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Media that covers the Big 12 Conference is expecting a stellar season from at least a trio of Colorado football players.
Not much is expected out of the team as a whole, however.
On Tuesday, the Big 12 announced the results of the preseason media poll, as well as preseason All-Big 12 voting.
CU is projected to finish 11th in the conference standings, but the media has picked Buffaloes cornerback (and receiver) Travis Hunter as the defensive player of the year and Shedeur Sanders as the first-team All-Big 12 quarterback. Defensive lineman BJ Green also made the preseason all-conference first team.
After 13 seasons in the Pac-12, the Buffaloes are making a return to the Big 12, officially rejoining the conference on Aug. 2, along with Arizona, Arizona State and Utah.
While Hunter and Sanders are considered two of the best players in the country, CU is coming off a 4-8 season (1-8 Pac-12), a key factor in the low outside expectations. Under the direction of second-year head coach Deion Sanders, however, the Buffs believe they can contend for the conference title.
Utah, meanwhile, is joining the Big 12 with heavy expectations. The Utes have been projected as the conference champion, receiving 20 of 61 first-place votes and 906 points overall to edge Kansas State (19 first-place votes, 889 points) for the top spot.
Oklahoma State (14 first-place votes, 829), Kansas (five, 772) and Arizona (three, 762) round out the top five.
The first official conference event for CU will be next Tuesday and Wednesday when the Buffs participate in Big 12 media days in Las Vegas. Coach Prime, Shedeur Sanders, safety Shilo Sanders, Hunter and punter Mark Vassett are scheduled to represent the Buffs.
1. Utah (20 first-place votes), 906 points
2. Kansas State (19), 889
3. Oklahoma State (14), 829
4. Kansas (5), 772
5. Arizona (3), 762
6. Iowa State, 661
7. West Virginia, 581
8. Central Florida, 551
9. Texas Tech, 532
10. TCU, 436
11. Colorado, 400
12. Baylor, 268
13. BYU, 215
14. Cincinnati, 196
15. Houston, 157
16. Arizona State, 141
(selected by media; * unanimous choice)
Offense
QB – Shedeur Sanders, Colorado, Sr.
RB – Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State, Jr.*; Tahj Brooks, Texas Tech, Sr.
FB – Stevo Klotz, Iowa State, Sr.
WR – Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona, Jr.; Kobe Hudson, UCF, Sr.; Jayden Higgins, Iowa State, Sr.; Brennan Presley, Oklahoma State, Sr.
TE – Brant Kuithe, Utah, Sr.
OL – Jonah Savaiinaea, Arizona, Jr.; Luke Kandra, Cincinnati, Sr.; Dalton Cooper, Oklahoma State, Sr.; Joe Michalski, Oklahoma State, Sr.; Wyatt Milum, West Virginia, Sr.
PK – Tyler Loop, Arizona, Sr.
KR/PR – Drae McCray, Texas Tech, Sr.
Defense
DL – Tyler Batty, BYU, Sr.; Dontay Corleone, Cincinnati, Jr.; BJ Green II, Colorado, Sr.; Lee Hunter, UCF, Jr.; Junior Tafuna, Utah, Sr.
LB – Jacob Manu, Arizona, Jr.; Nick Martin, Oklahoma State, Jr.; Collin Oliver, Oklahoma State, Sr.
DB – Tacario Davis, Arizona, Jr.; Travis Hunter, Colorado, Jr.; Jeremiah Cooper, Iowa State, Jr.; Cobee Bryant, Kansas, Sr.; Mello Dotson, Kansas, Sr..
P – Jack Bouwmeester, Utah, Jr.
Offensive player of the year: Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State
Defensive player of the year: Travis Hunter, Colorado
Newcomer of the Year: KJ Jefferson, UCF (quarterback)
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