WAY TOO EARLY Big 12 Basketball Preview: BYU Elite, Houston Dominant, Kansas Crisp, Texas Tech?

The Big 12 is once again poised to be one of the deepest and most challenging conferences in college basketball for the 2025-2026 season. The conference's reputation for rugged competition remains intact, with multiple teams expected to be national contenders and safely projected in the preseason Top 25 rankings.Leading the charge is Houston, fresh off a National Finalist run and consistently ranked near the top of preseason polls, showcasing their ability to reload talent despite key departures. They are joined by reloaded powerhouses like Texas Tech, which returns a star in the frontcourt and added strong transfers, and BYU, which boasts an elite freshman class headlined by a potential lottery pick in AJ Dybantsa. The Cougars' roster depth has them positioned for their most anticipated season in program history.Even traditional bluebloods like Kansas and Arizona—despite roster turnover—remain firmly in the national conversation thanks to strong recruiting classes and elite coaching. The conference's overall strength is amplified by a high volume of key returning players at Iowa State and an influx of top transfer portal talent across the league, seen in programs like Baylor and West Virginia.With so many programs vying for a league title—and an 18-game conference schedule of non-stop battles—the Big 12 will be a grueling test of endurance. Its proven track record of advancing teams deep into the NCAA Tournament suggests the conference will once again be an absolute gauntlet from top to bottom, preparing its contenders perfectly for March Madness.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!5-Hour ENERGYEnough with boring, flavorless caffeine, it’s time to give your caffeine a flavor upgrade with 5-hour ENERGY®️ shots. Get the favorites you love or be bold and try something new in-store and online at https://www.5hourENERGY.com or Amazon today.  SquareTo learn more, go support your favorite neighborhood spot and see what Square has been up to in your neck of the woods. And then if you have extra time, check out https://square.com/go/lockedoncollegePelotonLet yourself run, lift, flex, and push forward. Explore the new Peloton Cross Training Tread+ today at https://www.onepeloton.com. QuoSee why over 90,000 businesses trust Quo, formerly OpenPhone. Get started free and get 20% off your first 6 months at https://www.Quo.com/LOCKEDONCOLLEGE. DoorDashWith 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. 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 https://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.