The Big 12 released its full conference schedule for the 2026-27 season on Thursday. Earlier this summer, the league announced which teams would play each other twice and which would play just once in conference play, but this week gave college basketball fans a glimpse of dates to keep an eye on in the Big 12 and Big Ten. Arizona enters the season as the favorite to win the Big 12.
The Wildcats are coming off a historic season after reaching the Final Four for the first time since 2001. Star big man Motiejus Krivas, Swiss Army Knife wing Ivan Kharchenkov and incoming five-star recruit Caleb Holt will lead Arizona as the program looks to take another step on the heels of Tommy Lloyd signing an extension after turning down the North Carolina job during the week of the Final Four. Texas Tech is another team to keep an eye on as one of the top contenders in the league, especially if Darrion Williams and Donovan Atwell are ruled eligible in pending five-for-five lawsuits.
Williams was a key member of Texas Tech's squad that reached the Elite Eight in 2025 before transferring to NC State last offseason. Star forward JT Toppin is still recovering from a torn ACL suffered last season. And of course, you can't forget about Houston.
The Cougars won the Big 12 regular season title back-to-back years in 2024 and 2025 during their first two seasons in the league. Houston's roster is headlined by big man Joseph Tugler, who is one of the best defenders in the sport. In total, four teams (Arizona, Iowa State, Houston and BYU) are ranked in Gary Parrish's Top 25 and 1.
Eight teams reached the NCAA Tournament in 2026, and with the Big Dance expanding to 76 teams starting this season, the conference is eyeing at least 10 bids in 2027. With the schedule set, here are the biggest games that will impact the Big 12 title race. When: Jan. 22 | Where: United Supermarkets Arena (Lubbock, Texas) Arizona is set to face Texas Tech just once in the regular season.
It has the potential to be one of the top conference games of the year. All eyes will be on when Toppin returns to the lineup for Texas Tech. When he played last season, he looked like a first-team All-American before tearing his ACL in mid-February against Arizona State.
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