ESPN FPI ranks the Big 12 as college football’s toughest conference for 2020

The 2020 college football season could see the Big 12 be the best and deepest conference in the country, if ESPN’s College Football Power Index holds firm.

The Big 12 football conference is going to have more competition and clarity at the top of the standings this coming season than it did in the last two years. And the Texas Longhorns football program should figure into that picture at the top of the Big 12 standings.

According to the ESPN College Football Power Index, the Longhorns rank as the No. 11 team in the country for the 2020 season. ESPN’s College Football Power Index in its most recent update has the Longhorns with a projected final record of 9.5-3.1 (averaged out with the percentage chance that they make a bowl and the Big 12 Championship Game). The CFPI gives the Longhorns a 99.6 percent chance of winning six games and getting bowl eligible, and a 38.6 percent chance of winning the Big 12.

The other top teams from the Big 12 in the CFPI are the Oklahoma Sooners (No. 10), Oklahoma State Cowboys (No. 17), TCU Horned Frogs (No. 21), and Iowa State Cyclones (No. 27). The next best team from the Big 12 outside of their top five is the Kansas State Wildcats, at No. 32. In total, the Big 12 has seven teams ranked inside the top 35 (Baylor Bears are at No. 34), which is the best among any power conference in the entire country. That is calculated in terms of percentage of teams from the conference in the top 35.

A piece from 247Sports further broke down the average ranking of each team from the Power Five conferences in the latest edition of the CFPI. The Big 12 ranked as the top conference in the nation in terms of average CFPI slotting for each of their member teams. On average, Big 12 teams ranked at No. 33.6 in the CFPI.

The next best conference in the CFPI on average was the SEC, at 34.4. And the Big Ten (35.7), PAC-12 (41.9), and ACC (47.5), rounding out the ranking of each of the Power Five conferences.

Here’s what else this piece from 247Sports had to say on the ranking of the Big 12 from the latest edition of ESPN’s CFPI.

"Here’s a surprise — the Big 12 enters the 2020 season as potentially college football’s most competitive league. Thanks to top-to-bottom balance per ESPN’s FPI, the Big 12 features two title contenders — Oklahoma at No. 10 and Texas at No. 11 — along with several teams on the verge, including Oklahoma State (No. 17) and Iowa State (No. 27). With nine teams in the Top 45, the Big 12 flexes strength across the league with Kansas being the lone bottom-dweller (No. 98). The FPI projects West Virginia and Texas Tech to also rebound in 2020 as possible bowl teams.17COMMENTSFollowing a full coaching staff makeover, this is a make or break campaign for Longhorns leader Tom Herman, who enters his fourth season knowing all eyes will be glued to Austin to see if Texas is Big 12 title material and then some. Chris Ash inherits a defense that largely underachieved last season for various reasons and will continue the development of Joseph Ossai and Caden Sterns, two leaders on that side. The most important player for Texas is quarterback Sam Ehlinger. This team’s championship hopes ride on his shoulders. If he can stay healthy, new OC Mike Yurcich believes the sky is the limit for this offense."

The Big 12 did have one representative in the College Football Playoff last season. That was Oklahoma, who was the four seed taking on the one seed and eventual National Champions LSU Tigers in a semifinal game. Texas and Oklahoma State should be the biggest challengers for Oklahoma to face to defend their Big 12 crown this coming season.

Texas finished up with a record of 8-5 (5-4 Big 12) for the 2019 season. They were one of the middling teams in the Big 12 standings, but return a lot of talent and production for a promising season ahead.