A milestone for the Cougars
The University of Houston has reached a career‑high position in the Big 12 preseason media football poll, sharing third place with Arizona. The Cougars earned 207 points in the vote, a testament to the optimism surrounding the program in its second season after joining the conference.
Texas Tech, the defending champion, sits atop the poll with 254 points and 14 first‑place votes, signaling that the Red Raiders remain the team to beat. The poll, conducted by the Tulsa World, includes all 16 members of the league and reflects the expectations of media voters across the circuit.
Brigham Young University also received two first‑place votes, accumulating 239 points after a narrow loss to Texas Tech in last year’s championship game. The Cougars’ rise is especially notable because it represents the highest preseason ranking the program has achieved since transitioning to the Big 12 in 2023.
The rest of the league’s outlook
Behind the top three, the poll projects Utah at fifth, followed by a cluster of contenders that includes TCU, Arizona State, Kansas State, Oklahoma State and Baylor. Each of these programs will be looking to translate preseason optimism into on‑field performance as the schedule unfolds.
The poll also carries a historical footnote: the Big 12 had suspended its preseason media poll prior to the 2025 season, making this year’s release a rare glimpse into the conference’s expectations after a year of realignment and shifting power dynamics.