Texas tops Big 12 preseason media poll as Longhorns look for first conference title since 2009

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As the University of Texas enters its final year in the Big 12 conference before heading to the SEC, the Longhorns are hoping to bring home the program's first conference championship since 2009. 

The media appears to like the Longhorns' chances. 

A Texas Longhorn band member carries the Texas flag prior to the start of a game between the UTSA Roadrunners and the Texas Longhorns Sept. 17, 2022, at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas.  (John Rivera/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Texas finished atop the Big 12’s preseason poll, voted on by media representatives, for the first time since the conference went to a format without divisions in 2011. 

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The Longhorns received 41 of 67 first-place votes, with 2022 champion Kansas State receiving 14 votes. 

Oklahoma, which will be joining Texas in the SEC starting in 2024, received four first-place votes along with Texas Tech. TCU and Oklahoma State earned the remaining first-place votes.

Texas is coming off an 8-5 season during which the Longhorns nearly upset No. 1 Alabama in Week 2. 

Quinn Ewers of the Texas Longhorns throws a pass before a game against the Iowa State Cyclones at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium Oct. 15, 2022, in Austin, Texas.  (Tim Warner/Getty Images)

The Longhorns return starting quarterback Quinn Ewers and welcome prized recruit Arch Manning to campus. 

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Head coach Steve Sarkisian praised Ewers following the Longhorns’ spring game in April. 

"I thought Quinn was really efficient today," Sarkisian said after the