2026 college football predictions: Kansas State will win a wide open Big 12

Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson. AP Photo/Mitch Alcala When realignment hit college football, it seemed pretty clear that the Big 12 would be the Wild West of the Power 4. With Texas and Oklahoma out of the picture, there was not supposed to be a big dog in the conference, opening things up for chaos and carnage. But things change faster than ever in college football these days, and it’s clear that Texas Tech is hell-bent on filling the void left by the Longhorns and Sooners. The Red Raiders were one of the best teams in the nation in 2025, earning a bye into the second round of the College Football Playoff, but they fell flat against Oregon in the Orange Bowl. Texas Tech has reloaded for the upcoming season, and the market has taken notice, installing them at -105 to win the Big 12