Kansas University’s football team was picked to finish fourth in the Big 12 North division by 24 media members who cover the conference, according to a release sent out by the league office Thursday.

“I am more focused on where we will stand in December, rather than the month of July,” KU coach Mark Mangino said in a statement.

Missouri and Texas were picked to be preseason favorites in their respective divisions, each receiving 16 first-place votes. Nebraska received eight first-place votes in the North and was picked second, while Oklahoma received seven in the South. Texas A&M received the other first-place vote.

Teams were given six points for a first-place vote and one for a sixth-place vote. Kansas received 63 points, placing well behind third-place Kansas State (88 points) and just ahead of fifth-place Colorado (58).

Iowa State rounded out the North, placing sixth with 31 points.

Voting was a little closer in the South. Texas was first with 135 points, followed by Oklahoma (126), then Texas A&M (82) by a nose over Oklahoma State (81). Texas Tech was fifth with 56 points while Baylor received unanimous sixth-place votes to get the minimum 24 points overall.

The Big 12 preseason poll accurately predicted the division champions in both 2005 and 2006.

Last year, the poll correctly picked Kansas fourth in the North – though not much else went right. Iowa State and Colorado were picked second and third in the North last year, and ended up with three conference victories between them. Missouri and Kansas State were picked fifth and sixth, and ended up in second and third.

The preseason All-Big 12 team, also voted on by media members, will be released today.