The Big 12 is changing the way its preseason operates. The league has put an end to its preseason media poll after last year’s unrealistic results.
Arizona State was selected last in 2024 preseason poll but went on to win the Big 12, securing a spot in the College Football Playoffs in the process.
Brett McMurphy of Action Network announced via X Friday that the Big 12 will do away with the preseason media poll. The league will continue its preseason all-league teams.
Big 12 ADs & coaches have decided to do away w/league’s preseason media poll, sources said. Big 12 will continue its preseason all-league teams. Last year Big 12 champ Arizona State was selected 16th in preseason poll. Big 12 joins Big Ten as only conferences w/out a league…
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) June 27, 2025
Preseason media polls are meant to hype up fans and motivate teams ahead of the upcoming season. But, the significant inaccuracy of last season’s results have led the Big 12 to rid of the tradition.
Arizona State finished atop the league despite being picked No. 16 and Utah, picked to win the league, finished tied for No. 13. None of the preseason poll predictions were correct.
Big 12 partners with PayPal to pay student athletes
The lack of preseason polls isn’t the only thing changing for the Big 12 this season. The league has also created a new way for student athletes to receive revenue.
Payment company PayPal announced on Thursday that it is pairing up with the Big Ten and Big 12 conferences to allow schools to pay their student athletes directly through the company.
PayPal said the initial rollout of this new deal will take place this summer. This comes after a court settlement in the House v. NCAA case, which allows schools to directly compensate student athletes for the first time.
Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark told CNBC he expects other conferences to partner with PayPal as well.
“It is a great day for student-athletes, and I’m sure other conferences are going to embrace this opportunity,” Yormark said. “I was told last night, the ACC is up next, so you’re going to see this program roll out across campuses throughout the country.”
The Big Ten and Big 12’s collaboration with PayPal highlights the changing landscape of college athletics. It will be interesting to see if the other conferences secures a similar partnership deal.
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