Big 12 football predictions, preseason awards, all-conference teams
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No conference has had as much turmoil this offseason than the Big 12. The Brendan Sorsby mess at Texas Tech saw the league threatening legal action against one of its own member schools, while presidents and athletic directors took shots at their colleagues in Lubbock.
How they all move forward is to be determined, but the Red Raiders — even without Sorsby — are the favorite to win the Big 12 and return to the College Football Playoff. Texas Tech put nine players on the USA TODAY Network preseason All-Big 12 team, including a staggering six on defense.
But don’t count out BYU, who just missed the CFP and was able to avoid the coaching carousel as Kalani Sitake spurned Penn State to stay in Provo. The Cougars bring back QB Bear Bachmeier alongside Big 12 preseason offensive player of the year RB LJ Martin.
We polled writers within the USA TODAY Network who cover Big 12 schools for their preseason predictions, all-conference teams and preseason awards ahead of Big 12 media days, which run July 7-8 in Irving, Texas.
2026 Big 12 football preseason predicted order of finish
- Texas Tech
- BYU
- Utah
- Houston
- Arizona
- TCU
- Kansas State
- Arizona State
- Oklahoma State
- Baylor
- UCF
- Kansas
- Cincinnati
- West Virginia
- Colorado
- Iowa State
2026 Preseason All-Big 12 football team
* unanimous selection
OFFENSE
- QB: Noah Fifita, Arizona
- RB: LJ Martin, BYU*
- RB: Caleb Hawkins, Oklahoma State
- WR: Amare Thomas, Houston*
- WR: Omarion Miller, Arizona State
- WR: Wyatt Young, Oklahoma State
- TE: Terrance Carter Jr., Texas Tech*
- OL: Evan Tengesdahl, Cincinnati*
- OL: Bruce Mitchell, BYU*
- OL: Shadre Hurst, Houston
- OL: John Pastore, Kansas State
- OL: Howard Sampson, Texas Tech
DEFENSE
- DL: AJ Holmes, Texas Tech*
- DL: Wendell Gregory, Kansas State
- DL: Adam Trick, Texas Tech
- DL: Mateen Ibirogba, Texas Tech
- LB: Ben Roberts, Texas Tech
- LB: Austin Romaine, Texas Tech
- LB: Cade Uluave, BYU
- DB: Brice Pollock, Texas Tech
- DB: Faletau Satuala, BYU
- DB: Jamel Johnson, TCU
- DB: Will James, Houston
SPECIALISTS
- K: Stone Harrington, Texas Tech
- P: Palmer Williams, Baylor
- KR/PR: J’Koby Williams, Texas Tech
HONORABLE MENTION:
- Arizona: DB Jay’vion Cole; LB Taye Brown
- Arizona State: WR Reed Harris, DL CJ Fite
- BYU: QB Bear Bachmeier, DL Keanu Tanuvasa, LB Isaiah Glasker, DB Evan Johnson
- Cincinnati: OL Joe Cotton, OL Taran Tyo, DB MJ Cannon, P Max Fletcher, K Stephen Rusnak
- Colorado: WR Danny Scudero, LB Gideon ESPN Lampron, KR Quentin Gibson
- Houston: OL Drew Terrill
- Iowa State: DL Isaac Terrell, K Kyle Konrady, KR Aiden Flora
- Kansas: DL Leroy Harris III, LB Trey Lathan, KR Dylan Edwards
- Kansas State: TE Garrett Oakley
- Oklahoma State: QB Drew Mestemaker, LB Ethan Wesloski
- TCU: WR Jordan Dwyer, OL Ben Taylor-Whitfield, P John Hoyet Chance
- Texas Tech: RB Cameron Dickey, WR Coy Eakin, WR Malcolm Simmons, OL Sheridan Wilson, DB Brenden Jordan, DL Trey White
- Utah: RB Wayshawn Parker, DB Jackson Bennee, KR Mana Carvalho
- West Virginia: RB Cam Cook, P Bryan Hansen
Big 12 football preseason Offensive Player of the Year
RB LJ Martin, BYU. The reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, Martin rushed for a conference-best 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns last season, adding 36 catches for 255 yards.
Also receiving votes: QB Drew Mestemaker (Oklahoma State); WR Amare Thomas (Houston); QB Noah Fifita (Arizona)
Big 12 football preseason Defensive Player of the Year
LB Ben Roberts, Texas Tech. Roberts got the nod in a close vote with two Red Raiders teammates. A third team All-Big 12 pick last season, Roberts was named Big 12 Championship game most outstanding player after picking off two passes and collecting five tackles.
Also receiving votes: DL AJ Holmes (Texas Tech); DB Brice Pollock (Texas Tech); LB Austin Romaine (Texas Tech)
Big 12 football preseason Newcomer of the Year
QB Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State. He went from high school backup to the nation’s leading passer as freshman at North Texas. Now, Mestemaker has followed UNT coach Eric Morris to Stillwater to add some firepower to the Cowboys offense. Mestemaker threw for 4,379 yards last season and was the American Conference Player of the Year.
Also receiving votes: RB Caleb Hawkins (Oklahoma State); RB Cam Cook (West Virginia); DL Adam Trick (Texas Tech)
Poll participants: Scott Springer (Cincinnati Enquirer), Blake Toppmeyer (USA TODAY), John Brice (USA TODAY), Brent Schrotenboer (USA TODAY), Austin Curtright (USA TODAY), Wyatt Wheeler (Topeka Capital Journal), Nathan Giese (Lubbock Avalanche-Journal), Michelle Gardner (Arizona Republic), Christopher Boyle (Daytona Beach News-Journal), Jordan Guskey (Topeka Capital Journal), Don Williams (Lubbock Avalanche-Journal), Paul Myerberg (USA TODAY).
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Big 12 football predictions, preseason awards, all-conference teams
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