Big 12 football 2025 power rankings for college football’s most wide open conference

If you ask me, the Big 12 is the best conference in college football.

Are any of the teams surefire title contenders? Probably not. Is every game batshit insane and unpredictable? Absolutely.

The Big 12 took on the spirit of the Pac-12 in realignment, with some of the best and most chaotic games of the season coming from their conference. Great stories, fun players and quirky coaches are up and down the conference as well. However, who is going to stand at the top of the conference when it’s all said and done? Let’s rank the Big 12 football teams before football season gets underway.

1 . Kansas State Wildcats

The Wildcats are one of the most consistent programs in the country, even if they don’t always make it to the promised land. Head coach Chris Klieman has built this program to continue their sustained success, and in 2025 it could lead to their first Big 12 title since 2022. They return the second most production in the conference, and offensively they return a lot of promising talent. QB Avery Johnson is back under center, and while his passing is still coming along, he’s a great runner and has shown flashes of downfield explosiveness with his arm. RB Dylan Edwards coming back gives the Wildcats a multifaceted threat as a runner and receiver. On the outside, WR Jayce Brown is a slot receiver, but he’s extremely effective getting separation at every level of the field.

Defensively, they return a lot of talent. Safety VJ Payne is a really fun player, and the defensive line has a lot of depth on it as well. The Wildcats finished the season 39th in pressure rate, but their 20.7% sack rate is in the top 15. If they can continue to get after the QB like they did last season, a Big 12 title could be theirs.

2. Arizona State

How the Sun Devils follow up their magical 2024 is going to be one of the most fascinating things to watch this upcoming season. On the plus side, the offensive braintrust of head coach Kenny Dillingham and QB Sam Leavitt are back for another year together, one that could see Leavitt boost his draft stock. Leavitt is a bit of a curious case as a prospect, a dual threat who has a lot of tantalizing aspects but also plays QB like he drank seven Red Bulls before the game and they just kicked in. If he can cut down on some of the zoomies plays, he could see his stock skyrocket. Wide receivers Jordyn Tyson and Malik McClain coming back will certainly help, Tyson being healthy again could be the thing that pushes the Sun Devils to the top once again. How they’ll replace RB Cam Skattebo is the biggest question, but portaling in former Army RB Kanye Udoh should give them some punch in the RB room.

Defensively, they return 10 starters, the most in the conference by far. They finished sixth in the nation in turnover margin and picked off 16 passes last season, but I’m a little worried about turnovers not being as consistent year over year. They need to be better getting after the QB, improving on a 12.6% sack rate is going to be the top priority for the Sun Devils. DL Clayton Smith and Elijah O’Neil led the team in sacks last season, but if they can get above the 4.5 and 4 sacks they had respectively, it should help their secondary out a lot.

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3. Texas Tech Red Raiders

We discuss a lot about how NIL and transfer portal has revamped a lot of teams, but the purest example of that might be the 2025 Texas Tech Red Raiders. They spent heavily in the transfer portal, and have pushed all their chips in on a playoff berth in 2025. Let’s start at the top: Texas Tech portaled in Stanford EDGE David Bailey, UCF DT Lee Hunter and Georgia Tech DT Romello Height to revamp a defensive line that finished 57th in the Power 5 in pressure rate and 65th in sack rate. Bailey is the star of this group, a potential first round pick at a premium position. The portal additions didn’t stop there, they just expanded to the offensive side of the ball. The Red Raiders signed former USC RB Quinten Joyner, former Louisiana TE Terrance Carter and Miami (OH) receiver Reggie Virgil to boost the offensive production, as well as bringing back wide receiver Micah Hudson. Three more offensive lineman in the portal, and you get one of the most ambitious and expansive portal overhauls in CFB.

The biggest question is going to be at QB, where Behren Morton comes back for another year under center. Morton runs hot and cold, but with the star studded cast of players surrounding him on offense, could he be able to build more consistency? Texas Tech’s playoff hopes ride on that one question.

4. Baylor Bears

Baylor is a fascinating team going into 2025. After a fantastic turnaround in 2024, Dave Aranda and the Bears could sneak up on the top teams in the Big 12 this season. OC Jake Spavital and QB Sawyer Robertson return for another go round in Waco, and Robertson will have a lot of eyes on him. He’s one of the more impressive QBs in the conference, but I think he can still hit another level as a passer. What could help him reach that level is the addition of WR Kobe Prentice on the outside. Having an established veteran on the edge of the defense could make Baylor’s offense much more explosive. Retention also came out in favor of the Bears, returning four of their five offensive line starters.

Defensively, adding Tulane transfer Matthew Fobbs-White and Emar’rion Winston on the edge is going to help in the pass rush department, and Baylor returns five starters on that side of the ball. LB Keaton Thomas led the team in tackles, and now he’s joined by C-USA DPOY Travion Barnes who made 129 tackles last season. Experience and production in the middle of the defense, and some additions on the defensive line could make Baylor’s defense formidable. More production on the ball defensively could completely turn this team around in 2025.

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5. Iowa State Cyclones

The Cyclones are the typical college football team that’s ravaged by the loss of prime production on both sides of the ball, but because they’re so well coached they can always be in contention for the conference title. Losing WRs Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel to the NFL Draft really hurts, but the reports from out of spring practice is that East Carolina transfer WR Chase Sowell is the real deal. He should see a lot of targets from returning QB Rocco Becht. In addition, RB Abu Sama III and TE Gabe Burkle return, as do a few starters on the offensive line.

Defensively, Domonique Orange anchors a defense that should once again be very well coached. Adding another lineman in Tamatoa McDonough should help to offset the production going out the door, and keep an eye on CB Jontez Williams in the secondary for the Cyclones.

6. Utah Utes

In what could be head coach Kyle Wittingham’s final year on the sideline, the Utes could end up winning the Big 12 just based on the fact that they won’t be as injured as they were in 2024. The QB rotation in 2024 was largely due to every QB getting yanked off the field by injury, but with QB Cam Rising exhausting his eligibility, Wittingham and the Utes went portaling. By hiring offensive coordinator Jason Beck, he also got QB Devon Dampier, one of the most fun offensive players to watch at the G5 level. How his play translates to the Big 12 will be the biggest question, but with offensive linemen Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu coming back, the protection should be much better.

Defensively, the Utes might be a bit top heavy, but with DC Morgan Scalley still calling the shots they could be good once again. EDGE Logan Fano and LB Lander Barton returning, the top end talent of Utah’s front seven should still be good. The secondary relies on their recruiting and development going into the season, but it’s a good play to make i the Big 12. Utah could be back once again if Dampier shakes out.

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7. TCU Horned Frogs

The Horned Frogs return both coordinators and their star QB, which is the good part. Josh Hoover finished the season strong in Kendal Briles’ offense, and should enter the season as one of the Big 12’s top QBs. TCU returned nine of their starters on both sides of the ball, but the biggest question will be if Hoover can get it going with a completely new receiving corps. Jack Bech and Savion Williams are both in the NFL, and to replace them TCU portaled Houston WR Joseph Manjack IV and Jordan Dwyer, who put up big numbers at Idaho.

Defensively, they didn’t really add a lot of impact players, but EDGE Devean Deal led the team in sacks last season and returns to the Horned Frogs this season, as does LB Namdi Obiazor and S Bud Clark. There’s some more production in the secondary that needs to be addressed (CB specifically), but if they can find consistency there, the Horned Frogs could surprise some people.

8. BYU Cougars

The good news for BYU is that they return QB Jake Retzlaff and both coordinators. Keeping DC Jay Hill around is huge after what he did for the defense last season. I’m a fan of RB LJ Martin, and with him returning there’s some production in the backfield for the Cougars.

The bad news is, well…there’s a LOT to be replaced from last years’ team. 12 of 18 players with extensive playing time have left the portal according to ESPN, and a lot of that defensive production has entered the portal or left for the draft. LB Jack Kelly is a phenomenal player, but the Cougars will have to find answers from elsewhere on defense. Portaling DTs Justin Kirkland and Keanu Tanuvasa should help offset some of the big losses up front, but I have a couple questions about their pass rush. I do think Hill and head coach Kalani Sitake are very good, but all of the attrition could push them down the Big 12 this season.

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9. Cincinnati Bearcats

Once we get to this point, the projections get hazy. The Bearcats are interesting because I have less questions about their roster and more about their coaching. Retaining the services of DT Dontay Corleone and TE Joe Royer. QB Brendan Sorsby isn’t spectacular, but he’s got experience. They added major additions to the offense along the line and at receiver (Lindenwood’s Jeff Caldwell is really interesting, could be a serious impact player for them). Losing Corey Kiner stinks, but they added some help at the RB spot too.

The biggest question is in the coaching staff. Can Scott Satterfield be the one to get this team back to bowling? They’ve won eight games in two years, and this year could be the make or break one for Satterfield. Can he get it done?

10. Colorado Buffaloes

This could be a year of attrition for the Buffaloes. Coach Prime stays, but they lose a LOT of starters on both sides of the ball–not to mention Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter. On the plus side, the Buffaloes retain the services of standout LT Jordan Seaton, and then added two very fascinating QBs to their roster. Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter takes over in the short term, having led the Flames to a playoff berth in 2023 with his arm and legs. The future, however, will more than likely be headed up by QB Julian Lewis. The highly touted recruit might not see the field in 2025, but he’s a fascinating guy to keep an eye on. On the defensive side of the ball, transfering in DT Jeheim Oatis.

There are a LOT of questions about this Colorado team, especially with all the attrition on both sides of the ball. If they can make this work in the Big 12, it’ll be a big feather in Sanders’ cap.

11. Houston Cougars

Among the teams at the bottom of the Big 12, the Cougars might have the highest upside. The first year under head coach Willie Fritz was not what anyone wanted, but the overhaul of the roster gives them a fascinating outlook on 2025. The crown jewel of their offseason was portaling in former Texas A&M QB Conner Weigman. It didn’t work out for Weigman at A&M, but if he’s healthy he gives Houston an upside not many in the Big 12 have. TEs Tanner Koziol and Luke McGary could be helpful for new OC Slade Nagle, who was with Fritz when he was at Tulane.

The defense is going to undergo a massive change, both in on the field and on the sideline. Austin Armstrong is now calling plays for the Cougars after Shiel Wood moved to Texas Tech, and the Cougars also have to replace three secondary starters. The offense looks like it could be good! The defense…we’ll have to see.

12. West Virginia Mountaineers

We’ve seen teams in the transfer portal era basically portal their entire teams to new schools. Indiana turned around their program last season by transferring in basically every James Madison player, and West Virginia aims to do the same thing but with Jacksonville State. Rich Rodriguez comes over from JSU and brings everyone with him, including Zac Alley as his defensive coordinator. WR Cam Vaughn and DB Fred Perry come with him from Jacksonville State, but the prized jewel is AAC Defensive Player of the Year Jimmori Robinson, who led the AAC in sacks last season. Offensively, keeping around RB Jaheim White is the biggest plus here. QB Nicco Marchiol is an interesting returnee as well.

There’s always the risk that this entirely new roster backfires in 2025, but you can’t knock Rodriguez for trying. Where WVU ends up by around midseason could be fascinating.

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13. Arizona Wildcats

Man…a rough offseason for the Wildcats. The NFL Draft and transfer portal wreaked havoc on Arizona, losing their top receiver, two offensive lineman, cornerback and linebacker this offseason. QB Noah Fifita remains, which is a big plus, but his play fell off in the first year under head coach Brent Brennan. The hope is that Fifita grows in his second year and portal additions such as RB Ismail Mahdi and WR Kris Hutson should help boost that growth. The Wildcats hit the portal hard to help both sides of the ball, and the additions on offense could help quickly.

The defense is relying a lot on the FCS to FBS pipeline, though. On top of that, the coaching staff was completely revamped, making this look like another rebuild year.

14. Kansas Jayhawks

Another team ravaged by attrition is the Kansas Jayhawks. The downside of the star-studded senior class that brought the Jayhawks back is that they have to leave eventually, and a LOT of production left out the door. For these teams at the bottom, attrition has gotten the best of them, but the reason why Kansas is above these other two is because of QB Jalon Daniels. It wasn’t the best season for then Jayhawks’ signal caller, but he has experience and has been good when healthy. They portaled in a bunch of receivers who come from the FCS level. Former Columbia wideout Bryson Canty could be a big winner for them; he caught nine touchdowns at Columbia last season.

There’s a lot lost from this Kansas team, but Leipold and Daniels being back gives them one area where there’s continuity. How the rest of the roster shakes out is going to be a big question.

15. Oklahoma State Cowboys

Does anyone else feel weird about what Oklahoma State is going to be in 2025? The partnership between Head Coach Mike Gundy and Oklahoma State feels like it’s nearing the end, and the Cowboys kinda just feel listless. There’s a LOT new here: 10 new assistant coaches, two new QBs and a whole roster rebuilt on transfers. Look for portal QB Hauss Hejny to either start or get significant playing time (largely because everyone else on the roster is coming off injury). Cornerback Jaylin Davies could be a fascinating player in the secondary as well.

The attrition here could be the one thing that finally does Mike Gundy in at Oklahoma State. Not a lot of experience on the field for both sides of the ball, meaning Gundy, OC Doug Meacham and DC Todd Grantham will need to do a lot of heavy lifting.

16. UCF Knights

What’s old is new again in Orlando, with Scott Frost once again taking the helm for the Knights. His first big task is to reload a roster that lost 34 players to the portal and draft. The portal was kind to them at the QB spot, landing Indiana transfer Tayven Jackson, VT transfer Davi Belfort and FAU transfer Cam Fancher. Add in Jacurri Brown and there’s a QB battle that might last until the first snap of the regular season.

The problem here is that almost all of the offensive production is out the door, and the defense doesn’t find itself much better off. Replacing guys like RJ Harvey and Randy Pittman Jr aren’t easy, and losing DT Lee Hunter Jr within the conference really stinks. Defensive coordinator Alex Grinch has his work cut out for him.