Editor’s note: The Daily’s football staff has ranked the conference’s football teams given their status five months before the season. Set in a points system, writers voted from top to bottom. The players and notes listed are purely the writers’ opinions and in no way represent the Daily or any other ranking system. Especially since these rankings are happening ridiculously early.

1. Oklahoma Sooners

2010 Final Rank: No. 1

Player to watch: LB Travis Lewis

Outlook: The Sooners are to football what the Jayhawks are to basketball: King of the Hill until someone pushes them off.

2. Oklahoma State Cowboys

2010 Final Rank: No. 2

Player to watch: WR Justin Blackmon

Outlook: The Cowboys are a threat in the Big 12 if they can play defense. Expect to hear “Weeden to Blackmon in the end zone!” a lot this season.

3. Texas A&M Aggies

2010 Final Rank: No. 4

Player to watch: RB Cyrus Gray

Outlook: The Aggies have an armory of offensive threats, and could be dangerous if they stay healthy in the extended Big 12 season.

4. Texas Longhorns

2010 Final Rank: No. 10

Player to watch: QB Garrett Gilbert

Outlook: The Daily staff has an exorbitant amount of faith in Mack Brown’s ability to turn this program around. Longhorn fans are losing patience with losing and Gilbert’s inability to win tight games.

5. Missouri Tigers

2010 Final Rank: No. 5

Player to watch: TE Michael Egnew

Outlook: Coach Gary Pinkel’s defense is finally getting talented and tough, but it’s the recently strong quarterback position at Mizzou that lacks a leader.

6. Kansas State Wildcats

2010 Final Rank: No. 8

Player to watch:

Outlook: No Daniel Thomas? It’s looking like that won’t be a problem. A 32-man recruiting class including former gem Bryce Brown mean Bill Snyder has lots of options.

7. Baylor Bears

2010 Final Rank: No. 6

Player to watch: QB Robert Griffin III

Outlook: The Texas Bowl against Illinois exposed Baylor for what it was. Let’s see if Art Briles and Co. can get back on the horse and shock the Big 12 with RG3.

8. Texas Tech Red Raiders

2010 Final Rank: No. 7

Player to watch: DE Scott Smith

Outlook: Tech lost a lot of starters from last year’s already shaky club. We’re not expecting much in Lubbock with their replacements.

9. Iowa State Cyclones

2010 Final Rank: No. 9

Player to watch: LT Kelechi Osemele

Outlook: Once the Cyclones figure out who can play quarterback, then they need to figure out how to move the ball. Quarterback concerns come first.

10. Kansas Jayhawks

2010 Final Rank: No. 12

Player to watch: RB James Sims

Outlook: At least McNeese State is the opener. The Jayhawks will need a good win against the Cowboys to prepare for the long downhill slide.