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FOX Sports Analyst Has No Clue How to Rank Big 12 Teams

Originally posted on Heartland College Sports
By Joe Tillery | Last updated Aug 11, 2025 11:08 AM ET

FOX Sports analyst RJ Young released his preseason rankings for all 136 FBS programs this week, and several of his Big 12 placements have already sparked debate.

While some of the spots seem reasonable, others feel wildly disconnected from the reality of the league heading into 2025.

Kansas State leads the conference representation at No. 19, followed by Texas Tech at No. 22 and Arizona State at No. 23. The most surprising entry in the top tier is Colorado at No. 25. The Buffaloes enter 2025 with a new quarterback under center and are without the services of a Heisman winner in Travis Hunter on both sides of the field.

Did @RJ_Young really rank all 136 FBS teams ahead of the season? Yes, yes he did

Where did your team land on his rankings? pic.twitter.com/6H1ejN8DDq
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) August 11, 2025

Iowa State landed at No. 28, with Houston somehow at No. 31 despite coming off a season of significant struggles. Kansas sits at No. 33, while Arizona’s ranking at No. 38 might be the most puzzling of the entire list. With substantial roster turnover and questions at multiple positions, the Wildcats appear far more likely to finish in the bottom tier of the conference than inside the national top 40.

TCU was ranked No. 41, Baylor came in at No. 44, and Utah was given a surprisingly low No. 56. Considering Utah’s track record as one of the most consistent programs in college football over the past decade, this placement is a clear outlier.

The rest of the Big 12’s representation included Oklahoma State at No. 59, BYU at No. 60, Cincinnati at No. 67, West Virginia at No. 68, and UCF at No. 74.

While preseason rankings are often more entertainment than prediction, Young’s list has already stirred discussion among Big 12 fans. If nothing else, it sets the stage for a season in which several teams will have the chance to prove him wrong.

This article first appeared on Heartland College Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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