The Big 12 predictions for the 2025 season fell at the responsibility of Last Word. This season, the Big 12 (following the suit of other conferences), did not have an official preseason poll. Commissioner Brett Yormark believed that the conference was hurt from the fact that the preseason poll picked its eventual 2024 champion to finish dead last. The merits of the commissioner’s claim can be debated another time. So Last Word took the mantle to set some expectations for the Big 12 this year. In a conference that is notably known for anarchy and unpredictability, is this year that the favorites live up to expectations?
2025 LWOS Big 12 Predictions
Final Predicted Standings
With six writers chiming in, Last Word landed on the following Big 12 predictions (first-place votes are in parentheses):
- Arizona State (3)
- Texas Tech (2)
- Kansas State (1)
- Baylor
- Utah
- Iowa State
- TCU
- BYU
- Kansas
- Colorado
- Houston
- West Virginia
- Cincinnati
- Oklahoma State
- Arizona
- UCF
Big 12 Predictions Reveal Clear Favorites
Arizona State and Texas Tech grabbed all but one of the first-place votes from our participating staff. Both teams find themselves with much-deserved recognition. Kenny Dillingham’s Sun Devils essentially return everyone not named Cam Skattebo. In total, 20 starters are returning, including 10 defensive starters. But the most notable starter returning for Arizona State is the conference’s best quarterback. Sam Leavitt has already grabbed the attention of NFL scouts. His deep ball accuracy will give defensive coordinators headaches all season. The only real question will be can Leavitt continue to elevate his play without having the safety valve of Skattebo.
Meanwhile, in Lubbock, Joey McGuire’s team has completely flipped its roster. The Red Raiders boast the second-best transfer class according to 247 Sports. This included a massive influx of talent on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Quarterback Behren Morton, who underwent shoulder surgery and missed all of spring practice, appears to be fully healthy for the first time since he arrived on campus in 2021. Texas Tech seemingly has time in the non-conference play to work out any chemistry issues with all their new talent. Their Big 12 opener on the road at Utah will define the direction of the season.
Other Participants For The Big 12 Championship
While two teams dominated the first-place votes, two other teams received runner-up selections by our staff. Those include Baylor and Utah. Dave Aranda was watching his team sputter out to a 2-4 start and having to go on the road against a Texas Tech team that had a bye week to prepare for Baylor. But just when it looked like curtains for the Bears in 2024, they promptly stomped Texas Tech 59-35 and did not lose the rest of the regular season. That 8-4 mark, coupled with the return of quarterback Sawyer Robertson, are good reasons to feel good about the Bears going into 2025. An open slate of Auburn, SMU, Samford, and Arizona State will tell us quickly how good this team really is.
Meanwhile, Utah is coming off its worst non-Covid season since 2013. Kyle Whittingham has essentially tried to navigate the last two seasons without an answer at quarterback. But transfer Devon Dampier looks to bring stability to the position. The offensive line is one of the best in the country, anchored by the best offensive lineman in the conference. Despite the 5-7 record, Utah still boasted one of the best defenses in the country, and the expectation is for that group to be physical and unyielding yet again. If the offense can be the 60th-best scoring offense, which would be 40 spots better than 2024, the Utes could bounce back very quickly.
Noticeable Gap After TCU
The Horned Frogs seem to be the dividing point in the opinions of the Last Word staff for these 2025 Big 12 predictions. The results were the average position of the votes for each team, and there is a two-and-a-half position jump from TCU to the next closest team, BYU. The Cougars will be one of the more interesting teams to follow this season. They return a ton of production from a team that finished 11-2. But with the departure of Jake Retzlaff from the team in July, it suddenly left a massive hole in the offense without any great options.
Most of the teams in that 8-13 range fall in the high volatility description. Whether they are struggling for a bowl game appearance, making a surprise run for the top of the conference, or bottoming out, none of those scenarios would be shocking for those teams.
Swan Song For Gundy?
The basement of the Big 12 predictions shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. Scott Frost’s first year back at UCF might be exciting for some fans. But none of his staff inspires much confidence, and the roster is void of a ton of high-end talent. The Brent Brennan experience in Tucson has been dull and disastrous so far. While they do have a proven quarterback in Noah Fifita, this team has a long way to go to make itself relevant again. But the team that many will be keeping a casual eye on resides in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
The 2024 season for Mike Gundy was the most disappointing in his 21 seasons as head coach. Now, he has 41 transfers that have joined the program, and they currently don’t have a quarterback who has thrown a pass in a college football game on the roster. Gundy’s views on the ever-changing landscape of college football reflect a coach who wishes the game were still like it was when he was just a 40-year-old man coaching his team. While Gundy’s reputation of overperforming when expectations are low is well-deserved, the task in 2025 is the tallest he has faced. If this team misses a bowl game for a second consecutive year, which would be the first time since 2000-2001, will Gundy tell college football he has had enough and simply ride off into the sunset?
Main Image: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
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