houston's 8-5 record last year with a defense ranked 102nd in yards per play allowed doesn't scream playoff team. their portal class is solid, but saying they have the best roster in the big 12 ignores arizona returning a top-15 offense and a defense that forced 24 turnovers. the big 12 is wide open, but utah, kansas state, and arizona all have more proven track records and higher sp+ ratings entering the season. continuity matters, but so does talent, and houston's recruiting classes still rank in the 50s and 60s. they're a good team, but calling a playoff spot is a massive leap from where their actual performance has been.