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Who has the most difficult schedule in the Big 12?

Not every schedule is created equal — even in the Big 12, where it seems parity is the key word to describe the annual football race.

In 2025, though, who will have the toughest schedule in the league?

The Deseret News took a deep dive look into this question, creating a formula to best try to come up with an answer that considers both nonconference and Big 12 play, along with national strength of schedule metrics.

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This formula is based on three criteria:

1. Where each team lands in national strength of schedule rankings: ESPN Football Power Index’s strength of schedule, Pro Football Network strength of schedule and Phil Steele’s toughest schedule rankings were used for this exercise.

Each team’s average strength of schedule is then calculated and arranged from 1 (hardest) to 16 (easiest) and given a corresponding point value.

2. Ranking each Big 12 team’s nonconference schedules: I compared the three-game nonleague schedule for every Big 12 team, ranking in order from 1 (hardest) to easiest (16), with heavy consideration given to facing power conference level opponents and whether the game(s) were on the road or at home.

3. Ranking each Big 12 team’s conference schedule: Using my post-spring Big 12 power rankings as a guide (and factoring a significant drop for BYU with the loss of Jake Retzlaff), I ranked each team’s Big 12 schedule from 1 (hardest) to 16 (easiest) in terms of difficulty.

Among the factors used to make these rankings were difficulty of opponents, how many of those most difficult games came at home vs. on the road and consecutive games against the Big 12’s toughest projected teams.

I then added the point value up for each criteria to come up with the rankings. The lowest total scores equaled the toughest schedules, while highest scores were the more favorable schedules.

That doesn’t mean teams at the top won’t be in the Big 12 race, or that teams at the bottom have a sure path to the league title. It just helps to determine how their schedule — and its difficulty — may factor in to the challenges the team faces during the 12-game 2025 season.

Here’s how it all shook out.

No. 1: Utah Utes

ESPN strength of schedule: 58
Pro Football Network strength of schedule: 24
Phil Steele toughest schedule: 32
Average strength of schedule from national publications: 38

National average strength of schedule rank: No. 4 in Big 12 (4 points)
Deseret News nonconference schedule rank: No. 4 in Big 12 (4 points)
Deseret News conference schedule rank: No. 3 in Big 12 (3 points)
Total: 11 points

2025 schedule

Aug. 30 — at UCLA
Sept. 6 — vs. Cal Poly
Sept. 13 — at Wyoming
Sept. 20 — vs. Texas Tech
Sept. 27 — at West Virginia
Oct. 11 — vs. Arizona State
Oct. 18 — at BYU
Oct. 25 — vs. Colorado
Nov. 1 — vs. Cincinnati
Nov. 15 — at Baylor
Nov. 22 — vs. Kansas State
Nov. 28 — at Kansas

Utah’s new-look offense, led by Devon Dampier, will be challenged in Week 1 when the Utes head to UCLA for one of the more anticipated opening games in the conference. The defense will face one of the better signal callers in college football, after the Nico Iamaleava drama landed him in Los Angeles.

If they win that, Utah should be unbeaten heading into league play, despite playing two nonconference games on the road.

Utah will play five of its nine Big 12 games at home this year, with three of its toughest league matchups — Texas Tech, Arizona State and Kansas State — all coming to Rice-Eccles Stadium.

The Utes will have a bye before facing the Sun Devils in midseason, a nice little rest before taking on the defending league champions in what should be one of the better conference matchups this season.

There are a handful of difficult road games for Utah in conference action, including a road trip to face rival BYU in October, along with a trip to Baylor in mid-November, though the Utes have a bye before that matchup.

No. 2: Oklahoma State Cowboys

ESPN strength of schedule: 39
Pro Football Network strength of schedule: 31
Phil Steele toughest schedule: 14
Average strength of school from national publications: 28

National average strength of schedule rank: No. 1 in Big 12 (1 point)
Deseret News nonconference schedule rank: No. 3 in Big 12 (3 points)
Deseret News conference schedule rank: No. 9 in Big 12 (9 points)
Total: 12 points

2025 schedule

Aug. 28 — vs. UT Martin
Sept. 6 — at Oregon
Sept. 19 — vs. Tulsa
Sept. 27 — vs. Baylor
Oct. 4 — at Arizona
Oct. 11 — vs. Houston
Oct. 18 — vs. Cincinnati
Oct. 25 — at Texas Tech
Nov. 1 — at Kansas
Nov. 15 — vs. Kansas State
Nov. 22 — at UCF
Nov. 29 — vs. Iowa State

The Cowboys’ strength of schedule is elevated because of the most difficult nonconference matchup in the Big 12, a road game at Oregon.

During league play, Oklahoma State faces several expected conference contenders, with a road game at Texas Tech to start a two-game road swing, but benefit from five Big 12 games at home. That includes late-season games with Kansas State and Iowa State.

No. 3: TCU Horned Frogs

ESPN strength of schedule: 48
Pro Football Network strength of schedule: 6
Phil Steele toughest schedule: 66
Average strength of schedule from national publications: 40

National average strength of schedule rank: No. 5 in Big 12 (5 points)
Deseret News nonconference schedule rank: No. 2 in Big 12 (2 points)
Deseret News conference schedule rank: No. 8 in Big 12 (8 points)
Total: 15 points

2025 schedule

Sept. 1 — at North Carolina
Sept. 13 — vs. Abilene Christian
Sept. 20 — vs. SMU
Sept. 26 — at Arizona State
Oct. 4 — vs. Colorado
Oct. 11 — at Kansas State
Oct. 18 — vs. Baylor
Oct. 25 — at West Virginia
Nov. 8 — vs. Iowa State
Nov. 15 — at BYU
Nov. 22 — at Houston
Nov. 29 — vs. Cincinnati

The Horned Frogs are one of just two Big 12 teams who will face two power conference level programs in nonconference play, as they travel to North Carolina for their opener and later host SMU. For a team that finished 2024 strong, that’s a big challenge that could pay off handsomely.

TCU must play five of its Big 12 games on the road, and perhaps none will be tougher than facing defending league champion Arizona State on a short week to open conference play. The Horned Frogs also travel to Kansas State and BYU, but get Baylor, Iowa State, Cincinnati and Colorado at home.

No. 4: West Virginia Mountaineers

ESPN strength of schedule: 55
Pro Football Network strength of schedule: 22
Phil Steele toughest schedule: 48
Average strength of schedule from national publications: 41.7

National average strength of schedule rank: No. 7 in Big 12 (7 points)
Deseret News nonconference schedule rank: No. 10 in Big 12 (10 points)
Deseret News conference schedule rank: No. 1 in Big 12 (1 point)
Total: 18 points

2025 schedule

Aug. 30 — vs. Robert Morris
Sept. 6 — at Ohio
Sept. 13 — vs. Pittsburgh
Sept. 20 — at Kansas
Sept. 27 — vs. Utah
Oct. 3 — at BYU
Oct. 18 — at UCF
Oct. 25 — vs. TCU
Nov. 1 — at Houston
Nov. 8 — vs. Colorado
Nov. 15 — at Arizona State
Nov. 29 — vs. Texas Tech

The Mountaineers have a manageable nonconference schedule, especially if they can beat the ACC’s Pittsburgh in the third week in a home game. That could start the new Rich Rodriguez era off on the right foot.

The conference schedule for West Virginia is another story. The Mountaineers play five league games on the road, must travel to Arizona State and BYU, as well as Kansas to start Big 12 action, and get Utah, TCU and Texas Tech all coming to Morgantown. That’s a difficult group of conference matchups, among the toughest in the league.

No. 5 (tied): Kansas Jayhawks

ESPN strength of schedule: 60
Pro Football Network strength of schedule: 37
Phil Steele toughest schedule: 11
Average strength of school from national publications: 36

National average strength of schedule rank: No. 2 in Big 12 (2 points)
Deseret News nonconference schedule rank: No. 5 in Big 12 (5 points)
Deseret News conference schedule rank: No. 12 in Big 12 (12 points)
Total: 19 points

2025 schedule

Aug. 23 — vs. Fresno State
Aug. 29 — vs. Wagner
Sept. 6 — at Missouri
Sept. 20 — vs. West Virginia
Sept. 27 — vs. Cincinnati
Oct. 4 — at UCF
Oct. 11 — at Texas Tech
Oct. 25 — vs. Kansas State
Nov. 1 — vs. Oklahoma State
Nov. 8 — at Arizona
Nov. 22 — at Iowa State
Nov. 28 — vs. Utah

The Jayhawks face a big challenge going into SEC territory in Week 3 to face a Missouri team that went 10-3 last season.

That’s the only road game for Kansas through the end of September, as the Jayhawks play four of their first five games at home, including two games to start league play. Kansas has five home contests in Big 12 action, with the most difficult a regular-season finale against Utah, but also must travel to Texas Tech and Iowa State.

No. 5 (tied): Baylor Bears

ESPN strength of schedule: 50
Pro Football Network strength of schedule: 21
Phil Steele toughest schedule: 40
Average strength of schedule from national publications: 37

National average strength of schedule rank: No. 3 in Big 12 (3 points)
Deseret News nonconference schedule rank: No. 1 in Big 12 (1 point)
Deseret News conference schedule rank: No. 15 in Big 12 (15 points)
Total: 19 points

2025 schedule

Aug. 29 — vs. Auburn
Sept. 6 — at SMU
Sept. 13 — vs. Samford
Sept. 20 — vs. Arizona State
Sept. 27 — at Oklahoma State
Oct. 4 — vs. Kansas State
Oct. 18 — at TCU
Oct. 25 — at Cincinnati
Nov. 1 — vs. UCF
Nov. 15 — vs. Utah
Nov. 22 — at Arizona
Nov. 29 — vs. Houston

Baylor will be challenged right out of the gate, playing an SEC team (Auburn) at home before hitting the road to face an ACC opponent (SMU) that made the College Football Playoff last season.

The Bears then host defending Big 12 champion Arizona State in their league opener and Kansas State two weeks after that. By midseason, Baylor will be proven as a contender or pretender in the Big 12 race.

The Bears also must face TCU on the road in the back half of the schedule, as well as host Utah, though Baylor at least has a bye before taking on the Utes.

No. 7: Kansas State Wildcats

ESPN strength of schedule: 64
Pro Football Network strength of schedule: 35
Phil Steele toughest schedule: 35
Average strength of schedule from national publications: 44.7

National average strength of schedule rank: No. 9 in Big 12 (9 points)
Deseret News nonconference schedule rank: No. 8 in Big 12 (8 points)
Deseret News conference schedule rank: No. 4 in Big 12 (4 points)
Total: 21 points

2025 schedule

Aug. 23 — vs. Iowa State (in Dublin, Ireland)
Aug. 30 — vs. North Dakota
Sept. 6 — vs. Army
Sept. 12 — at Arizona
Sept. 27 — vs. UCF
Oct. 4 — at Baylor
Oct. 11 — vs. TCU
Oct. 25 — at Kansas
Nov. 1 — vs. Texas Tech
Nov. 15 — at Oklahoma State
Nov. 22 — at Utah
Nov. 29 — vs. Colorado

The first four weeks of the season are a bit unusual for Kansas State, starting with a neutral-site Big 12 matchup against Iowa State in Ireland that is likely to have big implications on the conference race. Then Kansas State plays at league foe Arizona in a game that won’t count in the Big 12 standings.

Once the Wildcats’ conference schedule kicks off in earnest at the end of September, they’ll play four each at home and on the road. There are a number of likely Big 12 contenders on the schedule, with home games against TCU and Texas Tech and road matchups at Baylor and Utah.

No. 8: Colorado Buffaloes

ESPN strength of schedule: 67
Pro Football Network strength of schedule: 19
Phil Steele toughest schedule: 63
Average strength of schedule from national publications: 49.7

National average strength of schedule rank: No. 12 in Big 12 (12 points)
Deseret News nonconference schedule rank: No. 11 in Big 12 (11 points)
Deseret News conference schedule rank: No. 2 in Big 12 (2 points)
Total: 25 points

2025 schedule

Aug. 29 — vs. Georgia Tech
Sept. 6 — vs. Delaware
Sept. 12 — at Houston
Sept. 20 — vs. Wyoming
Sept. 27 — vs. BYU
Oct. 4 — at TCU
Oct. 11 — vs. Iowa State
Oct. 25 — at Utah
Nov. 1 — vs. Arizona
Nov. 8 — at West Virginia
Nov. 22 — vs. Arizona State
Nov. 29 — at Kansas State

Colorado should benefit from staying at Folsom Field for the entirety of their nonconference slate. The toughest of those matchups will come against ACC’s Georgia Tech in the opener, though it’s been more than a decade since the Yellow Jackets’ last double-digit win season.

The Buffaloes leave Colorado only once before the end of September, a favorable start to the year, but things get considerably tougher after that with road trips to TCU and Utah in November and Kansas State in the regular-season finale. Colorado also must host BYU, Iowa State and Arizona State.

No. 9: Arizona Wildcats

ESPN strength of schedule: 65
Pro Football Network strength of schedule: 25
Phil Steele toughest schedule: 31
Average strength of schedule from national publications: 40.3

National average strength of schedule rank: No. 6 in Big 12 (6 points)
Deseret News nonconference schedule rank: No. 9 in Big 12 (9 points)
Deseret News conference schedule rank: No. 11 in Big 12 (11 points)
Total: 26 points

2025 schedule

Aug. 30 — vs. Hawaii
Sept. 6 — vs. Weber State
Sept. 12 — vs. Kansas State
Sept. 27 — at Iowa State
Oct. 4 — vs. Oklahoma State
Oct. 11 — vs. BYU
Oct. 18 — at Houston
Nov. 1 — at Colorado
Nov. 8 — vs. Kansas
Nov. 15 — at Cincinnati
Nov. 22 — vs. Baylor
Nov. 28 — at Arizona State

Arizona will play all of its nonconference games at home, including a matchup against fellow Big 12 team Kansas State that won’t count in the league standings, and will play five of its first six games in Tucson.

The back half of the schedule, though, the Wildcats, will hit the road for four games, including at rival Arizona State to end the year. While Arizona’s conference matchups may not feature as many expected contenders as other teams, the Wildcats play only four league games at home and travel to Iowa State as well to start Big 12 action.

No. 10: Arizona State Sun Devils

ESPN strength of schedule: 73
Pro Football Network strength of schedule: 44
Phil Steele toughest schedule: 69
Average strength of schedule from national publications: 62

National average strength of schedule rank: No. 15 in Big 12 (15 points)
Deseret News nonconference schedule rank: No. 7 in Big 12 (7 points)
Deseret News conference schedule rank: No. 7 in Big 12 (7 points)
Total: 29 points

2025 schedule

Aug. 30 — vs. Northern Arizona
Sept. 6 — at Mississippi State
Sept. 13 — vs. Texas State
Sept. 20 — at Baylor
Sept. 26 — vs. TCU
Oct. 11 — at Utah
Oct. 18 — vs. Texas Tech
Oct. 25 — vs. Houston
Nov. 1 — at Iowa State
Nov. 15 — vs. West Virginia
Nov. 22 — at Colorado
Nov. 28 — vs. Arizona

Arizona State could be challenged in nonconference play, even if it comes through unbeaten. The Sun Devils have to travel to face Mississippi State, which is projected to finish last in the SEC, and host a Texas State team that won eight games a year ago.

The Sun Devils then start the defense of their Big 12 crown with a tough road game at Baylor, followed by a home game against TCU on a short week. After a bye, Arizona State hits the road to face Utah before hosting Texas Tech. It’s a critical four-game stretch.

The Sun Devils then face Iowa State on the road before things ease up a bit in the final few weeks. Still, it’s a challenging schedule that will prove whether Arizona State is worthy of being Big 12 champions two years in a row.

No. 11 (tied): Cincinnati Bearcats

ESPN strength of schedule: 63
Pro Football Network strength of schedule: 46
Phil Steele toughest schedule: 17
Average strength of schedule from national publications: 42

National average strength of schedule rank: No. 8 in Big 12 (8 points)
Deseret News nonconference schedule rank: No. 12 in Big 12 (12 points)
Deseret News conference schedule rank: No. 10 in Big 12 (10 points)
Total: 30 points

2025 schedule

Aug. 28 — vs. Nebraska (in Kansas City)
Sept. 6 — vs. Bowling Green
Sept. 13 — vs. Northwestern State
Sept. 27 — at Kansas
Oct. 4 — vs. Iowa State
Oct. 11 — vs. UCF
Oct. 18 — at Oklahoma State
Oct. 25 — vs. Baylor
Nov. 1 — at Utah
Nov. 15 — vs. Arizona
Nov. 22 — vs. BYU
Nov. 29 — at TCU

The Bearcats will be the only Big 12 team with a neutral-site game outside of conference play, as they face the Big Ten’s Nebraska in Arrowhead Stadium to open the season. From an entertainment standpoint, this is high up there in league nonconference action.

In Big 12 play, Cincinnati will have five home games, including Baylor and Iowa State coming to Ohio to face the Bearcats. Cincinnati, though, has a pair of difficult road games in November at Utah to start the month and at TCU to end the regular season.

No. 11 (tied): Iowa State Cyclones

ESPN strength of schedule: 59
Pro Football Network strength of schedule: 29
Phil Steele toughest schedule: 51
Average strength of schedule from national publications: 46.3

National average strength of schedule rank: No. 10 in Big 12 (10 points)
Deseret News nonconference schedule rank: No. 6 in Big 12 (6 points)
Deseret News conference schedule rank: No. 14 in Big 12 (14 points)
Total: 30 points

2025 schedule

Aug. 23 — vs. Kansas State (in Dublin, Ireland)
Aug. 30 — vs. South Dakota
Sept. 6 — vs. Iowa
Sept. 13 — at Arkansas State
Sept. 27 — vs. Arizona
Oct. 4 — at Cincinnati
Oct. 11 — at Colorado
Oct. 25 — vs. BYU
Nov. 1 — vs. Arizona State
Nov. 8 — at TCU
Nov. 22 — vs. Kansas
Nov. 29 — at Oklahoma State

Iowa State kicks off the 2025 season with one of its tougher tests — facing Big 12 rival Kansas State in Ireland. Following that, the Cyclones host two of their three nonconference opponents, including a matchup with rival Iowa. If Iowa State is unbeaten or has one loss through this stretch, things set up well for the Cyclones.

Iowa State has one of the more favorable league schedules among Big 12 contenders, with its toughest true road game coming at TCU in the second weekend in November. That matchup with the Horned Frogs is preceded by home games at BYU and Arizona State, and with no byes in that stretch, it’s likely to determine whether Iowa State can make the Big 12 championship game again.

No. 13: UCF Knights

ESPN strength of schedule: 57
Pro Football Network strength of schedule: 54
Phil Steele toughest schedule: 30
Average strength of schedule from national publications: 47

National average strength of schedule rank: No. 11 in Big 12 (11 points)
Deseret News nonconference schedule rank: No. 15 in Big 12 (15 points)
Deseret News conference schedule rank: No. 6 in Big 12 (6 points)
Total: 32 points

2025 schedule

Aug. 28 — vs. Jacksonville State
Sept. 6 — vs. North Carolina A&T
Sept. 20 — vs. North Carolina
Sept. 27 — at Kansas State
Oct. 4 — vs. Kansas
Oct. 11 — at Cincinnati
Oct. 18 — vs. West Virginia
Nov. 1 — at Baylor
Nov. 7 — vs. Houston
Nov. 15 — at Texas Tech
Nov. 22 — vs. Oklahoma State
Nov. 29 — at BYU

UCF won’t leave the Bounce House during nonconference play, a rare three-home game set outside of Big 12 action. The Knights’ toughest test in that stretch is hosting North Carolina and new coach Bill Belichick, though Scott Frost’s team will have a bye to prep for that game.

Conference play is a different story for the Knights, as they hit the road for five Big 12 contests. Several of those games are against expected contenders — after starting league play at Kansas State, UCF will play at Baylor, Texas Tech and BYU in November. The home matchups are more manageable for the Knights, at least.

No. 14: Texas Tech Red Raiders

ESPN strength of schedule: 69
Pro Football Network strength of schedule: 55
Phil Steele toughest schedule: 42
Average strength of schedule from national publications: 55.3

National average strength of schedule rank: No. 14 in Big 12 (14 points)
Deseret News nonconference schedule rank: No. 16 in Big 12 (16 points)
Deseret News conference schedule rank: No. 5 in Big 12 (5 points)
Total: 35 points

2025 schedule

Aug. 30 — vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Sept. 6 — vs. Kent State
Sept. 13 — vs. Oregon State
Sept. 20 — at Utah
Oct. 4 — at Houston
Oct. 11 — vs. Kansas
Oct. 18 — at Arizona State
Oct. 25 — vs. Oklahoma State
Nov. 1 — at Kansas State
Nov. 8 — vs. BYU
Nov. 15 — vs. UCF
Nov. 29 — at West Virginia

If Texas Tech isn’t undefeated heading into its Big 12 opener at Utah, something went very wrong. The Red Raiders don’t leave home during nonconference play and do not face a power conference opponent outside league action this year, with the toughest of those matchups coming against Oregon State.

Of course, that early home stretch will be counteracted by Texas Tech having to play three of its first four Big 12 games on the road, starting with a difficult matchup at Utah that precedes a bye.

The Red Raiders also play at Arizona State and Kansas State in a three-week span in the back half of the year, but they at least get BYU at home.

No. 15: Houston Cougars

ESPN strength of schedule: 75
Pro Football Network strength of schedule: 58
Phil Steele toughest schedule: 22
Average strength of schedule from national publications: 51.7

National average strength of schedule rank: No. 13 in Big 12 (13 points)
Deseret News nonconference schedule rank: No. 13 in Big 12 (13 points)
Deseret News conference schedule rank: No. 16 in Big 12 (16 points)
Total: 42 points

2025 schedule

Aug. 28 — vs. Stephen F. Austin
Sept. 6 — at Rice
Sept. 12 — vs. Colorado
Sept. 26 — at Oregon State
Oct. 4 — vs. Texas Tech
Oct. 11 — at Oklahoma State
Oct. 18 — vs. Arizona
Oct. 25 — at Arizona State
Nov. 1 — vs. West Virginia
Nov. 7 — at UCF
Nov. 22 — vs. TCU
Nov. 29 — at Baylor

Houston, if it can get its new-look offense playing well early, has enough of a favorable nonconference schedule — even with two road games — to head into the heart of league play with some momentum.

Big 12 action brings the Cougars several challenging matchups, though for the most part they are spread out, outside of hosting TCU in late November, followed by a trip to face Baylor in the finale. Houston gets Texas Tech at home, but must travel to defending Big 12 champion Arizona State for its fifth straight game without a bye.

No. 16: BYU Cougars

ESPN strength of schedule: 74
Pro Football Network strength of schedule: 52
Phil Steele toughest schedule: 68
Average strength of schedule from national publications: 64.7

National average strength of schedule rank: No. 16 in Big 12 (16 points)
Deseret News nonconference schedule rank: No. 14 in Big 12 (14 points)
Deseret News conference schedule rank: No. 13 in Big 12 (13 points)
Total: 43 points

2025 schedule

Aug. 30 — vs. Portland State
Sept. 6 — vs. Stanford
Sept. 20 — at East Carolina
Sept. 27 — at Colorado
Oct. 3 — vs. West Virginia
Oct. 11 — at Arizona
Oct. 18 — vs. Utah
Oct. 25 — at Iowa State
Nov. 8 — at Texas Tech
Nov. 15 — vs. TCU
Nov. 22 — at Cincinnati
Nov. 29 — vs. UCF

The Cougars may well go unbeaten in nonconference play, though they’re likely to face plenty of bumps in that stretch after being forced to find a new starting quarterback on short notice thanks to the Jake Retzlaff situation.

The ACC’s Stanford is beatable and must travel to Provo, and BYU should benefit from an early bye before traveling to East Carolina, though both games could get dicey.

The Cougars’ home slate of Big 12 games includes tough matchups against rival Utah and TCU, a team that has had BYU’s number for some time.

BYU’s biggest test, though, in determining whether it makes a chase at the Big 12 title will be whether it can win one or two games in a two-game road swing to Iowa State and Texas Tech. At least there’s a bye week in between the two.

The Cougars have two of the best-timed bye weeks, in terms of coming when BYU may need the rest and time to reset.

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