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DALLAS?Nebraska was picked to win the Big 12 North division and Oklahoma the South in a preseason poll of media, the conference office announced Thursday.
The Huskers return 16 starters from last year’s 8-4 team that tied for second (4-4) in the North and beat Michigan in the MasterCard Alamo Bowl. NU led the Big 12 in red zone defense in 2005, holding the opposition scoreless 33.3 percent of the time it penetrated the 20-yard line while also recording an NCAA-leading 50 sacks.
While the recognition marks the seventh time in the 11-year history of the Big 12 that Nebraska has been tabbed by the conference’s media representatives to win the North division, this is the first year that the Huskers have been picked first since 2001. NU gained the media’s tag as favorite during each of the conference’s first six seasons.
Iowa State was picked to finish second in the North in 2006, followed by Colorado, Kansas, Missouri and Kansas State.
Oklahoma welcomes back 13 starters from its 2005 squad, including Adrian Peterson who became the first running back in OU history to amass 3,000 rushing yards (3,033) in his first two seasons. The Sooners finished 8-4 overall and 6-2 in the Big 12 last year while ending the season with a win over then-No. 6 ranked Oregon in the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl.
Defending national champion Texas was picked to finish second in the South, followed by Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State and Baylor.
The winners of the North and South divisions will square off in the 2006 Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship Dec. 2, at Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium. The game will be telecast nationally by ABC at 7 p.m. CT.
Big 12 teams will be in Kansas City Monday, July 24, through Wednesday, July 26, for the annual Big 12 Football Media Day. Nebraska will appear in Kansas City during the Monday session.
2006 Big 12 Preseason Football Media Poll
(first place votes in parentheses)
North
1. Nebraska (21) 160
2. Iowa State (5) 128
3. Colorado (2) 93
4. Kansas 85
5. Missouri 82
6. Kansas State 40
South
1. Oklahoma (23) 163
2. Texas (5) 144
3. Texas Tech 106
4. Texas A&M 81
5. Oklahoma State 49
6. Baylor 46