The Big 12 isn’t just deep this year - it might be the deepest it’s ever been. And Kansas head coach Bill Self is taking notice.
Coming off a season where the SEC flexed its muscle with Florida toppling Houston in the national title game, Self believes it's now the Big 12’s turn to wear the crown. With six teams sitting in the AP Top 25 - including a No. 1-ranked Arizona squad that’s looked every bit the part - this conference isn’t just competitive. It’s a gauntlet.
“If you’re one of the best four or five teams in our league, you may have a legitimate shot [to win it all],” Self told CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein. “It’s different. It’s what the SEC was last year, as far as [the Big 12] this year.”
And he’s not wrong. Arizona has been the class of the conference so far, but the Wildcats aren’t alone.
Iowa State has climbed to No. 8, Houston is sitting at No. 10, and there’s a pack of contenders right behind them - Texas Tech, BYU, and of course, Kansas - all capable of making noise come March.
Self pointed to Arizona’s recent game at BYU as a prime example of just how tough the league is. “Watching Arizona play in that atmosphere at BYU the other day, who’s gonna beat those guys?”
he said. “Then you watch Houston and [Texas] Tech play, and then BYU’s comeback.
We’re not quite where we need to be yet, but we’ve flirted with it, we’ve shown signs.”
That’s the thing about this year’s Big 12 - there’s no off night. Every team in that top tier has the firepower to win big, and the Jayhawks are right in the mix.
Kansas is led by freshman phenom Darryn Peterson, a do-it-all guard who came into the season as one of the top prospects in the 2025 class and a projected high pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. BYU counters with AJ Dybansta, another elite talent from that same class, and one of the few players in the country who can match Peterson’s upside.
Their matchup this Saturday in Lawrence is already circled on the calendar - a clash of future pros in a game with serious conference implications. But Self is quick to remind everyone that the Big 12 isn’t just about two teams.
“Then don’t sleep on Iowa State,” he said. “I mean, good gosh, Iowa State is good! We just happened to catch them on a good night, but they’re good.”
He’s bullish on the league’s depth, and with good reason. “I really think there’s six teams, six or seven teams that if [they] get hot at the right time, could do a lot of damage [in the tournament]... It’s a monster league.”
That’s not coach-speak - that’s a coach who’s been through the wars, recognizing that this year’s Big 12 might be the most wide-open and dangerous we’ve seen in a long time. With elite talent, tough road environments, and battle-tested teams up and down the standings, March could very well be a Big 12 showcase.