Big 12 Drops Football Preseason Poll Citing Accuracy Concerns

The Big 12 Conference has officially eliminated its preseason football media poll, a decision driven by the poll's inaccuracy and perceived negative impact on teams like Arizona State, which was picked last in 2024 but went on to win the conference. Commissioner Brett Yormark stated that the preseason poll had no value, especially in an era of roster volatility driven by the transfer portal, where team strength on paper does not always reflect actual performance. Yormark expressed concern that the preseason rankings disadvantaged Arizona State by creating unfair narratives that hurt the team's perception. Despite the poll's elimination, media outlets continue to produce their own preseason predictions, though these are not officially sanctioned by the Big 12. Arizona State's head coach Kenny Dillingham dismissed the significance of such polls, emphasizing that external expectations do not influence the team's focus or success. The decision to scrap the poll applies only to football, with no current plans to change preseason rankings in other sports.