There’s always movement in the Big 12, but 2026 brings a particularly fascinating batch of transfers - the kind of additions that can change a team’s ceiling fast. These aren’t simply the flashiest names or the most obvious stars. They’re the moves that could end up mattering most when the conference race starts to tighten.
DJ Lagway is the headliner at Baylor, and for good reason. The Texas native arrived at Florida as a five-star recruit, but injuries and uneven play kept the fit from ever really taking off.
In 24 games, he completed 62 percent of his passes for 4,179 yards, 28 touchdowns and 23 interceptions. Now he’s in line to start for the Bears, and the timing is impossible to ignore with Dave Aranda sitting on the hot seat.
If Baylor can get Lagway rolling, this could be bigger than a job-saver. It could give the Bears a quarterback capable of winning the Big 12.
Oklahoma State’s rebuild is massive, with Eric Morris bringing in 56 new transfers and nearly his entire North Texas offense. Drew Mestemaker will draw plenty of attention at quarterback, but the more intriguing piece is Caleb Hawkins.
The running back was a First Team All-American Conference selection in 2025 after piling up 1,434 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns, plus 370 receiving yards and four more scores. If he translates that production against Big 12 defenses, Oklahoma State’s offense could become a real problem.
Texas Tech has made a habit of attacking the portal and building in the trenches, and that approach has helped turn the Red Raiders into one of the best teams in the country. They’ve already seen linemen like David Bailey, Lee Hunter and Skyler Gill-Howard transfer in and eventually reach the NFL, and now the next name in that pipeline is Mateen Ibirogba. After stops at Georgetown and Wake Forest, he arrives with 3.5 tackles for a loss from last season and a chance to help fill a major need up front.
UCF’s quarterback situation in 2025 was a mess. Four different passers logged major snaps, and none of them gave the Knights the kind of steady play they needed.
Scott Frost turned to Alonza Barnett III to clean that up. Barnett is just one year removed from leading James Madison to the College Football Playoff, and UCF is hoping he can bring enough consistency and leadership to get the program back to bowl eligibility.
He also gives the Knights a bridge to Rocco Marriott, the highest-ranked quarterback recruit in program history.
Wendell Gregory rounds out the list at Kansas State, where he arrives after a standout year at Oklahoma State. Now at his third school in as many years, Gregory already has a track record in this league, and it’s a strong one: 12.0 tackles for a loss and 4.0 sacks last season earned him Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year honors. With another year of growth, Kansas State could end up with one of the conference’s best pass-rushers.
In Other News...
Wendell Gregory Carries Early Pressure In Kansas States New Era
Wendell Gregory arrives in Manhattan as one of the more notable pieces in Kansas States defensive rebuild, giving the Wildcats a proven transfer presence as they begin the first season under head coach Collin Klein. Gregory comes over from Oklahoma State with the kind of experience that can matter quickly, especially for a team trying to set a new tone after the transition from Chris Klieman to Klein.
Kansas State enters the year with modest outside expectations after being picked eighth in the Big 12 preseason media poll, but there is still belief that Klein can make an immediate imprint. Gregorys role becomes part of that equation, since the Wildcats need impact players to help the defense carry early pressure while the new staff sorts out what this next version of the program is going to look like. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Basketball Targets Rising 2027 Guard Amid Growing Interest
Kansas State has added another name to its 2027 board, extending an offer to William Powers, a combo guard from Westminster Christian Academy in Missouri. The Wildcats are still early in that class, with one commit already in place, and they have been busy lining up targets as they look to build out future backcourt and frontcourt depth.
Powers enters the mix alongside a group that includes four-star forward Davis Cochran, guard Malik Olajuwon and forward Teke Deng, all of whom have drawn attention from multiple schools. For a program trying to stay ahead of the curve, the offer fits the broader push to keep momentum going in a class that should only get more competitive from here. [Read more 🡒]
Casey Alexander Is Giving Kansas State Fans An Early Recruiting Look
Casey Alexander is already putting his stamp on Kansas States 2027 recruiting class, making early scholarship offers to four of the countrys top high school prospects while continuing to track two more. It is the sort of early groundwork that can shape a class long before signing day chatter really starts, and it gives Wildcats fans a first glimpse at the kind of talent the staff wants to identify and prioritize.
The names attached to those offers have been productive enough on the high school circuit to justify the attention, and Kansas State is clearly trying to stay ahead of the curve rather than chase prospects later. Fans will get another chance to connect with the program soon, too, with the Meet the Cats event set for Aug. 22 at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, a useful reminder that recruiting buzz and fan engagement tend to move hand in hand in Manhattan. [Read more 🡒]