Every Big 12 team's 2026 bowl projection following spring football

We are only into the second week of May, but spring football is over, and the anticipation for football is never greater than when we don't have it.

Thanks to Brad Crawford of CBS Sports and On3's Brett McMurphy, we have some post-spring bowl projections to explore after all the dust settled following spring practices.

The Big 12 is once again expected to have competition at the top with BYU, Houston, Arizona and Arizona State all looking like contenders to dethrone Texas Tech as Big 12 champions.

Forty-one bowl games will cover this season's postseason slate, including six within the College Football Playoff. The Big 12 has tie-ins to six different bowl games, and former Pac-12 schools (Colorado, Utah, Arizona State and Arizona) will still play in Pac-12-affiliated bowl games. Teams were scheduled to begin competing in Big 12 bowl games in 2026, but earlier this spring, Bowl Season announced that the conference's bowl tie-ins for next season will remain the same as in 2025.

Without further ado, let's dive into Crawford's and McMurphy's bowl projections (subscription required), a little over three months before the 2026 season kicks off.

Texas Tech Red Raiders

On3 projection: No. 9 seed in CFP vs. No. 8 Texas A&M

CBS Sports projection: No. 7 seed in CFP vs. No. 10 SMU

Texas Tech once again gets slotted into the College Football Playoff and, in both cases, is the only Big 12 team to make the 12-team field.

UCF Knights

On3 projection: Cure Bowl vs. USF

CBS Sports projection: No projection

UCF gets an in-state and hometown bowl game prediction from McMurphy. Not to mention a matchup against South Florida, which would provide some sparks.

Baylor Bears

On3 projection: Frisco Bowl vs. UTSA

CBS Sports projection: No projection

Another in-state bowl against an in-state school for a Big 12 school. Baylor and UTSA meeting in Frisco would be a solid mid-tier matchup.

Arizona State Sun Devils

On3 projection: Hawaii Bowl vs. Hawaii

CBS Sports projection: Holiday Bowl vs. Virginia Tech

Two solid bowl games for an ASU team that will try to get back on the right track after a down season.

Kansas Jayhawks

On3 projection: Rate Bowl vs. Wisconsin

CBS Sports projection: No projection

Kansas will break in a new starting quarterback this year, with Jalon Daniels departing for the NFL. It will be fascinating to see how far the Jayhawks can go in 2026.

Houston Cougars

On3 projection: Pop-Tarts Bowl vs. Louisville

CBS Sports projection: Pop-Tarts Bowl vs. Louisville

A fantastic matchup for Houston, which projects to be one of the better teams in the Big 12.

BYU Cougars

On3 projection: Texas Bowl vs. Auburn

CBS Sports projection: Alamo Bowl vs. Washington

Two great matchups for the Cougars, but they will likely view it as a disappointment, with the program hoping to make the CFP.

Oklahoma State

On3 projection: Birmingham Bowl vs. Missouri

CBS Sports projection: Liberty Bowl vs. Florida

Oklahoma State has not made a bowl game in a couple of seasons and enters 2026 without Mike Gundy on the sidelines for the first time in more than a decade. Eric Morris should change that immediately in Year 1.

TCU Horned Frogs

On3 projection: Independence Bowl vs. UCLA

CBS Sports projection: Sun Bowl vs. Utah State

TCU earns a bowl berth by both outlets, with two intriguing matchups and opponents.

Kansas State Wildcats

On3 projection: Alamo Bowl vs. Utah

CBS Sports projection: Rate Bowl vs. Wisconsin

Kansas State is looking to bounce back after a rough season and will do so with a new head coach after Chris Kleinman stepped down.

Utah Utes

On3 projection: Alamo Bowl vs. Kansas State

CBS Sports projection: Texas Bowl vs. South Carolina

Utah will feel the loss of head coach Kyle Whittingham, but with Devon Dampier leading the offense, the Utes should still be a top-5 team in the Big 12.

Arizona Wildcats

On3 projection: Sun Bowl vs. Virginia Tech

CBS Sports projection: Independence Bowl vs. Army

I would sign up for both of these matchups in a heartbeat. James Franklin's new squad versus an Arizona squad that should be solid in Noah Fifita's final year.

Cincinnati Bearcats

On3 projection: Liberty Bowl vs. South Carolina

CBS Sports projection: First Responder Bowl vs. North Carolina

Cincinnati is slowly becoming a more legitimate Power Four program, and the next step would be making a bowl game.

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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Big 12 football post-spring 2026 bowl projections