ESPN officially opened its 2026 College Football Power Index for business, and the Big 12 is essentially nowhere to be found among the top 25, save for Texas Tech at No. 10 and BYU at No. 20.
Ohio State checked in at No. 1 overall with 28.7 points, followed by Texas (26.9) and Notre Dame (25.9). The SEC eats up nine seats, the Big Ten claimed seven, and the ACC beat the Big 12 with three (Miami, Clemson and Iowa).
The Red Raiders fit quite well at No. 10, considering the departure of linebackers Jacob Rodriguez and David Bailey, leaving this defense vulnerable to experienced offenses. Still, Texas Tech returns as a Big 12 favorite thanks in part to returning assets like running back Cameron Dickey and tight end Terrance Carter Jr. to ease the blueprint over to Will Hammond following Brendan Sorsby’s ouster amid a whirlwind offseason gambling scandal. Six Red Raiders were named Phil Steele Preseason All-Americans, and another eight earned spots on his First Team All-Big 12 list.
BYU at No. 20 on the ESPN FPI feels low because it IS low. Aside from retaining Kalani Sitake for the foreseeable future, the Cougars are Big 12 favorites because of their recent track record, roster continuity and a 2025 campaign that finished a game shy of the program’s first-ever Big 12 title. Defensive coordinator Jay Hill is gone, but tackle Keanu Tanuvasa and linebacker Isaiah Glasker are back to lead a defense that’s deep across the board in Year 1 under new DC Kelly Poppinga. As for firepower, there’s a two-hit backfield combo with returning RB1 LJ Martin and quarterback Bear Bachmeier to build around. The schedule includes nine straight weeks of football, including Notre Dame (Oct. 17) and Utah (Nov. 7).
The Big 12 is absent from the list again until landing on Morgan Scalley’s Utah at No. 31. It’s a team with the make-up of a contender, just like Arizona at No. 34 and Houston at No. 35.
Outside of Texas Tech or BYU, ESPN wasn’t exactly wrong to leave both out of their initial FPI for 2026, but with much of the conference sub-30, it’s another indicator the league must gain some ground in 2026 if these preseason evaluations are going to be kinder to a league that’s 1-8 overall in the history of the College Football Playoff.
