KenPom‘s preseason rankings are officially out, and once again, the Big 12 is loaded at the top. Five Big 12 teams landed inside the Top 12 of Ken Pomeroy’s initial ratings for the 2026-27 college basketball season, including three teams inside the Top 10.
Houston leads the conference at No. 3 nationally, trailing only No. 1 Duke and No. 2 Florida. The Cougars enter the season with an adjusted efficiency margin of +31.66, while KenPom projects Kelvin Sampson’s team to have the No. 1 defense in the country.
But Houston has plenty of Big 12 company near the top.
Arizona checks in at No. 5, followed immediately by Iowa State at No. 6. Kansas comes in at No. 8, giving the Big 12 four of the top eight teams in the country.
Texas Tech rounds out the group at No. 12, meaning nearly half of KenPom’s preseason Top 12 comes from the Big 12. The Red Raiders are especially highly regarded offensively, opening with the No. 5 adjusted offensive efficiency nationally.
Big 12 teams in KenPom’s Top 12
- No. 3 Houston
- No. 5 Arizona
- No. 6 Iowa State
- No. 8 Kansas
- No. 12 Texas Tech
The rankings further illustrate just how difficult the Big 12 basketball schedule could be this season. CBS Sports’ preseason projections released earlier this week also had Arizona, Houston and Kansas at the top of the conference race.
The Big 12 is coming off another strong season in which eight teams reached the 2026 NCAA Tournament, tying the conference record for most bids. Three Big 12 teams advanced to the Sweet 16, while Arizona swept the regular-season and Big 12 Tournament championships before making a run to the Final Four. Now, with Houston, Arizona, Iowa State, Kansas and Texas Tech all opening inside KenPom’s Top 12, the league appears positioned for another loaded season. The 2026-27 college basketball season officially tips off on Monday, Nov. 2, with Big 12 play beginning Jan. 2.
And with five teams already inside KenPom’s Top 12 before a single game has been played, the Big 12 once again appears positioned to be one of the deepest leagues in college basketball.
