Oklahoma State’s place in the way-too-early Top 25 polls

College football season hasn’t even been over for one week, but plenty of national outlets have already given their early projections on what the preseason top 25 polls will look like.

Most include Oklahoma State, a squad that has uncertainty on its coaching staff and loses its top offensive weapon but still returns plenty of talent in 2013.

Here’s a roundup of the Cowboys’ place in these polls.

(Note: Some of these were done before running back Joseph Randle declared for the draft and defensive coordinator Bill Young was replaced by Glenn Spencer. That’s why these things are way too early.)

ESPN: 24

Comment: “If the Pokes can settle on a starting quarterback and stick with him — they rotated freshmen Wes Lunt and J.W. Walsh and junior Clint Chelf throughout this past season — they’ll have a chance to improve on their 8-5 record of 2012. It still wasn’t a bad rebuilding campaign after OSU lost quarterback Brandon Weeden and receiver Justin Blackmon from its record-setting offense in 2011. The Pokes lose some of the firepower they had behind the quarterbacks after running back Joseph Randle opted to leave school early for the NFL, but Jeremy Smith will be back. The Cowboys had 20 players make their first career starts this past season; only five other FBS schools had more first-time starters. That experience should pay off in 2013, when OSU plays TCU, Kansas State and Oklahoma at home.”

USA Today: 19

Comment: “Why No. 19? Like TCU, the lumps a young Oklahoma State team took in 2012 will pay dividends in the fall. How far the Cowboys go depends on whether the still-young roster is ready in 2013 or still a year away. The Cowboys host Kansas State, TCU, Baylor and Oklahoma.”

Athlon: 14

Comment: “Despite losing quarterback Brandon Weeden and receiver Justin Blackmon to the NFL, the Cowboys averaged 45.7 points a game and won at least eight games for the fifth consecutive year in 2012. Oklahoma State’s offensive numbers are even more impressive when you consider three quarterbacks received starts this year, and the receiving corps lost Tracy Moore early in the season due to an injury. The Cowboys need to settle on a starting quarterback next year, but the offense returns one of the Big 12’s top lines and even though running back Joseph Randle is leaving for the NFL, the backfield is in good shape with Jeremy Smith and Desmond Roland. The defense must replace linebacker Alex Elkins, cornerback Brodrick Brown and end Nigel Nicholas but most of the core will return intact.”