A wonderful summer tradition is upon us: The college football preseason magazines have hit the newsstands. As usual, they're chocked full of info, predictions and glossy photos. As expected, no matter which one you pick up, it'll be full of love for Florida State and Alabama.

How did the Big 12 fare in this year's preseason publications? Oklahoma and Baylor have the unanimous respect of the pundits -- no surprise there -- but everyone has a different take on how the rest of the league standings will shake out. A rundown of the key predictions you'll find in each magazine:

PHIL STEELE

Bob Stoops' Sooners are a popular pick to make college football's initial playoff. Jackson Laizure/Getty Images

Ranking the Big 12:

1. Oklahoma (4th nationally)

"This year's Sooner squad is stronger on both sides of the ball with nine returning starters back on D and more stability at QB. … The Sooners are a legit national title contender."

2. Baylor (8th)

"QB (Bryce) Petty will likely lead the NCAA in passing, throwing to my No. 1 set of receivers with my No. 2 O-line and No. 2 RBs in the Big 12."

3. TCU (14th)

"If you are looking for this year's Auburn, which is a team that had just 3 or 4 wins the previous year and ends up playing for the national title, you may just have found them."

4. Texas (25th)

5. Kansas State (42nd)

6. Oklahoma State

7. Texas Tech

8. West Virginia

9. Iowa State

10. Kansas

All-Americans: WR Antwan Goodley, BAY (1st team); WR Tyler Lockett, KSU (2nd); DE Ryan Mueller, KSU (2nd); LB Eric Striker, OU (2nd); C BJ Finney, KSU (3rd); T Le'Raven Clark, TTU (3rd); T Spencer Drango, BAY (3rd); DE Devonte Fields, TCU (3rd); DE Cedric Reed, TEX (3rd)

Surprise team: Steele has TCU as his No. 4 team most likely to surprise behind Georgia, USC and Wisconsin. Texas came in at No. 10 on his list. Steele also claims the Horned Frogs will be the nation's most improved team in 2014.

Preseason No. 1: Florida State.

Playoff prediction: Florida State, Alabama, Ohio State, Oklahoma.

Heisman: Petty is ranked No. 4 and OU's Trevor Knight is No. 9 among Steele's 2014 Heisman favorites. Lockett also listed as a "contender."

ATHLON

Ranking the Big 12:

1. Oklahoma (4th nationally)

"These Sooners can win. And win big."

2. Baylor (10th)

"The Bears probably have too many questions marks to give Oklahoma a serious fight for the top spot."

3. Texas (17th)

"Any improvement from last year's 8-5 record would probably be seen as a good first year for [Charlie] Strong."

4. Kansas State (20th)

5. Oklahoma State (37th)

6. TCU (39th)

7. Texas Tech (41st)

8. Iowa State (66th)

9. West Virginia (67th)

10. Kansas (78th)

All-Americans: Lockett (1st team); Goodley (2nd); Striker (2nd); CB Quandre Diggs, TEX (2nd); Finney (3rd); OG Quinton Spain, WVU (3rd); Mueller (3rd); DT Malcom Brown, TEX (3rd).

Hot seat: Charlie Weis is ranked No. 4 among coaches in the most trouble entering 2014, a list that has Florida's Will Muschamp in the top spot. West Virginia's Dana Holgorsen is sixth on the hot-seat list.

Playoff prediction: Florida State, Alabama, Ohio State, Oklahoma.

Heisman: Petty is ranked fifth and Knight is 18th among Athlon's top 20 contenders.

LINDY'S

Ranking in the Big 12:

1. Oklahoma (3rd nationally)

"The Sooners have the look and feel of Big 12 bullies again."

2. Baylor (10th)

"The Bears' roster is dynamite, and [Art] Briles is a magician. A repeat Big 12 title would launch this program into the stratosphere."

3. Kansas State (16th)

"Kansas State has enough pieces to challenge for the Big 12 title and to make a name for itself with an early home game against Auburn."

4. Texas (22nd)

5. Texas Tech (33rd)

6. Oklahoma State (37th)

7. TCU (45th)

8. West Virginia (46th)

9. Iowa State (53rd)

10. Kansas (85th)

All-Americans: Goodley (1st team); Lockett (2nd); Drango (2nd); Reed (2nd); Striker (2nd).

Top newcomers: Lindy's predicts that Iowa State WR Allen Lazard will be the league's best instant-impact freshman. Oklahoma RB Joe Mixon is named the newcomer most likely to thrive in the NFL, and Oklahoma State LB Josh Mabin is the "top sleeper" among incoming freshmen.

Playoff prediction: Florida State, Alabama, Oklahoma, Oregon.

Heisman: Petty is ranked fourth and Knight is No. 9 among Lindy's top 10 candidates.

SPORTING NEWS

Ranking the Big 12:

1. Oklahoma (1st nationally)

"Enough pieces are in place for Oklahoma to be among the four teams in the inaugural College Football Playoff bracket."

2. Baylor (7th)

"Baylor is capable of hanging a banner after the first year in its new home."

3. Texas (23rd)

"The defense will be improved, but the Longhorns continue to be in game-management mode at quarterback."

4. Oklahoma State

5. Kansas State

6. TCU

7. West Virginia

8. Texas Tech

9. Iowa State

10. Kansas

All-Americans: Lockett (1st team); Goodley (2nd); Clark (2nd); LB Bryce Hager, BAY (2nd); Striker (2nd); Diggs (2nd); Petty (3rd); Drango (3rd); DE Charles Tapper, OU (3rd); Reed (3rd); LB Ben Heeney, KU (3rd); Carter (3rd), P Spencer Roth, BAY (3rd).

POTY: Sporting News names Petty its preseason offensive player in the Big 12 and Fields as the league's top defender, even though he didn't earn a spot on their three All-America squads.

Playoff prediction: Oklahoma, Oregon, Florida State, Alabama.

Heisman: Petty is No. 6 among Sporting News' preseason top 10 candidates.

USA TODAY

Ranking the Big 12:

1. Oklahoma (7th nationally)

"It's hard to find many faults with this team, outside of the potential for a decline in pass defense without (Aaron) Colvin on the outside."

2. Baylor (12th)

"While there's still experience aplenty, Baylor's overall youth could prevent another run to the Big 12 title."

3. Kansas State (13th)

"The pieces are there for the Wildcats to contend for the Big 12 title if they can avoid the sort of sloppy, sluggish start that cut last season down in its tracks."

4. Texas (24th)

5. Oklahoma State (35th)

6. Texas Tech (41st)

7. TCU (57th)

8. West Virginia (74th)

9. Kansas (96th)

10. Iowa State (98th)

All-Americans: Lockett (1st team); Striker (1st); T Daryl Williams, OU (1st); S Sam Carter, TCU (1st).

Big games: USA Today's top three Big 12 games for 2014 are Texas vs. Oklahoma on Oct. 11, Baylor at Oklahoma on Nov. 8 and Kansas State at Baylor on Dec. 6.

Playoff prediction: Florida State, Ohio State, Alabama, Oregon.

Heisman: Petty listed as one of eight candidates capable of dethroning Jameis Winston.