Media selects Colorado, Texas to win divisions

Reporters covering Big 12 football predict that Texas and Colorado will win the division championships this season.

Texas got 40 first-place votes in the South Division balloting in the Big 12 media poll, with 25 voters picking Colorado in the North Division. Results of the voting were released Monday as players and coaches prepared for the Big 12 media days in Houston Tuesday through Thursday.

Texas had 287 points, with Oklahoma, favored by nine of the voters, getting 248. Next came Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and Baylor.

In the North Division, Iowa State was picked to win by 14 voters, giving the Cyclones 231 points to 257 for Colorado. Nebraska was projected to finish third, Missouri fourth, Kansas State fifth and Kansas sixth.

Texas placed seven players on the preseason All-Big 12 team picked by the media voters. Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson was projected as offensive player of the year, with Rodrique Wright picked on defense while Nebraska quarterback Zac Taylor, transferring from Butler County Community College in Kansas, was selected the top newcomer.

The pre-season selections:

OFFENSE -- Vince Young, Texas, quarterback; Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma, and Taurean Henderson, Texas Tech, running backs; Jarrett Hicks, Texas Tech, and Todd Blythe, Iowa State, wide receivers; David Thomas, Texas, tight end; Tony Palmer, Missouri, Davin Joseph, Oklahoma, and Justin Blalock and Jonathan Scott, Texas, offensive line; Kurt Mann, Nebraska, center; Mason Crosby, Colorado, place kicker; and Willie Andrews, Baylor, kick returner.

DEFENSE -- Nick Leaders, Iowa State, Larry Birdine and Dusty Dvoracek, Oklahoma, and Rodrique Wright, Texas, defensive line; Nick Reid, Kansas, Rufus Alexander, Oklahoma, and Aaron Harris, Texas, linebackers; Charles Gordon, Kansas, Daniel Bullocks, Nebraska, Michael Huff, Texas, and Jaxson Appel, Texas A&M, defensive backs; Daniel Sepulveda, Baylor, punter; and Danny Amendola, Texas Tech, punt returner.