Dec 7, 2024; Arlington, TX, USA; The Arizona State Sun Devils mascot celebrates after the Sun Devils defeat the Iowa State Cyclones at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Big 12 Preseason Football Power Rankings for 2025 Season

Originally posted on EasySportz | By Lee Bushkell | Last updated Aug 29, 2025 2:37 PM ET

Arizona State Sun Devils : Sam Leavitt’s growth as a Heisman-contending quarterback and replacing Cam Skattebo’s production with Kanye Udoh will drive Arizona State’s repeat Big 12 title hopes.
Kansas State Wildcats : Avery Johnson’s improvement as a passer, paired with a dynamic rushing attack led by Dylan Edwards, will position Kansas State as a top contender for the Big 12 title.
Texas Tech Red Raiders : Leveraging their top-ranked transfer class, especially on the defensive line with David Bailey and Lee Hunter, will be crucial for Texas Tech to reach the Big 12 title game.
Utah Utes : Devon Dampier’s dual-threat ability and a potentially elite offensive line under new coordinator Jason Beck will fuel Utah’s bounce-back to a Big 12 title contention.
Baylor Bears : Sawyer Robertson’s continued development and Bryson Washington’s elite rushing will make Baylor a sleeper team if Dave Aranda’s defense improves.
Iowa State Cyclones : Rocco Becht’s leadership and adapting to new receivers will be key for Iowa State to maintain their momentum after a historic 11-win season.
TCU Horned Frogs : Josh Hoover’s explosive passing, paired with new weapons like Eric McAlister and Jordan Dwyer, must align with defensive improvements to keep TCU competitive.
Kansas Jayhawks : Jalon Daniels having a career season at quarterback will thrust Kansas into Big 12 title contention, building on their Week 0 blowout win.
BYU Cougars : Replacing Jake Retzlaff with true freshman Bear Bachmeier at quarterback must yield stability to complement BYU’s strong defense and skill players like Chase Roberts.
Colorado Buffaloes : Kaidon Salter or Julian Lewis emerging as a reliable quarterback, alongside talents like Omarion Miller and DJ McKinney, will determine Colorado’s ability to overcome a tough schedule.
Houston Cougars : Conner Weigman’s impact as the transfer quarterback and Willie Fritz’s coaching will be critical for Houston to secure at least five wins and shake up the conference race.
Cincinnati Bearcats : Brendan Sorsby’s 3,000-yard passing potential could give Cincinnati the momentum to surprise in the Big 12.
West Virginia Mountaineers : Rich Rodriguez’s high-powered offense, led by Nicco Marchiol and running back Jahiem White, must overcome roster turnover to climb the standings.
Arizona Wildcats : Noah Fifita’s protection by a revamped offensive line and improving a weak rush defense will be key for Arizona to rebound under Brent Brennan.
Oklahoma State Cowboys : Resolving the quarterback battle between Zane Flores and Hauss Hejny and rebuilding the run game without Ollie Gordon will determine if Oklahoma State avoids another winless Big 12 season.
UCF Knights : Scott Frost’s second stint must rely on unproven players like Tayven Jackson and Myles Montgomery to gel quickly and avoid a projected two-win season.