# How did 16 football beat writers who cover the Big 12 vote in their own preseason poll?

> **Newsylist Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-07-13 16:29 UTC · Category: Sports · Sources: 5 · Current Velocity: 3.91

## Executive Summary
Sixteen Big 12 football beat writers have conducted their own preseason poll to rank the conference's teams for the 2026 season.

## Intelligence Brief
A group of 16 football beat writers covering the Big 12 have released the results of a self-conducted preseason poll. The rankings arrive as the conference evaluates its potential for a College Football Playoff breakthrough in 2026.


Coverage from Yahoo Sports, Deseret News, and Sports Illustrated focuses on the poll's top ranking and the conference's overall playoff ambitions. Simultaneously, Deseret News is reporting on how Big 12 teams are positioned within ESPN’s Football Power Index.


Upcoming coverage is expected to address whether Texas Tech can maintain the performance levels of its previous season, according to 247Sports.

## Verified Facts & Key Claims
### Who conducted the preseason poll?
The poll was conducted by 16 football beat writers who cover the Big 12.

### What is the general outlook for the Big 12 in 2026?
According to Sports Illustrated, there is a belief that 2026 will result in a College Football Playoff breakthrough.

### What other ranking metrics are being discussed?
Coverage from Deseret News includes how Big 12 teams rank in ESPN’s Football Power Index.

## Key People, Organizations & Locations
Will Texas Tech, Why the Big, Believes, Will Finally Be, College Football Playoff Breakthrough, How Big, Football Power Index

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Published (UTC) | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| CBS Sports | 2026 Big 12 football predictions: Game-by-game picks, projecting every team's final win-loss record | 2026-07-13 14:37 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMioAFBVV95cUxOeFNiMHV2WHdhUzlSZW9BaFk1d0dkTkhQdmFGdkUtdDZwNk1FYUdZNlVIdS1hRW0telMxS05uWmVncnBtSUwzdC1WbldRcjM4MkF6SlJBQUdSWTRabDViOUQwQXAwc2ZZd0M2VGhtTWJvTVVUZ1VzQlF1dlNSSkxpcXRLMnVPNFJIWkxQSDF5VGNhZm95Tk8wNGFNbnhiUFJx?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Big 12 football 2026 win-loss record predictions, per ESPN FPI | 2026-07-13 14:37 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMifkFVX3lxTE5GVm5fek1Dc1NUaGNzVzh2dDdvV1drQ3hIV0pMcXJudDY1UHhpYW5ZZXNTVUh1SFZwRnZhQldxOHoyY2tGNnpNOUlYSkI1cHFJRUVhSGd3c0JZb0VVa05oVkVkNGd6QUlxbnhTVkMtNi1xUG5pMjlFWFUxMXp1QQ?oc=5) |
| 247Sports | Will Texas Tech be as good as it was last season? | 2026-07-13 14:37 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiwgFBVV95cUxNZUZVWG5paXJxZkM3YkJKd05BWE5nLVAyR193Z1hqUTRWUS1QZ1pleXVpSmZLRWhBWDdmQ1U5c3p1eHFLTXlQVFM5RERiYWx4elFacWRCb3d3ZzZ6Q1JEanZ6cmNHbHNWa1QxZmtOWDVZZjd1VHB3YnRldlR3WnlFQThKX0p3Z1hZekx4TTB0b1JIcjhRZkgzNk5NQVlqUldIdklVT3g2UjNhdXRoSlVOYl9mWFVKOVZYSm5RNHQ3NDdQQQ?oc=5) |
| Sports Illustrated | Why the Big 12 Believes 2026 Will Finally Be a College Football Playoff Breakthrough | 2026-07-13 14:37 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitAFBVV95cUxPNDRidHR0VE96cjN5RnRyV3RUdVZiclFfT1NIY2ZfMDFkdjh1c2N5SERwTUE2YWJKMFRUTDhoRTdyMEI1WlgxaHBJNlVYZG5SZGt0U3pvazJCclBFWkU1QUM3MHRDeTlkRjAxMUJWQnNCTGJicUV3amhlbDg0NzR3ZjRTZVh4MklSNDFZMlJxSkF2dlYyM3l5UFBpLWZVc01OYmFBNjNVUW50QThLOEdOQXdSeGk?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Big 12 football writers conducted our own preseason poll last week; here’s who we have at No. 1 | 2026-07-13 14:37 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiigFBVV95cUxQUlgyd2RlNGVvNGpXci0wTlJjdVRxMnRVbzdMUEVDUmhIUmw1bWp3ZTFjZkQ0bTdwT1NRdkZsR2Uyc2RiVUdDVUhaYzJvRVpMcTdqU3AzR3U3Z0ZWR1NOY1drUzlZZl9DYVZZN1VlOEZhOXoybWNTUnRGU0FudERReHBsMDU3aUoyOWc?oc=5) |
| Deseret News | How Big 12 teams rank in ESPN’s Football Power Index | 2026-07-13 14:37 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitgFBVV95cUxQRWR5Y19RTmhLdlc5UjR1bXhyb2ljVlRUTzJCclMzQ3ZxX3NhdXlDRDdLSTJJa1lCV3FydHRpUk9wS0ZMSm03RUhmeHVac3IwRHBia1ZhUVVmZE5KUXdSUktPaF9hTG1ZN3lTOUNOcV9aVmRQRTViaDdoVDVJYmFhVDB1N3FZVzlaUHRXck5xN1Y1VzRBUHMtZXoxdlRWUXQwVHppSVR0NWdtdTZMMDhzWjRBSDFoUQ?oc=5) |
| Deseret News | How did 16 football beat writers who cover the Big 12 vote in their own preseason poll? | 2026-07-13 14:37 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMisgFBVV95cUxPaEExUGVrMmNveGh0dFFZY2F5OGpwWWx3YURSNXhMU2QxMkRmZHJVckdwOEYxSzVnY0lkSzl5Q2xJTDBxY2JtZmFWbmZCTGFNb0tVQ2hRR3p4RDRxamxyQXFtb0VKSndEbFMxVE5aTDNjc1Yyd1hzQnhpMzJJdTd0aERaYXB0RTdZWFZZOW5SRGZWakhxUGE3OHdvMUJMQXhtaEhQZG14M29aSmZUUWgtM21n?oc=5) |

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