The 2026 preseason coaches poll was released on Tuesday, and the Big 12 had four teams end up in the Top 25. Texas Tech led the way at No. 12; BYU was ranked No. 15; Utah is No. 21; and Houston came in at No. 24. TCU, Arizona, Oklahoma State, Arizona State and Kansas State all received votes as well. Overall, it was a solid showing for the Big 12. But what does it mean for the conference? Here are the top takeaways.
1. The Unpredictable Big 12
As we know, the Big 12 Conference is wide open. And with four teams ranked in the top 13 spots, and several others bunched into the “receiving votes” category, it’s clear that the coaches, or their voters, also don’t have a very good sense of what this conference is going to look like. But it’s also a bit cliché, as the Big 12 seems to be settling into a space with a lot of really good teams but no solid Top 10 team. I believe the Big 12 will have at least one of those this year, but in these absurd preseason polls, which are harder to predict than ever before, the league is being pigeonholed as having a blend of teams ranked 15-25. This needs to be the season the league bucks that trend with a solid non-conference and then CFP performance.
2. Non-Conference Opportunities
The Big 12 Conference does have some great non-conference opportunities here. I always like to see who is ranked where when it comes to Big 12 opponents, and for the league, they will get to take on No. 2 Oregon (at Oklahoma State in Week 2), No. 8 Texas A&M (vs. Arizona State in Week 2), No. 5 Notre Dame (vs. BYU in Week 7), No. 22 Iowa (vs. Iowa State in Week 2) and No. 25 Missouri (vs. Kansas in Week 2).
The Big 12 teams will undoubtedly be underdogs in every single one of these games. Can they pull off an upset or two? Can they keep some of these games highly competitive? How does the Big 12 perform in these matchups? These games should play a role in driving the league’s narrative as the season progresses. And with Big 12 vs. SEC/Big Ten games being canceled in future seasons, the league needs to take advantage of opportunities as they arise.
3. Who is Overhyped?
There’s a case to be made that BYU, Utah and Houston will not be able to replicate last season’s success. But you can also make the case that each team will exceed expectations as well. However, my guess is that at least one of these three will finish well below their win total, and the fan base will be very disappointed. How does Utah handle a post-Whittingham era? BYU has lost Jay Hill as defensive coordinator and some key pieces. Houston had five one-score wins last season, while avoiding BYU and Utah on the schedule. This year, the schedule toughens up, and can they keep winning the close ones? These are the questions that will be asked about all three.
4. Who is Getting Left Out?
Almost every Big 12 program looks at this season and thinks they can be the surprise team in the Big 12. Between the rankings and teams receiving votes, nine Big 12 teams were in the conversation. As for the other seven, UCF and West Virginia are probably feeling the most snubbed, given the expectations and enthusiasm within those programs and fan bases seem higher than what I am sensing from the other five we haven’t mentioned: Cincinnati, Iowa State, Kansas, Baylor and Colorado. But any of these programs need to have quiet optimism. None of them should be overconfident based on the state of the program.
