The Big 12 rarely offers a clean read on who’s coming, who’s rising and who’s ready to take over. That’s part of the league’s appeal, and it’s exactly why the quarterback picture entering 2026 feels so wide open.
There’s proven production here, plenty of upside and a few transfers who could change the shape of the race fast. At the top of the list sits Drew Mestemaker at Oklahoma State, and the appeal is obvious.
After transferring from North Texas, he comes into 2026 as one of the most intriguing quarterbacks in the country. He put together a breakout season, drew heavy attention in the transfer portal and now steps into a situation where his comfort with head coach Eric Morris’ offensive system should help him hit the ground running.
If that success carries over at the Power Four level, the NFL buzz could get loud, fast, with first-round potential in play down the line.
Right behind him is Utah’s Devon Dampier, a quarterback built to stress defenses in every direction. He’s one of the most dangerous dual-threat passers in the country, and that explosiveness makes him the engine of Utah’s offense. If the Utes are going to push into the Big 12 title conversation, Dampier is the player who can carry them there.
Arizona’s Noah Fifita lands at No. 3, and he earns that spot through steadiness more than flash. He’s become one of the conference’s most dependable quarterbacks thanks to his accuracy, experience and leadership. That kind of consistency matters in a league like this, and another strong year could help Arizona stay in the mix for a conference championship berth.
BYU’s Bear Bachmeier comes in fourth, but the ceiling is clearly higher than that ranking suggests. He’s already drawn major expectations for a young quarterback after an impressive freshman season, and he’s quickly become one of the conference’s most important players. Another offseason of growth could be enough to push him into the next tier and put him among the country’s top quarterbacks.
Rounding out the group is UCF’s Alonza Barnett III, who arrives from James Madison with plenty of athleticism and playmaking ability. His dual-threat skill set gives the Knights a quarterback who can create real problems for defenses, and if he settles into the new offense quickly, there’s every chance he climbs this list before the season is over.
In Other News...
Utah Opens The Season With Real Big 12 Buzz Again
Utah is back in the preseason conversation before a snap has been played, landing at No. 21 in the 2026 US LBM Coaches Top 25 Poll and giving the Big 12 another reason to feel like it has real September heft again. The league placed four teams in the poll, with Texas Tech at No. 12, BYU at No. 15, Utah just behind them and Houston checking in at No. 24, a pretty good snapshot of how much respect this conference is getting heading into the new season.
For the Utes, the ranking is a reminder that the programs standing has not faded just because the calendar has flipped to a new year. Utah and BYU both being in the top 25 gives the league a built-in regional edge, while the rest of the poll is topped by the usual national heavyweights, with Ohio State first and Oregon, Georgia, Texas and Notre Dame rounding out the top five. For a team trying to establish itself in the Big 12 spotlight, being in that first wave of national attention is the kind of starting point that tends to matter later. [Read more 🡒]