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College Football Recruiting, Opinion, and Analysis

Who’s Rising, Who’s Rebuilding: Big 12 Predictions for 2025

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Scott Frost
Dec 2, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; UCF Knights head coach Scott Frost celebrates with players after defeating the Memphis Tigers in double overtime at Spectrum Stadium.

Photo Credit: Matt Stamey-Imagn Images

One of the toughest conferences to predict every year is the Big 12. What programs will be looking to start over by 2026? Also, what programs will surprise this season, and what schools will gain momentum for 2026?

9. Houston Cougars (Prediction: 8-4, 5-4)

The schedule for Houston is what makes me believe they will be better than how their team is put together. This is likely a bowl team, and the highlight of the season could come when Houston heads to Arizona State in late October. The Cougars could be in place to be ranked. The biggest question mark in their opening couple of games is at home against Texas Tech in early October.

After that, Oklahoma State and Arizona should be victories, and then we arrive at the Arizona State game, that most likely will result in a loss. Houston will likely lose two of their final four games. 

10. Utah Utes (Prediction: 6-6, 4-5)

There is an overwhelming excitement that Utah will be back among the conference’s best this upcoming season. I understand the hope that Kyle Whittingham can turn the trick again and bring Utah back to the top of the conference, where they have mostly been since he took over in 2005.

The Utah offensive line is returning all its starters—that’s huge. However, when you look at the skill positions of this Utah offense, none are returning starters, and how quickly can New Mexico transfer quarterback Devon Dampier settle into Big 12 play? For these reasons, I’m hesitant to put Utah in the mix of the Big 12’s best this upcoming season.

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11. Cincinnati Bearcats (Prediction: 5-7, 3-6)

Ever since Scott Satterfield made the jump from coaching at a Group of 5 school at Appalachian State to a Power Four school at Louisville, Satterfield hasn’t been able to recapture the magic. This season doesn’t feel like it will be any different for the Bearcats. Cincinnati only returns seven starters, four on offense and three on defense. Cincinnati’s offense and defense last season were underwhelming. Unless returning starting quarterback Brendan Sorsby can create some serious magic this season, Cincinnati could be looking for a fresh start, culture-wise, heading into 2026. 

12. Colorado Buffaloes (Prediction: 4-8, 2-7)

Head coach Deion Sanders is very bullish that his team will always be competitive year in and year out. Despite the rumors that Sanders could take his coaching to a conference like the SEC or the Big Ten or even to the NFL level, he’s back for his third season, and this time without his son, Shedeur, at quarterback. Kaidon Salter could have his world rocked when he faces P4 defenses week in and week out.

Colorado has to deal with the void of Travis Hunter leaving for the NFL. This will be one of Sanders’ biggest coaching hurdles he will face. With a tough conference schedule for the Buffaloes, it feels like the only thing this fan base can hang its hat on is not the win-loss column, but how the team comes together, especially how Colorado does the little things to stay in games. 

13. UCF Knights (Prediction: 4-8, 2-7)

After five tumultuous years at Nebraska, head coach Scott Frost is back. During the late 2010s, UCF was one of the most talked-about programs in college football. Most claim the late 2000s and early 2010s Boise State teams were the best “Group of 5” teams ever played. Then, the self-proclaimed national champions arrived, and their legacy is felt today, since at least one G5 team has to be represented in the College Football Playoff under the new format. If Frost can pull it off at UCF—it won’t be this season—maybe a strong showing for a few young players will give fans confidence for 2026.

14. West Virginia Mountaineers (Prediction: 3-9, 1-8)

Rich Rodriguez is back in Morgantown, W.Va. Only this time, things look a little bit different. Back in 2001, Rodriguez was taking over for a Hall of Famer after Don Nehlen retired following a great tenure. Now, Rodriguez is heading back to West Virginia and will attempt to rebuild a program that he helped stabilize as one of the most respected in the country.

Over the last 17 years since Rodriguez left, West Virginia has been labeled as inconsistent. Sure, there have been some memorable seasons and terrific players, but the days of having a team that fans can get behind and leave fans hopeful for a team that can play with the country’s best weekly are over, and Mountaineers fans hope Rodriguez can bring it back. 

15. Arizona Wildcats (Prediction: 3-9, 1-8)

Arizona fans were faced with the harsh reality last season that their program is now labeled as a “starting spot” for most coaches. A school that you take over, help build and then move on to a better, more high-profile program. In Brent Brennan’s first season, his offense and defense finished near the bottom half in the country. Time will tell if the Wildcats’ program will be a quick fix for Brennan or if the Arizona higher-ups deem at the end of the year that the program will need to go in a different direction in 2026.

16. Oklahoma State Cowboys (Prediction: 2-10, 0-9)

Mike Gundy built Oklahoma State into a true national contender for years, but now the program has fallen into hard times. This year may be the sign that it’s time to move on and head into a new direction for 2026. If that is the case, the time to embrace the new era in college football will need to be placed into the forefront in Stillwater, Okla.

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