Big 12 Championship Game 2025: Arizona vs. Houston Schedule, Preview

Two of the newest teams in the Big 12 will square off in the 2025 Big 12 tournament final.

The Houston Cougars are making their second Big 12 tournament final appearance in two years inside the league. Houston only put up 41 points in a loss in the same spot last year.

The Arizona Wildcats qualified for the title clash in their first year in the conference.

Arizona is no stranger to playing on Saturday of Championship Week, though, as it won two of the final three Pac-12 tournaments and nine Pac-12 tourney titles in whole.

Big 12 Championship Game Info

Date: Saturday, March 15

Start Time: 6 p.m. ET

TV: ESPN

Live Stream: ESPN.com or ESPN app

Preview

One of the two programs will earn their first Big 12 tournament title on Saturday night.

Houston immediately established itself as a Big 12 power in the step up from the American Athletic Conference that took place last season.

The Cougars are 21-1 against Big 12 opponents this season. The only loss came back on February 1 to the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

As it has been for quite some time, Houston's defense was the trademark of its run to the final.

Houston held the BYU Cougars to 54 points in Friday's semifinal, one day after BYU put up 96 points on the Iowa State Cyclones.

In fact, no team scored more than 68 points against Houston since it suffered the loss to Texas Tech on February 1.

Houston held Arizona to 58 points as part of that run on February 15 in Tucson. The Wildcats were equally as strong on defense in that game, though, as they limited Houston to 62.

Arizona entered Kansas City in far less consistent form than Houston. Its two-game winning streak inside T-Mobile Center is its first set of consecutive victories since a six-game run that ended on February 11.

The Wildcats looked to have reversed course on that form with controlling wins over the Kansas Jayhawks and Texas Tech.

Arizona's offense clicked in both wins with 88 and 86 points. The Caleb Love-led attack might not put up another 80-spot on Saturday, but it could pose a major challenge to Houston's defense.

Houston will be viewed as the favorite because of its defense and overall consistency in Big 12 play, but if Love and the Wildcats get hot, they can push the Cougars to the brink.

Prediction

Houston 64, Arizona 60