The Big 12 football conference just wrapped up its summer media days in Frisco, Texas, and get this: for the second straight year, the league declined to do an official preseason poll. Yeah, you read that right. They bagged it. While it might seem meaningless, this move speaks volumes about how these things actually work and why we fans get so fired up.
The "Non-Poll" That Still Matters
So, the Big 12 decided against their own official reporter's poll. It's a fun exercise, sure, but it's also political, and honestly, it creates buzz! It's that moment when your team sees a lack of respect and gets that chip on their shoulder, or they feel that rush of pride from a high ranking. Barry Tramel, a longtime Oklahoma columnist, absolutely went there in the *Tulsa World*, picking BYU to win the Big 12 outright. He put BYU at No. 1, followed by Texas Tech at No. 2, citing serious confidence in coach Kalani Sitake's program and Bear Bachmeier's development after his freshman struggles in 2025. He even called out uncertainty at quarterback for Texas Tech! He sees Utah and Arizona as the next best bets, ahead of teams like Houston.Why These "Meaningless" Rankings Are Everything
Even if the league itself skips a poll, preseason rankings are a total rite of passage this time of year. They really show what everyone , the public, the media, the coaches , thinks about a team's credibility. BYU is showing up with a ton of respect this year; in almost every poll seen, and even in one a reporter participated in, BYU is picked to finish second, right behind Texas Tech. Some even think BYU should be No. 1 because of that QB question mark at Tech. But Jay Drew makes a killer point: these polls, especially the AP Top 25, absolutely sneak into the College Football Playoff committee's mindset when they make their first selections in November. Committee members are human, you know? They're gonna peek! This is probably huge for BYU, who started at No. 23 in the coaches poll last year before climbing into the top 10, only to lose to Texas Tech. My take? I'd put Texas Tech to win the league because I think Will Hammond is more than ready at QB, and their schedule looks arguably the softest in the conference. But here’s the kicker: if Texas Tech doesn't win the Big 12 championship game, forget the CFP. Their schedule means they'll have zero impressive wins to show for it. Beyond those two, I really think Utah, Arizona, or Houston could surprise some people. Fall practices kick off later this month and early August, and the preseason AP rankings hit mid-August. That’s when we really start seeing where everyone stacks up. The credibility, the pride, the respect, and ultimately, those precious CFP committee glances are all on the line. It's gonna be a wild one.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.