The Big 12 conference in 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most competitive and unpredictable in all of college football. The league’s expansion to 16 teams with the additions of Utah, BYU, Arizona, and Arizona State has created a new landscape defined by parity and a deep field of legitimate contenders. Preseason polls and odds reflect this, with multiple teams receiving first-place votes and several teams having a realistic chance at winning the conference title.

Unlike other Power Four conferences that may have a clear favorite or a top tier of two or three teams, the Big 12 is a wide-open race. Last year's champion, Arizona State, came out of nowhere to win the title after being picked last in the preseason, and this year's race promises similar chaos. The transfer portal and NIL have played a major role, allowing many of the established programs to reload and new teams to quickly acquire talent, which has flattened the playing field.

This season's competitiveness is a product of several factors. The conference's best teams have a mix of veteran talent and exciting new pieces. Utah, a new entrant from the Pac-12, brings its physical brand of football and a new, dynamic quarterback in Devon Dampier, and has already made a statement with a dominant win over UCLA. Texas Tech and Baylor are both seen as strong contenders, each with a seasoned quarterback and a host of playmakers. Kansas State, with its consistent coaching staff and returning star quarterback Avery Johnson, is also a favorite to contend for the championship.

The sheer number of quality teams means that the conference schedule is a minefield. There are no easy weekends, and a team that loses a close game early in the season can easily rebound and still make a run for the conference title in December. This dynamic makes every single conference matchup critical and ensures that the race for the Big 12 championship will be one of the most exciting to watch throughout the fall.

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