Jan 2, 2017; New Orleans , LA, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield (middle) lifts the champions trophy with Sooners head coach Bob Stoops after defeating the Auburn Tigers in the 2017 Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Oklahoma won 35-19. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Oklahoma vs. Texas: Standout Stat to Watch for in Red River Battle of Basement Dwellers by Chip Rouse

I already established earlier this offseason that college football rankings and projections at this time of year are about as meaningful as a losing lottery ticket. But in a season in which the men’s basketball team is in the tank, anything positive that reminds us of Oklahoma football is worth its weight in gold.

Six and a half months before the start of another college football season may seem too far off to even contemplate, but when the media begin talking about who the power teams and national contenders will be come this fall and your team is one of the ones they’re talking about, it doesn’t matter what time of year it is. It instantaneously puts you in the mood for some football, no matter what the season.

National Recruiting Signing Day is now in the rear-view mirror, but don’t despair all you offseason college football fans, spring practice is just around the corner and, for at least one team from a Power Five conference, it has already started.

With spring practice and all the spring games just around the corner (for OU, the annual spring Red-White game is set for April 8), ESPN has jumped on the timing opportunity to issue its 2017 Preseason Football Power Inde8x.

Ohio State and Alabama are listed as one and two in ESPN’s preseason FPI rating system. That’s not really a surprise, other than perhaps the order. What might catch more attention, though is the team ranked No. 3: the Oklahoma Sooners.

The Football Power Index, say its authors, is “designed to take the guesswork out of preseason ratings.”

They further describe the FPI as an automated rating system that considers the last four seasons of offensive, defensive and special teams performance, returning starters on offense and defense – with extra attention to the quarterback position – the four-year-average recruiting ranking and the length of time the head coach has been in place.

Weighing all of those analytical factors, the Sooners come in third behind the Buckeyes and the Crimson Tide.

There are some experts, however, including ESPN’s own Chris Low, that say a No. 3 ranking is too high for Oklahoma.

The reasons given for the Sooners being a bit overrated are the strength of the schedule they will play next season, including a game at Ohio State in the second week of the season, the loss of key offensive contributors Dede Westbrook, Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon, and a defense that in 2016 was highly susceptible to giving up big plays.

A prime reason Oklahoma was rated as high as it is in the preseason FPI, according to Low is the return of quarterback Baker Mayfield, who may be the best quarterback in college football next season.

Oklahoma is the only Big 12 team ranked in the FPI 2017 preseason top 10. The SEC and Big Ten have three teams each, the ACC has two and the Pac-12 one. Following Ohio State, Alabama and Oklahoma in the preseason FPI are Florida State, Auburn, LSU, Clemson, Penn State, Washington and Wisconsin.

Here is how the rest of the Big 12 teams ranked in the ESPN 2017 Preseason Football Power Index:

19. TCU Horned Frogs

24. Texas Longhorns

26. Oklahoma State Cowboys

28. Baylor Bears

30. Kansas State Wildcats

48. Texas Tech Red Raiders

53. West Virginia Mountaineers

68. Iowa State Cyclones

102. Kansas Jayhawks