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| Julian Lewis, Colorado |
Power Rankings
9. Arizona State Sun Devils
Replicating the magical success of the 2024 campaign was always going to be a challenge for Arizona State, and it didn't help they were bitten by the injury bug last fall. Even so, head coach Kenny Dillingham showed real coaching chops dragging this Sun Devils team an 8-5 finish, which included the upset of league champion Texas Tech.
The new challenge entering 2026 will be building on that, despite losing star quarterback Sam Leavitt and wide receiver Jordyn Tyson. Leavitt missed a big chunk of last season with injury, but his transfer to LSU is still a major blow to the program. Tyson, meanwhile, is playing on Sundays now, taken eighth overall by the New Orleans Saints.
Arizona State will now turn to Kentucky transfer Cutter Boley to run the offense. We saw flashes from Boley during his time in Lexington but consistency was a problem, and he was quite turnover prone, with 12 interceptions. Dillingham is going to need to curve his worst impulses, but the potential is there if he can acclimate to this system.
Boley will have some fun pieces to work with, even without Tyson. Omarion Miller and Reed Harris were big gets in the portal, with Miller coming over from Colorado and Harris from Boston College. Miller immediately becomes a go-to guy in this offense, fresh off a year in which he went for over 800 yards with the Buffaloes. Add in Washington transfer Raiden Vines-Bright, who now returns to his native Tempe, there's some thought this receiver corps could actually be better in 2026.
There's turnover at tailback after Raleek Brown got a huge NIL deal with Texas, but the Sun Devils will look to deploy a committee approach this fall. Junior Kyson Brown is probably going to get the most opportunities, but Jason Brown Jr. had the huge bowl showing against Duke in the Sun Bowl. Freshman Cardae Mack is the talented newcomer, giving this position real depth.
The defense will look a lot different in 2026 after an up-and-down season a year ago. The Sun Devils saw plenty of attrition up front and hit the portal hard to upgrade a pass defense that was among the worst in the Big 12. One of the few constants is veteran defensive linemen C.J. Fite, who will play a key leadership role this year.
The back seven may be full of newcomers, but several of them are highly accomplished. That includes tackling machine Owen Long, who comes over from Colorado State after leading FBS football in tackles last season. In the secondary, Lyrik Rawls comes over from Kansas, while Ashton Stamps is primed to enter a starting role after arriving from LSU. Stamps has 17 career starts to his credit, and his experience will be valuable in reshaping a defensive backfield that needs to be better.
Bottom Line: Dillingham can flat out coach, but this offseason was a tough one in Tempe. This is a school with ample resources, but seeing Leavitt and Brown take huge NIL deals elsewhere was a wakeup call for the program. Arizona State responded the best way they could, spending that money on greater needs and identifying potential weapons who could replace Tyson at receiver. Yet, this still has the looks of a transition season for the Sun Devils. The schedule does no favors - going on the road to Texas A&M is one thing in mid-September, but then turning around without any additional rest to meet up with Kansas in London? The Sun Devils also have Texas Tech, BYU, and Arizona all on the road this fall, quite the gift from the Big 12 schedule-makers. I'm always wary of how a team like this reacts to a long travel schedule early on in the year, and the downstream impacts it can have. Given that, and the questions elsewhere, simply getting back to a bowl game would be a success for Dillingham and staff.
10. Baylor Bears
Few coaches in college football enter this fall as squarely on the hot seat as Dave Aranda at Baylor. The Aranda tenure in Waco has been a confusing one, full of some incredible highs and shocking lows. There was the slow start during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, a surprising Big 12 Title a year later, and then four years flip-flopping between being competitive and being at the bottom of the league.
At 36-37 overall, Aranda knew he had to act this offseason, and he brought in quite a big name on offense. D.J. Lagway, the former blue-chip recruit, will be handed control of the Baylor offense after Sawyer Roberton's graduation. Lagway had his moments in Gainesville and oozed potential, but it never quite came together. This past season was especially tough, but health did seem to play a factor, as Lagway never quite looked 100 percent.
The pairing of Lagway with offensive coordinator Jake Spavital could be exciting. But, the two of them will have to make do with an offense that is replacing just about every other big name from a unit that averaged 31.1 points per contest in 2025.
Dawson Pendergrass looks like he will be the guy next to Lagway in the backfield, as he's back again after missing all of 2025. We saw him at his best in 2024, as he tallied 671 yards on the year, but he'll have to stay healthy this year. Caden Knighten is another key returnee, but the Bears need this pair to stay healthy given the lack of experience behind them.
The receiver corps has a lot of potential, but it's hard to know who the real playmakers are going to end up being. Gavin Freeman is a name to watch, now on his third school of his college career, but he's not your traditional wide out, at just 5'9". Colorado transfer Dre'lon Miller can do it all, including spending time at running back with the Buffaloes, but he has yet to put it all together. Louis Brown IV and Jadon Porter are the holdovers who Baylor is hoping can emerge.
Then, there's the offensive line. Four starters are departing from this unit, with right tackle Kaden Sieracki the only one back. The Bears are hoping transfers can fill the void, and is also high on Kaden's younger brother, Koltin, to come in and potentially start at center.
Given Aranda's defensive background, it's been pretty shocking how poorly Baylor has fared on this side of the ball throughout his tenure. Last year was more of the same, with the Bears being gashed on the ground and surrendering 32.6 PPG (120th in the country). There were sweeping changes in the offseason, with Aranda making quite the splash by bringing on Kansas State defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman to run this unit.
Klanderman is highly accomplished, and got the most from his defenses with K-State. Perhaps most importantly for the Bears, he was able to engineer some strong rush defenses. He'll have to work some magic this year, as Baylor's front seven is nearly entirely new, with the exception being linebacker Travion Barnes and defensive tackle Devonte Tezino.
It's better news in the defensive backfield, with veterans LeVar Thornton and Jacob Redding, plus a healthy Devin Turner, who returns from a torn ACL. Redding is one of the most underrated defenders in the conference, a former walk-on who has emerged as one of the most consistent tacklers in the Big 12. He missed the season finale last year with injury and wasn't at 100 percent this spring, so ensuring he is ready to go will be a top priority.
Klanderman is hoping to force more turnovers with this unit this fall, running a more aggressive unit that takes more chances than what we saw under Aranda. Between an offense that throws the ball around and a defense that could not create turnovers, Baylor was among the worst in FBS ball with a -13 turnover margin.
Bottom Line: Landing Lagway and bringing in Klanderman were the type of offseason wins Aranda needed going into a make-or-break seventh season. But it's hard to know if those are going to be enough to reverse Baylor's fortunes when you consider just how much is leaving elsewhere. The offense is replacing its quarterback, running back, top four receivers, and four starters on the O-Line. The defense, even with Klanderman's track record, is a complete mystery given all the new pieces in the front seven. Aranda seems to perform his best when his back is against the wall, but it's difficult to imagine a scenario in which Baylor builds much on last year's 5-7 mark. Depending on how they handle a late September to mid-October stretch that includes Colorado, Arizona State, and TCU could determine whether Aranda is even still the man in charge when the season concludes on the road against Houston in the season finale.
11. West Virginia Mountaineers
There were understandable growing pains for Rich Rodriguez in the debut season of his grand West Virginia return. With nearly an entirely new roster, the Mountaineers finished off 4-8, with a 2-7 mark inside the Big 12. The season included an ugly loss to Ohio in September, but also a team that played hard down the stretch and narrowly missed a chance at a bowl.
Instead of bringing back the same core and hoping for a second season of progress, Rodriguez flipped the entire roster once more. Outside of quarterback Scotty Fox, who wrestled away the starting job midseason in 2025, and a couple of offensive linemen, this is almost an entirely new roster. Clearly, Rich Rod has embraced this new era of college football, and is hoping he has found the right ingredients to build a more competitive roster in Morgantown.
Fox may be one of the few familiar faces on this roster, but he's in a battle to fend off Oklahoma transfer Michael Hawkins Jr. as the starting quarterback. There were some bright moments for Fox last fall, as he went for over 300 yards against TCU and Arizona State, but Hawkins impressed in the spring game and seems a better fit for what Rich Rod wants to do. It should be a competitive battle that will likely drag into their first two games.
At running back, Rodriguez went to his old stomping grounds and brought Cam Cook over from Jacksonville State. It's a huge get, as Cook ran for 1,659 yards with the Gamecocks last season and should be an ideal fit in this system. He's no power conference newcomer either, as Cook started his career at TCU and ran for 460 yards with the Horned Frogs in 2024.
The rest of the offense is unsurprisingly completely full of transfers, with veteran Jaden Bray and a pair of offensive linemen the notable exceptions. Bray will be counted on heavily given his experience and familiarity in the league, as he was previously at Oklahoma State. Prince Strachan highlights the newcomers, a player who showed out at Boise State and seemed destined for great things before injuries derailed his career last fall at USC. TaRon Francis is another name to watch, a former high-profile recruit at LSU hoping to jolt his career with the Mountaineers.
The O-Line got a complete makeover, including on the coaching staff, as Rick Trickett reunites with Rodriguez after a stint at Jacksonville State. He has veterans Nick Krahe and Landen Livingston to build with, but it's transfers beyond that.
There's a similar story on defense, where the Mountaineers underperformed a year ago. There was no hesitation from Rodriguez, as he does not bring back a single starter from last year's team and worked furiously in the portal. The only continuity is on the staff, where Zac Alley is back as defensive coordinator.
Upgrading the rush defense was a priority, even though it was actually the best part of this defense in 2025. Edge rushers Harper Holloman and Zeke Durham-Campbell were brought on from smaller schools and will be counted on heavily, while junior K.J. Henson looks to be the force to watch on the interior. I still have high hopes for interior D-Linemen Taylor Brown, who will hope to break free of a crowded D-Line room.
It's difficult to know what to expect from the rest of the defense. There are so many new names, and Alley and staff could order this thing in a million different ways. Senior linebacker Ben Cutter is one of the few defenders who knows the program well, now in his fourth year at West Virginia. Fast-rising redshirt freshman Cam Torbor could see meaningful snaps alongside him, as could Tyler Stolsky, now on his third school.
There's really nowhere to go but up for a pass defense that was horrendous last fall. Safety Kamari Wilson is probably the biggest name addition in this position group, as a former blue-chip recruit at Florida. Andrew Powdrell, also on his third school, could start beside him at safety, and the cornerback spots are a complete mystery.
Bottom Line: Few programs in all of college football were as active this offseason in the portal as West Virginia. It's evident Rodriguez was not a fan of the way the personnel came together for his debut campaign, but this a complete overhaul - even by current college football standards. With Cook and Hawkins potentially leading the offense, the Mountaineers have a chance to be at least fun. On defense, Alley has been considered a rising name in the coaching ranks, but he'll have his work cut out for him. West Virginia should win their first two games against Coastal Carolina and UT-Martin, before a trip to Charlotte against Virginia in a neutral site game. The rest of the schedule is full of coin flip games, but the Mountaineers do have most of their winnable games at home, namely Oklahoma State, Cincinnati, and Kansas. A bowl game is the hope, but the more realistic goal for this team may just be about identifying some players that can stick around for the ever-important Year Three for Rodriguez in 2027.
12. Kansas Jayhawks
Consecutive 5-7 seasons for Lance Leipold has the Kansas coach under some pressure as the Jayhawks look towards 2026. Yet, the W-L doesn't show the whole story - few teams in college football have performed as poorly in close games as Kansas has the last two years, with seven losses over the last two seasons by a single possession. Whether bad coaching or just sheer bad luck, the Jayhawks have to flip that script if they want to be competitive this fall.
To do that, Leipold turned to a familiar name to help guide the offense in Andy Kotelnicki, who returns to Lawrence after a two-year stint at Penn State's offensive coordinator. Kotelnicki is a longtime Leipold assistant who is known for fun, innovative offenses. He breaths new life into a group that felt stale in 2025.
There are some interesting pieces for Kotelnicki to play with on this Jayhawk roster. Dylan Edwards and Yasin Willis is a fun 1-2 combo at tailback, with Edwards out to prove he can truly be the guy after splitting time at both Colorado and Kansas State. At receiver, Cam Pickett is back after tying for the team lead in catches, and there is further help through the portal.
Kansas will likely need those players to shine, because quarterback is a major question mark. Jalon Daniels has finally moved on, leaving a crowded room of competitors in his wake. Redshirt junior Cole Ballard and redshirt sophomore Isaiah Marshall were backups previously and likely will be the top players vying for the starting job. Marshall is the more dangerous runner and may be able to provide the spark Kotelnicki is looking for in this offense. Rice transfer Chase Jenkins is another name firmly in the mix.
On defense, coordinator D.K. McDonald needs a better showing, and it's helpful that there is a lot returning. McDonald is a former NFL defensive backs coach, and the pass defense was solid. It was the struggles against the run that led the Jayhawks to give up nearly 27 points per game.
The front seven will benefit greatly from the returns of linebacker Trey Lathan and defensive end Leroy Harris III. They will be buoyed by transfer portal additions, including Boston College transplant Daveon Crouch, who is in line to start next to Lathan at linebacker.
Returning both starting corners, Jalen Todd and Austin Alexander, is a huge deal in a conference that has such strong quarterback play at the top. Junior safety Taylor Davis is another key player back in the fold, although the departure of Lyrik Rawls to Arizona State is significant.
Bottom Line: Kansas is a hard place to win at, there's no doubt - 15 losing seasons in 16 years is quite the evidence of that. But, it still feels like Leipold is a much better coach than the 5-7 efforts we've seen the last two years. The roster actually has some very nice pieces, and getting Kotelnicki to come back was huge. The Jayhawks would find themselves far higher in these rankings, if not for two factors working against them: the questions at quarterback, and the schedule. The fact nobody has separated themselves in this QB competition does not feel particularly encouraging. Much like Arizona State, the schedule includes one of the biggest games of the season, with Missouri coming to town, before the Jayhawks jet out to London, although they do get an extra day of rest as compared to the Sun Devils. Once Big 12 play begins, the road schedule is tough, starting off with Utah and Kansas State. This Jayhawks team still should be better, and have more chances to win close games, but it may not necessarily show up in the W-L column. Reaching a bowl game and avoiding the 16th losing seasons in 17 years is the goal.
13. UCF Knights
Scott Frost's Orlando return got off to a promising start last fall, with UCF winning their first three games of the 2025 season. That promising start evaporated quickly, with the Knights losing seven of their next nine contests to finish an underwhelming 5-7. That makes it three losing seasons in three years for UCF since joining the Big 12, a trend Frost will be focused on reversing in 2026.
The hope in Orlando is that bringing on quarterback Alonza Barnett III, the incumbent starter at James Madison, can be the addition the offense needs after a lackluster 2025 season. Barnett is highly accomplished, as the reigning Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, and his dual threat ability should provide this offense the playmaking it lacked a year ago. However, he needs the right support if the Knights are to contend in this league.
The backfield alongside Barnett is unsettled, with Louisville transfer Duke Watson and Central Arkansas transfer Landen Chambers expected to split duties. Watson was a big-play threat for Louisville in 2024, averaging nearly nine yards per carry as he neared the 600-yard mark. Yet, it's unclear whether he can be an every down running back, opening the door for Chambers. He ran for 1,273 yards a year ago and appears ready for the jump to the power conference level.
There's a lot to like in this pass-catcher group for Barnett to throw to, as Duane Thomas Jr. and tight end Dylan Wade are both returning. Wade is a potential John Mackey Award frontrunner after notching 43 receptions for 523 yards a year ago. His athleticism provides a real matchup problem for whoever is tasked with containing him.
The O-Line has been completely overhauled, which is always a concern when you're breaking in new pieces at quarterback and running back. Tackle Preston Cushman is the only returning starter, with a whole bunch of transfers vying for the other four starting spots.
It wasn't that long ago Alex Grinch was considered one of the brightest young defensive minds in all of college football, and a future head coach. His stock cratered in stints at Oklahoma and USC, but his first UCF defense was a pleasant surprise. Although they had issues stopping the run, they finished as a Top 40 unit nationally.
There's a lot of returning experience for Grinch to work with, including a front seven that includes veterans R.J. Jackson Jr. and Lewis Carter. Both are proven defenders that will have to carry the load given all the transfers around them, particularly Carter. He led UCF in tackles last year but will have to do even more in run support if they are going to improve in that category. Tackett Curtis, who knows Grinch from stints at USC and Wisconsin, could become a valuable piece next to him if he can finally break through.
This has a chance to be one of the best secondaries in the Big 12, as four starters are back to a group that surrendered just 185.1 yards per game last season - 22nd nationally. The corners are especially impressive with Antoine Jackson and Jayden Bellamy creating a duo that should give opponents fits all season long.
Bottom Line: It does feel like UCF is being overlooked heading into 2026, and this ranking could end up being far too low. Barnett is a clear upgrade at quarterback, there are some other nice offensive pieces here, and the defense has a chance to be solid. The schedule isn't terrible, either, as the Knights miss Texas Tech and get BYU at home. For UCF fans, there is genuine hope there's a chance of a repeat of Frost's first tenure in Orlando, when the Knights went .500 in his debut season before the breakthrough 13-0 "National Championship" season. Yet, many fans would just settle for a bowl appearance and the Knights to finally get back over the .500 mark in this new-look Big 12 landscape.
14. Cincinnati Bearcats
Dave Aranda is certainly the coach on the hottest seat in the Big 12 entering 2026, but Cincinnati's Scott Satterfield has to be feeling the heat as he prepares for his fourth season at the helm. Satterfield is 15-22 with the Bearcats, along with a 9-18 mark inside the conference. Last season had a promising start, but five straight defeats to conclude the year has to leave a sour taste in the mouth of fans that have seen the program at its peak not long ago.
Cincinnati was not going to be able to keep Brendan Sorsby at quarterback, so instead they turn to J.C. French IV, who they brought over from Georgia Southern. French does bring ample experience and veteran leadership, but it still remains a notable downgrade from Sorsby. The hope has to be that the rest of the offense continues to develop, and Cincinnati is finally able to stop opponents defensively.
As for the other offensive pieces, there is potential, but not a lot of proven names. Tailback Zion Johnson is expected to be the feature option after receiving 22 carries in 2025, but he'll need to fend off several incoming transfers. Cole Tabb, who comes from Stanford, and Notre Dame transfer Gi'Brian Payne are also expected to receive opportunities.
It's a pretty similar story out wide, where the Bearcats have some returning pieces, but are hoping a large transfer class takes it up to another level. Giyahni Kontosis and Elijah Jones are the top holdovers, while JV Gibson from Oklahoma and Malachi Henry from Central Arkansas highlight the newcomers. We've at least seen it before from Gibson and Henry in previous stops, but can they perform the same at the power conference level? Gibson had a quiet 2025 in Norman after a monster 2024 with Arkansas Pine-Bluff.
The offensive line may be the strength of the entire roster, with three starters returning. Guard Evan Tengesdahl is considered one of the best in the country, and Joe Cotton and Taran Tyo could both challenge for All-Big 12 honors. The Bearcats should be able to open holes in the middle, it's just about finding the right player to run through them.
On the defensive side, Nate Woody was hired away from Army to improve a group that was bad across the board a season ago. The Bearcats were one of the worst in the Big 12 against the run, and their inability to leverage a pass rush or create turnovers left them exposed late into games. Woody will look to run a more aggressive 3-4 scheme.
The front seven is full of new transfers, with defensive end Marquaze Parkeer and linebacker Jonathan Thompson the only notable returnees. Thompson was a key player to get back and is likely the best defender on the roster after notching 74 tackles and 8.5 TFL last season. UTSA transfer Chidera Otutu leads the list of newcomers, as he likely slides into a starting role on the interior D-Line. Thomas Johnson is another name to watch as he makes the jump from FCS North Carolina Ceentral.
Defensive back Antwan Peek Jr. leads the secondary, but he'll play in a different role than what we saw last fall. He'll look more like a hybrid outside linebacker / nickel corner, likely playing closer to the line of scrimmage and perhaps getting after the quarterback more. It will be interesting to see how the new pieces mesh behind him, including several notable transfer inbound from the MAC.
Bottom Line: This Cincinnati roster may not be the worst in the Big 12, as there are some interesting pieces. But, there's not a position group that jumps out at you as a major strength, either, and French will almost certainly be a downgrade from Sorsby at quarterback. The schedule is at least manageable, as the Bearcats welcome their first three opponents to Nippert Stadium, with the most difficult contest being thee opener with Boston College. The conference slate is less forgiving, although Cincinnati could still put out enough victories to make a bowl game. Would that be enough to earn Satterfield a fifth year in charge? How the program handles the month of November, which features a pair of winnable games against Iowa State and Colorado, may be the deciding factor.
15. Colorado Buffaloes
There was always going to be the question for Deion Sanders how he was going to manage without talents like Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter on his rosters. If 2025 was any indication, the results for the future were not particularly encouraging.
Colorado finished last season 3-9 overall with a measly 1-8 record inside the Big 12. They were absolutely shelled down the stretch, including bad losses to Utah, Arizona, and Arizona State during the lost season. Unsurprisingly, Deion made sweeping changes, juggling his coaching staff and personnel. The hope is that 2026 is the fresh start the program needs to become a threat inside the Big 12 once more.
After a one-season pit stop as Sacramento State head coach, Brennan Marion was on the move again this offseason, and will join on as Colorado's offensive coordinator. Marion is known for his innovative "Go-Go" offense that should at the very least breath new life into this unit. There's nowhere to go but up, after the Buffaloes managed just 20.9 PPG in 2025.
Marion does have some interesting skill position talent to work with, starting with quarterback Julian Lewis. Lewis was a blue-chip recruit who Sanders managed to flip from USC, but he is light on experience after filling in last season. There are some who think Utah transfer Isaac Wilson, Zach Wilson's younger brother, could push him for the starting job.
Surrounding Lewis is Alabama transfer Richard Young at running back, plus the trio of Danny Scudero, DeAndre Moore Jr., and holdover Joseph Williams. That receiver corps may be the strongest unit on the team, but it does hinge on Scudero being healthy, as he's been limited in the lead up to the regular season. Moore is supremely talented, but his production just hasn't matched it so far after spending time at Texas.
It's the offensive line that has been the Achilles Heel of the program throughout the Deion years, and it's a concern again. Jordan Seaton took the bag from LSU this offseason, robbing the Buffaloes of their best offensive player. Once again, Colorado is hoping to throw together a collection of transfers and hope they can figure it out, a formula that has had disastrous results so far during Deion's tenure. The Buffaloes have consistently ranked as one of the worst teams in FBS ball in pass protection, and their inability to get any type of push up front has been the main culprit behind an underwhelming rushing attack.
Robert Livingston is out as Colorado's defensive coordinator, meaning it will be the third coordinator in four years for Deion. Chris Marve was the hire this time around, a former All-SEC linebacker with Vanderbilt who has been his way up the coaching ranks in short order. Unfortunately, he has his work cut out with this defense in 2026.
It will almost an entirely new defensive lineup for the Buffs, with transfers lining up at just about every position. There's potential at spots, but it's difficult to pick out who the impact players will end up being. Linebacker Liona Lefau, who comes from Texas, and nickel Boo Carter from Tennessee, are probably the headliners. Tyler Martinez, formerly of New Mexico State, could also be an impact player when healthy, but he missed a big chunk of the 2025 campaign.
Adding Santana Hopper, who comes over from Tulane, was a nice get for this D-Line, but the pass rush was terrible a year ago and it's hard to feel wonderful about this group. The talk over the offseason is not encouraging, as the Buffs have accepted they'll have to take a committee approach and hope someone can emerge.
The secondary is most certainly the bright spot of the defense. It was their best unit last season, is the only place on the defense where there is some returning experience, and there are some nice transfer gets here. Justin Eaglin was a difference-maker for James Madison last year and has a chance to make an immediate impact, likely as their No. 1 corner.
Bottom Line: There have been some incredible highs over the first three years of the "Coach Prime" era, and some real lows. 2026 has the looks of another long season in Boulder. Marion and Marve seem like good hires and there are some pieces to like that came in from the portal. But it's yet another season where Colorado is throwing out nearly an entirely different product out on to the field than the season prior. There's been no consistency in the program and it really starts to show in their depth, which is so important late in the year. The Buffs might be able to get an impressive win or two early on, but it just has the feelings of a team that is going to fall apart late in the season. Their ceiling feels right around 5-6 wins, with the likelihood that this goes south in a hurry - which may result in the program looking for a new ball coach heading into 2027.
16. Iowa State Cyclones
For years, Iowa State fans were worried some bigger program was going to come into Ames and steal away head coach Matt Campbell. Speculation raged around Campbell seemingly every offseason, but he stuck around for an entire decade - until this time. Penn State was the one that convinced Campbell to finally make the jump elsewhere after he racked up 72-55 record in his time with the Cyclones.
Losing Campbell himself was a major blow, but it hurt even more given how many players he took with him. 24 players joined Campbell in the move from Ames to Happy Valley, including QB Rocco Becht, tailback Carson Hansen, and tight end Ben Brahmer. New head coach Jimmy Rogers comes over from Washington State and will have to make do with almost an entirely new roster.
The offense is a bit of a mystery heading into the fall given how much departed, but there's upside here. The expectation is that Arkansas State transfer Jaylen Raynor will be the starting quarterback, although he'll have to fend off Oklahoma State transfer Zane Flores. Raynor gives the Cyclones the dual threat they did not have with Becht, and he brings ample experience. You just always have to wonder how he'll acclimate to power conference ball with so much new around him.
The Cyclones are excited about who they have Raynor throwing to, with Tulane transfer Omari Hayes and Tarleton State transfer Cody Jackson expected to make an immediate contribution. Holdover Dominic Overby is a name the new staff hopes can emerge. At tailback, Aiden Flora is hoping to show he can be more than just a special teams playmaker.
Rogers brought defensive coordinator Jesse Bobbit with him from Washington State after the Cougars featured a Top 25 group. Again, the challenge is going to be rebuilding a defense that was solid last year, but loses just so many pieces.
Bringing on defensive end Isaac Terrell was huge for this staff, giving them an athletic disruptor off the edge who knows this system. Bryson Lamb is another Cougar transplant who should give them some bite in the middle. There's hope this pass rush could actually end up being better than the 2025 edition, which was one of the worst in FBS football in sacks.
Veteran linebacker Carson Willich is expected to play a key leadership role, and there's another Washington State transfer next to him in Sullivan Schlimgen. Behind them is a secondary that is also going to be leaning heavily on newcomers. Safety Micah Harper was a nice get from BYU, and Montana State transfer Seth Johnson is probably their top corner.
Bottom Line: Rogers was a strong hire by Iowa State brass - he went 27-3 in two seasons as his alma mater, South Dakota State, before impressing in a tough situation with Washington State a year ago. Yet, there's just so many new pieces on this roster and the reality is that this is not an easy place to win. Campbell might have made it look easy, but this has always been a school that wins behind tremendous talent evaluation, good coaching, and excellent player development. Rogers can do it, but patience will have to be key is he puts his stamp on the program. This feels like a "Year Zero" situation that is all about building the foundation for greater things on the horizon.
All-Big 12 Teams
First Team
QB Noah Fifita, Arizona
RB L.J. Martin, BYU
RB Cam Cook, West Virginia
WR Amare Thomas, Houston
WR Wyatt Young, Oklahoma State
TE Terrance Carter Jr., Texas Tech
OL John Pastore, Kansas State
OL Evan Tengesdahl, Cincinnati
OL Sheridan Wilson, Texas Tech
OL Taran Tyo, Cincinnati
OL Howard Sampson, Texas Tech
DL Wendell Gregory, Kansas State
DL A.J. Holmes, Texas Tech
DL C.J. Fite, Arizona State
DL Trey White, Texas Tech
LB Brandon Mack II, Houston
LB Cade Uluave, BYU
LB Austin Romaine, Texas Tech
CB Brice Pollock, Texas Tech
CB Evan Johnson, BYU
S Jamel Johnson, TCU
S Jacob Redding, Baylor
Second Team
QB Devon Dampier, Utah
RB Cam Dickey, Texas Tech
RB Caleb Hawkins, Oklahoma State
WR Danny Scudero, Colorado
WR Omarion Miller, Arizona State
TE Dylan Wade, UCF
OL Shadre Hurst, Houston
OL Hunter Zambrano, Texas Tech
OL Bruce Mitchell, BYU
OL Alexander Doost, Arizona
OL Kelvin Obot, Utah
DL Bodie Schoonover, BYU
DL Mateen Ibirogba, Texas Tech
DL Markis Deal, TCU
DL Tre Smith, Arizona
LB Isaiah Glasker, BYU
LB Max Harris, Arizona
LB Ben Roberts, Texas Tech
CB LaDainian Fields, Oklahoma State
CB Elijah Davis, Utah
S Kentrell Allen, Houston
S Brendan Jordan, Texas Tech
The Five Most Important Games
1. Houston Cougars @ Texas Tech Red Raiders (September 18) -- This early-season conference action will set the tenor for the rest of the year in the Big 12. A Texas Tech victory will likely show they've answered their questions at quarterback and remain the team to beat in the conference. On the flip side, a Houston win would establish them as the new favorite in the conference and a team ready to compete for a Playoff spot. Will Hammond's status for the Red Raiders will be the storyline to watch - they'll likely be cautious in bringing him back given their first two opponents, but it does feel like Tech needs him if they are to come away victorious here.
2. BYU Cougars @ Utah Utes (November 7) -- The "Holy War" is already one of the fiercest rivalries in all of college football, and there are real stakes this fall. Both teams are hoping to take the jump and overtake Texas Tech for the Big 12 crown, and both could further bolster a Playoff resume with a win. The Utes also have an extra bit motivation given they've lost the last three in this series after a dominant run from 2010-2019. This just feels like it's going to be a chilly, physical battle in early November that comes down to the final possession.
3. Notre Dame Fighting Irish @ BYU Cougars (October 17) -- If the Big 12 puts two teams in the Playoff this year, it will likely be Texas Tech plus a combination of one of the trio of BYU, Houston, or Utah. Welcoming Notre Dame to town in mid-October is a chance for the Cougars to prove themselves on a national stage against a team considered a National Title favorite. Even if they don't win, simply giving the Irish a fight could be enough to prove to the selection committee this is a team ready to be a part of the 12-team field.
4. Arizona Wildcats @ BYU Cougars (September 12) -- As important as the Houston-Texas Tech is a week later, this matchup between Arizona and BYU will also bring significant implications. It's the first real test for the Cougars as the embark on a treacherous schedule, while Arizona looks to get the type of early win that can help them build on 2025's nine wins. Interestingly enough, a win here from the Wildcats on the road and there is a very good chance they start off 7-0 before a Halloween date with Texas Tech.
5. Texas Tech Red Raiders @ Oklahoma State Cowboys (November 14) -- If Oklahoma State ends up living up the hype in Year One of the Eric Morris era, there's a very good chance this will be the toughest test of the year for the Red Raiders, given it's in Stillwater. The Cowboys will benefit from the fact this is so late in the season, giving them enough time for the former North Texas transfers to gel with all the other new pieces. However, it's also at the tail end of a month-long stretch where they go on the road three times, at Houston, Kansas State, and Iowa State. We'll see if the Cowboys still have enough juice to give the Red Raiders a game in Boone Pickens Stadium.
Superlatives
Offensive Player of the Year: Noah Fifita, QB, Arizona
Defensive Player of the Year: Brice Pollock, CB, Texas Tech
Coach of the Year: Collin Klein, Kansas State
Freshman of the Year: Kelvin Obot, OT, Utah
Transfer of the Year: Cam Cook, RB, West Virginia
Big 12 Championship Game: Texas Tech over BYU
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