Spotlight COLLEGE FOOTBALL What are the top Big 12 college football programs? Newcomers reign supreme Jordan Mendoza, USA Today Jul 19, 2026 19 hrs ago 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save No Power Four college football conference has had its program hierarchy wildly change in the 21st century more than the Big 12.kAmx? E96 62C=J a_`_D C62=:8?>6?E[ :E =@DE EC25:E:@?2= A@H6C :? }63C2D<2 2?5 :? E96 C646?E H2G6[ E96 3:886DE 3C2?5D :? %6I2D 2?5 ~<=29@>2 3@=E65 7@C E96 $tr] %92E >:89E >2<6 J@F E9:?< E96C6 :D?VE >F49 =67E :? E96 4@?76C6?46[ 3FE 5@?VE 36 >:DE2<6?i E96C6 :D A=6?EJ @7 C:49 9:DE@CJ 2?5 >2:?E2:?65 DF446DD H:E9 D6G6C2= AC@8C2>D]k^AmkAm$FC6[ E96C6 2C6 @?=J E9C66 4@>3:?65 ?2E:@?2= 492>A:@?D 2>@?8 E96 `e E62>D :? E96 A@== 6C2[ 3FE E92E :D?VE E96 @?=J H2J E@ >62DFC6 DE2EFD :? E96 DA@CE] %96C6 92G6 366? 4@?D:DE6?E A=2J6CD :? 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E96 A@H6C 4@?76C6?46]k^Am People are also reading… Pete Buttigieg says NE-02 candidate Denise Powell will deliver ‘a future that is better’ Nebraska pitcher signs contract with the Chicago White Sox Nebraska football lineman Justin Evans named top returning center New Crepe House restaurant opening in downtown Lincoln This is where 7 Brew is coming in south Lincoln 37-year-old Lincoln man identified after body found in storm drain '308 Boyz, 'juvenile street gang tied to 2025 stabbing case, comes up in gun, drug arrests this week Man dies, woman arrested in west Omaha SUV and motorcycle crash Nebraska in the top 30 for oldest average roster age in football Nebraska QB Anthony Colandrea looks to extend plays for the Huskers Rimington, Frazier and Suh make Sports Illustrated's college top 50 Nebraska QB Anthony Colandrea named to On3's best transfer list Nebraska lands Penn State transfer running back Tikey Hayes Nebraska flag football announces home facilities At least 4 people take part in Grand Island assault, but no one wants to press charges k9am`] &E29k^9amkAm&E29 92D 364@>6 2 DE2A=6 7@C 4@==686 7@@E32== DF446DD[ C:D:?8 7C@> E96 |@F?E2:? 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E96 4@?76C6?46[ 2 D:8? :E H:== 36 2 =@?8E:>6 4@?E6?56C :? E96 q:8 `a]k^Am BYU head coach Kalani Sitake is 84-45 overall and 6-2 in bowl games in 10 seasons as the team's head coach. Raymond Carlin III, Imagn Images k9amb] z2?D2D $E2E6k^9am kAm*@F H@F=5?VE 6IA64E 2 AC@8C2> H:E9 2? 2==\E:>6 =@D:?8 C64@C5 Wdgd–eg_–caX E@ 36 E9:D 9:89[ 3FE :E ;FDE DA62<D E@ E96 D@=:5 CF? z2?D2D $E2E6 92D 366? @? D:?46 q:== $?J56C E@@< @G6C :? `hgh] $:?46 E96?[ E96 (:=542ED 2C6 age\`f`\` H:E9 E9C66 q:8 `a E:E=6D[ :?4=F5:?8 2 DEC6E49 H96C6 :E H2D C2?<65 7@C `_g 4@?D64FE:G6 H66<D 7C@> `hhd E@ a__`] #682C5=6DD @7 H9@ 92D 366? :? E96 =628F6[ z2?D2D $E2E6 92D 2=H2JD 366? 2 4@?DE2?E A=2J6C :? E96 4@?76C6?46]k^Am k9amc] %r& k^9amkAmtG6? H:E9 E96 D>2==6DE 6?C@==>6?E :? E96 4@?76C6?46[ %r& 92D 366? >2<:?8 2 8C62E 2>@F?E @7 ?@:D6 @? E96 7@@E32== 7:6=5] (:E9 E:E=6D :? 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E96 4@?76C6?46 5@]k^Am k9am`e] z2?D2Dk^9amkAm%96C6 2C6 E62>D H:E9 =@D:?8 2==\E:>6 C64@C5D[ 3FE z2?D2DV D9@HD 9@H 7@@E32== :D 72C 7C@> E96 AC:@C:EJ @? 42>AFD] %96 y2J92H<D H:== 2=H2JD 92G6 E92E >28:42= a__f D62D@? E92E C6DF=E65 :? 2? ~C2?86 q@H= H:?[ 2?5 {2?46 {6:A@=5 92D :?;64E65 D@>6 =:76 :?E@ :E C646?E=J[ 3FE :EVD 925 D@>6 2H7F= D62D@?D[ 2?5 32D<6E32== H:== 2=H2JD C6:8? DFAC6>6 :? {2HC6?46]k^Am 0 Comments Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular ACC college football program rankings start with Clemson, Florida State Football might not be the first sport that comes to mind when the ACC is mentioned. How Deion Sanders is putting together his best high school recruiting class at Colorado Colorado football coach Deion Sanders once again is bucking old norms to put together a team in his own way. Who are the best Big Ten college football programs? Ohio State tops the rankings The question: Which program is the best in the Big Ten? It’s not a hard one to answer. Utah's Morgan Scalley wants to save bowl games, fix the calendar Utah’s coach Morgan Scalley is ready to share a vision to save college football’s bowl system. Fix the calendar, too. What are the best SEC college football programs? Start with Alabama, Oklahoma In certain outposts throughout the South, it’s pronounced “progrum,” not program. Recommended for you Watch Now: Related Video Nebraska roster depth and adaptability | Pick Six Podcast Top Recruits | Offense Top Recruits | Offense LOVB Nebraska's Jordan Larson and Lindsay Krause Wildeman full press conference from July 13, 2026 LOVB Nebraska's Jordan Larson and Lindsay Krause Wildeman full press conference from July 13, 2026 Devin Carrell records RBI single against Millard Sox Devin Carrell records RBI single against Millard Sox
ACC college football program rankings start with Clemson, Florida State Football might not be the first sport that comes to mind when the ACC is mentioned.
How Deion Sanders is putting together his best high school recruiting class at Colorado Colorado football coach Deion Sanders once again is bucking old norms to put together a team in his own way.
Who are the best Big Ten college football programs? Ohio State tops the rankings The question: Which program is the best in the Big Ten? It’s not a hard one to answer.
Utah's Morgan Scalley wants to save bowl games, fix the calendar Utah’s coach Morgan Scalley is ready to share a vision to save college football’s bowl system. Fix the calendar, too.
What are the best SEC college football programs? Start with Alabama, Oklahoma In certain outposts throughout the South, it’s pronounced “progrum,” not program.