Texas may be down, but you may be surprised as to its place in the rankings when it comes to the foreseeable future. Other Big 12 teams staked their claims to spots in our top 25 as well.

Our eight-person panel of CFB experts graded teams on five criteria, each given different weights, to determine the three-year outlook of college football’s top teams. They used that data to compile the 2016 College Football Future Power Rankings (Insider).

• Oklahoma Sooners: The Sooners have a rosy title path and a firm foundation, ranking high in both categories, according to our panel. Coaching and recruiting certainly aren't bad for OU, but they aren't at the elite level other parts of the program can boast about. The Sooners check in at No. 8 in our rankings.

• TCU Horned Frogs: With elite coaching, TCU's ranking sits at No. 15. If not for Gary Patterson's prowess on the sideline, we'd be much more bearish on their future prospects.

• Texas Longhorns: We know the program's teetering these days, but Charlie Strong & Co. have grabbed the attrition from Baylor's recruiting class and added talent in the summer when few teams are able to do so. That addition of talent makes recruiting the best attribute for the program right now. The Longhorns sit at No. 17 in our rankings.

• Oklahoma State Cowboys: The program has, along with Baylor, taken major advantage of Texas' struggles, and Mike Gundy has kept the ship afloat in Stillwater. Looking to the future, we have OSU ranked No. 24 in our rankings.