Are you ready? Your Saturdays are about to be booked again. RSVP, “no” to that wedding, pray that your kid has the early tee ball game slot, and under no circumstances are you allowed to go pumpkin picking at noon. College football has arrived and your plans are set between now and January when a team, maybe yours, gets to raise the trophy. Will a powerhouse like Alabama or Ohio State raise the crown jewel this year? Maybe a team that’s been knocking on the door for years like Oregon will have its time to shine. Or it could be a Cinderella team like Indiana who takes it home. We are previewing every conference for you. Here’s our 2026 Big 12 football preview.
Last Year
Another year of the Big 12, last year had multiple teams vying for the top spot in the conference and it came right down to the end. Texas Tech and BYU each won 12 games this season. Utah won 11 games and Houston won 10 games. In the end, Texas Tech took down BYU 34-7 in the title game and marched their way into the CFP and were promptly destroyed by the Oregon Ducks who shut them out 23-0. BYU was irate that they missed out on another playoff and did everything they could to retain head coach Kalani Sitake who was nearly lured away by Penn State. In the middle of the pack, teams like Arizona State and Iowa State took steps backward and turned in disappointing seasons.
What to Watch
This might not be the sexiest answer in the world, but Iowa State is going through a massive change. Matt Campbell was the head coach in Ames for 10 seasons. He got that program to a point where they were overachieving year after year. He left for Penn State this offseason in what is a deserving promotion. Taking over is Jimmy Rogers who had a great year at Washington State. My question is whether he can keep this team competitive?
Arizona State was a fun team to watch two seasons ago and a very frustrating team to watch last year. QB Sam Leavitt went to LSU this offseason to play for Lane Kiffin. Was the Kenny Dillingham magic a one-and-done thing or can he replicate it?
Heisman Candidate
BYU QB Bear Bachmeier had a great 2025 campaign where he threw for over 3,000 yards and had 15 touchdowns to 7 interceptions. He did it all as a true freshman and should only get better in his sophomore season. While it might be a lot to ask him to make a massive jump in year two, he should have some Heisman looks.
Arizona’s Noah Fifita is the other QB I really like from this conference. He has four years of experience and threw for over 3,200 yards with 29 touchdowns to six interceptions.
Prediction
Texas Tech? Probably. They still have the most expensive and talented roster in the conference. I think this will be another year where things come down to the very end, but for now, I like the Red Raiders over the Houston Cougars.