden and wideout Justin Blackmon are expected to drop the Cowboys down a bit in 2012.

The Sooners return starting quarterback and Heisman Trophy contender Landry Jones, along with standout receiver Kenny Stills.

Both the Cowboys and Sooners will have some tough competition in the Big 12 this season, with newcomers West Virginia and TCU, ranked 11th and 20th respectively, conference regulars Texas (15th) and Kansas State (22nd), and the Baylor Bears, who received six votes but were not ranked.

The Big 12 ties the SEC with six representatives each, most in the country.

OU and OSU both kick off their 2012 campaigns on September 1, when the Sooners travel to UTEP and the Cowboys host Savannah State.