Can you even believe how bad the Big 12's official preseason predictions got in 2024? They were so wildly off base, so totally out of touch, that the entire league just threw its hands up in 2025 and said "no more polls!" Fast forward to this year, 2026, and the talkfest in Frisco, Texas, wrapped up again with no official ranking. But don't worry, the beat writers who live and breathe this league weren't about to let that stand, so they went ahead and created their own poll, and the results are definitely going to get people talking.
The Writers Stepped Up, And Texas Tech Took the Crown
When the Big 12 refused to make an official preseason media poll, longtime scribe Berry Tramel from the Tulsa World sparked an idea: the league's 16 beat writers, one from each school, would run their own vote. It's a true fan's move, stepping up when the league wouldn't. Points were awarded on a 16-15-14-13 system, with a first-place vote snagging 16 points. And man, there was so much buzz at The Star for BYU to supplant Texas Tech as the preseason favorite! Everyone was talking about it, especially with the Brendan Sorsby situation leaving the Red Raiders a bit uncertain at quarterback. But nope. When the dust settled, Texas Tech absolutely dominated, pulling in 14 first-place votes and a massive 254 points. They're clearly the choice to repeat. BYU, who thankfully has a more settled quarterback spot, grabbed the other two first-place votes and 239 points, locking down a solid second place. Arizona and Houston tied for third with 207 points, and Utah rounded out the top five with 198 points.Kalani Sitake Says, "They Are Wrong Every Time!"
BYU coach Kalani Sitake is not shy about his feelings on preseason polls. He reminded reporters at media days that "They are wrong every time, so they stopped making predictions as a league." And honestly, he's got a point! Back in 2024, BYU was picked to finish 13th, and Arizona State was 16th. What happened? Those two teams ended up tying for the regular-season conference championship alongside Iowa State (picked sixth) and Colorado (picked 11th)! Meanwhile, preseason favorite Utah, riddled with quarterback injuries, tumbled all the way down to tie for 13th with Arizona and UCF. That's why the official Big 12 poll essentially died right there. You gotta wonder if BYU might have made the College Football Playoff in 2024 or 2025 if they'd started the season ranked higher, but Sitake says he's not in the business of campaigning for those spots. He just wants his team to do their job and play their best. So, who's right? The writers who put Texas Tech at #1, or Coach Sitake who insists these polls are destined to be proven wrong? We'll start to find out in Week 2 when BYU faces Arizona in what's shaping up to be an absolutely huge Big 12 opener in Provo. Get ready, because this season is gonna be a wild one, no matter what any poll says!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.