14. Texas Longhorns
Previous rank: 11
Texas coach Mack Brown is hoping the growing pains of having a young team last season pays big dividends in 2013. The Longhorns started five freshmen and sophomores on offense in 2012, including quarterback David Ash, who made major strides in his second season as a starter. Ash completed 67.3 percent of his passes for 2,699 yards with 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Ash wasn't perfect under center last season, but he showed enough promise to give the Longhorns hope moving forward. Former UT quarterback Major Applewhite takes over the play calling (former offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin left to become Arkansas State's coach), and he's promising more toughness. UT's defense was even younger in 2012, with seven freshmen and sophomores starting in the Alamo Bowl, but nine starters are coming back. Texas signed a relatively small recruiting class of 15 signees, but it addressed major concerns on the offensive line. UT signed three ESPN Top 150 linemen: No. 1 center Darius James, No. 4 tackle Kent Perkins and No. 9 tackle Jake Raulerson.
15. Oklahoma Sooners
Previous rank: 17
The Sooners will have a pretty long to-do list in spring practice: replace record-setting quarterback Landry Jones and rebuild a defense that didn't live up to expectations in the pass-happy Big 12 in 2012. Oklahoma gave up 398.3 yards per game last season, the highest average in school history. OU coach Bob Stoops tried to address big deficiencies on defense by signing 14 prospects for that side of the ball, including seven linemen and five defensive backs. The Sooners will have to replace safety Tony Jefferson and linebacker Tom Wort, who left early for the NFL draft, along with three starters along the defensive line. Sophomore Blake Bell, known as the Belldozer because of his 6-foot-6, 254-pound frame, is the favorite to win the starting quarterback job, but he'll have to hold off junior Drew Allen and freshmen Trevor Knight and Kendal Thompson. The Sooners also signed a pair of highly regarded skill players on offense: No. 3 running back Keith Ford and No. 13 quarterback Cody Thomas, who might opt to play pro baseball if he's drafted high enough in June.
17. TCU Horned Frogs
Previous rank: 7
After a trying campaign both on and off the field in their first season in the Big 12, the Horned Frogs probably didn't get the boost they were expecting on the recruiting road. TCU's class ranked only 49th nationally, and it signed only one player in the ESPN Top 300 (No. 18 running back Kyle Hicks). But TCU coach Gary Patterson and his staff have always done a nice job of identifying hidden gems, so maybe there isn't too much to worry about. TCU's biggest pickup was former starting quarterback Casey Pachall, who enrolled in classes and rejoined the team in January. Pachall was suspended from the team after a DUI arrest in early October and spent time in a drug treatment facility. He'll battle Trevone Boykin for the starting job in spring practice. TCU was very young last season, and it will bring back six starters on offense and 10 on defense. There's a lot of room for improvement in its second season in the Big 12.
19. Kansas State Wildcats
Previous rank: NR
Defending Big 12 champion Kansas State loses record-setting quarterback Collin Klein and most of its defense, but does anyone do a better job of plugging in new faces than coach LHC Bill Snyder? The Wildcats signed 32 prospects, including six junior college transfers, a few of which have already enrolled in classes. Quarterback Jake Waters, who led Iowa Western Community College to a juco national championship, will battle sophomore Daniel Sams for the starting job this spring. Waters, who has already enrolled at Kansas State, set a national juco record by completing 73.3 percent of his passes last season. He threw for 3,501 yards with 39 touchdowns and three interceptions. Juco cornerbacks Nate Jackson and Travis Green and defensive end Devon Nash also might be counted on to help on defense immediately. While it might be hard for Kansas State to duplicate last season's success, it might still be good enough to win 10 games or more in 2013.
20. Oklahoma State Cowboys
Previous rank: 24
The Cowboys will have new coordinators on both sides of the ball in 2013, but coach Mike Gundy has done a great job with roster and staff turnover in recent seasons. After losing quarterback Brandon Weeden and receiver Justin Blackmon, the Pokes still averaged 45.7 points in 2012 despite playing four quarterbacks because of injuries. Gundy will have to choose a starting quarterback during spring practice; Wes Lunt, Clint Chelf and J.W. Walsh will battle for the starting job. Last week, Gundy hired Mike Yurcich of Division II Shippensburg (Pa.) as his new offensive coordinator after Todd Monken left to become Southern Miss' new coach. Gundy also fired defensive coordinator Bill Young after OSU ranked 80th in total defense (421.6 yards per game) and 110th in pass defense (280 yards). Linebackers coach Glenn Spencer was promoted to replace Young.
