Just In: Big 12 football power rankings: Where does Texas Tech figure into the preseason outlook?

The Big 12 Conference football scene has undergone a transformation, aiming to enhance its competitiveness by welcoming Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and Arizona State into the mix.

Amidst these changes, questions arise about the position of the Texas Tech football team in this revamped conference setup. The preseason power rankings, set to be unveiled at the Big 12 Media Days event on July 9-10 in Las Vegas, will provide the insights we seek.

1. Oklahoma State Cowboys Benefitting from the presence of standout running back Ollie Gordon, the Cowboys also have quarterback Alan Bowman, along with receivers Brennan Presley and Rashod Owens, and a cohesive offensive line. This potent offense could potentially contend for a playoff spot.
2. Utah Utes With quarterback Cam Rising back in action, the Utes’ offense is expected to operate at a heightened level compared to last season. Furthermore, a defense stacked with returning starters positions Utah for a successful debut in the Big 12.
3. Kansas State Wildcats Avery Johnson stepping in at quarterback brings a new dimension to the Wildcats’ already potent offense, which ranked 10th in the nation in scoring last season. Coupled with a formidable defense, Kansas State emerges as a formidable force.
4. Arizona Wildcats A wildcard in the conference, Arizona surprised with a 10-win season and a victory over Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl in 2023. Despite losing head coach Jedd Fisch to Washington, the Wildcats retain emerging talents Noah Fifita and Tetairoa McMillan, forming a dynamic quarterback-receiver duo.
5. Kansas Jayhawks While Kansas has maintained a solid performance in the absence of key players, much of their potential rests on the durability of quarterback Jalon Daniels. A healthy Daniels, combined with running back Devin Neal, would further bolster an already formidable offense that ranked fourth in the country in scoring in 2023.
6. Iowa State Cyclones After defeating Oklahoma State last year, the Cyclones found themselves in a “how good are you, really?” position. Rocco Becht stepped up admirably at QB, following the suspension of Hunter Dekkers due to a gambling investigation, tallying 3,120 yards and 23 TDs.
7. West Virginia Mountaineers Amidst high pressure, Neal Brown guided the Mountaineers to a 9-4 season last year. The return of dual threat QB Garrett Green and the majority of last year’s rushing and receiving talent presents an exciting prospect.
8. Texas Tech Red Raiders The Red Raiders are reloading their offense, largely through the transfer portal, while retaining the league’s second-leading rusher in Tahj Brooks. With a decade-long history of QB injuries, all eyes are on Behren Morton as the team aims for an injury-free season.
9. Colorado Buffaloes Coach Prime’s team, with Shadeur Sanders at quarterback and Travis Hunter at receiver and defensive back, leads some to question their ninth place ranking. However, time will tell.
   10. UCF Knights RJ Harvey returns as running back, complemented by Arkansas transfer K.J. Jefferson joining as the new QB, keeping UCF in the spotlight as a team worthy of attention.
   11. TCU Horned Frogs Following a disappointing 2023 season after their College Football Playoff championship appearance, Sonny Dykes’ squad seeks a turnaround, facing a challenging schedule.
   12. Baylor Bears Baylor’s significant decline in performance places head coach Dave Aranda under scrutiny, as the team failed to live up to expectations, ending with a 3-9 record and five consecutive losses.
   13. BYU Cougars BYU struggled in conference play in 2023, securing victories against Texas Tech’s third-string QB and a struggling Cincinnati team.
   14. Houston Cougars Quarterback Donovan Smith’s performance has attracted attention for the 2025 NFL Draft, which could be further enhanced if Houston, under new head coach Willie Fritz, can secure more than two victories in Big 12 matchups.
       15. Arizona State Sun Devils Kenny Dillingham and the Sun Devils faced a challenging season last year, and there’s no straightforward solution for improvement other than playing through the upcoming games.
       16. Cincinnati Bearcats The traditional belief that “there’s nowhere to go but up” doesn’t hold true for Scott Satterfield’s team this year, considering their last-place finish in the Big 12 in the previous season, especially with the increased number of teams in the conference.