As the Big 12 heads into its third season in the 16-team setup, the conference picture in Utah looks especially bright. KSL Sports’ preseason ranking has both BYU and Utah tucked inside the top four, a setup that gives the Nov. 7 Holy War in Salt Lake City real juice in the Big 12 race.
The list was unveiled on last night’s episode of Front Row with Jeremiah Jensen, Sam Farnsworth and Stevenson Sylvester, and it starts with Texas Tech at No. 1.
The Red Raiders picked up nine first-place votes, while BYU checked in at No. 2 with two first-place votes. Arizona landed third, followed by Utah at No.
- Houston, Arizona State, TCU, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Baylor, Kansas, Cincinnati, West Virginia, UCF, Colorado and Iowa State rounded out the rest of the rankings.
BYU has earned its spot near the top after making the conference championship game a year ago. Kalani Sitake’s team brings back a ton, and that’s a big reason the Cougars are viewed as a real title threat.
The returning core includes potential All-Americans in running back LJ Martin, safety Faletau Satuala and linebacker Isaiah Glasker. Bear Bachmeier is back at quarterback with a year in the offense under his belt, and the defense projects to be one of the Big 12’s strongest again.
The main concerns for BYU are at receiver and in the kicking game. The Cougars have to replace Chase Roberts and Parker Kingston, and they’ll also need special teams to keep delivering the kind of edge Sitake’s teams have built a reputation on in the Big 12’s close games.
Utah comes in at No. 4, and the early view around the program remains strong even with major changes in the roster. The Morgan Scalley era is officially taking shape, but the Utes have plenty to sort through after losing their entire starting offensive line to the NFL and watching several key defenders leave with former head coach Kyle Whittingham for Michigan.
Even so, Utah is not starting from scratch. Devon Dampier is back at quarterback and shapes the floor for the Utes, while the rebuilt offensive line will go a long way toward deciding how high this team can climb. In the backfield, Wayshawn Parker gives Utah a playmaker who can tilt things.
With BYU and Utah both in the top four, this year’s Holy War carries more Big 12 weight than ever. The rivalry showdown is set for November 7.
In Other News...
BYU Lands Uhila Wolfgramm In Huge Boost For 2027 Class
A major in-state recruiting win is giving BYU's 2027 class an early jolt, with Maple Mountain edge rusher Uhila Wolfgramm committing to the Cougars as a four-star prospect. Ranked as the No. 2 player in Utah for his class and No. 204 nationally by the 247Sports Composite, Wolfgramm brings the kind of length and pass-rush upside BYU has been chasing on the defensive front.
The commitment also comes with some added significance after a competitive race that included Oklahoma among the finalists, and it helps keep one of Utah County's top talents closer to home. Wolfgramm's rise has been aided by a strong camp circuit, and BYU had the final official visit before he made his call, another sign of how hard the Cougars worked to close on a player with plenty of Power Five attention. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Should Watch How Big 12 Tension Boils Over This Week
The Big 12 is set to put its entire football family on stage this week at The Star in Frisco, with coaches and players from all 16 schools gathered for the leagues media event. For BYU, it is a useful snapshot of where the conference stands heading into another season of shifting expectations, because the headlines going into the week are bigger than the usual summer talking points and touch nearly every part of the leagues football operation.
The conversation figures to stretch well beyond the field, with conference leaders expected to address playoff expansion, roster rules under the NCAAs new eligibility model and the leagues next move on media rights. Those are the kinds of issues that can shape competitive balance for years, and they are arriving at a moment when the Big 12 is trying to keep pace with the sports financial heavyweights while making sure its own teams are positioned to benefit from the changes ahead. [Read more 🡒]