SALT LAKE CITY — In what was viewed as a “down year” for Big 12 basketball, the league produced a team in the National Championship game and had four teams reach the second weekend.
The Big 12 has been one of the top basketball conferences for years, and they’ll look to retake their spot as the No. 1 league next season.
It might be a crazy proposition to put out early power rankings for next season. The transfer portal remains open until the end of the month, and NBA draft decisions still need to be made. The coaching carousel is always a possibility.
Last year, we saw the coaching carousel kick into high gear after the National Championship, which led to BYU losing Mark Pope to Kentucky and eventually hiring Kevin Young.
So there is a lot of time until the beginning of November when the regular season tips off.
But that’s why we call it a “Way-Too-Early” power ranking.
Way-Too-Early Big 12 Basketball Power Rankings for 2025-26 season
Here’s our “Way-Too-Early” ranking for the 2025-26 season.
1. Houston
Head Coach: Kelvin Sampson
2024-25 record: 35-5, 19-1 Big 12 (NCAA Tournament Runner-Up; Big 12 Champion)
That National Championship loss is going to live with Houston for a while. Being up by 12 points only to let the lead go away in the final minute is a crushing defeat for a veteran Houston squad.
The good news for the Coogs is that they aren’t slowing down.
They will wait for Milos Uzan’s NBA decision. Emanuel Sharp, Joseph Tugler, and Terrance Arcenaux still have eligibility to run it back.
What’s scary for everyone else in the Big 12 is that now they are bringing in five-star talent to complement the winning culture that Kelvin Sampson has established.
Five-star Chris Cenac Jr. from Link Academy is the best of the group.
Many will ask how they replace stars like J’Wan Roberts and LJ Cryer. But we asked the same things last year after they lost Jamal Shead, one of the greatest Coogs ever.
Simply put, Houston wins. But they are still looking to break through and win the program’s first National Title, and that quest will continue into next season.
2. BYU
Head Coach: Kevin Young
2024-25 record: 26-10, 14-6 Big 12 (NCAA Tournament: Sweet 16)
Can AJ Dybantsa deliver for BYU what Cooper Flagg provided to Duke this past year? Expectations will be sky high for the nation’s No. 1 recruit.
Who will pair up with him?
Richie Saunders, the Big 12’s “Most Improved Player,” and All-Freshman guard Egor Demin must make decisions about their futures.
Demin’s future decision is coming on Tuesday morning.
If Demin and Saunders both return to team up with Dybantsa, you can throw in big Keba Keita, who already announced his return.
BYU could be positioned to have its best roster to make a run at the program’s first-ever Final Four appearance.
3. Texas Tech
Head Coach: Grant McCasland
2024-25 record: 28-9, 15-5 Big 12 (NCAA Tournament: Elite 8)
If Texas Tech gets Big 12 Player of the Year JT Toppin to turn down the NBA and return for another season, watch out.
First Team All-Big 12 performer Darrion Williams declaring for the NBA draft wasn’t a surprise, but putting his name in the portal was a surprise.
The good news for Tech is that they still have talent. They have a budding star at guard in Christian Anderson. A tandem of Anderson and Toppin puts them near the top of the league.
4. Kansas
Head Coach: Bill Self
2024-25 record: 21-13, 11-9 Big 12 (NCAA Tournament: First Round)
It’s time for a much-needed reboot in Lawrence. The past two years have sent Kansas into the middle of the pack of the Big 12.
Hunter Dickinson, Dajuan Harris, and KJ Adams were excellent college players. But the Big 12’s top hoops brand is long overdue for a reset.
Insert bucket-getter and five-star recruit Darryn Peterson to anchor KU’s guard line next season. Then you pair him up with big Flory Bidunga, who withdrew his name from the portal to run it back with the Jayhawks.
Kansas once again has NBA prospects in spotlight roles.
5. Arizona
Head Coach: Tommy Lloyd
2024-25 record: 24-13, 14-6 Big 12 (NCAA Tournament: Sweet 16)
Arizona had a successful first year in the Big 12, winning 14 games in league play and reaching the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
What’s crazy is that it’s been 25 years since their last Final Four appearance.
Clutch playmaker Caleb Love is gone, but the Wildcats bring back homegrown freshman Koa Peat into the fold. They also return big Tobe Awaka and 7-foot-2 center Montiejus Krivas, who missed all of Big 12 play due to a foot injury.
6. Baylor
Head Coach: Scott Drew
2024-25 record: 20-15, 10-10 Big 12 (NCAA Tournament: Second Round)
It’s assumed that VJ Edgecombe will be entering the NBA Draft after an impressive freshman campaign. Edgecombe was as good as advertised this past season in Waco. But the Bears had the same fate they’ve experienced the past four years, a Round of 32 exit.
Baylor has already been busy in the transfer portal, adding Oregon State forward Michael Rataj, MWC Newcomer of the Year Obi Agbim from Wyoming, and veteran Omaha guard JJ White.
While the portal gives, it also takes away. All-Freshman Big 12 guard Robert Wright had a surprising entry into the portal on Monday.
7. Iowa State
Head Coach: T.J. Otzelberger
2024-25 record: 25-10, 13-7 Big 12 (NCAA Tournament: Second Round)
Injuries derailed what felt like Iowa State’s year to break through this past year and reach the Final Four for the first time since 1944.
But as we’ve grown to learn with TJ Otzelberger’s Cyclone squads, they will always be one of the toughest outs in the league.
Tamin Lipsey and Milan Momcilovic return. The Cyclones quickly replaced Dishon Jackson in the frontcourt with former Virginia big man Blake Buchanan.
8. Oklahoma State
Head Coach: Steve Lutz
2024-25 record: 17-18, 7-13 Big 12 (NIT: Quarterfinals)
The Cowboys have been one of the busiest programs in the transfer portal this cycle, stacking up on the guard line with LSU transfer Vyctorious Miller and Seton Hall’s Isaiah Coleman. Green Bay transfer Anthony Roy is also intriguing from the mid-major ranks.
Oklahoma State could probably use some more experience in the frontcourt, but I wouldn’t be surprised if OSU coach Steve Lutz makes the Pokes a tough out in his second season.
9. Cincinnati
Head Coach: Wes Miller
2024-25 record: 19-16, 7-13 Big 12 (College Basketball Crown: Quarterfinals)
Cincinnati was one of the biggest disappointments in the Big 12 this past season. The Bearcats haven’t been to the NCAA Tournament since 2019. It’s time for Wes Miller’s program to crack into the Big Dance.
Cincy has returners Day Day Thomas and Dillon Mitchell to build around. Then they picked up West Virginia transfer Sencire Harris to boost the guard line.
10. TCU
Head Coach: Jamie Dixon
2024-25 record: 16-16, 9-11 Big 12
TCU added guard Brock Harding from Iowa and Jayden Pierre from Providence. The question is, can TCU ever break out of the middle of the pack in the league?
11. Kansas State
Head Coach: Jerome Tang
2024-25 record: 16-17, 9-11 Big 12
We finally got some movement from K-State. Jerome Tang’s squad picked up a commitment from Abdi Bashir out of Monmouth.
Bashir averaged 20 points per game last season.
K-State brings back Dug McDaniel and could get Max Jones back for another year of eligibility.
12. Utah
Head Coach: Alex Jensen
2024-25 record: 16-17, 8-12 Big 12 (College Basketball Crown: First Round)
It’s a new era in Salt Lake City under former Utah great Alex Jensen.
Jensen brings with him NBA credentials and has made splashes with building out the staff by landing Sacramento Kings assistant GM Wes Wilcox as the program’s new General Manager.
However, roster construction is taking some time for the Utes.
They added Fairleigh Dickinson guard Terrence Brown, who averaged 20 points per game last season. The Utes also got Keanu Dawes to withdraw his name from the portal.
13. Arizona State
Head Coach: Bobby Hurley
2024-25 record: 13-20, 4-16 Big 12 (College Basketball Crown: First Round)
The Sun Devils have been raided by the transfer portal, losing Joson Sanon to St. John’s, and former five-star Jayden Quaintance continues to go through the portal.
Bobby Hurley added former BYU player Marcus Adams Jr. from Cal State Northridge. Adams averaged 16.1 points per game while shooting 52.6% from the field last season for CSUN.
14. West Virginia
Head Coach: Ross Hodge
2024-25 record: 19-13, 10-10 Big 12
For the third consecutive year, West Virginia is rebuilding an entire roster. The Mountaineers have a new coach, Ross Hodge, from North Texas, after Darian DeVries left following one season in Morgantown to take the Indiana job.
Hodge is building the roster from the ground up. But he got off to a nice start, adding 7-footer Harlan Obioha from UNC-Wilmington.
15. Colorado
Head Coach: Tad Boyle
2024-25 record: 14-21, 3-17 Big 12 (College Basketball Crown: First Round)
Colorado struggled in their first season back in the Big 12 Conference. Will things get much better next year? Colorado still has big man Bangot Dak in the fold. After that, the Buffs have a light roster at the moment.
16. UCF
Head Coach: Johnny Dawkins
2024-25 record: 20-17, 7-13 Big 12 (College Basketball Crown: Runner-Up)
UCF had a nice postseason run in the College Basketball Crown final. But this past year was supposed to be the year they made a return to the NCAA Tournament.
It’s back to building up the roster for Johnny Dawkins. Guard Darius Johnson has no more eligibility and the Big 12’s leading scorer Keyshawn Hall transferred to Auburn.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU in the Big 12 Conference on X: @Mitch_Harper.
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