Oklahoma State Baseball Picked Third in Preseason Big 12 Poll

Baseball season is just a few weeks away, and the Big 12 coaches think the Cowboys will again compete at the top of the conference in 2024.

The Big 12 released its preseason poll on Thursday, where the Cowboys were picked third behind TCU and Texas. The Cowboys grabbed a share of the conference’s regular-season title last year and finished the season 41-20. OSU has finished in the top two of the league seven times in 10 seasons under Josh Holliday.

1. TCU (11) – 143
2. Texas (2) – 131
3. Oklahoma State – 119
4. Texas Tech – 107
5. Kansas State – 98
T6. Oklahoma – 85
T6. West Virginia – 85
8. Kansas – 67
9. Houston – 56
10. UCF – 45
11. Baylor – 36
T12. BYU – 21
T12. Cincinnati – 21

There isn’t much love for the league’s newcomers with Houston, UCF, BYU and Cincinnati all predicted to finish within the bottom five. The Big 12’s top-10 teams will qualify for the Big 12 Tournament this season.

The Cowboys return a pair of Preseason All-Big 12 selections in Carson Benge and Nolan Schubart.

A sophomore outfielder/pitcher from Yukon, Benge was a freshman All-American last season and was named the the All-Big 12 First Team. In 35 innings pitched, Benge struck out 35 and had a 6.69 ERA. At the plate, he hit a team-best .345 with 43 RBIs, 17 doubles and seven home runs.

A sophomore from Michigan, Schubart was also a freshman All-American last season, hitting .338 with a team-best 20 doubles, 18 home runs and 74 RBIs.

OSU opens its season with a series against Sam Houston in Huntsville that starts Feb. 16.