Phil Steele, once again, gets the offseason MVP for tallying up the nation's returning starters on his website.

Here are the full rankings.

And here's how the Big 12 will look in 2012, when it comes to returning talent:

1. Texas Tech

• Offense: 9 (QB returns)
• Defense: 10
• Special teams: 1
• Total: 20
• National rank: 2

2. Kansas State

• Offense: 9 (QB returns)
• Defense: 7
• Special teams: 2
• Total: 18
• National rank: 8

T-3. Oklahoma

• Offense: 8 (QB returns)
• Defense: 7
• Special teams: 2
• Total: 17
• National rank: 20

T-3. Texas

• Offense: 10 (QB returns)
• Defense: 7
• Special teams: 0
• Total: 17
• National rank: 20

T- 5. Baylor

• Offense: 6
• Defense: 8
• Special teams: 2
• Total: 16
• National rank: 29

T-5. Oklahoma State

• Offense: 6
• Defense: 8
• Special teams: 2
• Total: 16
• National rank: 29

T-5. West Virginia

• Offense: 8 (QB returns)
• Defense: 6
• Special teams: 2
• Total: 16
• National rank: 29

8. Kansas

• Offense: 7
• Defense: 6
• Special teams: 2
• Total: 15
• National rank: 44

T-9. TCU

• Offense: 6 (QB returns)
• Defense: 7
• Special teams: 0
• Total: 13
• National rank: 81

T-9. Iowa State

• Offense: 7 (QB returns)
• Defense: 5
• Special teams: 1
• Total: 13
• National rank: 81

So, what's this all mean?

You can't treat returning starters as a be all and end all. You can't ignore it, either. Clearly, experience translates to success. That said, there are plenty of first-year players who will outperform returning starters.

Next year, though, you can take a look at a list like this when you hear mentions about which teams are experienced and which are not.

How do I think the Big 12 looks in 2012? Here are my power rankings heading into the spring before the 2012 season.