In the world of college football, the Big 12 conference is a hotbed of competition, and the upcoming season promises to be no different. With a nine-game conference schedule, each team will face a unique set of challenges, and the battle for supremacy in the league will be fierce. Who will emerge as the champion? Let's take a closer look at the conference schedules and analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each team.
The Contenders
Texas Tech Red Raiders
As the defending Big 12 champions, the Red Raiders are expected to contend for the title once again. Their schedule sets them up well, with the majority of their games against projected contenders at home. The league opener against Houston will be a tough test, but if the new coaching staff can turn things around fast, the matchup in Stillwater against Oklahoma State could be interesting. The final game against TCU on Thanksgiving Day will be a challenge with only five days of preparation, but the Red Raiders' path is favorable, with no BYU or Utah on the schedule and Arizona State at home.
BYU Cougars
BYU's schedule is a well-balanced one, with the Cougars largely avoiding having their most challenging games back-to-back. The league opener against Arizona will be a tough test, and the road game at TCU could be tricky, but there's a couple of weeks of nonconference play in between. The back-to-back games at home against Arizona State and at Utah will be the Cougars' biggest two-week challenge in league play. If BYU can take care of business at home, the most difficult road dates are spread out enough.
Utah Utes
Under first-year coach Morgan Scalley, the Utes' first half of the league schedule sets them up well to get things rolling. Though Utah must play five conference road games, the contests at Iowa State, Colorado, and Cincinnati in the first half come against programs who are likely rebuilding. The first big test comes against Houston in late October, but the Utes will host that game. Utah's fate will be written in November, with the Utes getting to host rival BYU to start the month and then hitting the road for back-to-back games at Arizona and TCU.
The Underdogs
Oklahoma State Cowboys
The Cowboys haven't won a Big 12 game in two years, but the schedule does shine a bit on first-year coach Eric Morris, who brought in several playmakers from North Texas with him, including quarterback Drew Mestemaker. Even though Oklahoma State only has four home league games and must play at Kansas State and Arizona State in November with a home tilt with Texas Tech in between, the first half of the league slate is far less daunting on paper. The Cowboys do have to travel to Houston, but they avoid BYU and Utah.
Kansas State Wildcats
The Wildcats were expected to be a Big 12 contender last year, but things fell apart. This season's conference schedule could provide some hope to build momentum for first-year coach Colin Klein and his squad. Kansas State is fortunate to avoid Texas Tech, BYU, and Utah, even if it must host Houston and Arizona and travel to Arizona State and TCU. The toughest part is that the Wildcats play four of their final six games on the road.
The Underdogs
Iowa State Cyclones
The Cyclones may well find themselves near the bottom of the Big 12 in 2026 after losing 54 players to the transfer portal. That's just part of the challenge ahead for new coach Jimmy Rogers. That kind of turnover will be especially difficult with Iowa State starting league play by hosting Utah, then playing at BYU and Arizona in back-to-back games, with a bye in between. Where the Cyclones get a break is the back half of the schedule when they alternate home and road games, with three inside Jack Trice Stadium.
Cincinnati Bearcats
The Bearcats are one of the Big 12 teams who have only four home conference games this season, and it hurts that two of those are in back-to-back weeks against two contenders, Texas Tech and Utah, in late October. That sets up a November slate where Cincinnati will be on the road for three of its final four games, starting with a road game at Houston and ending with a trip to Provo and facing BYU. That's a pretty brutal back two-thirds of league action.
The Underdogs
Arizona Wildcats
The Wildcats have a difficult conference opener, traveling to BYU in the second week of the season. It's a contest that could have plenty of impact on the league race come November. Arizona also has to play at Texas Tech on Halloween and faces TCU, Utah, and Arizona State all in November — at least all three of those games are at home, with a road game at Kansas State thrown in. That's a tough way to start and end league play.
Arizona State Sun Devils
The Sun Devils open Big 12 action with a tricky matchup — traveling to England to face Kansas — but do have a fairly favorable group of home games during Big 12 action, four that could earn them momentum to stay in the conference race. The bulk of their toughest games, though, are on the road — Arizona State must play at Texas Tech and BYU two weeks apart, with a home game against Kansas State sandwiched in between, and the Sun Devils end the year with a road trip to face rival Arizona.
The Underdogs
Baylor Bears
The Bears have one of the more difficult stretches in conference play, when they end the regular season with a road trip to BYU, then face Texas Tech at home, and finish the year at Houston, all in consecutive weeks. Baylor only has four home Big 12 games this season, beginning with a matchup against Colorado to start league play, but also draws a tough road game at Arizona State next before hosting TCU after a bye week.
West Virginia Mountaineers
If the Mountaineers can build some momentum in the earlier part of their Big 12 schedule, they could become bowl eligible — West Virginia will host three of its first four conference games. The back half of the schedule, though, ups the difficulty level. West Virginia will play at Texas Tech, Utah, and TCU, while also hosting Houston and Kansas — that's a stretch that could quickly unravel the Mountaineers' season.
The Underdogs
Houston Cougars
One of the dark horse contenders for the Big 12 crown will have to earn it — Houston won't play back-to-back home conference games at any point during the season. The Cougars have five Big 12 road contests, with the toughest coming right out the gate on a Friday league opener at Texas Tech. A visit to Utah a month later is also daunting. A big plus, however, is that Houston avoids BYU and has one of the most favorable November schedules in the league.
Colorado Buffaloes
The Buffaloes, who won just one conference game last season, will at least have the majority of their most difficult matchups at Folsom Field this year. That includes hosting Texas Tech and Utah, with a bye week in between, before Kansas State and Houston come to Boulder later in the year, sandwiched around a tough road trip to Arizona State.
In conclusion, the Big 12 conference schedule promises to be a thrilling ride, with each team facing unique challenges and opportunities. The contenders will look to build momentum, while the underdogs will look to surprise and upset the favorites. The battle for supremacy in the league will be fierce, and the outcome will be determined by the teams' ability to rise to the occasion and overcome their challenges.
