We are not far removed from the conclusion of the 2024 college football season, which naturally means it’s time to start looking ahead to the 2025 season.
This time a year ago, the darlings of the Big 12 were teams like Oklahoma State, Utah, Kansas, and Arizona, and after the dust settled, those teams went a combined 8-28 in conference play and failed to make a single bowl game between them.
Suffice it to say, it’s nearly impossible to predict the Big 12 on a week-to-week basis, let alone several months in advance. However, I will do the impossible and tell you exactly how the final Big 12 standings will stack up after the 2025 season.
It’s time for a Way-Too-Early edition of the Big 12 football power rankings for 2025.
1. BYU Cougars
2024 Record: 11-2 (7-2 Big 12)
Key Returnees: QB Jake Retzlaff, RB LJ Martin, WR Chase Roberts
Key Additions: DE Tausili Akana, DL Keanu Tanuvasa
Kalani Sitake and the Cougars exceeded expectations in a major way in 2024, finishing with an 11-2 record and tied for first in the Big 12 standings. The Cougs’ defense paced the Big 12, allowing a league-best 19.6 points per game.
BYU went out and grabbed a few after losing the majority of their contributors from the defensive line, but return a strong contingent of starters in the back-seven, as well as a trio of key offensive starters in QB Jake Retzlaff, RB LJ Martin, and WR Chase Roberts.
Sitake is entering his 10th season as the head coach in Provo, and there’s a good chance that the 2025 squad is his best yet.
2. Arizona State Sun Devils
2024 Record: 11-3 (7-2 Big 12)
Key Returnees: QB Sam Leavitt, WR Jordyn Tyson, DE Clayton Smith, DB Xavion Alford
Key Additions: RB Kanye Udoh, WR Jalen Moss, CB Nyland Green
Cam Skattebo, the single biggest contributor to Arizona State’s success in 2024, is out of eligibility and Kenny Dillingham will need someone else to step in as the leader of this team next season. However, there’s plenty of good news for the third-year head coach on that front.
Virtually the entire two-deep is set to return for ASU in 2025, including quarterback Sam Leavitt and All-Big 12 wide receiver Jordyn Tyson on offense. Additionally, the Sun Devils add RB Kanye Udoh and WR Jalen Moss on the offensive side of the ball, as well as CB Nyland Green and S Adrian Wilson to help shore up their losses in the secondary.
Despite the loss of Skattebo, there’s reason to believe that Arizona State should be a contender in the Big 12 once again in 2025, and perhaps one of the favorites if the offense can find a suitable way of replacing their star running back.
3. Iowa State Cyclones
2024 Record: 11-3 (7-2 Big 12)
Key Returnees: QB Rocco Becht, RB Carson Hansen, LB Caleb Bacon
Key Additions: WR Chase Sowell, WR Xavier Townsend
ISU finished 2024 on a high note with a 42-41 win over Miami in the Pop-Tarts Bowl and, as long as the Cyclones are able to hang on to head coach Matt Campbell, there’s the confidence that Iowa State should be among the best teams in the Big 12 next season.
Rocco Becht will return for his third straight season as the starting quarterback, and the additions of Chase Sowell and Xavier Townsend should help offset the losses of Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel.
Caleb Bacon should be back after missing time with an injury in 2024, and should headline a strong defensive unit for the ‘Clones once again. Despite a tricky Big 12 schedule, Iowa State should be right in the thick of the 2025 Big 12 race.
4. Texas Tech
2024 Record: 8-5 (6-3 Big 12)
Key Returnees: QB Behren Morton, LB Jacob Rodriguez, LB Ben Roberts, WR Caleb Douglas
Key Additions: DE Romello Height, DL Lee Hunter, CB Brice Pollack, RB Quinten Joyner, TE Terrance Carter, WR Reggie Virgil, IOL Hunter Zambrano, S Cole Wisniewski
Texas Tech will have to replace its top receiver, top rusher, and its offensive coordinator from 2024. With that said, there’s not a team in college football who has improved their roster the way that Joey McGuire and the Red Raiders have since the end of the regular season.
The nation’s top transfer portal class provides TTU with an infusion of offensive skill talent and an upgrade along the lines of scrimmage. Add to that the return of Behren Morton, leading tackler Jacob Rodriguez, and several other young contributors, and you’ve got perhaps the most talented roster in the Big 12.
If Shiel Wood comes in and gives the Red Raiders a boost on the defensive side of the ball, this could very well be the team that makes a run to the College Football Playoff in 2025.
5. Baylor Bears
2024 Record: 8-5 (6-3 Big 12)
Key Returnees: QB Sawyer Robertson, RB Bryson Washington, WR Josh Cameron, LB Keaton Thomas
Key Additions: WR Kobe Prentice, S Devin Turner, LB Travion Barnes
Dave Aranda entered the 2024 season on the hot seat, and after a 2-4 start to the year, it looked like he might be in danger of losing his job. Then, the Bears ripped off six straight wins to finish the regular season with an 8-4 record and looked like arguably the best team in the league over the final stretch of the year.
Jake Spavital’s offense caught fire under Sawyer Robertson, and the pair will get to work together again in 2025. Additionally, the Bears are set to return their leading rusher in Bryson Washington, the leading receiver in Josh Cameron, and leading tackler in Keaton Thomas.
With a few talented transfers coming in to supplement the roster, there’s a good chance that Baylor will pick right back up where it left off this past season.
6. Kansas State Wildcats
2024 Record: 9-4 (5-4 Big 12)
Key Returnees: QB Avery Johnson, RB Dylan Edwards, WR Jayce Brown
Key Additions: TE Linkon Cure, DE Jayshawn Ross, CB Amarion Fortenberry
The 2024 season was about as up-and-down a year that we’ve seen at Kansas State under Chris Klieman, as a 7-1 start quickly turned into a head-scratching 8-4 finish to the regular season.
The inexperience of uber-talented quarterback Avery Johnson played a large role in that, but there’s no doubt that his potential makes this team one to watch going forward. DJ Giddens is gone, but Dylan Edwards ripped off nearly 200 yards against Rutgers in the bowl game and looks like the next great back for the Wildcats.
Add Jayce Brown returning and newcomer Linkon Cure to the mix and the offense is among the most intriguing in the Big 12. If a couple of transfer additions on the defensive side can help shore things up, this team could end up much higher on this list by August.
7. TCU Horned Frogs
2024 Record: 9-4 (6-3 Big 12)
Key Returnees: QB Josh Hoover, S Bud Clark, LB Nambi Obiazor, S Jamel Johnson
Key Additions: WR Jordan Dwyer, TE Ka’Morreun Pimpton, CB Elijah Jackson
After going 5-7 in 2023, the 2024 season felt like a prove-it year for Sonny Dykes and the TCU Horned Frogs after they made an improbable run to the national championship game in 2022. While it won’t make headline news, they did just that, racking up nine wins and finishing the season winning five of their last six games.
Josh Hoover was among the most prolific passers in college football and returns with a host of interesting weapons around him, while a defense that improved down the stretch under Andy Avalos returns lots of experience for 2025.
If the Frogs’ defense can take another step forward in ’25 and find a consistent running game to relieve some pressure off of Hoover, this team has the pieces to be vying for a Big 12 Championship at the end of the season.
8. Utah Utes
2024 Record: 5-7 (2-7 Big 12)
Key Returnees: WR Dorian Singer (pending NCAA waiver), LB Lander Barton, DE Logan Fano, CB Smith Snowden
Key Additions: QB Devon Dampier, WR Creed Whittemore, RB Wayshawn Parker, DE Jaxson Jones
I’m not sure how to take the 2024 season that we just saw from Kyle Whittingham’s Utah team, but one thing is clear—things will look a lot different in 2025.
New Mexico offensive coordinator Jason Beck comes in and brings explosive dual-threat quarterback Devon Dampier with him. The additions of Creed Whittemore and Wayshawn Parker, plus the potential return of Dorian Singer, give this offense all kinds of explosive potential—if the offensive line can take a step forward.
The Utes should be stout again defensively, and if so, just a nominal improvement on offense should get them bowl-eligible. However, if the offense improves dramatically—which is feasible—we could be looking at a dark horse title contender.
9. Kansas Jayhawks
2024 Record: 5-7 (4-5 Big 12)
Key Returnees: QB Jalon Daniels, OL Bryce Foster
Key Additions: TE Keyan Burnett, LB Bangally Kamara, WR Emmanuel Henderson, CB Jahlil Hurley, LB Trey Lathan
The good news for Kansas? Lance Leipold is still on the sideline and Jalon Daniels is coming back for another season. The bad news? Jalon Daniels is the only notable skill player set to return and everything around him will look different in 2025.
KU was one of the most frustrating teams in college football last season, as five of their seven losses came by one score, many of which they had control of at one point or another.
There are several intriguing newcomers to note for the Jayhawks, but how many of them hit in 2025 will determine how serious this team should be taken as Big 12 contenders.
10. Colorado Buffaloes
2024 Record: 9-4 (7-2 Big 12)
Key Returnees: CB Preston Hodge, CB DJ McKinney, OL Jordan Seaton
Key Additions: QB Kaidon Salter, WR Joseph Williams, DL Jeheim Oatis
Replacing talents like Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter are going to be difficult for Colorado, especially when you consider just how important the Heisman winner was on both sides of the ball.
However, Deion Sanders has proven that he’s up to the task of building a winner and has an intriguing 2025 class coming in. If the Buffs find a more balanced offense that Kaidon Salter can operate in, i.e. find a running game, it would go a long way.
Defensively, the Buffs return a few experienced starters and should benefit greatly from the addition of Jeheim Oatis in the middle. I’m not sure if a Big 12 Championship is in the cards, but I was definitely wrong about this team last year, so they could prove me wrong again.
11. West Virginia Mountaineers
2024 Record: 6-7 (5-4 Big 12)
Key Returnees: RB Jahiem White, WR Rodney Gallagher, QB Nicco Marchiol
Key Additions: QB Jaylen Henderson, CB Jordan Scruggs, TE Johnny Pascuzzi, EDGE Braden Siders, LB Ashton Woods
The Rich Rodriguez era (V2.0) will start in 2025, and provides one of the most difficult reads in the Big 12. Mountaineer fans could not be more excited about having their golden boy back on the sidelines, but could it be a while before we see them ascend to Big 12 title contention?
Outside of Jahiem White, I’m not sure who will be starting offensively for Rich Rod, and defense is an even bigger question with several young contributors hitting the portal after Neal Brown’s exit.
There’s talent on the roster and I fully believe in Rich Rodriguez—I just don’t know how much progress we will see in Year 1.
12. Houston Cougars
2024 Record: 4-8 (3-6 Big 12)
Key Returnees: WR Stephon Johnson, DB AJ Haulcy, DB Jeremiah Wilson
Key Additions: QB Conner Weigman, DL Khalil Laufau, TE Luke McGary, CB Keionte Scott
The mess that Dana Holgorsen left for Willie Fritz to clean up had folks wondering if the Cougars could be competitive in any games this season, let alone win one. Anyone who’s followed Willie Fritz, however, knew the Coogs would get the better of someone.
So, when Houston turned in a 4-8 record at the end of the year, it’s safe to say they were ahead of schedule. Now, heading into 2025, the Cougars have gone out and landed a legitimate starting caliber quarterback in Conner Weigman and return several pieces from what turned out to be one of the best defenses in the Big 12.
I’m not here to tell you that Fritz’s team is going to win a Big 12 title in ’25, but I will say that this team is probably headed to a bowl game and a program to watch in the coming years.
13. Oklahoma State Cowboys
2024 Record: 3-9 (0-9 Big 12)
Key Returnees: RB Rodney Fields, WR Tayln Shettron
Key Additions: QB Hauss Hejny, EDGE Kyran Duhon, OL Louie Canepa
Oklahoma State is coming off its worst season under Mike Gundy and is losing several staples responsible for their recent success. Ollie Gordon, Collin Oliver, and Brennan Presley are all NFL-bound, and the losses of De’Zhaun Stribling and Kendal Daniels present some issues, but somehow I have to imagine the Cowboys are a better football team in 2025.
Right now, I don’t see the roster makeup getting them to a bowl game, but if there’s a coach in this conference that I’d expect to prove me wrong, it would be Gundy.
Coming out of the 2024 season, it’s hard to give Oklahoma State the benefit of the doubt, but I’m sure I’ll come around when players report for summer workouts.
14. Cincinnati Bearcats
2024 Record: 5-7 (3-6 Big 12)
Key Returnees: QB Brendan Sorsby, DL Dontay Corleone
Key Additions: S Christian Harrison, RB Tawee Walker, Jaylon White-McClain
Cincinnati appeared to be on the verge of a breakthrough in 2024 when the Bearcats jumped out to a 5-2 start and were just one win away from securing a bowl victory. However, the wheels ended up falling off from there, as UC gave up 31 or more points in four of their last five games and couldn’t get bowl eligible.
There were bright spots, however. Brendan Sorsby appears to be a piece that Scott Satterfield can build around and All-Big 12 defensive lineman Dontay Corleone is back for another season.
If Satterfield is going to keep his job, it probably means getting to a bowl game in 2025. Whether or not he can do that, though, is yet to be determined.
15. UCF Knights
2024 Record: 4-8 (2-7 Big 12)
Key Returnees: QB Dylan Rizk
Key Additions: EDGE Sincere Edwards, LB Lewis Carter, DL Horace Lockett, RB Jaden Nixon, QB Tayven Jackson
Scott Frost is back in Orlando, but this time around he’ll have to get the Knights to prosperity while also working from behind the eight ball as UCF is one of the worse teams in the Big 12 over the last two seasons.
Recruiting talent to UCF won’t be an issue, but putting together a team that can win consistently in this league has proven difficult thus far. Frost had folks believing during his first stint and will likely have some grace in Year 1 because of that.
Unfortunately, I think he’s going to need it.
16. Arizona Wildcats
2024 Record: 4-8 (2-7 Big 12)
Key Returnees: QB Noah Fifita, S Genesis Smith, S Dalton Johnson
Key Additions: WR Kris Hutson, WR Tre Spivey, RB Ismail Mahdi
Arizona’s first season under Brent Brennan was a disaster, and for many, it was a surprise that he was welcomed back for another season. He will be back, though, and his team will look vastly different—whether that’s for better or worse is up for debate.
The Wildcats found a way to keep Noah Fifita and get a couple of key defenders back, but the overall talent level of this team is far below what it was this time last year.
If Fifita returns to the form that we saw in 2023, this team should be much improved. However, if he plays to the same level that we saw in ’24, there’s a good chance that Arizona will be looking for a new head coach.
