ESPN’s first crack at the 2026 College Football Power Index did the Big 12 no favors.
When the numbers dropped, the conference was barely visible in the top 25. Texas Tech landed at No. 10, BYU came in at No. 20, and that was it for the league among the highest-ranked teams.
At the top of the board, Ohio State opened at No. 1 overall with 28.7 points. Texas followed at 26.9, then Notre Dame at 25.9. The conference breakdown was just as lopsided: the SEC took nine spots, the Big Ten grabbed seven, and the ACC outpaced the Big 12 with three teams - Miami, Clemson and Iowa.
Texas Tech’s placement makes sense on paper. The Red Raiders are dealing with the departures of linebackers Jacob Rodriguez and David Bailey, which leaves the defense more exposed against veteran offenses.
Even so, they still look like a Big 12 favorite because of what returns around them, including running back Cameron Dickey and tight end Terrance Carter Jr. That gives Will Hammond a steadier runway after Brendan Sorsby’s exit in the middle of a chaotic offseason gambling scandal.
The respect is there elsewhere, too: six Red Raiders made Phil Steele Preseason All-Americans, and eight more were named to his First Team All-Big 12 list.
BYU’s No. 20 ranking feels light for a team that has done enough to earn more trust. Kalani Sitake is back for the foreseeable future, and the Cougars enter 2026 with the kind of continuity that matters in this league.
They were one game away from the program’s first Big 12 title in 2025, and they bring back enough to stay in the mix. Defensive coordinator Jay Hill is gone, but tackle Keanu Tanuvasa and linebacker Isaiah Glasker return to anchor a defense that should be deep in Year 1 under new coordinator Kelly Poppinga.
Offensively, BYU has a strong starting point with running back LJ Martin and quarterback Bear Bachmeier. The schedule is no picnic either, with nine straight weeks of football and matchups against Notre Dame on Oct. 17 and Utah on Nov.
The Big 12 doesn’t show up again until Utah at No. 31 under Morgan Scalley. Arizona follows at No. 34 and Houston at No. 35, each with enough pieces to look like a contender.
Outside of Texas Tech and BYU, ESPN’s first pass at the 2026 FPI wasn’t wildly off base for the Big 12. But the broader picture still isn’t flattering.
With so many teams sitting below the top 30, the league has work to do in 2026 if it wants these preseason numbers to start looking kinder. And with the Big 12 sitting at 1-8 overall in the history of the College Football Playoff, that’s a hurdle the conference can’t afford to ignore.
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