BIG 12 POWER RANKINGS: BYU Rises, Utah WAY Up, West Virginia Soars, Texas Tech Elite, Utah Top Team?

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.Listener SurveyWe’ve put together a survey to learn more about our listeners and make your favorite podcasts even better. Go tohttps://lockedonpodcasts.com/survey/ to get started. Everyone who completes a survey will be entered for a chance to win one of ten $100 Amazon gift cards. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!UpsideSimply download the free Upside app in the App Store or Google Play and use the promo code FOOTBALL to get an extra 25 cents back per gallon on your first fill up. Start earning cash at the pump, today!  Click Here: https://getupside.onelink.me/zlLr?af_xp=custom&pid=barrington&c=barrington_lockedon25&deep_link_value=promo&deep_link_sub1=lockedon25&af_dp=upsideapp%3A%2F%2FThe Game CapGrab your team’s classic bar or retro circle designed hat and use code LOCKEDON for an exclusive discount. Head to Because legends wear The Game. Head to thegamecaps.comDoorDashWith DoorDash Streaks, you save every Saturday you order — stack it up all season and you could save up to $250. Order this Saturday. Keep the streak alive. Fuel your gameday — only with DoorDash. Terms apply. Promo period through 11/18.MazdaIt’s the small details that make the big plays. And just like there’s more to every player, there’s more to a Mazda vehicle. Mazda. Move and Be Moved. Rugiet150,000 men have made the switch →https://Rugiet.com/LOCKEDONCOLLEGEUse code LOCKEDONNFL to get 15% off your order!SupplyHouseJoin the free TradeMaster program today and score serious perks like priority shipping, lower prices, and a dedicated support line. Visit https://www.supplyhouse.com/apply-for-trademasterto sign up for free and use promo code SHCOLLEGE5 for 5% off your first order. GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE at www.monarchmoney.com/lockedoncollege for 50% off your first year.FanDuelToday's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Football season is around the corner, visit the FanDuel App today and start planning your futures bets now.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.