EA Sports may be buying the Colorado football program, but the media members who cover the conference sure aren’t.

In a poll of 61 media members, the CU Buffs were picked to finish 11th out of 16 teams — yes, the Big 12 has 16 teams — in their return to the Big 12 under head coach Deion Sanders.

Despite bringing back preseason All-Big 12 quarterback Shedeur Sanders and the preseason defensive player of the year in cornerback Travis Hunter, the Buffs didn’t garner a single first-place vote in the poll released Tuesday morning.

Utah, another former Pac-12 school joining the Big 12 this season, was the media members’ top pick with 20 first-place votes. With quarterback Cam Rising slated to return under center, the Utes are a preseason darling and projected College Football Playoff contender.

Just behind the Utes are Kansas State (19 first-place votes), Oklahoma State (14), Kansas (5) and Arizona (3). No other teams received first-place votes in the poll.

The Utes had just three players selected to the preseason all-conference team. That’s the same number as CU, which had Sanders, Hunter and defensive lineman BJ Green II named to the team. Oklahoma State led the way with six total selections, while Arizona had five.

EA Sports turned heads last week when it had the Buffs rated as the 20th-best roster in the country in its new game, College Football 25.

Teams will gather in Las Vegas next week for Big 12 Football Media Days on July 9-10. Coverage will be provided by ESPNU and ESPN+.

Big 12 football media poll

(Can’t see the poll in mobile? Click here.)

First-place votes in parenthesis.

Preseason All-Big 12

Offensive Player of the Year: Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State, RB, 6-2, 215, Jr.

Defensive Player of the Year: Travis Hunter, Colorado,DB, 6-1, 185, Jr.

Newcomer of the Year: KJ Jefferson, UCF, QB, 6-3, 247, Sr.

(Can’t see the teams in mobile? Click here.)

Offense

Defense

Originally Published: July 2, 2024 at 10:37 a.m.