ESPN College Football

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

The preseason computer ratings compiled by Jeff Sagarin apparently are heavily tilted to the results of last season's Big 12 conference race.

The Big 12 had five teams in the Top 25 in Sagarin's preseason rankings, including four of the teams that shared a portion of a divisional championship last season.

Sagarin ranks Oklahoma as the nation's No. 3 team in the poll and Texas as No. 4. They rank only behind No. 1 USC and No. 2 Florida, the defending national champion. 

Here's how Sagarin ranks the Big 12 teams coming into the 2009 season.

3. Oklahoma

4. Texas

13. Texas Tech

18. Missouri

25. Kansas

26. Oklahoma State

28. Nebraska

56. Kansas State

60. Texas A&M

64. Colorado

82. Baylor

86. Iowa State

Four FCS teams are ranked ahead of Baylor -- No. 68 Appalachian State, No. 72 James Madison, No. 75 Richmond and No. 78 Montana.

These rankings apparently must provide some kind of boost from last season's success as both Texas Tech and Missouri are in the top 20 in front of teams like Kansas and Nebraska. Both the Jayhawks and Cornhuskers have typically been picked in front of Texas Tech and Missouri in most other preseason polls.  

Overall, the Big 12 is ranked third by Sagarin in his conference rankings. The Southeastern Conference is No. 1, followed by the Pac-10, which is ahead of the Big 12 by .05 points.

The Atlantic Coast was fourth, followed by the Big East, Big Ten, Mountain West, Independents, Conference USA, Western Athletic Conference, Mid-American and the FCS Colonial.

The Sun Belt Conference, which will provide five nonconference games to the Big 12 including three to Nebraska, ranked 12th in conference strength behind the Colonial.