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PROVO, UTAH - NOVEMBER 29: A detailed view of a Pylon with the Big 12 Conference logo during the game between the BYU Cougars and the UCF Knights at LaVell Edwards Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Andrew Wevers/Getty Images) | Getty Images · Getty Images

The Big 12 has produced six different conference champions over the past six years, making the league as hard to predict as any in college football.

While the conference has a well-deserved reputation for parity, oddsmakers believe that the Big 12’s revolving door of champions will come to an end this year. Heading into the start of the college football season, Texas Tech is the conference favorite by a fair margin, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Texas Tech is listed at -110 to win the conference, followed by BYU at +500 and Utah at +900.

The Red Raiders, who won the Big 12 in 2025, lead the conference with seven players on the Preseason All-Big 12 team. That includes preseason Defensive Player of the Year, defensive lineman A.J. Holmes Jr.

Texas Tech is looking to become the Big 12’s first back-to-back champion since Oklahoma won the conference six straight years from 2015-2020. Tech benefits from not having to play BYU or Utah in the regular season. Anything less than a conference title game appearance would be a massive disappointment in Lubbock.

Arizona’s odds

Arizona has the Big 12’s 7th-best odds to win the conference at +2500. Along with the aforementioned teams, Arizona is behind Houston (+1500), TCU (+1700) and Kansas State (+1900).

The Wildcats’ conference schedule explains why their odds aren’t higher despite returning the league’s most experienced quarterback in Noah Fifita.

Arizona plays at BYU, Texas Tech and Kansas State and hosts TCU and Utah. With at least five conference contenders on the schedule, oddsmakers don’t seem overly confident that Brent Brennan’s can win enough games to advance to the Big 12 title game.

On the flip side, bettors who believe in Arizona as a legitimate conference title contender can get the Wildcats at good value.

The dark horse

Bettors looking for a dark horse in the Big 12 race may want to consider Oklahoma State, who is listed at +2700.

The Cowboys are entering their first year under Eric Morris, the former North Texas coach. Oklahoma State should have a prolific offense under quarterback Drew Mestemaker, who led college football in passing yards for the 2025 season at North Texas.

Mestemaker gets to throw to a favorite target in wide receiver Wyatt Young, another North Texas transfer who is an All-Big 12 preseason selection.

Oklahoma State’s schedule is manageable with early conference season games against UCF, West Virginia and Colorado. The schedule ramps up later in the year, but OSU benefits by playing Texas Tech at home.

Odds to win Big 12 title

(per FanDuel Sportsbook)

  • Texas Tech -110
  • BYU +500
  • Utah +900
  • Houston +1500
  • TCU +1700
  • Kansas State +1900
  • Arizona +2500
  • Arizona State +2700
  • Oklahoma State +2700
  • Baylor +4000
  • Kansas +4000
  • West Virginia +4000
  • UCF +5000
  • Cincinnati +10000
  • Colorado +10000
  • Iowa State +12500

Source: Yahoo Sports