College football is going to look a lot different this year than in years past. That especially holds true for the Big 12 Conference. 

Last year, the conference added BYU, Cincinnati, Central Florida, and Houston to its stable of teams. This season, it lost the biggest of its anchors, Texas and Oklahoma, but rebounded nicely to add Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah from the fizzled Pac-12. 

It’s a brand-new landscape for the Big 12, and a new competition for the programs – not just in the stadium, but around it. 

Big 12 Football is known for throwing some of the best pregame parties in the nation. Depending on the location, you can expect a top-shelf tailgating scene and a slew of local establishments, plus a number of activities geared toward kids and families. 

There is much to see, to do, to take in before kickoff; maybe even time to lay down a little college football betting action, now that wagering is legal in many states.

For 2024, Bookies.com has compiled a comprehensive, third-annual list of the top Big 12 football pregame destinations, ranked in order from best to worst. The list is borne from an algorithm based on multiple factors. Among them:

Location: Close to the action, accessible to fans

Tailgating: The ability to park and enjoy a crisp fall day with a beverage and grill

Entertainment Around Stadium: A vibrant bar and restaurant scene within walking distance of your seat

Family Sentiment: Is the area safe and entertaining for kids and those with kids?

Oklahoma and Texas ranked first and second, respectively, in 2023, so a new champion is crowned for 2024. Here are all the Big 12 football pregame destinations, ranked. 

16. Houston Cougars 

Houston’s highest ranking was for entertainment, not a surprise with the popular Cougar Alley as a trendy destination for Cougars games. For the Big 12, though, other areas were more lacking in comparison, including parking for the downtown stadium, and perceived safety concerns that kept the family score lower. (2023 ranking: T-14th Big 12)

15. Iowa State Cyclones

IS ranked dead last in two of the four categories for 2024, with the Cyclones behind the pack in pregame entertainment options and in location, with the stadium a 20-minute walk from the main campus area and the bar scene just as far. But if you want to park and tailgate, ISU ranks in the upper half of a competitive Big 12 landscape. (2023 ranking: T-14th Big 12)

14. BYU Cougars

If drinking adult beverages is your thing before going to the game, BYU of course is a dry campus, so better to start elsewhere or find something else to do. That lack of booze is canceled out by having a Top 3 ranking in family sentiment and fun. A jaunt to ring the Victory Bell after a win is a moment. (2023 ranking: 12th Big 12)

13. Baylor Bears

The Baylor Football Tailgate Show is a scene worth experiencing, and there is the “sailgating” – tailgating on boats on the Brazos River. Parking is ample and the stadium is connected to campus via a walking bridge across the Brazos, offering convenience and tailgating options. Baylor won just one home game last year, which doesn’t help pregame buzz. (2023 ranking: 11th Big 12)

12. Arizona Wildcats

The stadium is right on the Tucson campus and a party can always be found on gameday. Those who like to park anywhere near the stadium and tailgate might be disappointed, especially if not a season-ticket holders. Arizona pregames didn’t rank high for families, either. The team is heading in the right direction, however, going 10-3 last year after winning just one game two seasons ago. (2023 ranking: 9th Pac-12)

RELATED: Big Ten Football 2024 Team-By-Team Miles Traveled

11. Kansas Jayhawks

Games in Lawrence may not be for everyone, but they’re top-shelf for certain subset. The bar scene is vibrant along Massachusetts Street and the location is easy and lively. It’s a party that college students can appreciate, but the scores for families and those who want to pull out a grill and tailgate keep the overall score in the bottom half. (2023 ranking: 10th Big 12)

10. Arizona State Sun Devils

The Sun Devils are widely considered among the hardest-partying student bodies in the country. As a brand-new member of the Big 12, ASU immediately ranks in the Top 6 out of 16 teams in both entertainment and tailgating fun. But there comes a downside with all the revelry; no pregame spot ranked lower in the family demographic. (2023 ranking: 6th Pac-12)

9. Cincinnati Bearcats

More than any other Big 12 locale, games in Cincinnati have something for any interest. The Bearcats ranked ninth or better in all four categories, one of just two teams to do so. The vibrant area bar scene isn’t overly close, however, but there is tailgating and other entertainment options for all ages nearby. (2023 ranking: 9th Big 12)

8. Utah

Utah ranked fourth in the Pac-12 pregame rankings for 2023, but the Big 12 brings it a little harder. Still, the Utes were well-scored across the board, especially with its location right on the Salt Lake City campus, and family sentiment. It’s tough to beat those mountain views, too. (2023 ranking: 4th Pac-12)

7. TCU Horned Frogs

Only one school ranked higher overall in combined entertainment and family sentiment, a tricky goal to impress both crowds. But TCU ranked No. 2 for families (Frog Alley pushes the score) and top 5 in overall entertainment. Tailgating isn’t big with a lack of a major parking spot, and the overall bar scene isn’t overly close. (2023 ranking: 7th Big 12)

6. Central Florida Knights

Along with Cincinnati, UCF is the only other school to rank ninth or better across the board. UCF was dinged for its tricky location in the Orlando area, but tailgating, bars, entertainment – the Orlando-area campus has everything else figured out, from the Memorial Mall to the FBC Mortgage Stadium.. (2023 ranking: 8th Big 12)

5. West Virginia Mountaineers

If you like to park your truck and pop a few tops in the lot, nobody does it better than the Mountaineers in Morgantown. They ranked No. 1 in tailgating, and No. 4 in family sentiment, sparked in part by the parade to the stadium with the team, known as the Mountaineer Mantrip. One has to prefer tailgating to bars; the lack of a major entertainment hub hurt WVU’s overall score. (2023 ranking: 5th Big 12)

4. Colorado

Deion Sanders brought the hype to Boulder, adding a level of pageantry to the home games. Sure, Colorado still finished dead last in the Pac-12, but expect the pregame fun to remain top-notch. No spot ranked better for overall location than Folsom Field and its surroundings in the heart of the CU campus. Ralphie’s Corral adds to the family fun and tailgating score, though the bar scene is about a mile away. (2023 ranking: 3rd Pac-12)

3. Texas Tech Red Raiders

If tailgating is your thing, prepare to be slightly disappointed in the options. If anything else is your thing, prepare to be pleasantly surprised by the options. The stadium is easy to get to, and the Raiders ranked Top 6 in both family and general entertainment options, highlighted by Raider Alley. (2023 ranking: 6th Big 12)

2. Oklahoma State Cowboys

Those who like to whoop it up and have a good time will be very pleased with Stillwater and Cowboys games. Okie State ranked No. 2 in the 16-team Big 12 in both tailgating and overall entertainment options, including cherry-on-top events such as The Walk and Gameday at the Union. Families weren’t as keen on the vibe as others, keeping OSU at No. 2, but the Cowboys overall remain a top-level destination. (2023 ranking: 4th Big 12)

1. Kansas State Wildcats

For those who like to park the car, pull out the grill, and tailgate, lots open a whopping five hours before kickoff in Manhattan. For those who want to wander and experience, it’s even better. K-State ranked No. 1 for its entertainment options, despite the real bar scene being a solid two miles from Snyder Stadium. Perhaps it’s a divide-and-conquer strategy; the bars that far away didn’t deter that