Sooners No. 3 in Preseason AP Top 25

NORMAN — For the 14th time in the last 16 years, the Oklahoma football team is ranked in the Associated Press preseason top 10. The AP released its preseason top 25 Sunday morning and the Sooners are ranked No. 3, their highest such preseason position since 2011.

OU, which is coming off a College Football Playoff appearance and its ninth Big 12 title, accumulated 1,352 points in the poll and four first-place votes. Alabama is ranked No. 1 (1,469 points, 33 first-place votes), Clemson is No. 2 (1443; 16), Florida State is No. 4 (1,325; five) and LSU is No. 5 (1,269; one).

This marks the 17th straight year under head coach Bob Stoops that OU has appeared in the preseason AP Top 25. The only year under Stoops that OU was absent from the preseason poll was 1999, his first season. The 17-year streak is the second longest current string behind Ohio State (28).

This also represents the 58th time that Oklahoma has appeared in the preseason AP poll, second most behind Ohio State (63 times). OU's all-time average preseason AP rank is 6.7, best in the nation (Michigan is second at 7.4).

The Sooners are one of four Big 12 teams in this year's preseason AP poll. TCU is ranked No. 13, Oklahoma State is No. 21 and Baylor is No. 23. Texas is receiving votes to come in at No. 36.

In addition to those conference foes, OU will also face No. 6 Ohio State and No. 15 Houston during the 2016 season.

Oklahoma boasts nine players on the 2016 Preseason All-Big 12 Team in junior quarterback Baker Mayfield, who was chosen as the Offensive Player of the Year. He was joined by junior running back Samaje Perine, sophomore receiver Mark Andrews and sophomore tackle Orlando Brown on the offense. On the other side of the ball, OU was represented by senior linebacker Jordan Evans, junior defensive lineman Charles Walker, junior defensive backs Steven Parker and Jordan Thomas, and sophomore punter Austin Seibert.

OU opens the season by facing the 15th-ranked Cougars on Sept. 3 at 11 a.m. CT at NRG Stadium, home of the NFL's Houston Texans. The home season, inside the newly-renovated Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, begins Sept. 10 versus ULM at 6 p.m. CT.

OU in the Preseason AP Poll Under Stoops

2016: 3
2015: 19 (won Big 12 title)
2014: 4
2013: 16
2012: 4 (won Big 12 title)
2011: 1
2010: 7 (won Big 12 title)
2009: 3
2008: 4 (won Big 12 title)
2007: 8 (won Big 12 title)
2006: 10 (won Big 12 title)
2005: 7
2004: 2 (won Big 12 title)
2003: 1
2002: 2 (won Big 12 title)
2001: 3
2000: 19 (won Big 12 and national titles)
1999: Not ranked

OU in the Preseason AP Poll Under Stoops

Players Mentioned

Mark Andrews

Orlando Brown

Jordan Evans

Baker Mayfield

Steven Parker

Steven Parker

Samaje Perine

Austin Seibert

Austin Seibert

Jordan Thomas

Jordan Thomas

Charles Walker

Sponsors

University of Oklahoma Athletics