The Big 12 Conference has undergone a major transformation over the past year. With Texas and Oklahoma no longer part of the conference, the arrival of Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah has given the Big 12 more balance in what should be an exciting conference race this year.
While there may not be a dominant team like Texas and Oklahoma at the forefront every year, the Big 12 Conference is as deep as it ever was and features a more well-rounded group than ever before. With a lot of parity amongst teams, expect a lot of upsets every week as anyone can win on any given Saturday.
As the college football season begins, six teams stand out as major contenders: Kansas State, Utah, Kansas, Oklahoma State, Arizona, and Iowa State. For teams looking to create a manageable schedule, avoiding these top contenders is key. Moreover, the order of games and home versus away matchups also play a significant role in shaping a successful season.
So with that, here’s how each Big 12 school’s strength of schedule stacks up to the rest of the pack. The schedules are ranked from hardest to easiest.
No. 1 Colorado
The Buffaloes are set to navigate a challenging season filled with tough matchups and potential pitfalls. Their nonconference slate includes formidable opponents like FCS powerhouse North Dakota State, in-state rival Colorado State, and an improved Nebraska team. As if that weren’t enough, their conference schedule features five of the top six teams, including Utah, Kansas, and Oklahoma State, in the final stretch of the season. With no easy weeks on the calendar, the Buffaloes will face a grueling test from start to finish.
No. 2 Arizona State
The Sun Devils face one of the toughest nonconference schedules in the nation, featuring matchups against Mississippi State, Wyoming, and a rising Texas State team. The conference schedule didn’t do them any favors with matchups against most of the favorites: Utah, Arizona, Kansas, and Kansas State.
With every game on their schedule presenting a potential challenge — with more Big 12 road games than home games, the Sun Devils are in for what will likely be a vert challenging year.
No. 3 West Virginia
The Mountaineers have consistently ranked near the top when it comes to challenging schedules. The Mountaineers didn’t do themselves in favor in non-conference play as they are set to play both Penn State and Pittsburgh. When it comes to Big 12 play, West Virginia faces a daunting stretch with five consecutive matchups against top conference contenders: Kansas, Oklahoma State, Iowa State, Kansas State, and Arizona. Despite this tough middle stretch, if the Mountaineers can win a couple of those, they’ll be contending for the conference title in late November.
No. 4 BYU
The Cougars will be racking up a lot of frequent flier miles at the start of the season as they go on the road to take on SMU and Wyoming in back-to-back weeks during nonconference play. It should be a very hostile crowd in Laramie when the Cougars come to town as it will be the Super Bowl for Wyoming fans, players, and coaches. When it comes to Big 12 play, the committee didn’t do BYU any favors. In addition to a challenging clash against rival Utah on the road, the Cougars also get games against Kansas State, Arizona, Oklahoma State, and Kansas. Getting to bowl eligibility will be a tough task for the Cougars once again.
No. 5 Houston
The Houston Cougars are in the midst of a rebuilding year and that’s not what you want to have when going up against Oklahoma during non-conference play. In addition to the fact they’ll play most of the favorites (Iowa State, Utah, Kansas, Kansas State, Arizona), getting to bowl eligibility will be a tall task. However, there is some hope with winnable games against Cincinnati, Baylor, and BYU.
No. 6 TCU
Nonconference road games against ‘ACC opponents’ Stanford and SMU — yeah that’s going to take some time getting used to — pose challenges that could result in losses. The Big 12 conference schedule offers little respite, although it’s not as tough as some of the others. So count your blessings Horned Frog fans. The road trips to Kansas and Utah will be tough, but luckily the next two toughest games will be at home against Oklahoma State and Arizona.
No. 7 Baylor
Baylor’s nonconference schedule features a unique situation in that the Bears face Utah in a ‘non-conference game’, followed by several matchups that could go either way. Key road games at Texas Tech and Colorado will likely determine the course of their season. However, avoiding Kansas State, and Arizona and not having the Utah game count as a conference loss (sorry Bears fans), is a good boost for the Bears.
No. 8 Iowa State
As it is every year, the Cyclones will take on rival Iowa in what is always a close game. However, Iowa State has struggled to find ways to win against the Hawkeyes as they’ve lost 7 of their last games against their rival. Beyond that game, the Cyclones have a decent schedule other than the ‘November to remember’ with games against Kansas and back-to-back games against Utah and Kansas State to end the year.
No. 9 UCF
Outside of a non-conference game in October against Florida — in what will be a marquee matchup for the Knights to make a national statement — UCF doesn’t have a lot of threats until the last month of the season. The Knights will face Utah, West Virginia, and Arizona in what will be the toughest stretch of the season. If they can stay healthy, UCF has a good shot at the Big 12 title.
No. 10 Oklahoma State
Survive and advance. That’s the name of the game for Oklahoma State as the Cowboys have a brutal first month before coasting the rest of the way. After a home game against Arkansas in non-conference play, the Pokes will take on Utah, Kansas State, and West Virginia in consecutive weeks. A victory in at least two of those matchups would position Oklahoma State in the driver’s seat for the Big 12 title. However, dropping those games would take them out of the race and could quickly spiral the season.
No. 11 Cincinnati
This season’s schedule is more manageable compared to last year, featuring very winnable home games against Pittsburgh, Houston, and Arizona State. The Bearcats miss some of the favorites in Utah, Kansas, and Arizona, so the chances of going bowling are a lot higher than last year.
No. 12 Texas Tech
This season’s nonconference schedule is more manageable compared to last year’s schedule. When it comes to Big 12 play, the Red Raiders have a couple of tough tests, however, just like Cincinnati, they also miss some of the top teams such as Utah and Kansas. While road games at Arizona, Iowa State, and Oklahoma State present tough tests, the Red Raiders will benefit from four home games in Big 12 play against teams that did not reach bowl games last season.
No. 13 Utah
The season will hinge on the early Big 12 games against Oklahoma State and Arizona, as well as the crucial late-season matchups with Iowa State and UCF. In between, there are ample opportunities to secure victories, with a stretch of five consecutive games against teams that did not make bowl games last year.
No. 14 Arizona
Due to conference realignment, the Wildcats have a ‘non-conference’ matchup against Kansas State on their schedule. The real challenge comes with their opening Big 12 game at Utah, which will be a significant test. If they can navigate that tough start — with games against Utah — the remainder of their schedule looks more promising as they won’t have to face Kansas, Kansas State (as a conference opponent), Oklahoma State, or Iowa State. Arizona finishes the season with games against UCF, Houston, TCU, and Arizona State, potentially setting them up for a run at the conference title game.
No. 15 Kansas State
The Wildcats face their nonconference matchup against Arizona, but the remainder of their schedule is very manageable. Kansas State not only misses contenders like Utah, but the Wildcats’ toughest tests will be at home, where they’ll face Oklahoma State and rival Kansas. If they can win those big games, expect the Wildcats to play in the Big 12 title game.
No. 16 Kansas
The non-conference matchups with Illinois and UNLV aren’t very challenging and the Big 12 schedule is very manageable too. Six of their conference games are against teams that did not make a bowl last season. With these factors in play, everything is set up for a strong season and a run at the Big 12 title.
