Big 12 football final standings projection ahead of fall camp

Several Big 12 teams, including the Colorado Buffaloes, will begin fall camp next week, making it an ideal time to predict how the conference will unfold during the 2025 season.

The Big 12 is by far the most competitive power conference heading into the season, with multiple teams believing they can win a title. Arizona State, the defending conference champions, is back to defend its title, while Kansas State appears to be its top challenger. Texas Tech will also have a say, along with Colorado, Kansas, TCU, Baylor and Iowa State. You can create more parity than what the Big 12 presents.

After spring practices, we predicted each Big 12 program's 2025 record, and parity was a central theme, with four teams projected to have a 7-2 conference record. Nearly three months later, has anything changed?

We have gone a step further and predicted the final Big 12 standings a week out from fall camp.

Here are those standings from last place to first, but without an exact record projection.

16. West Virginia Mountaineers

Previous conference record prediction: 1-8

West Virginia went a surprising 5-4 in conference play last season, but that won't be the case in 2025. Rich Rodriguez is back in Morgantown, but he is rebuilding the program from the studs. Year one will not be pretty. Bear in mind that even the last-place finisher in the Big 12 could win four or five games.

15. Arizona Wildcats

Previous conference record prediction: 1-8

Arizona won't finish last this year because quarterback Noah Fifita is too talented for that to happen, but the Wildcats will be close to the bottom. Brent Brennan should hope I am very wrong about this.

14. UCF Knights

Previous conference record prediction: 3-6

The Knights have too many question marks for my taste. Their running game should be talented, but with so many new pieces, I don't see them making that much noise this season.

13. Oklahoma State Cowboys

Previous conference record prediction: 2-7

I am betting on Mike Gundy to turn things around in Stillwater after an abysmal 2024. The Cowboys won't go 0-9 in conference again

12. Cincinnati Bearcats

Previous conference record prediction: 2-7

I like Cincinnati's quarterback, Brendan Sorsby, but the Bearcats' schedule is formidable and will be challenging to navigate.

11. Houston Cougars

Previous conference record prediction: 3-6

Houston is one of my sleeper teams. I think they have a very manageable schedule and should easily win six games overall, but in a tight Big 12, that still is only good for 11th place.

10. BYU Cougars

Previous record prediction: 7-2

I had BYU as one of the top few teams after spring ball, but after quarterback Jake Retzlaff transferred to Tulane, the offense has major question marks. That alone adds at least a couple of losses to the Cougars' record.

9. Kansas Jayhawks

Previous record prediction: 6-3

Another Big 12 sleeper in my eyes. I love Lance Leipold as a coach, and Jalon Daniels can be a difference-maker at quarterback. The Jayhawks should be at least two conference wins better than last season, when they went 4-5.

8. Colorado Buffaloes

Previous record prediction: 3-6

I think Colorado will take a step back from its 9-4 record last year, but a bowl game should still be in reach. The Buffs have the talent to challenge for the conference title, but they will need three wins against either BYU, TCU, Utah, Kansas State, Arizona State and Iowa State. It is possible, but I won't be predicting that in late July.

7. Iowa State Cyclones

Previous record prediction: 5-4

After a historic season for the Cyclones last year, winning 11 games and making the Big 12 title game, a step back is expected. To make matters worse, quarterback Rocco Becht lost his top two targets to the NFL. It would be quite the coaching job from Matt Campbell if Iowa State is playing meaningful postseason football after this season.

6. TCU Horned Frogs

Previous record prediction: 5-4

The Horned Frogs could have the best offense in the conference, led by quarterback Josh Hoover. They should once again be in the mix late in the year.

5. Texas Red Raiders

Previous record prediction: 7-2

Every team from here on out can easily win the Big 12 title. So, just because the Red Raiders are No. 5, it doesn't mean they are any less likely to be in Dallas competing for the conference title. Joey McGuire went all in with the transfer portal, showing the Red Raiders aren't messing around.

4. Arizona State Sun Devils

Previous record prediction: 6-3

The defending conference champions and College Football Playoff darlings from 2024, the Sun Devils return quarterback Sam Leavitt and top target Jordyn Tyson, and that is enough to remain around the top of the Big 12 despite also losing running back Cam Skattebo.

3. Kansas State Wildcats

Previous record prediction: 7-2

Chris Klieman is a winner, and I don't expect that to change this year. Quarterback Avery Johnson could win the Heisman, and running back Dylan Edwards, combined with wide receiver Jayce Brown, give the Wildcats the most explosive offense in the league.

2. Utah Utes

Previous record prediction: 5-4

When I first made my Utah record prediction, I was sleeping on quarterback Devon Dampier, who transferred to Utah from New Mexico. Combine that addition with his former offensive coordinator, Jason Beck, and that smooth transition will go a long way toward making Utah one of the teams to beat in the Big 12

1. Baylor Bears

Previous record prediction: 7-2

Maybe I am too high on Baylor, but what is a prediction without any bold takes? This may be my boldest. Winning their last six regular-season games told me the Bears were no joke. Now they bring back quarterback Sawyer Robertson and running back Bryson Washington to lead the offense that is another for me to believe.

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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Big 12 football projected final standings for the 2025 season