If you’re looking for a Big 12 winner not named Texas Tech or BYU, consider the Houston Cougars

As Big 12 Media Days wraps up Wednesday afternoon, there’s no doubt who the conference’s biggest favorites are.

Most media members agree that this year’s version of the Big 12 looks like a two-horse race, or more accurately, a Red Raider and Cougar race.

That’s right, the two favorites of the 2026 conference are none other than Texas Tech and BYU.

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The Red Raiders have had their share of controversy throughout the offseason thanks to Brendan Sorsby’s gambling saga, but they still have by far the most talented roster in the Big 12 and are expected to take the championship by brute force.

Joining them among the favorites is BYU, a team that is a stone’s throw away from the College Football Playoff and played for the Big 12 title last year, ultimately falling to the aforementioned Red Raiders of Texas Tech.

Some of you might not be too keen on picking heavy favorites to win a conference, but what if I told you there was another team a little further down the list that might have a chance to take on the current champions?

I’m talking about none other than the Houston Cougars, a rising program that could criminally fly under the radar in 2026.

The Cougs are entering the third year of the Willie Fritz era, which is usually when many coaches (Fritz included) make strides.

General view of the Houston Cougars helmet during the Reese’s Senior Bowl team practice session at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama on February 2, 2023. (Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Fritz is coming off a ten-win season in 2025 and had the Cougars ranked in the final AP Poll for the first time since the end of the 2021 season.

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Both of Houston’s coordinators return in 2026; Among them is young and up-and-coming defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong, who coached last season and ranked top 50 in defensive scoring (22.9 ppg) and top 40 in average yards per rush allowed (3.7 yrs).

The schedule is manageable even by Big 12 standards, with the Cougars avoiding playing BYU, Arizona and Arizona State next season and having an extremely forgiving backbencher.

Most importantly, Houston is enticing Texas Tech to open conference play in September, which means they have a chance to catch the Red Raiders early or figure out their quarterback situation before their team improves.

If the Cougars can pull off this upset, they will be in the driver’s seat in conference play for the remainder of the season.

Speaking of gelling, Houston ranks second in the Big 12 in return production and top ten in the nation in return offensive production, so this should be a well-oiled machine from the jump.

HOUSTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 27: Houston Cougars head coach Willie Fritz reacts during the first half against the Louisiana State Tigers during the Kinder’s Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium on December 27, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo: Tim Warner/Getty Images) (Tim Warner/Getty Images)

While returns from Houston’s transfer portal are generally nothing to write home about, I loved the excitement of getting back Makhi Hughes from Oregon.

He didn’t produce much last season, but his 2024 season at Tulane was incredibly impressive; He racked up more than 1,400 yards on the ground and found the end zone a total of 17 times.

It won’t be easy to beat the conference’s Goliath in Lubbock, but I really like the makeup of this team.

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Returning coordinators, veteran leadership and a forgiving program could be the perfect storm needed to send Houston to the big dance in December.

Buy shares of the Cougars now because the price will only go up from here.