Big 12 football power rankings: Can anyone top Texas Tech?

Big 12 football power rankings: Can anyone top Texas Tech?

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Big 12 football power rankings: Can anyone top Texas Tech?

The Big 12 Conference hasn’t had two teams in the 12-team College Football Playoff, but it’s hoping to do that this season. Both the Big Ten and SEC have ruled college football, with the Big Ten winning the championship in each of the last three seasons.

While the Big 12 hasn’t fared well in the College Football Playoff, each year appears to be getting better for the conference. Entering 2026, there are a few teams that believe they have what it takes to make a run in the playoff, and we are going to dive into how each team stacks up against one another.

MORE: SEC football power rankings ahead of 2026 — Texas, Georgia lead the way

No. 13-16: Don’t bank on six wins

  • No. 16: Kansas Jayhawks
  • No. 15: West Virginia Mountaineers
  • No. 14: Iowa State Cyclones
  • No. 13: UCF Knights

NCAA Football: Central Florida at Texas Tech

Nov 15, 2025; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Central Florida Knights head coach Scott Frost on the sidelines in the first half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

Both Kansas and UCF won five games last season, and neither team did a ton to make you put a ton of stock into them. The Knights landed James Madison transfer Alonza Barnett at quarterback, which makes them intriguing, but it might not be enough to sustain success.

Iowa State is going through a complete rehaul after Matt Campbell left for Penn State. Campbell took star players with him, and it will take Jimmy Rogers a year or two to get the program where he wants it.

West Virginia should make some flashy plays in Rich Rodriguez’s second season in Morgantown, but after a four-win season in 2025, WVU likely won’t be overly competitive this season.

No. 9-12: Flashy new toys, but will it amount to wins?

  • No. 12: Colorado Buffaloes
  • No. 11: Cincinnati Bearcats
  • No. 10: Baylor Bears
  • No. 9: Oklahoma State Cowboys

Oklahoma State's Drew Mestemaker celebrates after an OSU touchdown during a spring football game for the Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State’s Drew Mestemaker celebrates after an OSU touchdown during a spring football game for the Oklahoma State University Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, April 18, 2026. Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

Colorado went out and landed 43 players from the transfer portal in the offseason, including talented safety Boo Carter. Former five-star quarterback Julian Lewis is back, and the Buffaloes have some exciting players, but CU hasn’t done much under Coach Prime since Year 1.

Brendan Sorsby left Cincinnati, and we know how that turned out, but the Bearcats landed dual threat JC French from Georgia Southern. French is an intriguing prospect, who will make a mark both on the ground and through the air this season.

The Baylor Bears are another program that used the transfer portal heavily, and head coach Dave Aranda landed former five-star quarterback DJ Lagway. He led the SEC in interceptions last season, but Lagway ignites hope in Waco. Can the Bears’ defense get enough stops to win games?

Oklahoma State won just one game last season, but it was a total restart in Oklahoma State, by landing North Texas’ coach Eric Morris. The trio of Drew Mestemaker, Caleb Hawkins, and Wyatt Young all left North Texas to go to Oklahoma State. The Cowboys’ offense has the chance to be loaded this year.

No. 5-8: Could make a run for a Big 12 title

  • No. 8: Arizona State Sun Devils
  • No. 7: TCU Horned Frogs
  • No. 6: Kansas State Wildcats
  • No. 5: Arizona Wildcats

NCAA Football: Colorado at Kansas State

Nov 29, 2025; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Kansas State Wildcats quarterback Avery Johnson (2) drops back to pass during the fourth quarter against the Colorado Buffaloes at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

Any of these four teams could get hot and make a run if enough go in their favor. Both Arizona State and TCU are breaking in a new starting quarterback after both Sam Leavitt (LSU) and Josh Hoover (Indiana) left for greener pastures.

Collin Klein took over as Kansas State’s new head coach and if he can get Avery Johnson back to playing like he did two seasons ago, the Wildcats could turn the corner in 2026. And with Noah Fifita back at Arizona, the ‘Cats could outscore anyone in the conference, it will just be up to their defense.

No. 1-4: A path to make the College Football Playoff

  • No. 4: Houston Cougars
  • No. 3: Utah Utes
  • No. 2: BYU Cougars
  • No. 1: Texas Tech Red Raiders

NCAA Football: Pop-Tarts Bowl-Georgia Tech vs Brigham Young

Dec 27, 2025; Orlando, FL, USA; BYU Cougars quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) runs with the ball against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets during the first quarter at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

Texas Tech is the reigning champion and was a top-four team last season, but the Red Raiders’ plans fell through after they parted ways with Brendan Sorsby. Texas Tech’s defense should be solid again, and now we wait to see how Will Hammond does behind center.

The trio of BYU, Utah, and Houston all return their star quarterbacks and some skilled playmakers for 2026. The Big 12 has some quality quarterbacks in it, and the trio of Bear Bachmeier (BYU), Devon Dampier (Utah), and Conner Weigman (Houston) make up that elite tier.

Now we just wait to see if anyone can knock off Tech and claim the throne of the Big 12.

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