Previewing the Big 12, and taking a look at the favorites to win the conference championship in 2026.
The 2025 Big 12 champions, Texas Tech, enter the 2026 college football season as the clear favorites to win the conference title again.
Ranked No. 12 in the preseason AP Poll, Texas Tech possesses one of the most formidable rushing attacks in the country. Their two-headed backfield of juniors Cameron Dickey and J'Koby Williams combined for 1,992 rushing yards last season, and both players are returning for another year.
Tech lost quarterback Behren Morton to the NFL, but he will be replaced by backup Will Hammond this season. The biggest question surrounding the Red Raiders, however, is whether the defence can replicate its incredible 2025 performance. Linebacker Jacob Rodriguez and edge rushers David Bailey and Romello Height have all joined the NFL, and replacing those three players' production will not be an easy feat.
Jump Ahead to the Big 12 Championship Odds Here.
Big 12 Championship Contenders
BYU and Utah are two teams that could pose a real challenge to Texas Tech in the Big 12.
BYU is ranked No. 14 in the preseason AP Poll, and the core of the team remains intact, unlike Texas Tech's.
Sophomore quarterback Bear Bachmeier is returning for another year in Provo after a solid freshman campaign, where he threw for 3,033 yards and 15 touchdowns. BYU has also retained safety Faletau Satuala and linebacker Isaiah Glasker on defense.
Utah enters the season as the 21st-ranked team in the AP Poll, but it faces significant turnover. Longtime defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley has taken the reins from head coach Kyle Whittingham ahead of the 2026 season.
Time will tell how Scalley manages to reshape the squad after having to overhaul both the offensive and defensive lines, but the talent remains in Utah.
Oklahoma State is another team to watch. The Cowboys have the potential to field an incredibly high-powered offense in 2026, only one season after finishing with a single win.
New head coach Eric Morris has brought in a huge amount of transfers to improve the team, including University of North Texas quarterback Drew Mestemaker who led Division I college football with 4,379 passing yards last season. Morris also added talent around his new quarterback including running back Caleb Hawkins and wide receiver Wyatt Young.
The defense remains the primary concern for Oklahoma State. Rebuilding a defensive unit over a single summer is significantly more challenging than improving an offense in this day and age.
The other teams that are expected to compete for the Big 12 Championship are Kansas State, Houston, and Arizona.
Big 12 Championship Odds
Texas Tech | |
BYU | |
Utah | |
Kansas State | |
Houston | |
Arizona | |
Arizona State | |
TCU | |
Oklahoma State | |
Baylor | |
Kansas | |
UCF | |
West Virginia | |
Cincinnati | |
Colorado | |
Iowa State |
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All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
