The joy of the Big 12 is also the conference's downfall when it comes to gaining credibility with the College Footballs Playoffs and AP Poll voters.
The joy of the Big 12 is that just about any team can win the conference in just about any season. Over the last six years, six different schools have claimed the conference title.
The downfall is that of that parity is that no true bluebloods exist in the conference.
And that lack of annual powerhouses absolutely kills the credibility of the Big 12 in the minds -- and eyes -- of massively biased CFP voters and often misinformed AP Poll voters. The reason the SEC is considered the nation's premier conference is the number of teams seemingly entitled to Top 10 rankings: Georgia, Alabama, Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, LSU, etc.. Same goes for the top end of the Big Ten with annual powers like Ohio State, Oregon, Michigan, and Penn State.
Heck, even the ACC benefits from the halo that adorns the heads of Clemson and Miami.
Having the same, consistent, perennial Top 10 teams is a must for the Big 12 to gain credibility.
The good news is BYU and Texas Tech are well positioned to fill that void.
BYU and Texas Tech are positioned to make the leap to blueblood status
Texas Tech is doing everything right to warrant a Top 10 ranking to begin each season going forward. First, they are willing to spend big money on big talent. Their efforts in the transfer portal last year landed them with the No. 2 transfer class in the country, trailing only LSU. The CFP selection committee and AP Poll voters are heavily swayed by roster talent.
The Red Raiders could also very well win the national championship this year.
They are that good.
And that's what the Big 12 needs more than anything: Winning a national championship despite the corruption, greed, and collusion of the CFP selection committee with their ESPN overlord to keep the Big 12 as a one-bid conference. If the Red Raiders win the national championship this year, it will elevate the status of the entire conference.
BYU is similarly positioned.
Like the Red Raiders, the Cougars are willing to spend on talent and are 22-4 over the las two years. The Cougars finished 2024 ranked No. 13 in the country and followed that up this season currently ranked No. 12 in the CFP standings. With a win in the Pop Tarts Bowl against No. 22 Georgia Tech, the Cougs could be knocking on the door of a Top 10 ranking.
Assuming freshman sensation quarterback Bear Bachmeier returns next year and Kalani Sitake's staff remains largely in place, BYU could begin 2026 ranked somewhere near the Top 10. This matters for the Big 12. It puts BYU and the Big 12 in the national discourse from Week 1, despite ESPN's best efforts to literally erase both Cougars their conference from their studio shows.
With a strong showing this postseason, both Texas Tech and BYU could begin 2026 ranked in the Top 10.
The Big 12 needs bluebloods. Both programs are well-positioned to sustain this level of success for years to come. The good news is that the conference has two teams that are on track to get there.