AP Preseason Top 25: AP Gets It Right, Texas A&M Ranked Higher Than Oklahoma St

The solid front-runner in the Big 12 going into 2011 is Oklahoma, a sentiment that is confirmed by their No. 1 ranking in both the AP Poll (released just today) and the USA Today preseason poll (released just over two weeks ago).

The next two strongest Big 12 squads, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M flip-flopped in the two polls but the AP seems to have fixed an error on the part of the early Coaches’ rankings.

The Coaches’ Poll has Oklahoma State at No. 8 and Texas A&M at No. 9 while today’s AP rankings have the Aggies at No. 8 and Oklahoma State at No. 9.

The main arguments why the Aggies should be above the Cowboys involve stability and balance.

The Aggies remain almost completely intact coming into 2011 (minus huge losses at linebacker) while OSU suffers the loss of their top rusher (Kendall Hunter), top tackler (Orie Lemon) and their offensive coaching leader in Dana Holgorsen (who in one short season improved the OSU offense from a No. 70 ranking nationally in 2009 to a No. 3 mark in 2010).

Yeah, the Cowboys won two more games last season than did A&M (11 versus nine) but at the end of the day the Aggies return 18 starters and 61 lettermen in 2011 while the Cowboys bring back 14 starters and only 37 lettermen.

The other huge factor is that Texas A&M was a more balanced team last season, and this sense of equilibrium is twofold.

First, the Aggies showed more steadiness offensively vs. defensively (they were No. 34 in both points for and points against) than was Oklahoma State (No. 3 in points scored but only No. 61 in points against) and secondly they were more balanced offensively (No. 46 in rushing and No. 20 in passing) versus the Cowboys (No. 36 in rushing and No. 2 in passing).

Overall, the Aggies represent a more complete package and it certainly can’t help that their schedule is easier.

How much easier? Well, the spot on Phil Steele has A&M’s 2011 slate as the No. 22 most difficult in the nation while the Cowboys’ schedule rates a tougher No. 18.

At the end of the day, the AP Poll seems to have gotten it right…Aggies over Cowboys.