The Big 12’s preseason picture is already taking shape, and the spotlight is landing on a handful of players who could define how the conference race unfolds. USA Today’s list of the top five programs in the predicted order of finish puts Texas Tech at the front, and that means quarterback Will Hammond is suddenly carrying the kind of attention that comes with being the face of a defending champion.
Hammond’s path to that role has not been smooth. He is recovering from a torn ACL, but a return for Week 1 is still possible.
The redshirt sophomore played in eight games last season and completed 69 of 109 passes, a 63.3 percent clip, for 680 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions. With Texas Tech favored to repeat as Big 12 champion, the Red Raiders need Hammond ready to handle the pressure that comes with the job.
BYU is dealing with a different kind of uncertainty. Safety Faletau Satuala was expected to be one of the anchors of the 2026 defense after Tanner Wall’s departure for the NFL, but a foot fracture suffered during an offseason workout has put his start to the season in doubt.
Deseret’s Jay Drew reported that Satuala would "most likely" be unavailable when training camp begins in August. That would be a major hit for a player who posted 84 total tackles, including 7.5 for loss, along with a sack and three interceptions last season, one of them returned for a touchdown.
Drew also wrote, "Satuala said in April that he was prepared to make a big step forward as a leader of the defense," and now those plans may have to wait for a Cougars team coming off a 12-2 season, its best record since 2001 and only the fourth 12-win campaign in program history.
Utah is also asking a newcomer to fill a big void. The Utes lost edge rusher John Henry Daley, who led the team in sacks with 11.5 and tackles for loss with 17.5 in 2025 before following coach Kyle Whittingham to Michigan.
Utah went to the transfer portal and came away with Ethan Day, who arrives after a strong season at North Texas. In 14 games, the junior edge recorded 53 total tackles, seven for loss, and 4.5 sacks.
Matching Daley’s production will be a tall order, but Utah will need Day to come close if the Morgan Scalley era is going to start the way the Utes want.
Houston has its own breakout candidate in wide receiver Amare Thomas. After transferring from UAB, Thomas put together the best season of his career in 2025, finishing with 67 catches, 966 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. He was a big part of Houston’s rise from 4-8 to 10-3 in Willie Fritz’s second season, and if the Cougars keep climbing in 2026, Thomas should be right in the middle of it again.
Arizona’s key name is quarterback Noah Fifita, who was recently named to the 2026 preseason All-Big 12 team. The fifth-year senior has 34 starts and threw for a career-high 3,228 yards last season.
That experience matters for a Wildcats team that has to replace its top two receiving options from 2025. Arizona also has a tough road ahead, with a Week 2 trip to BYU and a visit to Texas Tech on Oct.
- If Fifita delivers, the Wildcats should stay in the Big 12 conversation all season long.
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The most interesting part for BYU is how quickly some of those names are forcing their way into the conversation. Spring observations and coaching comments suggest there are already freshmen who look capable of helping sooner than expected, especially on the edges and in the trenches where depth charts can change fast. The question now is which of these first-year players can turn camp momentum into actual playing time once the season starts, and which ones will keep building toward a bigger role down the road. [Read more 🡒]