Ranking all 16 Big 12 football programs by 2026 academic progress rate

The Big 12 might not be considered a bastion of academia like some schools in the ACC or Big Ten, but the conference does have some programs with top-25 marks in the NCAA Academic Progress Rate.

Four Big 12 programs boast top-25 APR scores, up from three a year ago, with another in the top 35. Further down the rankings, the conference has some schools at risk of falling below the postseason threshold, which we will get into later.

For reference, here is the NCAA's specific description of its APR measurement:

The APR, or Academic Progress Rate, holds institutions accountable for the academic progress of their student-athletes through a team-based metric that accounts for the eligibility and retention of each student-athlete for each academic term.

The APR is calculated as follows:

A strong APR standing matters. Programs must remain above a four-year average APR of 930 to compete in postseason play—Akron (APR of 914) recently became the first program since 2014 to receive an academic-related postseason ban. When used for the final bowl tiebreaker, the metric significantly impacts the football team. If 5-7 teams are needed to finalize the postseason schedule, the team with the highest APR often earns the bid, making it an important metric to watch.

Here are the updated APR totals for every Big 12 football team. The metric now includes the four-year average of the 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years. The numbers below are also compared to each program's APR and Big 12 standing from last year.

16. BYU Cougars

BYU Cougars football head coach Kalani Sitake celebrates after an interception as winning 41-27 over Iowa State during the third quarter at Jack Trice Stadium on Oct. 25, 2025, in Ames, Iowa.

APR Score: 953

2025 APR: 954 (No. 15)

BYU fell slightly in its APR this calendar year. Kalani Sitake continues to make the Cougars a perennial top-15 program, and BYU should once again compete for the Big 12 title.

15. Houston Cougars

Sep 6, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Cougars head coach Willie Fritz walks on the sideline during the fourth quarter against the Rice Owls at Rice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

APR Score: 954

2025 APR: 940 (No. 16)

Houston made a big jump in APR over the last academic year, moving further away from the cutoff line and out of last place in the Big 12. After a standout double-digit-win season, Willie Fritz's group should be one of the Big 12 title favorites heading into the 2026 season.

14. Colorado Buffaloes

Sep 27, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders reacts to a touchdown scored in the first quarter against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

APR Score: 959

2025 APR: 961 (No. 14)

Head coach Deion Sanders has placed a significant emphasis on academics, which has paid off so far despite the two-point drop in APR.

13. TCU Horned Frogs

Sep 20, 2025; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; TCU Horned Frogs head coach Sonny Dykes reacts to a penalty during the first half against the SMU Mustangs at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

APR Score: 967

2025 APR: 963 (No. 13)

After taking a step back last year, the Horned Frogs improved by four points this year. Under head coach Sonny Dykes, TCU remains a solid football program and is improving off the field as well.

T-11. Arizona Wildcats

Nov 1, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Arizona Wildcats head coach Brent Brennan reacts after a touchdown by wide receiver Javin Whatley (6) in the second quarter against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

APR Score: 976

2025 APR: 969 (No. 12)

The Wildcats had a bounce-back year on the field and in the classroom, having a solid jump in APR. With quarterback Noah Fifita returning for a final season, Arizona is a team to watch in the Big 12.

T-11. Utah Utes

Sep 6, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Utes defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley watches the team warm up before a game against the Cal Poly Mustangs at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images

APR Score: 976

2025 APR: 984 (No. 6)

Utah takes a major step back in APR this year after being a top-50 program nationally and top-6 in the Big 12. Under new head coach Morgan Scalley, the Utes will look to improve in the classroom.

10. Arizona State Sun Devils

Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham looks up at the scoreboard during a game against NAU at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe on Aug. 30, 2025.

APR Score: 977

2025 APR: 977 (No. 10)

Arizona State remains in a strong position in APR. The program hopes not to need tiebreakers this season, as Kenny Dillingham works to reestablish the Sun Devils as one of the Big 12's top teams after losing Heisman Trophy hopeful QB Sam Leavitt to LSU.

T-8. West Virginia Mountaineers

Sep 6, 2025; Athens, Ohio, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers head coach Rich Rodriguez talks with West Virginia Mountaineers quarterback Jaylen Henderson (13) during the fourth quarter against the Ohio Bobcats at Peden Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images

APR Score: 978

2025 APR: 980 (No. 8)

West Virginia continues to drop in APR, falling for the second consecutive season, this year by two points. Still, it is a solid number heading into Rich Rodriguez's second season back in Morgantown.

T-8. Baylor Bears

Sep 20, 2025; Waco, Texas, USA; Baylor Bears head coach Dave Aranda reacts during the second half against the Arizona State Sun Devils at McLane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images

APR Score: 978

2025 APR: 974 (No. 9)

Baylor remained at No. 9 in the Big 12 despite a four-point improvement in APR. Dave Aranda and the Bears could ned to make improvements to their defense after struggling mightily in that department last year.

7. UCF Knights

Sep 6, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; UCF Knights head coach Scott Frost looks on during the second half against the North Carolina A&T Aggies at Acrisure Bounce House. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images

APR Score: 981

2025 APR: 986 (No. 4)

UCF is still rebuilding with Scott Frost returning to the program last year. The Knights dropped off five points and fell three spots among Big 12 programs.

6. Kansas Jayhawks

Kansas Jayhawks head coach Lance Leipold applauds on the sidelines during the first half of the game against West Virginia Mountaineers at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium on Sept. 20, 2025.

APR Score: 985

2025 APR: 972 (No. 11)

Kansas made the biggest leap in the conference in APR, jumping into the top 10 and the top 50 nationally. Lance Leipold's crew is always pesky, but will be breaking in a new starting quarterback after Jalon Daniels departed for the NFL.

5. Oklahoma State Cowboys

Head coach Eric Morris walks the field during Oklahoma State football practice in Stillwater, Okla., on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.

APR Score: 988

2025 APR: 986 (No. 5)

Oklahoma State continues to rise academically, moving up two APR points and holding firm at fifth in the Big 12. On the field, the Cowboys are hoping to complete a complete turnaround under new head coach Eric Morris and quarterback Drew Mestamaker.

4. Kansas State Wildcats

Kansas State new head football coach Collin Klein makes remarks at his introduction ceremony at Morgan Family Arena on Dec. 5, 2025.

APR Score: 991

2025 APR: 990 (No. 3)

Kansas State had a disappointing season on the field last year, which may have led to the surprising departure of longtime head coach Chris Klieman. In comes Collin Klein, who looks to build on the foundation Klieman built.

T-1. Texas Tech Red Raiders

Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire signals to the officials during a Big 12 Conference football game, Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, at Jones AT&T Stadium.

APR Score: 992

2025 APR: 981 (No. 7)

The Red Raiders are once again among the conference's biggest risers in APR, moving up ten spots. Head coach Joey McGuire seems to be doing everything right after leading Texas Tech to the Big 12 title and the College Football Playoff a season ago. The Red Raiders should be the title favorites in 2026.

T-1. Cincinnati Bearcats

Cincinnati Bearcats head coach Scott Satterfield speaks to the referees in the fourth quarter of the NCAA football game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and Bowling Green Falcons at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati on Sept. 6, 2025.

APR Score: 992

2025 APR: 994 (No. 1)

The Bearcats made a bowl game last season, taking the next step in becoming a legitimate Power Four program. Cincinnati's APR remains a top-25 mark nationally.

T-1. Iowa State Cyclones

Iowa State football coach Jimmy Rogers speaks during a timeout in the first half in the Iowa State and Iowa men’s basketball Cy-Hawk series at Hilton coliseum on Dec. 11, 2025, in Ames, Iowa.

APR Score: 992

2025 APR: 991 (No. 2)

Matt Campbell turned Iowa State into a program that consistently punches above its weight, but he moved on to Penn State, and the Cyclones paid the price. Iowa State's roster got ransacked by Campbell and the Nittany Lions. 2026 looks like a complete rebuild year for new head coach Jimmy Rogers, but the Cyclones APR is tied with Auburn, Fordham, Texas Tech, Air Force, Cincinnati, Dayton and Iowa for No. 14 nationally.

Follow Charlie Strella on X, Threads and Instagram.

Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Big 12 football 2026 NCAA academic progress rate rankings