BYU to West Virginia, Drake Toll Predicts EVERY Big 12 Football Game in 2026 | Full Season Preview

The 2026 Big 12 football season is shaping up to be an absolute, unadulterated chaos machine. With parity across the 16-team landscape at an all-time high, gone are the days of predictable powerhouse hierarchies, leaving a wide-open race where literally every Saturday feels like a high-stakes survival test. At the summit, defending champion Texas Tech enters as the team to beat, though they must navigate a slight transition under center while leaning on their elite defense. Meanwhile, perennial contenders like BYU—anchored by star power and gritty culture—and a reloading Utah squad are hunting for redemption and a path to Arlington. However, the real madness lies in a massive, hyper-competitive middle tier. Programs like Houston, fueled by head coach Willie Fritz's knack for year-three leaps and dynamic quarterback play, alongside physical contenders like Arizona and Kansas State, possess the firepower to flip the projected standings on their head. Aggressive transfer portal usage has leveled the playing field, ensuring that traditional sleepers and dark horses can orchestrate weekly upsets. Schematically, the conference is transforming into a brutal battleground. Defensive coordinators are deploying aggressive packages to combat high-octane attacks, turning what used to be a conference of wild shootouts into gritty physical wars. Because the schedule features a gauntlet of punishing travel dates and few easy outs, the eventual champion won't just be the most talented team—it will be the last one standing after a weekly survival of the fittest. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! KALSHI For a limited time, Download the Kalshi app and use code [LOCKEDON] to get $10 when you trade $10. . Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast. Wayfair Patio season is here and these deals won’t last! Head to https://wayfair.com right now to get your outdoor space ready for way less. Wayfair. Every style. Every home. LARINECO Give Larine a try. Right now, Larine Co is offering our listeners up to 50% off at https://BUYLARINE.com/LOCKEDONCOLLEGE. Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon. 5-Hour ENERGY Bring on the sweetness with Cotton Candy 5-hour ENERGY®️ shots—available online now at https:/5hourENERGY.com or on Amazon. Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONfor $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COMto play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season. 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.