Even though the Big 12 lost Texas and Oklahoma in the offseason, it gained four PAC 12 squads and will still be sending at least one team to the expanded College Football Playoff.

The race for the Big 12 crown could be one of the most exciting storylines this season, as there is no clear-cut favorite. Five teams are in the top 25 to start the season, but one is between No. 12 and No. 22.

To add to the chaos, Utah vs. Baylor and Arizona vs. Kansas State will not count as conference games. This is because the games were scheduled years in advance when Utah and Arizona were members of the PAC 12.

Here’s how we think the Big 12 will look at season’s end:

1. Utah Utes (11-1, 8-1 Big 12)
   • Tiebreaker over Kansas State and Arizona
2. Kansas State Wildcats (10-2, 8-1 Big 12)
   • Tiebreaker over Arizona
3. Arizona Wildcats (10-2, 8-1 Big 12)
4. Oklahoma State Cowboys (10-2, 7-2 Big 12)
5. Kansas Jayhawks (9-3, 6-3 Big 12)
   • Tiebreaker over Iowa State
6. Iowa State Cyclones (8-4, 6-3 Big 12)
7. West Virginia Mountaineers (7-5, 5-4 Big 12)
   • Tiebreaker over UCF
8. UCF Knights (7-5, 5-4 Big 12)
9. Texas Tech Red Raiders (7-5, 4-5 Big 12)
10. Colorado Buffaloes (6-6, 3-6 Big 12)
    • Tiebreaker over Cincinnati and TCU
11. Cincinnati Bearcats (5-7, 3-6 Big 12)
    • Tiebreaker over TCU
12. TCU Horned Frogs (5-7, 3-6 Big 12)
13. Baylor Bears (4-8, 2-7 Big 12)
14. Arizona State Sun Devils (3-9, 1-8 Big 12)
    • Tiebreaker over BYU and Houston
15. BYU Cougars (4-8, 1-8 Big 12)
    • Tiebreaker over Houston
16. Houston Cougars (3-9, 1-8 Big 12)

Big 12 Championship Game: Utah Utes vs. Kansas State Wildcats

Winner: Utah Utes