The Big 12 conference is surging past expectations, currently ranked as the second-best conference in the country according to a October 20 report. The conference features three undefeated teams and a fourth team with only one loss, according to the report.
Tom Fornelli’s conference ratings place the Big 12 between the SEC and the Big Ten. These ratings do not include preseason rankings in an effort to eliminate biases from off-season narratives. While the Big 12 has four strong teams this year, it only had three such teams last year, consisting of Texas Tech, BYU, and Utah. This year, the conference has bolstered its reputation through key non-conference wins.
BYU, Texas Tech, and Utah are all ranked in the top 10, while Houston sits at No. 14. Houston has only lost to undefeated Texas Tech. Other notable conference performers include Oklahoma State, which earned a win over Oregon, and Arizona, which holds a top-25 ranking. This performance has led some to consider the Big 12's top teams as being as reliable, if not more so, than the top contenders in the Big Ten.
The Big Ten currently has only one undefeated team remaining, UCLA, which has no wins over currently ranked teams after Oregon fell out of the rankings. While the Big Ten may find a way to three teams due to preseason rankings, none of its teams besides Ohio State and Indiana currently have a win over a top opponent. The Big 12 has a potential path to placing three teams in the top rankings.
The Big 12's current standing places it significantly ahead of the ACC, which is ranked as the fourth-best conference in terms of points.
