Big 12 prepares for 2026 season with Texas Tech as defending champion
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 25, 2026, 9:20 PM
Last updated Aug 25, 2026
The Big 12 Conference opens the 2026 football season with Texas Tech as the reigning champion. The Red Raiders enter the season after falling from No. 7 to No. 12 in the preseason AP Poll, despite returning 13 starters, including seven All-Big 12 selections. The conference seeks its first multiple playoff bids, marked by six different champions over the past six years. Key teams include Arizona, which aims to bounce back from a Holiday Bowl loss with First Team All-Big 12 quarterback Noah Fifita returning. Other contenders like BYU and Utah have also seen drops in preseason rankings compared to last season.
- •Texas Tech aims to defend its title in the 2026 season.
- •Arizona posted a 9-4 record last season but lost in the Holiday Bowl.
- •BYU and Utah both dropped in the preseason AP Poll despite returning key players.
- •The conference has seen six different champions in the last six years.
- •Multiple teams will compete for playoff berths for the first time.
- 9:20 PMYahoo Sports — 2026 Big 12 Football Season Preview
"The Big 12 has six different champions in six years. Is Texas Tech still king, or does the trend continue?
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