ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit films a segement for the College GameDay on the University of Texas campus at Austin, Friday, Aug. 26, 2011, in Austin, Texas. ESPN and Texas announced a $300-million, 20-year deal in January to create and launch the Longhorn Network, a 24-hour channel dedicated to Longhorns sports. The network will broadcast the Texas football season-opener Sept. 3 against Rice. (AP Photo/Austin American-Statesman, Ricardo B. Brazziell) ORG XMIT: TXAUS207

Every year, ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit hands out preseason awards called Herbie Awards. This year, he's picking OU to win the Big 12 ... and make the College Football Playoff.

Herbstreit has Ohio State, LSU, OU and Arizona State in his final four for the second go-round of the College Football Playoff, with Ohio State repeating as national champion. Herbstreit also had a number of OU and Oklahoma State players nominated for his annual awards.



"I think Oklahoma is gonna surprise everybody," Herbstreit said here. "I think Oklahoma is gonna end up emerging. The main reason I feel like they will have the ability to do that is the backfield that they have. Samaje Perine might be the most talented back that not a lot of people are talking about."

Below are some of the players with OU or Oklahoma State ties who were nominated for a Herbie:

Ryan Simmons, LB, Oklahoma State ("The Enforcer" award)

Samaje Perine, RB, Oklahoma ("Ultimate Game-Changer")

Sterling Shepard, WR, Oklahoma ("Ultimate Herbie")

Mason Rudolph, QB, Oklahoma State ("Breakout Star")