Big 12 Tiebreaker Tracker 202620252024

The 2025 season as it finished, with the official tiebreaking procedures applied to the final results.

Tie archaeology, 2011–2025. The Big 12 has played round-robin-or-close schedules without divisions since 2011. Across those 15 seasons the engine finds 40 final-standings tie groups. Below, each season's table (* marks tied teams) with the full resolution narrative for every tie — as decided by the current 16-team policy. Caveat honestly stated: earlier seasons were governed by earlier policies; this page shows what today's rules would have said, which occasionally differs from what the conference ruled at the time.

Where today's rules would have changed history

2014: The conference hung 2 banners; today's one-true-champion procedure picks Baylor alone.

2012: The conference hung 2 banners; today's one-true-champion procedure picks Kansas State alone.

Which step settles ties?

StepName Ties it helped settle
(a)head-to-head / mini round-robin35
(b)common opponents7
(c)the standings walk5
(d)strength of schedule2
(e)total wins2

Counts the steps that seeded at least one team in each tie group's resolution.

Season by season

2025 · engine top two: Texas Tech, BYU · 5 tie groups

Actual championship game: BYU at Texas Tech — Texas Tech won the title.

TeamConf
1Texas Tech*8–1
2BYU*8–1
3Utah7–2
4Houston*6–3
5Arizona*6–3
6Arizona State*6–3
7TCU*5–4
8Iowa State*5–4
9Cincinnati*5–4
10Kansas State*5–4
11Baylor*3–6
12Kansas*3–6
13UCF*2–7
14West Virginia*2–7
15Colorado1–8
16Oklahoma State0–9
How the two-way tie breaks — BYU and Texas Tech
  1. (a) Head-to-head: Texas Tech defeated BYU.
How the three-way tie breaks — Arizona, Arizona State and Houston
  1. (a) Record among tied teams: Arizona 0.500, Arizona State 0.000, Houston 1.000 — Houston seeded.
  2. Restarting procedure for remaining tied teams: Arizona, Arizona State.
  3. (a) Head-to-head: Arizona defeated Arizona State.
How the four-way tie breaks — Cincinnati, Iowa State, Kansas State and TCU
  1. (a) Not all tied teams played each other and no team defeated all others — proceed to next step.
  2. (b) Common conference opponents: none — proceed.
  3. (c) vs [Baylor/Kansas]: Cincinnati 2-0, Iowa State 1-0, Kansas State 1-1, TCU 1-0 — separates some but no single leader; continuing down the standings.
  4. (c) Walked full standings without a single leader — proceed.
  5. (d) Opponents' combined conference record: Cincinnati 39-42 (0.481), Iowa State 39-42 (0.481), Kansas State 34-47 (0.420), TCU 41-40 (0.506) — TCU seeded.
  6. Restarting procedure for remaining tied teams: Cincinnati, Iowa State, Kansas State.
  7. (a) Not all tied teams played each other and no team defeated all others — proceed to next step.
  8. (b) vs common opponents (Kansas, Oklahoma State, TCU): Cincinnati 0.667, Iowa State 1.000, Kansas State 1.000 — still tied.
  9. (c) vs [TCU]: Cincinnati 0-1, Iowa State 1-0, Kansas State 1-0 — separates some but no single leader; continuing down the standings.
  10. (c) vs [Baylor/Kansas]: Cincinnati 2-0, Iowa State 1-0, Kansas State 1-1 — separates some but no single leader; continuing down the standings.
  11. (c) Walked full standings without a single leader — proceed.
  12. (d) Opponents' combined conference record: Cincinnati 39-42 (0.481), Iowa State 39-42 (0.481), Kansas State 34-47 (0.420) — still tied.
  13. (e) Total wins (max one FCS win): Cincinnati 7, Iowa State 8, Kansas State 6 — Iowa State seeded.
  14. Restarting procedure for remaining tied teams: Cincinnati, Kansas State.
  15. (a) Head-to-head: Cincinnati and Kansas State did not play.
  16. (b) vs common opponents (Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Oklahoma State, TCU, UCF, Utah): Cincinnati 0.714, Kansas State 0.571 — Cincinnati seeded.
How the two-way tie breaks — Baylor and Kansas
  1. (a) Head-to-head: Baylor and Kansas did not play.
  2. (b) vs common opponents (Arizona, Cincinnati, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, UCF, Utah): Baylor 0.500, Kansas 0.333 — Baylor seeded.
How the two-way tie breaks — UCF and West Virginia
  1. (a) Head-to-head: UCF defeated West Virginia.
2024 · engine top two: Arizona State, Iowa State · 5 tie groups

Actual championship game: Iowa State at Arizona State — Arizona State won the title.

TeamConf
1Arizona State*7–2
2Iowa State*7–2
3BYU*7–2
4Colorado*7–2
5Baylor*6–3
6TCU*6–3
7Texas Tech*6–3
8Kansas State*5–4
9West Virginia*5–4
10Kansas4–5
11Cincinnati*3–6
12Houston*3–6
13UCF*2–7
14Arizona*2–7
15Utah*2–7
16Oklahoma State0–9
How the four-way tie breaks — Arizona State, BYU, Colorado and Iowa State
  1. (a) Not all tied teams played each other and no team defeated all others — proceed to next step.
  2. (b) vs common opponents (Kansas, Kansas State, UCF, Utah): Arizona State 1.000, BYU 0.750, Colorado 0.500, Iowa State 0.750 — Arizona State seeded.
  3. Restarting procedure for remaining tied teams: BYU, Colorado, Iowa State.
  4. (a) Not all tied teams played each other and no team defeated all others — proceed to next step.
  5. (b) vs common opponents (Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State, UCF, Utah): BYU 0.800, Colorado 0.600, Iowa State 0.800 — still tied.
  6. (c) vs [Baylor/TCU/Texas Tech]: BYU 1-0, Colorado 2-0, Iowa State 1-1 — separates some but no single leader; continuing down the standings.
  7. (c) vs [Kansas State/West Virginia]: BYU 1-0, Colorado 0-1, Iowa State 2-0 — separates some but no single leader; continuing down the standings.
  8. (c) Walked full standings without a single leader — proceed.
  9. (d) Opponents' combined conference record: BYU 31-50 (0.383), Colorado 30-51 (0.370), Iowa State 36-45 (0.444) — Iowa State seeded.
  10. Restarting procedure for remaining tied teams: BYU, Colorado.
  11. (a) Head-to-head: BYU and Colorado did not play.
  12. (b) vs common opponents (Arizona, Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, UCF, Utah): BYU 0.857, Colorado 0.714 — BYU seeded.
How the three-way tie breaks — Baylor, TCU and Texas Tech
  1. (a) Record among tied teams: Baylor 1.000, TCU 0.500, Texas Tech 0.000 — Baylor seeded.
  2. Restarting procedure for remaining tied teams: TCU, Texas Tech.
  3. (a) Head-to-head: TCU defeated Texas Tech.
How the two-way tie breaks — Kansas State and West Virginia
  1. (a) Head-to-head: Kansas State defeated West Virginia.
How the two-way tie breaks — Cincinnati and Houston
  1. (a) Head-to-head: Cincinnati defeated Houston.
How the three-way tie breaks — Arizona, UCF and Utah
  1. (a) Record among tied teams: Arizona 0.500, UCF 0.500, Utah 0.500 — no single leader.
  2. (b) vs common opponents (Arizona State, BYU, Colorado, TCU): Arizona 0.000, UCF 0.250, Utah 0.000 — UCF seeded.
  3. Restarting procedure for remaining tied teams: Arizona, Utah.
  4. (a) Head-to-head: Arizona defeated Utah.
2023 · engine top two: Texas, Oklahoma State · 5 tie groups

Actual championship game: Oklahoma State at Texas — Texas won the title.

TeamConf
1Texas8–1
2Oklahoma State*7–2
3Oklahoma*7–2
4Iowa State*6–3
5Kansas State*6–3
6West Virginia*6–3
7Texas Tech*5–4
8Kansas*5–4
9TCU*3–6
10UCF*3–6
11BYU*2–7
12Houston*2–7
13Baylor*2–7
14Cincinnati1–8
How the two-way tie breaks — Oklahoma and Oklahoma State
  1. (a) Head-to-head: Oklahoma State defeated Oklahoma.
How the three-way tie breaks — Iowa State, Kansas State and West Virginia
  1. (a) Not all tied teams played each other and no team defeated all others — proceed to next step.
  2. (b) vs common opponents (Baylor, Oklahoma State, TCU): Iowa State 1.000, Kansas State 0.667, West Virginia 0.667 — Iowa State seeded.
  3. Restarting procedure for remaining tied teams: Kansas State, West Virginia.
  4. (a) Head-to-head: Kansas State and West Virginia did not play.
  5. (b) vs common opponents (Baylor, Houston, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas Tech, UCF): Kansas State 0.833, West Virginia 0.667 — Kansas State seeded.
How the two-way tie breaks — Kansas and Texas Tech
  1. (a) Head-to-head: Texas Tech defeated Kansas.
How the two-way tie breaks — TCU and UCF
  1. (a) Head-to-head: TCU and UCF did not play.
  2. (b) vs common opponents (Baylor, Houston, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, West Virginia): TCU 0.333, UCF 0.167 — TCU seeded.
How the three-way tie breaks — BYU, Baylor and Houston
  1. (a) Not all tied teams played each other and no team defeated all others — proceed to next step.
  2. (b) vs common opponents (Cincinnati, TCU, Texas, Texas Tech, West Virginia): BYU 0.400, Baylor 0.200, Houston 0.200 — BYU seeded.
  3. Restarting procedure for remaining tied teams: Baylor, Houston.
  4. (a) Head-to-head: Houston defeated Baylor.
2022 · engine top two: TCU, Kansas State · 2 tie groups

Actual championship game: Kansas State at TCU — Kansas State won the title.

TeamConf
1TCU9–0
2Kansas State7–2
3Texas6–3
4Texas Tech5–4
5Oklahoma State*4–5
6Baylor*4–5
7West Virginia*3–6
8Oklahoma*3–6
9Kansas*3–6
10Iowa State1–8
How the two-way tie breaks — Baylor and Oklahoma State
  1. (a) Head-to-head: Oklahoma State defeated Baylor.
How the three-way tie breaks — Kansas, Oklahoma and West Virginia
  1. (a) Record among tied teams: Kansas 0.500, Oklahoma 0.500, West Virginia 0.500 — no single leader.
  2. (b) vs common opponents (Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas, Texas Tech): Kansas 0.286, Oklahoma 0.286, West Virginia 0.286 — still tied.
  3. (c) vs next-highest-placed common opponent group [Baylor/Oklahoma State]: Kansas 1-1, Oklahoma 1-1, West Virginia 2-0 — West Virginia seeded.
  4. Restarting procedure for remaining tied teams: Kansas, Oklahoma.
  5. (a) Head-to-head: Oklahoma defeated Kansas.
2021 · engine top two: Oklahoma State, Baylor · 3 tie groups

Actual championship game: Baylor at Oklahoma State — Baylor won the title.

TeamConf
1Oklahoma State8–1
2Baylor*7–2
3Oklahoma*7–2
4Iowa State5–4
5Kansas State*4–5
6West Virginia*4–5
7Texas*3–6
8TCU*3–6
9Texas Tech*3–6
10Kansas1–8
How the two-way tie breaks — Baylor and Oklahoma
  1. (a) Head-to-head: Baylor defeated Oklahoma.
How the two-way tie breaks — Kansas State and West Virginia
  1. (a) Head-to-head: Kansas State defeated West Virginia.
How the three-way tie breaks — TCU, Texas and Texas Tech
  1. (a) Record among tied teams: TCU 0.500, Texas 1.000, Texas Tech 0.000 — Texas seeded.
  2. Restarting procedure for remaining tied teams: TCU, Texas Tech.
  3. (a) Head-to-head: TCU defeated Texas Tech.
2020 · engine top two: Iowa State, Oklahoma · 0 tie groups

Actual championship game: Oklahoma at Iowa State — Oklahoma won the title.

TeamConf
1Iowa State8–1
2Oklahoma6–2
3Oklahoma State6–3
4Texas5–3
5TCU5–4
6West Virginia4–4
7Kansas State4–5
8Texas Tech3–6
9Baylor2–7
10Kansas0–8
2019 · engine top two: Oklahoma, Baylor · 3 tie groups

Actual championship game: Baylor at Oklahoma — Oklahoma won the title.

TeamConf
1Oklahoma*8–1
2Baylor*8–1
3Kansas State*5–4
4Oklahoma State*5–4
5Iowa State*5–4
6Texas*5–4
7West Virginia*3–6
8TCU*3–6
9Texas Tech2–7
10Kansas1–8
How the two-way tie breaks — Baylor and Oklahoma
  1. (a) Head-to-head: Oklahoma defeated Baylor.
How the four-way tie breaks — Iowa State, Kansas State, Oklahoma State and Texas
  1. (a) Record among tied teams: Iowa State 0.333, Kansas State 0.333, Oklahoma State 0.667, Texas 0.667 — no single leader.
  2. (b) vs common opponents (Baylor, Kansas, Oklahoma, TCU, Texas Tech, West Virginia): Iowa State 0.667, Kansas State 0.667, Oklahoma State 0.500, Texas 0.500 — still tied.
  3. (c) vs next-highest-placed common opponent group [Baylor/Oklahoma]: Iowa State 0-2, Kansas State 1-1, Oklahoma State 0-2, Texas 0-2 — Kansas State seeded.
  4. Restarting procedure for remaining tied teams: Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Texas.
  5. (a) Record among tied teams: Iowa State 0.500, Oklahoma State 0.500, Texas 0.500 — no single leader.
  6. (b) vs common opponents (Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, TCU, Texas Tech, West Virginia): Iowa State 0.571, Oklahoma State 0.571, Texas 0.571 — still tied.
  7. (c) vs [Kansas State]: Iowa State 0-1, Oklahoma State 1-0, Texas 1-0 — separates some but no single leader; continuing down the standings.
  8. (c) vs [TCU/West Virginia]: Iowa State 2-0, Oklahoma State 2-0, Texas 1-1 — separates some but no single leader; continuing down the standings.
  9. (c) vs [Texas Tech]: Iowa State 1-0, Oklahoma State 0-1, Texas 1-0 — separates some but no single leader; continuing down the standings.
  10. (c) Walked full standings without a single leader — proceed.
  11. (d) Opponents' combined conference record: Iowa State 40-41 (0.494), Oklahoma State 40-41 (0.494), Texas 40-41 (0.494) — still tied.
  12. (e) Total wins (max one FCS win): Iowa State 7, Oklahoma State 8, Texas 7 — Oklahoma State seeded.
  13. Restarting procedure for remaining tied teams: Iowa State, Texas.
  14. (a) Head-to-head: Iowa State defeated Texas.
How the two-way tie breaks — TCU and West Virginia
  1. (a) Head-to-head: West Virginia defeated TCU.
2018 · engine top two: Oklahoma, Texas · 3 tie groups

Actual championship game: Texas at Oklahoma — Oklahoma won the title.

TeamConf
1Oklahoma8–1
2Texas7–2
3Iowa State*6–3
4West Virginia*6–3
5TCU*4–5
6Baylor*4–5
7Kansas State*3–6
8Texas Tech*3–6
9Oklahoma State*3–6
10Kansas1–8
How the two-way tie breaks — Iowa State and West Virginia
  1. (a) Head-to-head: Iowa State defeated West Virginia.
How the two-way tie breaks — Baylor and TCU
  1. (a) Head-to-head: TCU defeated Baylor.
How the three-way tie breaks — Kansas State, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech
  1. (a) Record among tied teams: Kansas State 1.000, Oklahoma State 0.000, Texas Tech 0.500 — Kansas State seeded.
  2. Restarting procedure for remaining tied teams: Oklahoma State, Texas Tech.
  3. (a) Head-to-head: Texas Tech defeated Oklahoma State.
2017 · engine top two: Oklahoma, TCU · 1 tie group

Actual championship game: TCU at Oklahoma — Oklahoma won the title.

TeamConf
1Oklahoma8–1
2TCU7–2
3Oklahoma State6–3
4Texas*5–4
5West Virginia*5–4
6Kansas State*5–4
7Iowa State*5–4
8Texas Tech3–6
9Baylor1–8
10Kansas0–9
How the four-way tie breaks — Iowa State, Kansas State, Texas and West Virginia
  1. (a) Record among tied teams: Iowa State 0.000, Kansas State 0.333, Texas 1.000, West Virginia 0.667 — Texas seeded.
  2. Restarting procedure for remaining tied teams: Iowa State, Kansas State, West Virginia.
  3. (a) Record among tied teams: Iowa State 0.000, Kansas State 0.500, West Virginia 1.000 — West Virginia seeded.
  4. Restarting procedure for remaining tied teams: Iowa State, Kansas State.
  5. (a) Head-to-head: Kansas State defeated Iowa State.
2016 · engine top two: Oklahoma, Oklahoma State · 2 tie groups

Actual outcome: Oklahoma won the title outright — no championship game existed; shared titles were awarded on record alone.

TeamConf
1Oklahoma9–0
2Oklahoma State*7–2
3West Virginia*7–2
4Kansas State6–3
5TCU4–5
6Texas*3–6
7Texas Tech*3–6
8Baylor*3–6
9Iowa State2–7
10Kansas1–8
How the two-way tie breaks — Oklahoma State and West Virginia
  1. (a) Head-to-head: Oklahoma State defeated West Virginia.
How the three-way tie breaks — Baylor, Texas and Texas Tech
  1. (a) Record among tied teams: Baylor 0.000, Texas 1.000, Texas Tech 0.500 — Texas seeded.
  2. Restarting procedure for remaining tied teams: Baylor, Texas Tech.
  3. (a) Head-to-head: Texas Tech defeated Baylor.
2015 · engine top two: Oklahoma, Oklahoma State · 2 tie groups

Actual outcome: Oklahoma won the title outright — no championship game existed; shared titles were awarded on record alone.

TeamConf
1Oklahoma8–1
2Oklahoma State*7–2
3TCU*7–2
4Baylor6–3
5West Virginia*4–5
6Texas Tech*4–5
7Texas*4–5
8Kansas State3–6
9Iowa State2–7
10Kansas0–9
How the two-way tie breaks — Oklahoma State and TCU
  1. (a) Head-to-head: Oklahoma State defeated TCU.
How the three-way tie breaks — Texas, Texas Tech and West Virginia
  1. (a) Record among tied teams: Texas 0.000, Texas Tech 0.500, West Virginia 1.000 — West Virginia seeded.
  2. Restarting procedure for remaining tied teams: Texas, Texas Tech.
  3. (a) Head-to-head: Texas Tech defeated Texas.
2014 · engine top two: Baylor, TCU · 2 tie groups ≠

Actual outcome: Baylor and TCU declared co-champions — no championship game existed; shared titles were awarded on record alone.

Where history and the current policy part ways: The conference hung 2 banners; today's one-true-champion procedure picks Baylor alone.

TeamConf
1Baylor*8–1
2TCU*8–1
3Kansas State7–2
4Oklahoma*5–4
5Texas*5–4
6West Virginia*5–4
7Oklahoma State4–5
8Texas Tech2–7
9Kansas1–8
10Iowa State0–9
How the two-way tie breaks — Baylor and TCU
  1. (a) Head-to-head: Baylor defeated TCU.
How the three-way tie breaks — Oklahoma, Texas and West Virginia
  1. (a) Record among tied teams: Oklahoma 1.000, Texas 0.500, West Virginia 0.000 — Oklahoma seeded.
  2. Restarting procedure for remaining tied teams: Texas, West Virginia.
  3. (a) Head-to-head: Texas defeated West Virginia.
2013 · engine top two: Baylor, Oklahoma State · 2 tie groups

Actual outcome: Baylor won the title outright — no championship game existed; shared titles were awarded on record alone.

TeamConf
1Baylor8–1
2Oklahoma State*7–2
3Texas*7–2
4Oklahoma*7–2
5Kansas State5–4
6Texas Tech4–5
7West Virginia*2–7
8TCU*2–7
9Iowa State*2–7
10Kansas1–8
How the three-way tie breaks — Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas
  1. (a) Record among tied teams: Oklahoma 0.500, Oklahoma State 0.500, Texas 0.500 — no single leader.
  2. (b) vs common opponents (Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, TCU, Texas Tech, West Virginia): Oklahoma 0.857, Oklahoma State 0.857, Texas 0.857 — still tied.
  3. (c) vs next-highest-placed common opponent group [Baylor]: Oklahoma 0-1, Oklahoma State 1-0, Texas 0-1 — Oklahoma State seeded.
  4. Restarting procedure for remaining tied teams: Oklahoma, Texas.
  5. (a) Head-to-head: Texas defeated Oklahoma.
How the three-way tie breaks — Iowa State, TCU and West Virginia
  1. (a) Record among tied teams: Iowa State 0.500, TCU 0.500, West Virginia 0.500 — no single leader.
  2. (b) vs common opponents (Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas Tech): Iowa State 0.143, TCU 0.143, West Virginia 0.143 — still tied.
  3. (c) vs next-highest-placed common opponent group [Oklahoma/Oklahoma State/Texas]: Iowa State 0-3, TCU 0-3, West Virginia 1-2 — West Virginia seeded.
  4. Restarting procedure for remaining tied teams: Iowa State, TCU.
  5. (a) Head-to-head: TCU defeated Iowa State.
2012 · engine top two: Kansas State, Oklahoma · 3 tie groups ≠

Actual outcome: Kansas State and Oklahoma declared co-champions — no championship game existed; shared titles were awarded on record alone.

Where history and the current policy part ways: The conference hung 2 banners; today's one-true-champion procedure picks Kansas State alone.

TeamConf
1Kansas State*8–1
2Oklahoma*8–1
3Texas*5–4
4Oklahoma State*5–4
5Baylor*4–5
6Texas Tech*4–5
7TCU*4–5
8West Virginia*4–5
9Iowa State3–6
10Kansas0–9
How the two-way tie breaks — Kansas State and Oklahoma
  1. (a) Head-to-head: Kansas State defeated Oklahoma.
How the two-way tie breaks — Oklahoma State and Texas
  1. (a) Head-to-head: Texas defeated Oklahoma State.
How the four-way tie breaks — Baylor, TCU, Texas Tech and West Virginia
  1. (a) Record among tied teams: Baylor 0.333, TCU 0.667, Texas Tech 0.667, West Virginia 0.333 — no single leader.
  2. (b) vs common opponents (Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas): Baylor 0.500, TCU 0.333, Texas Tech 0.333, West Virginia 0.500 — still tied.
  3. (c) vs next-highest-placed common opponent group [Kansas State/Oklahoma]: Baylor 1-1, TCU 0-2, Texas Tech 0-2, West Virginia 0-2 — Baylor seeded.
  4. Restarting procedure for remaining tied teams: TCU, Texas Tech, West Virginia.
  5. (a) Record among tied teams: TCU 0.500, Texas Tech 1.000, West Virginia 0.000 — Texas Tech seeded.
  6. Restarting procedure for remaining tied teams: TCU, West Virginia.
  7. (a) Head-to-head: TCU defeated West Virginia.
2011 · engine top two: Oklahoma State, Kansas State · 2 tie groups

Actual outcome: Oklahoma State won the title outright — no championship game existed; shared titles were awarded on record alone.

TeamConf
1Oklahoma State8–1
2Kansas State7–2
3Baylor*6–3
4Oklahoma*6–3
5Missouri5–4
6Texas*4–5
7Texas A&M*4–5
8Iowa State3–6
9Texas Tech2–7
10Kansas0–9
How the two-way tie breaks — Baylor and Oklahoma
  1. (a) Head-to-head: Baylor defeated Oklahoma.
How the two-way tie breaks — Texas and Texas A&M
  1. (a) Head-to-head: Texas defeated Texas A&M.