Oklahoma Sooners preseason voted No. 1 in Big 12 preseason coaches poll

Surprise, surprise. The three-time defending national champions were voted to win the Big 12. The Sooners have won 11 consecutive Big 12 titles and haven’t lost a regular season series in the conference since 2011 and are 121-4 in Big 12 play since 2016.

In 2023, the Sooners went 18-0 and outscored their conference opponents 123-17 along the way. The pitching staff threw 10 shutouts against Big 12 competition.

In the expanded Big 12, new foes await, but until someone’s able to knock of the Sooners, they’ll remain the favorite in the conference and for the national title.

When they begin the season on February 8 against Utah State, they’ll look to extend their 53-game winning streak and begin their trek to a fourth-straight national championship. No one has ever won four-straight titles, but this Sooners squad looks set up to make another run.

The Sooners return four All-Big 12 first-team selections, including Big 12 Player of the Year Jayda Coleman.

Let’s take a look at the Big 12 coaches poll.

Note: Coaches could not vote for their own team.

Oklahoma Sooners (9 first place votes)

Points: 81 points

In the world of college softball, one team stands alone as queens of the mountain. The Sooners have been absolutely dominant in their three-year national title run. The loss of Jordy Bahl creates a hole in the pitching rotation, but Patty Gasso has recruited well and still has veteran arms in Nicole May and Kelly Maxwell. The lineup will still be incredibly potent and gets an influx of young bats that were highly-regarded on the recruiting trail.

Texas Longhorns (1 first place vote)

Points: 73

The Texas Longhorns have been the stiffest competition for the Oklahoma Sooners during their three year national-title run. Texas was a young team a year ago and still played the Sooners tough. They’ll be a threat again this year, their final in the Big 12.

Oklahoma State Cowgirls

Points: 62

Kenny Gajewski’s squad started strong in 2023, but when conference play started, had a few missteps, including two nonconference midweek matchups with Wichita State. Still, the Cowgirls rallied to finish strong and host a regional and beat Oregon in the super regionals before being dispatched in the Women’s College World Series.

Baylor Bears

Points:  59

Baylor didn’t quite live up to expectations in 2023, largely due to the injuries. But they were able to sweep Texas at the end of the season before bowing out in the regional round, losing two games to Ole Miss.

UCF Knights

Points: 48

UCF is the new addition to the league that has a chance to make some noise in Big 12 play. They were one of the best in the American and have made the NCAA tournament each of the last three seasons, including a super regional berth in 2022.

Texas Tech Lady Raiders

Points: 35

Texas Tech was 5-13 in 2023 and finished in last place in the Big 12. They used a unique approach to keep the Sooners off-balance, by using a new pitcher in each inning. The approach held Oklahoma under 10 runs, but they went scoreless in the three-game series.

BYU Cougars

Points: 28

BYU had gone to the NCAA tournament 15 seasons in a row when the COVID pandemic cut short the 2020 season. They haven’t been back since. Still, they have a solid program with a good coach in Gordon Eakin, who has a 67.8% winning percentage in his 21 seasons at the helm.

Kansas Jayhawks

Points: 27

Kansas went just 5-13 in Big 12 play last season, but took a series from Texas Tech and knocked off Oklahoma State in the Big 12 tournament.

Iowa State Cyclones

Points: 20

Iowa State was one of the surprise performers in Big 12 play in 2023, taking series wins from Baylor and Kansas, and stealing one in extra innings against Oklahoma State.

Houston Cougars

Points: 17

The Houston Cougars went 20-30 overall and just 7-10 in American Athletic Conference play. They’re making a big jump to the Big 12 where they’ll have to play annual Women’s College World Series teams Texas, Oklahoma State, and Oklahoma. How will they fare in year one?

Story originally appeared on Sooners Wire