Which team did Big 12 beat writers pick to win league in 2026?

Key Points:

• BYU football coach Kalani Sitake downplays preseason predictions, noting their frequent inaccuracy, and emphasizes focusing on performance rather than campaigning for playoff spots.
• Due to unreliable preseason polls, the Big 12 discontinued its official preseason media poll in 2025, with no poll conducted in 2026; instead, beat writers from each Big 12 school created their own poll for 2026.
• The writers' poll ranks Texas Tech as the preseason favorite with 14 first-place votes and 254 points, while BYU is second with 2 first-place votes and 239 points, followed by Arizona and Houston tied for third.
• Sitake highlighted past seasons where preseason rankings did not predict final standings accurately, reinforcing his stance on focusing on team effort rather than external expectations or playoff campaigning.
• The poll results reflect the current competitive landscape of the Big 12, with Utah ranked fifth and other teams like Arizona State and Kansas State rounding out the middle of the pack.