Baylor Projected to Win Big 12 Championship by JD Pickell

JD Pickell of On3 has laid out his pick for the 2025 Big 12 Championship Game, and he’s going with Baylor over TCU.

That projection makes this the only rematch in his conference championship forecasts, highlighting his belief that Baylor will rise above the Horned Frogs when it matters most.

Baylor heads into 2025 with built continuity under Dave Aranda. After finishing strong in 2024, the Bears bring back quarterback Sawyer Robertson and key contributors like running back Bryson Washington and standout lineman Omar Aigbedion. Their experience and leadership give Pickell confidence that Baylor will navigate the season successfully and reach AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

TCU enters the season with intrigue but remains unproven. Despite flashes of success under Sonny Dykes in recent years, their overall profile leaves room for Baylor to outperform expectations in Pickell’s view.

Given Baylor and TCU play a regular-season rivalry game in mid-October, Pickell frames the December title clash as a possible sequel. Baylor’s edge in coaching consistency and roster continuity tipped the balance in his projection.

This prediction lands within a broader consensus that sees Baylor as a top Big 12 contender. Phil Steele projected Baylor as conference frontrunners based on their returning core, while ESPN betting models rank Baylor just behind Kansas State and Arizona State in title probabilities.

Pickell’s call frames Baylor as a dark-horse title threat with enough returning talent and coaching stability to outlast TCU in the Big 12 Championship Game. If his projection holds, the Bluebonnet Battle rematch in Arlington could become a defining moment of the 2025 season.