The Houston Cougars were voted No. 1 in the Big 12 Men’s Basketball Preseason Media Poll, released this week. The poll was selected by media members who regularly cover the Big 12 and men’s college basketball.
Voters project Houston to capture a third consecutive Big 12 regular-season title after another dominant campaign last year, when the Cougars won both the regular-season and conference tournament crowns before advancing to the NCAA National Championship Game.
Texas Tech, BYU, Arizona Follow Houston in Top Tier
Texas Tech earned the No. 2 spot in the poll and features the Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year, JT Toppin, as voted on by the league’s head coaches.
BYU was selected third, while Arizona is projected to grab the final double-bye for the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men’s Basketball Tournament, set for March 10–14 at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.
Deep and Competitive Middle of the Pack
Iowa State, Kansas, Baylor, and Kansas State were voted fifth through eighth, while Cincinnati, TCU, West Virginia, Oklahoma State, Utah, UCF, Colorado, and Arizona State rounded out the poll.
The upcoming season once again highlights the league’s balance and national depth — a record-tying six Big 12 programs enter the year ranked in the Preseason AP Top 25.
Key DatesSeason Opens: Monday, November 3Conference Play Begins: Friday, January 2Regular Season Ends: Saturday, March 7Big 12 Tournament: March 10–14, T-Mobile Center (Kansas City, MO)2025–26 Big 12 Men’s Basketball Preseason Media PollHoustonTexas TechBYUArizonaIowa StateKansasBaylorKansas StateCincinnatiTCUWest VirginiaOklahoma StateUtahUCFColoradoArizona State