Week 0 is finally here, and with the 2026 season about to kick off, the Big 12 pecking order is starting to come into focus.
At the top, Texas Tech opens where plenty of people expected. The Red Raiders are the biggest spenders in the league, and that alone gives them a strong case to sit at No. 1 until somebody knocks them off.
Even with Brendan Sorsby gone, the quarterback spot should be fine. Will Hammond has the talent to handle the job, especially with the pieces around him.
BYU isn’t far behind. Kalani Sitake has gone 23-4 over the last two years, and it’s hard to see the Cougars sliding in 2026.
Bear Bachmeier was phenomenal as a true freshman last season after arriving late, and now he gets a full year of experience. Add LJ Martin, one of the top backs in the league, and there’s plenty to like.
Utah rounds out the top tier, though it’s the most vulnerable of the elite group. A first-year head coach and an inexperienced roster on both sides of the ball is not an ideal setup.
Morgan Scalley has been around long enough to keep things steady, but he’s not Kyle Whittingham. Still, the quarterback-running back combo of Devon Dampier and Wayshawn Parker, plus the Utes’ ability to plug and play up front, is why they remain a top-five team.
Arizona checks in next, and Noah Fifita is the reason. He’s one of the best quarterbacks in the Big 12, and that alone keeps the Wildcats dangerous. The defense could end up being one of the better units in the conference too, which gives Arizona a real path to stay in the mix.
The Cougars look like another legitimate contender on paper. They brought in one of the strongest transfer portal hauls in the conference and are also among the most experienced teams in the Big 12. That experience matters on both sides of the ball, and it’s why they sit where they do.
Kansas State comes next, but there’s still a big question hanging over the Wildcats. Avery Johnson has been good, not great, and for K-State to be a true force in the league, he needs to take another step. Doing that with a first-year head coach and a roster with plenty of inexperience makes the ask even tougher.
TCU will get its first look this weekend in Ireland, and Sonny Dykes has already shown he can squeeze production out of his offense. That’s the backbone here. If the defense takes a step forward, the Frogs could get into the Big 12 title conversation.
From there, the middle and lower tiers start to get interesting.
UCF may be the best bet among the bottom-ranked teams to outperform expectations. The Knights need more points, plain and simple. If Alonza Barnett III makes a smooth transition to big-time football, they could wind up in the middle of the pack or even the top half of the league.
Baylor still has people waiting for the turnaround under Dave Aranda. That’s been the conversation for a while now, and the Bears are going to have to earn that respect back.
West Virginia is a different kind of case. Rich Rod is dealing with another major roster flip, but this one comes with more production and experience.
That should make the Mountaineers better than many people think. Even so, with so many unknowns, they’ll have to prove they deserve a higher spot.
Oklahoma State is getting plenty of preseason love thanks to the group Eric Morris brought over from North Texas, led by quarterback Drew Mestemaker and running back Caleb Hawkins. The hype is real, but the jump to the Big 12 is never easy, so some bumps are coming.
Kansas sits in a tough spot without Jalon Daniels. Lance Leipold needs a bounce-back season after back-to-back five-win years, and the big question is whether Cole Ballard can be the answer.
Cincinnati may have the hardest conference schedule in the league. The Bearcats open Big 12 play with Kansas State, at Arizona, at West Virginia, Texas Tech, Utah, and at Houston.
Then they finish with a road trip to BYU. That’s a brutal run.
Colorado still hasn’t solved the run game under Deion Sanders, and until that changes, the offense will stay out of balance. The defense has to improve too, or the struggles will continue.
Iowa State looks like a rough first year for Jimmy Rogers in Ames. A major roster turnover and a difficult Big 12 slate is a tough combination.
At the bottom, there’s still belief that UCF can rise. Baylor still has to answer the same old questions. And Iowa State, Colorado, and Kansas are all staring at serious uncertainty as the season begins.
In Other News...
Nicco Marchiols Next Setback Will Hit Home For WVU Fans
Aidan Chiles is set to open the season as Northwesterns starting quarterback after beating out Nicco Marchiol for the job, a development that will feel familiar to West Virginia fans who have followed Marchiols winding path. Chiles brings a skill set that fits Northwesterns offense, while Marchiols profile has been shaped by his recent foot injury and the flashes he showed before, the kind of resume that keeps a quarterback conversation alive even when he is not the current starter.
For West Virginia supporters, Marchiols latest setback lands with a little extra sting because of what he chose to do after arriving in Morgantown. He stayed through a coaching change, a sign of both loyalty and belief that his opportunity could still come. There is still a route back for him if Chiles does not seize the job, and that possibility keeps Marchiol firmly on the radar for anyone watching how the quarterback picture develops. [Read more 🡒]
West Virginia Freshmen Are Already Pushing For Roles That Matter
Fall camp has already given West Virginia a look at a freshman class that does not seem content to wait its turn. Five true freshmen have stood out enough to warrant attention, with offensive linemen Kevin Brown and Lamarcus Dillard drawing notice up front, wide receiver Landon Drumm making an impression, safety Matt Sieg showing up on the back end, and tight end Kade Bush adding another name to the mix. Even with a few of them dealing with injuries along the way, the early signs point to a group that could factor into the rotation sooner rather than later.
For a program trying to build depth and find reliable special teams help, that kind of early traction matters. The Mountaineers do not need every first-year player to become an instant contributor, but the fact that several freshmen are already competing for real roles gives the staff more options as camp continues. Whether it is a snap on offense, a package on defense or a spot covering kicks, West Virginia has at least opened the door for this class to matter before long. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Has A Crucial Secondary Question Heading Into 2026
West Virginias cornerback room is one of the more interesting position groups on the roster heading toward 2026, largely because it blends experience, new faces and plenty of upside. The staff has a mix of transfers and freshmen to sort through, and the group comes with a range of backgrounds, body types and previous production that should make spring and summer evaluation especially important.
The challenge now is turning that collection of traits into a reliable unit, because the Mountaineers need more than just athletic potential on the perimeter. Coaches will be looking for who can handle the speed of the position, who can clean up the rough edges and who is ready to contribute when the games start to matter, even if the final pecking order is still far from settled. [Read more 🡒]