photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

The Kansas football team huddles during their spring practice on Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Lawrence.

The results of a recent Big 12 Conference football media poll, which included a beat writer from each of the Big 12’s 16 schools, were unveiled on Monday morning.

The writers predicted Texas Tech to repeat as league champion, as the Red Raiders garnered 14 of a possible 16 first-place votes, with second-place BYU receiving the other two. Arizona and Houston tied for third with a narrow lead over fifth-place Utah.

Kansas came in at 12th ahead of West Virginia, UCF, Colorado and Iowa State.

The league abolished its official poll prior to the 2025 season, creating an opportunity for unofficial rankings to assess the conference’s outlook in its place. This one was compiled by the Tulsa World.

Points were determined on a 16-15-14-13-12-11, etc., basis. Here’s the full order of predicted finishes, with total points and first-place votes in parentheses:

1. Texas Tech, 254 (14)

2. BYU, 239 (2)

T3. Arizona, 207

T3. Houston, 207

5. Utah, 198

6. TCU, 166

7. Arizona State, 161

8. Kansas State, 158

9. Oklahoma State, 124

10. Baylor, 88

11. Cincinnati, 85

12. Kansas, 79

13. West Virginia, 76

14. UCF, 68

15. Colorado, 40

16. Iowa State, 26

Here are the voters:

Eric Bailey, Tulsa World

Jason Batacao, The Salt Lake Tribune

Mike Casazza, EerSports (247Sports)

Jay Drew, Deseret News

Joseph Duarte, Houston Chronicle

Michelle Gardner, The Arizona Republic

Henry Greenstein, Lawrence Journal-World

Ben Hutchens, Quad-City Times

Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Matt Murschel, Orlando Sentinel

Leo Rivera, BuffStampede.com (On3)

Kellis Robinett, The Kansas City Star/The Wichita Eagle

Jason Scheer, WildcatAuthority.com (247Sports)

Zach Smith, Waco Tribune-Herald

Scott Springer, The Cincinnati Enquirer

Don Williams, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal