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Last year, the top five teams in the Big 12 media poll went 13-32 in conference games. The bottom five went 26-19 in league games. ASU, picked 16th, finished first.

Keep that in mind as you read any prediction about Big 12 football, which seems to be about 12 average teams and maybe four that could squeeze into the Top 25 poll. Here's my attempt at getting it right:

1. Utah: The defense-first Utes have been without an elite QB for two years. New Mexico transfer Devon Dampier could change that. Don't write off Kyle Whittingham, the standard for elite coaching in the league.

2. Texas Tech: The Red Raiders spent a relative fortune in the transfer portal and hired two new coordinators.

3. TCU: Sonny Dykes might be the league's most accomplished head coach. I'm buying his stock.

4. Kansas State: The ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ have been a Top 25 program for more than 20 years.

5. Iowa State: Cyclones coach Matt Campbell produced the school's first-ever 11-win season last year.

6. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ State: Kenny Dillingham might be ASU's top coach since Bruce Snyder’s 1996 Rose Bowl year.

7. Baylor: The Bears won six straight to end the 2024 regular season.

8. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥: If the UA's offensive line is reliable — big unknown — Brent Brennan could save his career.

9. Colorado: Is it possible Deion Sanders is in a rebuilding phase in Year 3?

10. BYU: Losing QB Jake Retzlaff in the transfer portal cost the Cougars a shot at No. 1.

11. Kansas: The Jayhawks are debuting a $300 million stadium rebuild and should be a tough out.

12. Oklahoma State: Coach Mike Gundy had his worst season since 2005; he'll surely get it together again.

13. Cincinnati: An also-ran again.

14. UCF: New coach Scott Frost went 13-0 with UCF in 2017. Don't expect a repeat.

15. West Virginia: Rich Rodriguez’s homecoming, with 50 new players, won't be a celebration.

16. Houston: The Cougars were everybody's automatic win last season, including ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥.