​UCF was projected to finish 14th in an unofficial preseason Big 12 standings poll conducted by the Tulsa World, which drew votes from 16 reporters each covering a different team. In the poll, the Knights collected 68 points, placing them ahead of Colorado, which earned 40 points for the 15th spot, but behind West Virginia, which tallied 76 points to sit at No. 13. The Big 12 had previously scrapped its official preseason poll, a change that had been in place for several seasons and relied on votes from the league’s coaches.
Texas Tech led the poll with 14 first-place votes, earning it the title of favorite to repeat as conference champion. Brigham Young was the only other team to receive two first-place votes, and the Cougars were selected to finish second, behind the Red Raiders. Arizona and Houston were tied for third, each with 207 points, followed by Utah (198), TCU (166), Arizona State (161), and Kansas State (158). UCF, under head coach Scott Frost, was placed in the bottom tier, reflecting the Knights’ 5-7 record the prior season and their 14th-place projection in the preseason rankings.
Here is the order of finish as determined by the voters, including first-place tallies and total points:
1. Texas Tech (14) – 254
2. Brigham Young (2) – 239
3. Arizona – 207
3. Houston – 207
5. Utah – 198
6. Texas Christian – 166
7. Arizona State – 161
8. Kansas State – 158
9. Oklahoma State – 124
10. Baylor – 88
11. Cincinnati – 85
12. Kansas – 79
13. West Virginia – 76
14. UCF – 68
15. Colorado – 40
16. Iowa State – 26
Voters included: Eric Bailey (Tulsa World), Jason Batacao (Salt Lake Tribune), Mike Casazza (Eer Sports 247), Jay Drew (Deseret News), Joseph Duarte (Houston Chronicle), Michelle Gardner (Arizona Republic), Henry Greenstein (Lawrence Journal World), Ben Hutchens (Quad Cities Times), Steven Johnson (Fort Worth Star-Telegram), Matthew Murschel (Orlando Sentinel), Leo Rivera (Buffstampede.com), Kellis Robinett (Kansas City Star/Wichita Eagle), Jason Scheer (WildcatAuthority.com), Zach Smith (Waco Tribune-Herald), Scott Springer (Cincinnati Enquirer), Don Williams (Lubbock Avalanche-Journal).
For more UCF coverage from the Orlando Sentinel, you can connect with Matthew Murschel on X, Bluesky, or Instagram at @osmattmurschel. You can also reach him by email at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com. Sign up for the Sentinel’s Knights Weekly newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF reporting.