Big 12 is on the rise, landing 3 teams in top 15 of AP Top 25 and jockeying for multiple CFP bids

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Big 12 is on the rise, landing 3 teams in top 15 of AP Top 25 and jockeying for multiple CFP bids

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The Big 12 Conference has positioned itself for potential historic success in college football by placing three teams inside the top 15 of The Associated Press Top 25 simultaneously. BYU ranked ninth, Texas Tech ranked eleventh, and Utah ranked fifteenth, marking their highest respective standings of the season. Houston also entered the rankings at twenty-fifth, while four additional conference programs received votes. Now in its third season following conference realignment that saw marquee programs depart for the SEC, the league has demonstrated unexpected competitive parity and defensive improvement. Analysts project a realistic possibility that the conference could secure multiple bids in the expanded College Football Playoff for the first time. This milestone would counter long-standing historical trends, as the conference has not captured a national championship since 2005 and has placed only three active members into the playoff since its establishment in 2014.

Published 2026-09-21 10:29:24 UTC · Published by JQJO

Prepared by Noormahi M. · AI assisted

More context

Timeline

On January 1 2005 Longhorns captured the last national championship for the conference.
On January 1 2014 College Football Playoff system officially launched across Division I.
On January 1 2022 TCU reached the national championship game before losing.
On January 1 2023 Oklahoma and Texas officially departed the conference for SEC.
On January 1 2023 Conference placed nine teams in top thirty-five offenses.
On January 1 2024 Expanded twelve-team College Football Playoff format began operating.
On September 20 2026 AP Top 25 placed three conference teams inside top fifteen.
On September 20 2026 ESPN power index positioned multiple conference programs in top twelve.
On September 20 2026 Programs prepared for upcoming conference matchups affecting playoff positioning.
On September 20 2026 Analysts evaluated potential for dual playoff bids coming forward.
Coming months will determine conference standings and playoff selection committee outcomes.

Why it matters

Immediate US impact: Immediate US impact involves heightened television viewership and altered playoff rankings. Possible long-term US impact: Long-term US impact includes permanent conference realignment parity and financial distributions. Most affected groups: Most affected groups include member universities, athletic departments, regional fan bases, and players. Reader priority: Readers should prioritise official league announcements and verified athletic media outlets.

Coverage notes

Left: Evidence was insufficient. Center: Reports focused strictly on ranking statistics and conference realignment data. Right: Evidence was insufficient.