Two Big 12 Teams Land in Tier 1 on EA Sports’ College Football 26 Rankings

Originally posted on Heartland College Sports
By Joe Tillery | Last updated Jun 7, 2025 4:36 PM ET

A contentious point of the offseason since the return of EA Sports’ College Football video game is when the franchise releases its rankings for each program.

Last season, the group debuted its tier system, which placed every program in the game into one of four spots.

EA Sports College football tiers based on AP Top 25 finishes in the last 10 years.

Some of these tier 2 teams fans talk like tier 1. pic.twitter.com/zMuLnvII1l
— George Wrighster III (@georgewrighster) June 6, 2025

While there’s a bit of conflicting information as to what the list is based on, two teams from the Big 12 Conference earned tier 1 honors, including Oklahoma State and Utah.

Notably, the pair of programs struggled significantly in 2024, with neither team achieving bowl eligibility. Oklahoma State went winless in conference play, finishing 3-9 overall (0-9 CONF), while Utah finished 5-7 overall (2-7 CONF).

Understandably, the list caused quite a stir on social media, and here were some notable reactions to the Cowboys and Utes finding themselves among the college football elites.

Don't talk to me if your team isn't in Tier 1 https://t.co/r9cB1lSssx pic.twitter.com/pvaPJdyIyg
— CowpokeU (@cowpoke_u) June 6, 2025

Gundy Era = Top Tier

And for all those talkin……
“we ain’t done yet” #DAT @CowboyFB https://t.co/9lE6yShRQe
— Cooper Bassett (@CBassett_OSU) June 7, 2025

Imagine not being tier 1. Also, and this goes for my Ok State homies too, how bizarre is it that a team can have 1 bad year and still be tier 1 over the last 10 years?! Big12 Twitter cannot comprehend this. https://t.co/4UDjuLbm4o
— Hunter B. (@NotThatHunter_B) June 7, 2025

Oklahoma State, Utah and Iowa in Tier 1? Based on what? https://t.co/n4GtjxAQaS
— Anderson Council (@AndersonCounc12) June 7, 2025

The obvious surprises here are Oklahoma State, Iowa, and Utah in Tier 1. Somehow being consistently ranked No. 22 puts a team in the top 13? https://t.co/FYvACXGSTo
— Dr. Green and White (@PaulFanson) June 7, 2025

Oklahoma State and Iowa being tier 1 invalidated this list lmao https://t.co/dVJJVKGwvH
— Nathaniel (@DepressedBruin) June 7, 2025

Utah is a tier 1 institution https://t.co/pCqhcti1bF
— CV Ute (@cachevalleyute) June 6, 2025

It’s still so crazy how OSU is a TIER 1 PROGRAM and people are saying we won’t be competitive in the future. https://t.co/rPB6q3MGkp
— Reagan Harris (OSU Mart) (@OKSTMart) June 7, 2025