The 2026 Big 12 football schedule is out, and Texas Tech looks poised for another run to Arlington. 

The Red Raiders got a very favorable draw with a schedule that does not include BYU or Utah. I would also argue Tech’s three toughest games are at home: matchups with Houston, Arizona State, and Arizona.

The non-conference slate is also more than manageable. Games against Abilene Christian, Oregon State, and Sam Houston State shouldn’t be a serious challenge to another loaded Texas Tech squad. 

I am not here to shame Tech for the schedule like many around the country are; I am just stating the obvious. It is a schedule tailor-made for another Big 12 title run.

I also don’t blame the Red Raiders for the schedule. If you’re going to crush their non-con, keep the same energy for 2025 national champion Indiana, who played Old Dominion, Kennesaw State, and Indiana State in its non-conference schedule this year. 

Oregon State was in a power conference when Texas Tech originally put the Beavers on the schedule. Blame the Big Ten for blowing up the Pac-12 and leaving Oregon State powerless to maintain a competitive football program.

You could also blame Texas and Oklahoma for leaving the Big 12. I have no doubt the Red Raiders would put the Sooners and Longhorns on the schedule in a heartbeat if they were able to. 

It’s a bummer that we won’t get a BYU-Tech matchup in the regular season, but remember that the conference opponents for each team in 2026 were determined years ago. It isn’t feasible to tweak the schedule every year based on what happened the previous season. 

BYU-Notre Dame is the Biggest Game of the Season

Speaking of the Cougars, they’ll play the most important game of the season for the conference on October 17. Notre Dame comes to Provo, giving the Big 12 a rare chance to score a win over one of the sport’s power brokers. 

Outside of the College Football Playoff, it’s becoming tougher and tougher for Big 12 teams to get a game against one of the top brands in the sport, so it’s imperative to take advantage when opportunity knocks. 

The league’s reputation took another hit after Texas Tech’s shutout loss to Oregon in the playoff. BYU could make up some ground with a win over the Fighting Irish. 

It’s also extremely important to the Cougars’ playoff hopes. BYU won 23 combined games the last two seasons but wasn’t seriously considered for a playoff spot. The country assumed last year that the Fighting Irish would mop the floor with the Cougars. 

Time to prove everyone wrong.

While Notre Dame has typically started slow under head coach Marcus Freeman, the Fighting Irish are likely to be undefeated when they get to LaVell Edwards Stadium. It sets up the potential for a statement victory for Kalani Sitake’s program.

Loaded Big 12 Non-Conference Schedule

In addition to the Notre Dame firepower, the league will also play two College Football Playoff participants from 2025 when Oklahoma State hosts Oregon and Arizona State goes to Texas A&M on September 12th. 

Iowa State goes to Iowa, Utah will host Arkansas and Kansas gets a return trip from Missouri that same day. Just one week later, West Virginia takes on ACC runner-up Virginia in Charlotte. 

Baylor gets another crack at Auburn, as does Colorado with Georgia Tech, and don’t forget about TCU opening the season with Bill Belichick and North Carolina in Ireland. 

The Big 12 picking up a win over at least one of Notre Dame, Texas A&M, or Oregon would go a long way reputationally. 

The Big 12 Needs Someone to Step Up

In compiling my list of the top five Big 12 conference games in 2026, I was left with one prevailing thought: the league needs a couple of teams to step up in a big way. 

I think Texas Tech, BYU, and Houston will be the top three teams in the league, and the only matchup between the three is Houston’s visit to Lubbock. 

Nationally, there seems to be a lot of love for Arizona State. I respect Kenny Dillingham as much as anybody, but the Sun Devils have some major talent to replace and possibly the most challenging schedule in the conference. 

Gone are QB Sam Leavitt, WR Jordyn Tyson, and RB Raleek Brown among others, and the Sun Devils have the unenviable task of playing at BYU, Texas Tech, and Texas A&M. ASU also travels to London to play Kansas in September and finishes at Arizona. 

Dillingham is somewhat of a miracle worker, but he has that work cut out for him in 2026. 

With QB Noah Fifita returning, could Arizona build on a nine-win season and add some pop to the schedule? It’s certainly possible. Watch out for the Wildcats’ week two road trip to Provo. 

Oklahoma State is also a darkhorse to compete for a Big 12 title game appearance in 2026. The Pokes have a top ten transfer portal class, according to 247 Sports, with the bulk of it comprised of players transferring from North Texas to follow head coach Eric Morris. That familiarity should give OSU a running start. 

Don’t sleep on Texas Tech’s mid-November road trip to Stillwater. 

Here’s a link to the full Big 12 schedule if you want to do your own analysis.

What You Need to Know

• Here is my list of the best 2026 Big 12 football games. 

• The Big 12 is moving the football conference championship game away from the 11 a.m. Saturday time slot. Here’s where it’s going. 

• One Big 12 basketball coach threw his own home arena under the bus: “It’s not a home-court advantage.” 

• Paul Finebaum took an unnecessary shot at BYU while undermining Indiana’s undefeated season. 

• The Big 12 announced that eight Big 12 teams will play in next year’s Player’s Era basketball tournament that gives out NIL money to the top finishing teams. 

• A legendary Big 12 football head coach is heading to the Big Ten to coach at one of college football’s most high-profile programs. 

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