Another year, another occasion to give pundit Phil Steele a big ol' bear hug. The college football aficionado annually tallies up college football's returning starters, and today, we look at how that shakes out for the Big 12.

Something to keep in mind: Kansas State and Oklahoma had the second- and third-most returning starters in the Big 12 last season. They were co-Big 12 champions. Amazingly, Texas leads the nation in returning starters. At the bottom of the list, only Troy and Louisiana Tech has fewer returning starters than Kansas State, which returns all of one defensive starter. Let's take a closer look.

1. Texas Longhorns

• Offense: 10 (QB returns)
• Defense: 9
• Total: 19
• National rank: T-1
• Key returnees: QB David Ash, WR Mike Davis, DE Jackson Jeffcoat

2. TCU Horned Frogs

• Offense: 6 (QB returns)
• Defense: 9
• Total: 15
• National rank: T-24
• Key returnees: DE Devonte Fields, CB Jason Verrett, WR Brandon Carter

3. Oklahoma State Cowboys

• Offense: 7 (QB returns)
• Defense: 7
• Total: 14
• National rank: T-41
• Key returnees: WR Josh Stewart, CB Justin Gilbert, DT Calvin Barnett

T-4. Baylor Bears

• Offense: 6
• Defense: 7
• Total: 13
• National rank: T-58
• Key returnees: RB Lache Seastrunk, S Ahmad Dixon, WR Tevin Reese

T-4. Texas Tech Red Raiders

• Offense: 5
• Defense: 8
• Total: 13
• National rank: T-58
• Key returnees: WR Eric Ward, DL Kerry Hyder, TE Jace Amaro

T-6. Oklahoma Sooners

• Offense: 7
• Defense: 4
• Total: 11
• National rank: T-98
• Key returnees: CB Aaron Colvin, FB Trey Millard, OL Gabe Ikard

T-6. Kansas Jayhawks

• Offense: 5
• Defense: 6
• Total: 11
• National rank: T-98
• Key returnees: RB James Sims, LB Ben Heeney, RB Tony Pierson

T-8. Iowa State Cyclones

• Offense: 5
• Defense: 4
• Total: 9
• National rank: T-117
• Key returnees: DB Jacques Washington, QB Sam Richardson, RB James White

T-8. West Virginia Mountaineers

• Offense: 3
• Defense: 6
• Total: 9
• National rank: T-117
• Key returnees: DB Karl Joseph, RB Andrew Buie, LB Isaiah Bruce

10. Kansas State Wildcats

• Offense: 7
• Defense: 1
• Total: 8
• National rank: T-122 (out of 125)
• Key returnees: RB John Hubert, WR Tyler Lockett, S Ty Zimmerman