Phil Steele predicts order of finish for Big 12 Football in 2025

College football writer Phil Steele offered his Big 12 predictions and had the order of finish for the conference in 2025. It’s setting up to be another wild year in the conference of 16 teams.

Good luck predicting the best teams unlike the Big Ten and SEC where there’s a clearer pecking order. The Big 12 being unpredictable is frankly what makes it great!

Without further ado, let’s dive into Steele’s Big 12 order or finish projections. We start with the projected conference championship game finalists and perhaps the champion!

1. Baylor

Baylor is projected to finish at the top of the Big 12 per Steele. It helps that they have skill guys like QB Sawyer Robertson and RB Bryson Washington. Offensive lineman Omar Aigbedion will be key to it all.

Dave Aranda’s won the Big 12 as a head coach already and his defense will be key to doing it again. The Bears are led by linebacker Keaton Thomas on that side.

2. Utah

Utah is a popular pick year to year in the Big 12, and the Pac-12 before that, and that’s a testament to head coach Kyle Whittingham. Steele likes them as the second best squad in the conference this year.

The offensive line should be a strength with guys like Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu at each tackle spot. Let’s not forget Tanoa Togiai at guard too. The Utes look for more of a bounce back campaign in 2025.

3. Iowa State

Matt Campbell and the Cyclones returned to form last season, but fell well short in the Big 12 title game to Arizona State. Still, they won the Pop-Tarts Bowl to cap and 11-win season!

Jeremiah Cooper leads the defense in the backfield and Carson Hansen could end up being one of the top running backs in the conference. But, a lot will be on the shoulders of QB Rocco Becht.

4. Arizona State

Kenny Dillingham and crew were picked last in the Big 12 in 2024 but won the conference anyway. They suffered a heartbreaker in the CFP quarterfinals, but this team is ready to run it back.

It helps that they have QB Sam Leavitt back for the fall, but not having running back Cam Skattebo will sting. Still, WR Jordyn Tyson is one of the best in the country and on the flip side, safety Xavion Alford is a DB to watch for.

5. Kansas State

Kansas State received a lot of top 25 buzz in the offseason. Steele only has them 5th in the Big 12 of now though.

RB Dylan Edwards is preseason 1st team while QB Avery Johnson remains one of the more exciting quarterbacks in the country. DB VJ Payne will be key in the backend if the Wildcats are to put it all together.

6. Texas Tech

The Red Raiders are an intriguing team to look at in 2025. Steele has them 6th in the Big 12, but they could quickly rise up the ranks.

RB Quinten Joyner and WR Reggie Virgil are key to the success of the offense this season. But perhaps the strength of the team is defense with a trio of defensive linemen David Bailey and Lee Hunter, as well as linebacker Jacob Rodriguez.

7. TCU

Steele has TCU in the middle of the pack in the Big 12 this coming season. The Horned Frogs have some talent, but nothing that jumps off the page in terms of a conference title favorite per the analysis.

Eric McAlister should be one of the best wide receivers in the conference this season. There are some intriguing defenders as well, such as linebacker Namdi Obiazor and safety Bud Clark.

8. BYU

BYU was a fun team to watch last season, but Steele has them in the middle of the Big 12 in 2025. Like TCU, the Cougars have a talented WR in Chase Roberts, who should be one of the best in the conference.

Linebacker Isaiah Glasker should also be one of the best. But the positions to watch? Special teams. BYU arguably has the best kicker in Will Ferrin, as well as the best punt return man in Parker Kingston.

9. Cincinnati

The Bearcats are another middling team in the Big 12, according to Steele. Of course, the conference is wide open, so they could certainly rise fast.

Cincinnati has TE Joe Royer and WR Jeff Caldwell leading the way on offense and have solid offensive linemen Taran Tyo and Gavin Gerhardt. On defense, Dontay Corleone should be one of the more exciting pass rushers in the league.

10. Kansas

Kansas does get QB Jalon Daniels back, again, despite playing just three games in 2023 and having a down year, statistically, in 2024. Lance Leipold has done a lot of good things with the Jayhawks since taking over.

As far as their Big 12 standing, Steele likes the potential of the team, but they’ll have to prove it on the field. Right now, they’re in the middle tier of teams.

11. Houston

Willie Fritz gets 18 returning starters for this year’s team, but Steele still has them lower in the Big 12 than that would indicate. Again, this is the randomness of the league.

Tanner Koziol should be an intriguing tight end to watch this fall. On the defensive end of things, pass rusher Carlos Allen runs the group.

12. UCF

Scott Frost returns to UCF as the head coach to maybe run it back. Remember 2017? Well, the team went undefeated and was the self-proclaimed national champion as members of the AAC back then!

Running back Jaden Nixon should be awesome to watch and he’ll be helped by offensive lineman Paul Rubelt. Defensive end Nyjalik Kelly could wreak havoc on opposing offenses too, but the Knights will need to get some early season juice to rise in the conference ranks.

13. Colorado

Colorado doesn’t get many passes from Steele this coming season. Deion Sanders goes into Year 3 with the program, but the Big 12 title is out of reach per the longtime college football writer.

Veteran Kaidon Salter and freshman QB Julian Lewis are in an intriguing battle this summer, the offensive line is reshaped again and Sanders will have to operate the team without stars Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders. It’ll be a fascinating watch nonetheless.

14. Oklahoma State

Mike Gundy has had a lot of success in his career with the Cowboys. But Steele has Oklahoma State finishing near the bottom of the Big 12 this coming season.

As he pointed out, Oklahoma State has a very new team this year after going 0-9 in conference play in 2024. Anything could be better than last fall, but it’s a wait and see approach.

15. Arizona

The Wildcats went 4-8 last year despite some elite playmakers at their disposal. Steele has Arizona in the back end of the Big 12 this coming season as well. 

However, 16 starters are back and there’s a little more continuity with the program. So in the end, perhaps Arizona is a little underrated.

16. West Virginia

With Rich Rodriguez back in the fold, there’s a lot of buzz on campus once again. However, Steele isn’t buying it quite yet.

With WVU projected to finish near or at the bottom of the Big 12, it’ll be a long season if it comes to fruition. Steele cited a lot of moving pieces and maybe the 2026 campaign will be better.