Welcome to our first Big 12 Power Rankings of the 2025 college football season! Each member of our staff — Caleb, Craig, Matt, and Zack — submitted their own 1-through-16 rankings, and we used a simple points system to create a consensus list: a No. 1 vote is worth 16 points, a No. 16 vote is worth 1, and everything in between adds up to a final tally. The result is a mix of different perspectives, a little speculation, and plenty of debate — exactly what makes power rankings fun.
Right out of the gate, the biggest storyline is at the top. Arizona State, last year’s Big 12 champion and College Football Playoff participant, earned three first-place votes from our crew. But thanks to strong across-the-board support, it’s actually Texas Tech that opens the year in our No. 1 spot. That balance of “proven champion vs. rising contender” sets the tone for what should be one of the most competitive Big 12 races in recent memory.
As always with our rankings, ties are inevitable. Kansas and TCU both locked in at No. 7, while Arizona and Houston are even at No. 13. Interestingly, not a single ranking was unanimous — although in several spots, especially near the top and again at the bottom, we were closer than you might think.
These rankings are just the start of what will be a season-long conversation, and things are bound to shuffle as soon as the games begin. Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the page to check out each of our individual ballots and see where you agree (or disagree) with us.
2025 Heartland Sports Big 12 Power Rankings – Week 1
| Ranking | Points |
| 1. Texas Tech | 60 |
| 2. Arizona State | 58 |
| 3. Iowa State | 54 |
| 4. Baylor | 53 |
| 5. Kansas State | 49 |
| 6. Utah | 44 |
| 7. Kansas | 37 |
| 7. TCU | 37 |
| 9. BYU | 35 |
| 10. Cincinnati | 26 |
| 11. Colorado | 23 |
| 12. West Virginia | 21 |
| 13. Arizona | 13 |
| 13. Houston | 13 |
| 15. Oklahoma State | 12 |
| 16. UCF | 9 |
Individual Rankings
Caleb
1. Arizona State- With Sam Leavitt and wide receiver Jordyn Tyson look to take ASU back to the Big12 Championship game. Head coach Kenny Dillingham proved last year he can take this team to that championship game and he can definitely take them back this year.
2. Texas Tech | Red Raiders brought in one of the most talented roster in the Big 12 after bringing in a transfer class that ranked No. 2 nationally. If Texas Tech can make all this new talent work together, the Red Raiders should be one of the top teams in the Big 12 race come November.
3. Baylor | There wasn’t a team that was hotter at the end of the season than Baylor. Baylor should be able to ride that momentum and have a great 2025 season.
4. Iowa State
5. Kansas State
6. Utah
7.BYU
8. TCU
9. Kansas
10. Arizona
11. Cincinnati
12. Colorado
13. West Virginia
14. Houston
15. Oklahoma State | The Cowboys are coming off a terrible year where they lost a lot of key players, with big question marks on both sides of the ball expectations are low for the Cowboys.
16. UCF | Although Frost has had success with the Knights before the Knights lack any big key players this season. It will be a tall task to get this team up and going this season.
Craig
1. Arizona State | Pretty easy to put the Sun Devils at the top after they won the Big 12 a year ago and made the college football playoff. Arizona State will certainly take a step back on offense with the loss of Cam Skattebo, but they still have plenty of weapons.
2. Texas Tech | The Red Raiders come in at second due to the pure talent they have on paper. Whether or not that will transfer to the playing field is a different question. The Red Raiders brought in an insane transfer class and if those guys can immediately come in and have an impact this team could compete for the Big 12 Championship.
3. Iowa State | The Cyclones started off the season with a big win over Kansas State in Ireland. Rocco Becht and the offense struggled at times, but ultimately pulled off the win. The defense looked fantastic however, causing two turnovers in the 24-21 win.
4. Kansas State
5. Baylor
6. Utah
7. TCU
8. BYU
9. Kansas
10. West Virginia
11. Colorado
12. Cincinnati
13. Arizona
14. UCF
15. Houston | The Cougars avoided my last spot because I think they have potential to be decent in 2025. There’s just a lot of questions surrounding this newly put together team. Willie Fritz certainly has his work cut out for him.
16. Oklahoma State | The Cowboys didn’t win a single conference game a year ago. And to be honest, they didn’t really improve much in the offseason either. Mike Gundy does have a way with over performing when it looks like it’s going to be a down year. But, it’s hard for me to put them any higher than dead last.
Matt
1. Texas Tech | The Red Raiders open 2025 as my No. 1 team in the Big 12 because everything about this season feels like a program-defining moment in Lubbock. The Red Raiders aren’t just talented — they’re built for this exact opportunity. Joey McGuire and his staff have poured resources into creating a roster designed to win now, investing heavily in both the transfer portal and player development to assemble one of the most complete teams in the league. Veteran quarterback Behren Morton gives Tech the steady leadership and big-play ability needed to navigate a favorable schedule, while dynamic additions like wideout Micah Hudson and running back Quinten Joyner elevate the offense into one of the most dangerous units in the conference. Defensively, impact transfers Romello Height and David Bailey bring the kind of edge-rushing presence that championship teams need. Beyond the roster, the timing couldn’t be better — the Big 12 is wide open, and Tech has positioned itself to seize control in a way it hasn’t since its last double-digit win season in 2008. With the expanded College Football Playoff within reach, the Red Raiders have a chance not just to win the Big 12, but to announce themselves as true national contenders. Everything is aligned, and that’s why Texas Tech sits at the top of my preseason rankings.
2. Baylor | The Bears enter 2025 as my No. 2 team in the Big 12 because no program in the conference flipped its trajectory more dramatically last season — and now the Bears look ready to build on that momentum. Dave Aranda went from the hot seat to engineering one of the league’s most remarkable turnarounds, guiding Baylor from a 2-4 start to a scorching finish that included shootout wins over TCU, West Virginia, and Kansas. That surge was no fluke — it was powered by a balanced, explosive offense that averaged 34 points and 440 yards per game over the second half of the season, and the key pieces are all back. Quarterback Sawyer Robertson blossomed into one of the Big 12’s best playmakers with over 3,000 passing yards and 28 touchdowns, while the backfield duo of Bryson Washington and Dawson Pendergrass combined for nearly 1,700 yards and 18 scores behind a veteran offensive line anchored by all-conference talents Omar Aigbedion and Coleton Price. The portal only added more firepower, including Alabama transfer Kobe Prentice at receiver and Michael Trigg at tight end, giving Baylor one of the most versatile skill groups in the league. Defensively, the Bears are positioned for a leap with seniors Jackie Marshall and Cooper Lanz leading the front, Texas A&M transfer Samu Taumanupepe clogging the middle, and a retooled linebacker corps headlined by All-Big 12 star Keaton Thomas and impact additions Emar’rion Winston and Travion Barnes. Add in a seasoned secondary anchored by Devyn Bobby and Caden Jenkins, and Baylor suddenly looks like one of the most complete teams in the conference. The schedule may be a grind, but the Bears now have the depth, experience, and confidence to handle it — and that’s why they open 2025 as my clear No. 2 in the Big 12.
3. Kansas | The Jayhawks check in as my surprise No. 3 team in the Big 12 to start 2025 because this program finally looks like it believes it belongs. After years of being the league’s punchline, Lance Leipold has built a roster and culture that expect to win, and the second half of last season proved it. The Jayhawks took down Iowa State, BYU, and Colorado with toughness and confidence, and now they get the benefit of returning to a refurbished home stadium and upgrading their offensive leadership with new coordinator Jim Zebrowski. The key is quarterback Jalon Daniels — if he stays healthy and cuts down on turnovers, this offense has the makings of one of the most balanced in the conference, especially with Alabama transfer Emanuel Henderson and Columbia standout Bryson Canty injecting new life into the receiver room. The line remains steady around veterans Bryce Foster and Calvin Clements, while Iowa transfer Leshon Williams joins Daniel Hinshaw to keep the run game effective after Devin Neal’s departure. Defensively, Kansas has work to do after fielding one of the nation’s weakest pass defenses, but the portal delivered immediate help in Utah State’s DJ Graham, Auburn’s Laquan Robinson, and Oklahoma State’s Lyric Rawls in the secondary. Add a rebuilt linebacking corps led by Joseph Sipp Jr. and Bangally Kamara, plus a defensive front anchored by Dean Miller and Justice Finkley, and there’s reason to believe Kansas won’t just be feisty — they’ll be a legitimate contender. With Leipold steering the ship and a more favorable setup than a year ago, KU has the talent and confidence to shock the league, making them my surprise No. 3 in the Big 12.
4. Utah
5. Iowa State
6. Kansas State
7. Arizona State
8. Cincinnati
9. BYU
10. TCU
11. West Virginia
12. Houston
13. Oklahoma State
14. UCF
15. Colorado | The Buffs open 2025 near the bottom of my Big 12 rankings because for all the noise, flash, and transfer portal headlines, the foundation of the program still feels shaky. Deion Sanders deserves credit for pulling Colorado out of the 1-11 abyss, but the Buffaloes remain plagued by issues that can’t be fixed overnight. Last season’s offense was historically bad on the ground, and the offensive line couldn’t keep quarterbacks upright — a fatal flaw in a league loaded with disruptive fronts. The program’s heavy reliance on transfers has created a roster full of flash but little long-term stability, and the results have been inconsistent: just three wins over FBS teams with winning records in the last two years. This fall, Kaidon Salter steps in at quarterback, and while his mobility adds a new wrinkle, he’s no Shedeur Sanders when it comes to accuracy or efficiency. The defense looks stronger on paper and should keep Colorado competitive, but until the Buffs prove they can protect the quarterback, run the ball consistently, and finish seasons strong, they remain more sizzle than substance — and that keeps them near the bottom of my Big 12 rankings to start the year.
16. Arizona | The Wildcats sit at the bottom of my Big 12 rankings to start the season because the program is still searching for its true identity after a rollercoaster two years. The Wildcats looked like a rising power in 2023 with a 10-win breakthrough under Jedd Fisch, but the follow-up under Brent Brennan was a 4-8 stumble that exposed just how fragile the foundation really was. The defense broke down, the offense lost its spark, and after a promising 3-1 start, Arizona unraveled with a string of ugly losses that erased momentum. Adding insult, rival Arizona State surged to a Big 12 title and a College Football Playoff berth while the Wildcats slid backwards. Brennan has proven he can maximize rosters from his San Jose State days, and the transfer portal has restocked some depth, but this still feels like a rebuild in progress. The talent base is decent and bowl eligibility isn’t out of the question, but until Arizona proves it can string together consistent performances in a deeper Big 12, they remain my pick for the bottom of the conference to start 2025.
Zack
1. Arizona State | The reigning Big 12 Champs start off the year at the top of my power rankings because it’s not crazy to think they could repeat. Someone is going to have to take the opportunity from them before I remove them from this spot.
2. Iowa State | The Cyclones picked up a big Week 0 win against a tough K-State squad. After getting this first double-digit win season ever last year with 11 wins, I think they can keep the success rolling.
3. Texas Tech | The Red Raiders are up this high based on potential. They brought in a ton of talent via transfer, and as a result, they’re a dark horse to win the conference. That status could quickly change to “favorite,” though.
4. Kansas State
5. Baylor
6. TCU
7. Colorado
8. Utah
9. BYU
10. Kansas
11. Cincinnati
12. Oklahoma State
13. West Virginia
14. Houston
15. UCF | A team coming off a rough season with an almost completely new coaching staff and mostl new starters on both sides of the ball has the Knights down pretty low on my list.
16. Arizona | The Wildcats had a rough start in the Big 12 last season, and I’m not sure it’s going to get much better this year. I’m going to have to see something before I move them up.
Follow us on Instagram