The 2025 college football season is inching closer. With the start of May, spring practices and transfer portal movement are mostly complete. The recruiting season is heating up for most programs around the country, and before you know it, it will already be time for fall camp.
The Big 12 Conference is setting up for another season of tightly contested matchups as several teams enter the year with hopes of contending for a conference title. Arizona State and Iowa State, who played in the conference championship game last season, are again considered two of the favorites. Still, Kansas State, TCU and BYU will have something to say about that. Texas Tech, Kansas and Utah have expectations of a resurgence after down seasons.
Will the Big 12 only have the conference champion make the College Football Playoff? That could be the case with most teams capable of beating any team on any given Saturday.
For a conference expected to have a lot of parity, every conference matchup will be much more important for teams with playoff aspirations. There is a lot of intrigue with the top five teams, but just as important is which team or teams can have an Arizona State-like breakthrough? Will it be Kansas or Texas Tech? Or could Baylor take advantage of a more manageable conference schedule?
Those questions will be answered when the season gets rolling in late August. For now, it’s time for updated win-loss projections for every team after spring practice and the rent transfer portal window.
Projected Record: 3-9 (1-8 Big 12)
Record in 2024: 4-8 (2-7 Big 12)
Most Notable Games
- at Iowa State
- vs. Kansas State
- vs. BYU
Projected Wins: Hawaii, Weber State, Oklahoma State
Projected Losses: Kansas State, Iowa State, BYU, Houston, Colorado, Kansas, Cincinnati, Baylor, Arizona State
The Wildcats lose their best player in Tetairoa McMillan, but other than Noah Fifta, Brent Brennan is rebuilding the roster. Arizona lost seven of its last eight games to close out last year, and it won’t be easier in 2025 with a schedule featuring winnable games on the road.
West Virginia Mountaineers
Projected Record: 3-9 (1-8 Big 12)
Record in 2024: 6-7 (5-4 Big 12)
Most Notable Games
- at BYU
- vs. TCU
- at Arizona State
Projected Wins: Robert Morris, Ohio, Colorado
Projected Losses: Pitt, Kansas, Utah, BYU, UCF, TCU, Houston, Arizona State, Texas Tech
Rich Rodriguez is back in Morgantown and has won at nearly every stop, including during his first stint with the Mountaineers. However, he inherits a bad roster that got Neal Brown fired and one of the most demanding schedules in the Big 12. There will be some challenging home games against the Big 12’s best, and the record should reflect that.
Projected Record: 4-8 (2-7 Big 12)
Record in 2024: 3-9 (0-9 Big 12)
Most Notable Games
- at Oregon
- at Kansas State
- vs. Iowa State
Projected Wins: UT Martin, Tulsa, Houston, Cincinnati
Projected Losses: Oregon, Baylor, Arizona, Texas Tech, Kansas, Kansas State, UCF, Iowa State
It’s hard to predict Oklahoma State will take any significant steps forward after Mike Gundy replaced both coordinators this offseason while losing nearly every significant contributor. The team won’t get blanked in conference play like they did a year ago, but I only see two conference wins for the Cowboys in 2025.
Projected Record: 4-8 (2-7 Big 12)
Record in 2024: 5-7 (3-6 Big 12)
Most Notable Games
- vs. Nebraska
- vs. Iowa State
- at TCU
Projected Wins: Bowling Green, Northwestern State, UCF, Arizona
Projected Losses: Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Baylor, Utah, BYU, TCU
The Bearcats should be right around where they were last season when they went 5-7. A challenging earlier slate puts another loss on their record, with three almost guaranteed losses in Nebraska, Kansas and Iowa State.
Projected Record: 5-7 (3-6 Big 12)
Record in 2024: 4-8 (2-7 Big 12)
Most Notable Games
- vs. North Carolina
- at Kansas State
- at BYU
Projected Wins: Jacksonville State, North Carolina A&T, West Virginia, Houston, Oklahoma State
Projected Losses: North Carolina, Kansas State, Kansas, Cincinnati, Baylor, Texas Tech, BYU
Scott Frost is back with UCF, hoping to rejuvenate a program that missed out on a bowl game for the first time since 2015. The Knights have a whole new roster filled with transfers, and a season’s worth of adjustments will be necessary.
Projected Record: 6-6 (3-6 Big 12)
Record in 2024: 4-8 (3-6 Big 12)
Most Notable Games
- vs. Texas Tech
- at Arizona State
- vs. TCU
Projected Wins: Stephen F. Austin, Rice, Oregon State, Arizona, West Virginia, TCU
Projected Losses: Colorado, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Arizona State, UCF, Baylor
The Cougars own one of the easier schedules in the conference, and they take advantage of it this year. With three below-average nonconference opponents early in the season, Houston begins the season 3-1 and rides that momentum to a six-win season and bowl eligibility.
Projected Record: 6-6 (3-6 Big 12)
Record in 2024: 9-4 (7-2 Big 12)
Most Notable Games
- vs. BYU
- at TCU
- at Kansas State
Projected Wins: Georgia Tech, Delaware, Houston, Wyoming, Iowa State, Arizona
Projected Losses: BYU, TCU, Utah, West Virginia, Arizona State, Kansas State
Colorado has the toughest conference schedule in the Big 12, facing nearly every projected top team. Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter aren’t around anymore, so a slide backward is expected. The Buffs open the year with four straight wins, but it only goes downhill the rest of the year. They go 2-6 the rest of the way to remain bowl-eligible. Deion Sanders’ team will need to pick up a win against one of BYU, TCU, Iowa State or Kansas State, and I’m going with the Cyclones at home for now. Ending the year with ASU and K-State is a brutal two-week finale.
Projected Record: 8-4 (5-4 Big 12)
Record in 2024: 5-7 (2-9 Big 12)
Most Notable Games
- vs. Texas Tech
- vs. Arizona State
- vs. Kansas State
Projected Wins: UCLA, Cal Poly, Wyoming, West Virginia, Arizona State, Colorado, Cincinnati, Kansas State
Projected Losses: Texas Tech, BYU, Baylor, Kansas
After being picked to win the Big 12 heading into 2024, the Utes should bounce back strongly this year. A new quarterback and offensive coordinator are in this year as head coach Kyle Whittingham hopes for a quick turnaround. The Utes have some top-tier home games they’ll need to take advantage of to return to the top of the Big 12.
Projected Record: 8-4 (5-4 Big 12)
Record in 2024: 11-3 (7-2 Big 12)
Most Notable Games
- vs. Kansas State (in Dublin)
- vs. BYU
- vs. Arizona State
Projected Wins: South Dakota, Iowa, Arkansas State, Arizona, Cincinnati, BYU, Arizona State, Kansas
Projected Losses: Kansas State, Colorado, TCU, Oklahoma State
Matt Campbell’s crew is coming off its best season in school history, winning 11 games and reaching the Big 12 title game. The Cyclones lose their top two wide receivers, which is a tremendous blow for their offense. Opening the year against rival Kansas State in Ireland will define who gets a leg up in the Big 12 title race.
Projected Record: 8-4 (5-4 Big 12)
Record in 2024: 9-4 (6-3 Big 12)
Most Notable Games
- at North Carolina
- at Arizona State
- at. Kansas State
Projected Wins: North Carolina, Abilene Christian, SMU, Colorado, Baylor, West Virginia, Iowa State, Cincinnati
Projected Losses: Arizona State, Kansas State, BYU, Houston
The Horned Frogs had a strange year last year, but they eventually ended up with nine wins. TCU should again be one of the top teams in the Big 12. Nonconference games against North Carolina and SMU will be good early-season tests.
Projected Record: 9-3 (6-3 Big 12)
Record in 2024: 5-7 (4-5 Big 12)
Most Notable Games
- at Missouri
- at Texas Tech
- vs. Kansas State
Projected Wins: Fresno State, Wagner, Missouri, West Virginia, Cincinnati, UCF, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Arizona
Projected Losses: Texas Tech, Iowa State, Utah
Kansas should be a popular sleeper pick this year. Returning quarterback Jalon Daniels is a dark-horse Heisman candidate, and head coach Lance Leipold always has the Jayhawks competing. Kansas has several games that could go either way, but the schedule sets up for a conference title run.
Projected Record: 9-3 (6-3 Big 12)
Record in 2024: 11-3 (7-2 Big 12)
Most Notable Games
- at Mississippi State
- vs. Texas Tech
- at Iowa State
Projected Wins: NAU, Mississippi State, Texas State, TCU, Texas Tech, Houston, West Virginia, Colorado, Arizona
Projected Losses: Baylor, Utah, Iowa State
The Sun Devils should again be legitimate College Football Playoff threats, especially with quarterback Sam Leavitt under center. It might not be an 11-win season, but nine wins are within reach.
Projected Record: 10-2 (7-2 Big 12)
Record in 2024: 8-5 (6-3 Big 12)
Most Notable Games
- at Arizona State
- at Kansas State
- vs. BYU
Projected Wins: Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Kent State, Oregon State, Utah, Houston, Kansas, Oklahoma State, BYU, UCF, West Virginia
Projected Losses: Arizona State, Kansas State
Texas Tech will enter 2025 with a top-3 transfer class and a talented roster. Joey McGuire’s crew does not face a challenging schedule and has a relatively straightforward path to double-digit wins.
Projected Record: 10-2 (7-2 Big 12)
Record in 2024: 8-5 (6-3 Big 12)
Most Notable Games
- vs. Auburn
- vs. Arizona State
- vs. Kansas State
Projected Wins: Auburn, SMU, Smaford, Arizona State, Oklahoma State, Cincinnati, UCF, Utah, Arizona, Houston
Projected Losses: Kansas State, TCU
The Bears finished 2024 with six straight wins, and that momentum continues into 2025, where they enter the year as one of the conference favorites. Baylor opens the year with crucial nonconference games against Auburn and SMU that will decide whether they are a true breakout contender.
Projected Record: 10-2 (7-2 Big 12)
Record in 2024: 11-2 (7-2 Big 12)
Most Notable Games
- vs. Utah
- at Iowa State
- at Texas Tech
Projected Wins: Portland State, Stanford, East Carolina, Colorado, West Virginia, Arizona, Utah, TCU, Cincinnati, UCF
Projected Losses: Iowa State, Texas Tech
Despite winning 11 games last season, the Cougars flew under the radar. Most of the team returns to Provo, and BYU could open the season with six straight victories. A three-game stretch against Utah, Iowa State and Texas Tech will determine how far the Cougars can go in 2025.
Projected Record: 10-2 (7-2 Big 12)
Record in 2024: 9-4 (5-4 Big 12)
Most Notable Games
- vs. Iowa State (in Dublin)
- at Baylor
- at Kansas
Projected Wins: Iowa State, North Dakota, Army, Arizona, UCF, Baylor, TCU, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Colorado
Projected Losses: Kansas, Utah
Out of all the Big 12 teams, Kansas State seems likely to lose only one conference game. The Wildcats are perennial conference contenders, and quarterback Avery Johnson should take a significant leap forward. Facing off against Iowa State in Ireland to open the year could be the difference in a conference championship game appearance.
Follow Charlie Strella on X, Threads, and Instagram.
Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
