/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67166058/1179280106.jpg.0.jpg)
Oklahoma State will start will the season ranked No. 16 in the nation in the USA Today Coaches Poll, which was released Thursday.
Full Preseason Coaches Poll#Utes #CFB pic.twitter.com/BNIciwPlgP
— Bill Riley (@espn700bill) August 6, 2020
The Big 12 schools ranked ahead of the Cowboys are Oklahoma at No. 6 and Texas at No. 14. Iowa State is the only other ranked Big 12 school at No. 25. Baylor is No. 31 based off votes while TCU is No. 40 and Kansas State is tied for No. 48.
OSU’s biggest game of the season will be when Texas comes to Stillwater, as it could be the game that decides which of the two will make the Big 12 title game — let’s be honest, OU is not finishing outside the top two.
I understand why OSU is ranked where it is. There is a case to be made the Cowboys should be ranked above some teams, but those teams (Michigan, Texas and Texas A&M) brought in stellar recruiting classes.
Preseason rankings are far from the end-all be-all, and No. 16 isn’t a bad place to start. All that really matters is what the rankings look like come December.