Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin
The web site whatifsports.com expects the Big 12 to rank as the nation's strongest in 2008.
The Big 12 is well represented in the web site's preseason power poll. The poll was developed after simulating every possible Division I-A matchup 100 times.
The Big 12 had five teams ranked among the top 16 teams in the country, more than any other conference. The Southeastern Conference was next with four teams, followed by the Big Ten with three.
Oklahoma was the highest-ranked Big 12 team, coming in third for the upcoming season behind top-ranked Ohio State and Georgia.
The poll developed is notable for one other factoid. At 115th, Iowa State was ranked among the six worst teams in the country and the lowest-ranked team from a Bowl Championship Series conference.
Here's a list of the Big 12 teams and their overall national rankings, according to the computer simulation.
| Team | National
Ranking | Win % | Avg. Pts.
For | Avg. Pts.
Against | | Oklahoma | 3 | .948 | 48.2 | 18.2 | | Missouri | 9 | .860 | 41.7 | 22.6 | | Texas | 11 | .839 | 39.0 | 21.2 | | Kansas | 15 | .783 | 38.6 | 24.1 | | Texas Tech | 16 | .776 | 34.3 | 20.9 | | Oklahoma State | 28 | .667 | 36.9 | 29.9 | | Kansas State | 50 | .580 | 31.7 | 28.4 | | Colorado | 59 | .522 | 26.2 | 25.7 | | Nebraska | 65 | .496 | 26.4 | 25.7 | | Texas A&M | 69 | .474 | 29.2 | 31.2 | | Baylor | 88 | .340 | 22.4 | 30.0 | | Iowa State | 115 | .138 | 12.6 | 1.7 |
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Tim Griffin joined ESPN.com in February 2008. He has covered the Big 12 since its inception, among a variety of beats during a 24-year career at the San Antonio Express-News. Griffin, a Memphis State University graduate, lives in San Antonio with his wife and son.
