The preseason AP Top 25 has arrived, and four programs from the Big 12 Conference will open the year ranked among the nation’s best.
Arizona State leads the group at No. 11, followed by Kansas State at No. 17, Iowa State at No. 22, and Texas Tech at No. 23.
Arizona State’s spot just outside the top ten reflects the program’s strong finish last season and the return of key contributors on both sides of the ball. Kansas State’s preseason position reinforces its reputation for consistency under Chris Klieman, while Iowa State continues to earn national respect after making steady progress in the Big 12 race.
Texas Tech rounds out the ranked quartet, giving the league another team in the lower half of the poll with the potential to climb quickly once the season begins.
The release of the preseason rankings also confirms that Kansas State’s season opener against Iowa State in Dublin, Ireland, will be a Top 25 matchup.
With the Wildcats at No. 17 and the Cyclones at No. 22, the Big 12 will have one of college football’s marquee Week 0 games on an international stage. The meeting will mark the first time two ranked Big 12 programs have faced off outside the United States, giving both teams an early chance to strengthen their resumes before conference play begins.
Just outside the Top 25, BYU, Baylor, TCU, and Colorado all received votes. While they did not crack the poll, their inclusion signals that the league’s depth could once again become a storyline in 2025.
With four ranked teams and several others on the cusp, the Big 12 enters the season positioned for a competitive year that could produce weekly movement in the national rankings.
