1 TEXAS

Coach: Mack Brown (Florida State, 1974); 128-27 in 12 years at Texas; 214-101-1 in 26 years overall

Last year: 13-1 (8-0, 1st in Big 12 South); beat Nebraska, 13-12, in Big 12 championship game; lost to Alabama, 37-21, in BCS national championship game

Returning starters: 4 offensive, 7 defensive

All-Big 12 candidates: OL Kyle Hix, RB Tre Newton, WR James Kirkendoll, DL Sam Acho, LB Keenan Robinson, DB Aaron Williams, DB Curtis Brown, DB Blake Gideon

Save the date: Oct. 16 at Nebraska. This game will be off-the-charts interesting since it’s Nebraska’s last season in the Big 12 before jumping to the Big Ten. The Cornhuskers will be looking for revenge after last season’s controversial loss to the Longhorns in the Big 12 title game.

Big Man on Campus: Defensive linemen Lamarr Houston and Sergio Kindle are gone to the NFL, but Acho is back to terrorize offenses. He collected 13 tackles for losses last season, including a team-high nine sacks.

Impact rookie: Ohio native Jordan Hicks is one of the most decorated freshmen in a strong class and could get on the field early since the Longhorns need help at linebacker.

Did you know? Sophomore quarterback Garrett Gilbert’s father, Gale Gilbert, is the only player in NFL history to be a member of five straight Super Bowl teams. Gilbert was a backup quarterback on four Buffalo Bills teams and one San Diego Chargers team.

Pigskin prophecy: A great defense should give Texas its second straight Big 12 title. If Gilbert lives up to expectations at quarterback and the running game improves significantly, the Longhorns could be back in the BCS championship game.

2 OKLAHOMA

Coach: Bob Stoops (Iowa State, 1983); 117-29 in 11 years at Oklahoma

Last year: 8-5 (5-3, tied for 3rd in Big 12 South); beat Stanford, 31-27, in Sun Bowl

Returning starters: 7 offensive, 6 defensive, 1 specialist

All-Big 12 candidates: WR Ryan Broyles, OL Stephen Good, RB DeMarco Murray, QB Landry Jones, DE Jeremy Beal, DE Frank Alexander, LB Travis Lewis, DB Quinton Carter

Save the date: Oct. 2 vs. Texas in Dallas. With four losses to the Longhorns in the last five years, the Sooners have lost control of a series they once dominated under Stoops. With more overall experience than Texas, Oklahoma has a shot to reverse the downslide.

Big Man on Campus: If Murray can avoid injury, he could be one of the best backs in the country. After splitting time with Chris Brown for three years, Murray should easily rush for more than 1,000 yards.

Impact rookie: Redshirt freshman middle linebacker Tom Wort will play a key role on Oklahoma’s defense. The former New Braunfels High star was a SuperPrep All-American.

Did you know? Broyles, a junior, has a chance to set Oklahoma’s career receiving record this year. With 135 career catches, including a school-record 89 last year, Broyles needs 87 to break Mark Clayton’s school record of 221.

Pigskin prophecy: With No. 1 NFL draft choice Sam Bradford injured most of the year, Jones got plenty of experience that should pay off this season. But even with Murray and a strong defense returning, the Sooners probably won’t upend the Longhorns as Big 12 champions.

3 TEXAS TECH

Coach: Tommy Tuberville (Southern Arkansas, 1976); First year at Texas Tech; 110-60 in 12 years overall

Last year: 9-4 (5-3, tied for 3rd in the Big 12 South); beat Michigan State, 41-31, in the Alamo Bowl

Returning starters: 7 offensive, 6 defensive, 1 specialist

All-Big 12 candidates: RB Baron Batch, WR Alex Torres, WR Detron Lewis, QB Taylor Potts, QB Steven Sheffield, LB Brian Duncan

Save the date: Sept. 18 vs. Texas. After playing SMU and New Mexico in nonconference games, the Longhorns will be the Red Raiders’ first big test under Tuberville. If he can upset Texas in Lubbock, fans will quickly forget about former coach Mike Leach.

Big Man on Campus: Whether Potts or Sheffield is throwing the ball, Lewis is a mighty target. Despite playing with a hamstring injury, Lewis caught 65 passes for 844 yards and six touchdowns last season after catching 76 passes as a sophomore.

Impact rookie: Redshirt freshman defensive end Kerry Hyder has a chance to be a force as a pass rusher in Tuberville’s 3-4 defensive scheme. The Red Raiders need a pass rusher to replace Brandon Sharpe, who collected a school-record 15 sacks last year.

Did you know? If Sheffield had enough passing attempts to qualify, he would have easily led the Big 12 with a 177.64 pass efficiency rating. In six games, Sheffield completed 101 of 136 passes (74.3 percent) for 1,219 yards with 14 touchdowns and just four interceptions.

Pigskin prophecy: Replacing Leach won’t be an easy task for Tuberville. Despite some controversial moments, many fans still love Leach. But Tuberville can quickly win them over if he can match his success at Auburn. If the run-oriented Tuberville can adapt to a more wide-open offensive style, the Red Raiders should still go bowling.

4 TEXAS A&M

Coach: Mike Sherman (Central Connecticut State, 1977); 10-15 in two seasons at A&M

Last year: 6-7 (3-5, 5th in Big 12 South); lost to Georgia, 44-20, in Independence Bowl

Returning starters: 8 offensive, 8 defensive, 2 specialists

All-Big 12 candidates: QB Jerrod Johnson, WR Jeff Fuller, KR Cyrus Gray, RB Christine Michael, LB Von Miller, P Ryan Epperson

Save the date: Sept. 30 at Oklahoma State. After playing three nonconference patsies, the Cowboys will be Texas A&M’s first real test in Stillwater. With Oklahoma State losing a lot of players, the Aggies have a chance to get off to a rousing Big 12 start.

Big Man on Campus: Coming off a great junior year, Johnson was named the preseason Big 12 offensive player of the year. The dual-threat quarterback threw for 3,579 yards and 30 touchdowns last season while rushing for 506 yards and eight scores.

Impact rookie: With the Aggies needing immediate help on the offensive line, highly recruited left tackle Luke Joeckel will play immediately.

Did you know? Miller led the nation with 17 sacks last season. With new defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter installing a 3-4 defense to replace A&M’s old 4-3 formation, Miller should be free again to amass a bunch of sacks.

Pigskin prophecy: If the Aggies can improve a defense that ranked last in the Big 12 last season, they could win eight or nine games this year. They’ve got plenty of offense returning with Johnson, Gray, Michael and Fuller.

5 OKLAHOMA STATE

Coach: Mike Gundy (Oklahoma State, 1990); 36-27 in five seasons at OSU

Last year: 9-4 (6-2, 2nd in Big 12 South); lost to Mississippi, 21-7, in Cotton Bowl

Returning starters: 5 offensive, 5 defensive, 2 specialists

All-Big 12 candidates: RB Kendall Hunter, WR Hubert Anyiam, LB Orie Lemon, P Quinn Sharp, K Dan Bailey

Save the date: Sept. 4 vs. Washington State. The Cowboys are facing the biggest rebuilding job in the Big 12 South, but a season-opening win over the Cougars would work wonders for their confidence.

Big Man on Campus: After leading the Big 12 with 1,555 rushing yards in 2008, Hunter struggled through an injury-plagued junior year. Though the Cowboys will employ a more pass-oriented attack this season, Hunter will still play a major role.

Impact rookie: The Cowboys face a massive rebuilding job on the offensive line. Redshirt freshman offensive tackle Parker Graham may not make people forget No. 1 NFL draft pick Russell Okung, but he’s got potential.

Did you know? Junior starting quarterback Brandon Weeden is a former New York Yankees minor leaguer who played five seasons of pro baseball before joining Oklahoma State as a walk-on in 2007.

Pigskin prophecy: With massive personnel losses, the Cowboys probably won’t match last year’s 9-4 overall record and second-place Big 12 South finish. Much of the Cowboys’ success will depend on how quickly they adapt to former Texas Tech offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen’s new system.

6 BAYLOR

Coach: Art Briles (Texas Tech, 1979); 8-16 in two seasons at Baylor; 42-44 in in seven seasons overall

Last year: 4-8 (1-7, 6th in Big 12 South)

Returning starters: 7 offensive, 6 defensive, 2 specialists

All-Big 12 candidates: QB Robert Griffin, OT Danny Watkins, WR Kendall Wright, LB Antonio Johnson, P Derek Epperson

Save the date: Oct. 16 at Colorado. Baylor must win home games against Kansas and Kansas State to break its bowl drought, but a road win against a struggling Colorado program might be just what the Bears need.

Big Man on Campus: When Griffin went down with a knee injury in the third game, the Bears’ hopes went with him. If he can stay healthy, the Bears could finally achieve their breakthrough season.

Impact rookie: Baylor is counting on redshirt freshman defensive end Tevin Elliot to improve a pass rush that collected just 18 sacks last season. Elliot has shown a knack for pressuring quarterbacks since moving from linebacker last fall.

Did you know? Baylor could have three starting defensive players whose fathers played in the NFL. Middle linebacker Chris Francis’ father, James, was a linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals. Outside linebacker Elliot Coffey’s father, Ken, was a defensive back with the Washington Redskins. Cornerback Clifton Odom’s father, Cliff, was a linebacker with the Indianapolis Colts.

Pigskin prophecy: If Griffin can be the dynamic quarterback that he was a freshman two years ago, the Bears have a shot to reach a bowl for the first time since 1994. The Bears also need to deliver a better pass rush to improve defensively.