Fall camps are rolling across the Big 12, and with them comes a familiar August storyline: quarterback battles everywhere you look. Some programs are betting on transfers to steady the ship, others are leaning on returning starters who want to take the next step, and a few still haven’t picked a guy yet.
Cincinnati is one of those teams with real uncertainty. The Bearcats were caught up in the offseason drama around Brendan Sorsby and Texas Tech, but the bigger takeaway for Cincinnati is simple: Sorsby’s move left the Bearcats hunting for a quarterback for the 2026 season.
Right now, JC French IV is the leader in that competition. French arrives as a transfer from Georgia Southern, while Liam O’Brien brings Ivy League experience to the mix.
Samaj Jones doesn’t have that same background, but he does offer dual-threat ability, which keeps him firmly in the conversation.
Houston, by contrast, looks settled on the surface. Conner Weigman is back, and last season he helped push the Cougars to a 10-3 record while throwing for 2,705 yards and 25 touchdowns.
That said, there’s a real wrinkle here: freshman Keisean Henderson. He was a five-star recruit, and Rivals ranked him as the top quarterback in the Class of 2026.
If Weigman hits any rough patches, or if Houston can’t get over the hump with him, the pressure to turn to Henderson could build fast. That’s what makes this one worth watching even before the season kicks off.
Kansas is dealing with a full reset at the position. Jalon Daniels is gone, and the Jayhawks now have to find the next quarterback to guide what they hope is a bounce-back year.
The two names that stand out are Cole Ballard and Isaiah Marshall. Ballard has appeared in 15 games over three seasons, but his turnover total outweighs his touchdown production.
Marshall is entering his third year with Kansas and has nine games and one start on his résumé, though he’s only attempted three passes. Chase Jenkins is also in the mix.
Texas Tech’s quarterback situation has been the messiest of the bunch. Brendan Sorsby was supposed to be a major portal addition, but after his gambling problem came to light and a legal battle followed, the Red Raiders are back to square one.
The plan now is for Will Hammond to step in and settle things. The concern is health: Hammond tore his ACL last October, and questions remain about whether he’s fully ready.
If he isn’t, Texas Tech could be forced into a much more complicated answer under center.
In Other News...
Texas Techs 2026 Plans Suddenly Hinge On Donovan Atwell
Texas Techs offseason picture just got more complicated in a way that could matter a lot for next years roster. Donovan Atwell, who averaged 13.5 points and 3.2 rebounds per game last season, is one of the players affected by a recent ruling from Judge Charlotte Sweeney involving high school class of 2022 athletes who used their fourth season of college eligibility this spring. For the Red Raiders, the possibility of getting Atwell back under Grant McCasland changes the conversation around continuity, scoring and how much roster work still needs to be done.
Atwells potential return would give Texas Tech a proven piece, but the situation is still far from settled. His eligibility remains tied to additional legal action and NCAA decisions, so the program cannot treat this as a done deal just yet. For now, the Red Raiders have a significant option on the table, and one that could shape how they approach the rest of their 2026 plans. [Read more 🡒]
Graham Huff Puts Gonzagas Biggest 2026 Question Front And Center
The early look at college basketballs 2026-27 power forwards has already started to sketch out the frontcourt conversation, and Graham Huff is right in the middle of it. Sports Illustrateds latest ranking puts the spotlight on a group that includes Mirkovic, Condon, De Ridder, Toppin, Sherrell and Punch, using recent performance, injury status and projected roles to frame how each player fits into a bigger national picture.
For Texas Tech readers, the broader value is in how those rankings underline just how much can still change before that season arrives. A few of the names in the mix are tied to injury recoveries or roster uncertainty, which makes the category especially fluid, and thats where Huffs place becomes interesting. He is part of a group that already has talent and rsum points on paper, but the real question is how much certainty any of these frontcourt anchors will actually bring when the season finally comes into focus. [Read more 🡒]