The Big 12 just made a serious statement in the early returns on this year’s college football coaching carousel. According to ESPN’s initial rankings of the new hires, four coaches from the conference landed in the top 20 - and that’s not by accident.
These aren’t just names filling vacancies; they’re hires with vision, track records, and clear fits for their programs. Leading the charge?
Oklahoma State’s Eric Morris, who came in at No. 3 overall and earned a straight-up A grade.
Let’s start there. Morris is walking into Stillwater with a reputation that’s hard to ignore - especially if you like offense.
ESPN pointed out that Oklahoma State has been at its best under Mike Gundy when it’s lighting up scoreboards with creative, high-octane schemes. Morris fits that mold perfectly.
He’s worked with some serious quarterback talent over the years, from Patrick Mahomes at Texas Tech to Cam Ward at Incarnate Word, and even turned a walk-on named Drew Mestemaker into a productive player at North Texas. That kind of QB development isn’t just a bonus - it’s a calling card.
ESPN even floated the idea that Morris might be the best quarterback developer in the country right now. Add in his success turning around tough programs, and it’s easy to see why Oklahoma State is excited about this one.
Next up is a familiar face in Manhattan. Kansas State’s Collin Klein checked in at No. 11, with a grade somewhere between an A- and B+.
The rationale here is pretty straightforward: this hire just makes sense. Klein is a Wildcat through and through - he quarterbacked K-State to a Big 12 title in 2012, and he’s been a rising star on the coaching side ever since.
Most recently, he coordinated a top-ten offense in SP+ for Chris Klieman before heading to Texas A&M. Now he’s back, and it feels like a natural fit.
ESPN noted that K-State had a clear succession plan when Klieman stepped down, and Klein was at the heart of it. They did mention a Scott Frost comparison - a little unnecessary, maybe - but overall, they were clearly bullish on what Klein brings to the table.
Just two spots behind Klein at No. 13 is Iowa State’s Jimmy Rogers, who landed in the same A- to B+ range. Rogers is coming off a stellar 27-3 run at South Dakota State, where he didn’t just maintain success - he kept the program humming at a championship level.
ESPN liked what he showed during his stint at Washington State, too, where his defense gave some strong Pac-12 offenses real problems. At just 38 years old, Rogers is stepping into a stable Iowa State program with a chance to build something long-term.
ESPN even floated the idea that this could be a “Klieman to Kansas State” type of hire - a smaller-school winner moving up and continuing to thrive.
Rounding out the Big 12’s showing is Utah’s Morgan Scalley, who came in at No. 16 with a B grade. Scalley has been with the Utes for years under Kyle Whittingham, and now he’s taking the reins as part of a planned succession.
ESPN acknowledged that these kinds of transitions don’t always go smoothly, but in this case, the continuity makes a lot of sense. Scalley knows the culture, knows the system, and has been a key part of Utah’s identity on defense.
It’s a big step, but one he’s been preparing for.
So, four Big 12 hires in the top 20 - and not just barely. These are coaches with proven chops, strong fits, and real upside. If these rankings are any indication, the conference didn’t just reload - it got sharper, younger, and maybe even a little more dangerous.