Ranking the 2025 Big 12 Football Schedules
The Big 12 was full of surprises last season. Preseason top-25 teams like Utah and Oklahoma State struggled, while Arizona State shocked everyone by winning the conference and earning a College Football Playoff berth.
In 2024, Iowa State, BYU, and Colorado were in contention with Arizona State for that coveted CFP spot. That competitive balance could carry into 2025, with Baylor, Texas Tech, and Kansas State also expected to be in the mix.
With so many teams vying for a playoff spot, most of the conference will face tough matchups, though some schedules are significantly harder than others.
Spring football is approaching, but the second transfer portal window is still ahead, meaning rosters remain in flux. Based on current information, Athlon Sports ranks the 2025 Big 12 schedules from easiest to hardest below.
1. Texas Tech
Notable Games: At Arizona State, at Kansas State, vs. BYU
Outlook: Texas Tech benefits from a favorable schedule, featuring several struggling teams from last season. Their nonconference opponents combined for just eight wins, and their first six games are against teams that missed a bowl. However, tough road games against Arizona State and Kansas State, plus a late visit from BYU, add some difficulty.
2. BYU
Notable Games: At Iowa State, at Texas Tech, vs. TCU
Outlook: The Cougars start with FCS Portland State and a struggling Stanford program. Their Big 12 slate is manageable, with five of their eight opponents coming off losing seasons. A tough three-game stretch—at Iowa State and Texas Tech, followed by TCU—will be their biggest challenge as they chase their first Big 12 title.
3. Kansas
Notable Games: At Missouri, vs. Kansas State, at Iowa State
Outlook: Kansas opens with five of its first six games at home, including a long-awaited Border War matchup against Missouri. The second half is much tougher, featuring road games against Texas Tech and Iowa State and a visit from rival Kansas State. Protecting home field will be key to bowl eligibility.
4. Arizona State
Notable Games: At Mississippi State, at Utah, vs. Texas Tech
Outlook: The Sun Devils won’t surprise anyone after last season’s CFP run. They play six teams that finished with winning records in conference play last year. Road games at Baylor and Iowa State could be tough, but hosting TCU and Texas Tech provides a chance to defend their strong home record.
5. UCF
Notable Games: vs. North Carolina, at Kansas State, at BYU
Outlook: UCF benefits from an early stretch of home games, including a high-profile matchup against North Carolina. Their road schedule, however, is brutal, with trips to Kansas State, Baylor, Texas Tech, and BYU. The home slate is more favorable, making Orlando a key battleground for their success.
6. Baylor
Notable Games: vs. Auburn, at SMU, at TCU
Outlook: Baylor starts with a tough home game against Auburn before renewing its rivalry with SMU, a CFP team last season. Early conference matchups against Arizona State and Kansas State will test them, but a late-season stretch against weaker opponents offers a chance to build momentum.
7. Cincinnati
Notable Games: vs. Nebraska (at Arrowhead Stadium), vs. Iowa State, vs. BYU
Outlook: Cincinnati opens with a marquee game against Nebraska before an easier stretch against Bowling Green and FCS Northwestern State. Their conference schedule is mixed, with home-field advantage against tough teams like Iowa State, Baylor, and BYU but a challenging season finale at TCU.
8. Houston
Notable Games: At Oregon State, vs. Texas Tech, at Arizona State
Outlook: Houston’s path to a bowl game won’t be easy. They start with two non-Power 4 in-state opponents but then face Colorado and Oregon State. Their Big 12 schedule features several fellow sub-.500 teams from last year, but tough games against Texas Tech, Arizona State, and Baylor make things difficult.
9. Oklahoma State
Notable Games: At Oregon, vs. Baylor, at Kansas
Outlook: After a disappointing 2024, Oklahoma State faces an early test against Big Ten champion Oregon. Big 12 play starts with Baylor at home, but the schedule toughens in November with three road games in five weeks. Their final stretch will determine if they return to bowl eligibility.
10. Kansas State
Notable Games: vs. Iowa State (in Ireland), at Arizona, vs. Texas Tech
Outlook: Kansas State starts the season overseas against Iowa State, then faces tough nonconference matchups against North Dakota and Army. Their conference slate includes a rare nonconference meeting with Arizona and a tricky stretch featuring Baylor, TCU, and Texas Tech.
11. Colorado
Notable Games: vs. Georgia Tech, at TCU, at Kansas State
Outlook: Colorado faces a challenging transition after losing key talent. They start against Georgia Tech and Wyoming but will have to navigate a conference schedule that includes road games at TCU and Kansas State. With several playoff-caliber teams on the schedule, a step back from 2024 is possible.
12. Arizona
Notable Games: vs. Kansas State, at Iowa State, at Arizona State
Outlook: Arizona’s first six games are mostly at home, but Kansas State and BYU are tough matchups. A brutal second half includes four road games, including a visit to rival Arizona State to close the season. Their bowl hopes will depend on finding wins in a tough Big 12 landscape.
13. Utah
Notable Games: At UCLA, vs. Texas Tech, at BYU
Outlook: Utah’s 2025 outlook isn’t promising. They open with road games at UCLA and Wyoming before facing a tough Big 12 slate. Their only “easier” opponents are Colorado and Kansas, but overall, they face one of the toughest schedules in the conference.
14. Iowa State
Notable Games: vs. Kansas State (in Ireland), vs. Iowa, at TCU
Outlook: Iowa State has a high-profile start with international Farmageddon against Kansas State, followed by the annual Cy-Hawk game. After an early road game at Arkansas State, conference play begins with Arizona and Cincinnati, but the schedule intensifies with late-season matchups against BYU, Arizona State, and TCU.
15. West Virginia
Notable Games: vs. Pittsburgh, at BYU, at Arizona State
Outlook: West Virginia faces an uphill battle in 2025. A rivalry game against Pitt highlights the nonconference slate, but their Big 12 schedule is tough, featuring more road games than home games. With significant roster turnover, bowl eligibility is uncertain.
16. TCU
Notable Games: At North Carolina, at Kansas State, vs. Baylor
Outlook: TCU enters 2025 with momentum but faces a difficult schedule. They open at North Carolina and later face SMU before diving into conference play. Their Big 12 slate includes road games at Arizona State, Kansas State, and BYU, making their path to the postseason a major challenge.