Baylor boasts top 25 teams and nat’l player of the year candidates in all three major sports

You probably know by now that Baylor football is back among the top 25 teams in the nation, rising this week to No. 19 in the AP poll and No. 24 in the coaches poll. With a recognized Heisman candidate in Robert Griffin III, this is clearly a Baylor team on the rise. (Which is why I’m sure you already have your tickets for Saturday night’s game vs. SFA; I’ll see you there.)

And you’re no doubt aware that the Lady Bear basketball team is again projected to be among the best teams in the land this winter. Big 12 Player of the Year Brittney Griner returns to lead a team that very well may be No. 1 in the nation when preseason polls are released. (SI.com and ESPN.com already have Baylor at the top; The Sporting News has BU at No. 2.) The Lady Bears will play on ESPN networks five times this year (the most of any Big 12 team), including two Big Monday appearances.

You may not realize, however, just how much buzz is also surrounding the Baylor men’s basketball program headed into the 2011-12 season. Both The Sporting News and Lindy’s project Baylor to win the Big 12. TSN has the Bears in its preseason top 10, and Lindy’s joins MSG.com in predicting Perry Jones III will be the Big 12 Player of the Year.

How many schools do you think have all three sports in the top 25 right now? One. Only Baylor is in the AP Top 25 for football and The Sporting News‘ preseason rankings for men’s and women’s basketball. I imagine you’d have an equally hard time finding a school with three legitimate national player of the year candidates like RG3, PJ3 and BG. Truly this is a great time to a Baylor sports fan.

Sic ’em, Baylor football and basketball!