Dallas ? From the first kickoff this season, Big 12 teams were chasing the Oklahoma Sooners. The Associated Press’ All-Big 12 team shows why.

The Sooners landed seven players on the 26-man first team, including three unanimous selections. No other school had more than four first-teamers.

Oklahoma had four on defense alone, and they were spread all over the field — from lineman Tommie Harris to linebacker Teddy Lehman to defensive backs Brandon Everage and Derrick Strait. Lehman and Everage were unanimous picks; Harris received the most votes of any lineman.

OU landed three players on the offensive side, led by Quentin Griffin, a unanimous pick at running back. Tight end Trent Smith and offensive lineman Jammal Brown also were chosen.

The No. 8 Sooners (10-2) will seek a far more rewarding prize Saturday when they play No. 12 Colorado (9-3) in the Big 12 championship in Houston.

The Buffaloes had four first-teamers, three on offense. Wayne Lucier and Justin Bates made it for the holes they opened for Chris Brown, a unanimous pick at running back. Alas, Brown has a bruised sternum and won’t play in the title game. The other CU player honored was punter Mark Mariscal, who also was named on all ballots.

The AP team was picked by a panel of 20 sportswriters who regularly cover the league for newspapers throughout the league’s seven states.

Earlier this week, the same voters named Oklahoma State’s Les Miles the Big 12 coach of the year, Texas Tech quarterback Kliff Kingsbury the offensive player of the year and Kansas State defensive back Terence Newman the defensive player of the year.

Kingsbury and Newman were unanimous picks on the all-conference team.

No. 6 Kansas State (10-2) and No. 9 Texas (10-2) joined Colorado with four picks.

And the Wildcats and Longhorns joined the Sooners by having honorees all over the defense. For KSU, lineman Tank Reese represented the front, Terry Pierce was chosen at linebacker and Newman led the secondary. The fourth K-State honoree was center Nick Leckey.

From Texas, Cory Redding came from the line, Derrick Johnson made it at linebacker and Rod Babers was selected in the defensive backfield. The only Longhorn chosen on offense was lineman Derrick Dockery.

The defenses at Oklahoma, Kansas State and UT were so respected that there was room for only two other position players: Texas Tech linebacker Lawrence Flugence and Oklahoma State lineman Kevin Williams.

Flugence, Oklahoma’s Harris and Texas’ Redding were first-teamers last year. The only other repeat choice is receiver Justin Gage of Missouri.

Rounding out the offense are receiver Rashaun Woods of Oklahoma State, another unanimous pick; Texas Tech’s jack-of-all-trades Wes Welker as the all-purpose selection; and Iowa State kicker Adam Benike.

Also worth noting:

• Nebraska and Texas A&M did not have a first-teamer, which is far more surprising than Kansas and Baylor getting shut out. The Cornhuskers and Aggies did have three second-team picks.
• The South had a 16-10 lead on first-teamers.
• North players claimed both first-team kicking spots and second-team kicker Josh Brown of Nebraska. A&M punter Cody Scates prevented a sweep.
• Offensive newcomer of the year Brad Smith of Missouri made honorable mention at quarterback and all-purpose. Something similar happened to last year’s recipient of the same award, Iowa State’s Seneca Wallace. This time, Wallace was among those in the way as he was the second-team pick at QB.
• Wallace was one of four Cyclones picked to the second team, which tied Kansas State for the most. Kansas State and Oklahoma State each had 10 honorable mentions.
• A dozen first-teamers played high school football in Texas. Oklahoma was the next-best state represented, producing five first-teamers. Florida was the only other home state for multiple first-teamers; it had two.
• More geography: New Hampshire, Illinois, Minnesota and Arkansas produced as many first-teamers (one each) as Big 12 states Colorado, Kansas and Missouri. League states Nebraska and Iowa were shut out.
• KU’s Greg Cole was a second-team pick, while fellow linebacker Leo Etienne and lineman Justin Sands received honorable mention.