The Texas Longhorns are looking to make a third-year surge under head coach Charlie Strong, but, at least to pundits, the Longhorns are destined to finish in the middle of the pack.

Texas came in fifth in the Big 12 Preseason poll, which is voted on by members of the media who cover the conference, that was released Thursday morning.

Coming off a 5-7 season, the Longhorns return 14 starters and will feature plenty of youth heading into what could be a make-or-break year for Strong. The third-year Texas head coach is just 11-14 in his tenure in Austin, and he needs a winning season to placate a restless fan base.

The Longhorns will be young across the board with underclassmen making up more than 60 percent of the roster. Texas could start a true freshman at quarterback, too, with Shane Buechele appearing to have a commanding lead on the QB battle heading into fall camp. The 2016 season will also mark the debut of a new offense for Texas under the leadership of offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert. A Texas native, Gilbert brings a veer-and-shoot attack with him from Tulsa designed to jolt a Longhorns attack that finished 118th nationally in passing offense a year ago.

Texas, coming off one of the worst statistical defensive seasons in program history, will field a young but talented defense in 2016. It's a group short on experience in the trenches, but it is led by preseason first-team All-American Malik Jefferson.

With non-conference games against Notre Dame, UTEP and California, the Longhorns' Big 12 slate will get underway Oct. 1 on the road against Oklahoma State.

2016 Big 12 Football Media Preseason Poll

1. Oklahoma (24) 258 2. TCU (2) 222 3. Oklahoma State 202 4. Baylor 156 5. Texas 151 6. Texas Tech 141 7. West Virginia 126 8. Kansas State 88 9. Iowa State 59 10. Kansas 27

first-place votes in parenthesis