Big 12 coach rankings see Brent Brennan surge, Kenny Dillingham fall
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A lot can change in a ranking in one week, let alone one season.
A recent ranking of Big 12 football coaches for the 2026 season is proof.
USA TODAY Sports recently unveiled its annual ranking of the coaches in the Big 12 Conference and for the second straight year an Arizona coach has made a huge rise.
Arizona’s Brent Brennan went from being ranked No. 15 in 2025 all the way up to No. 6 in 2026 thanks to a 9-4 season last year.
That comes after Arizona State‘s Kenny Dillingham leaped from No. 14 in the rankings in 2024 to No. 1 in 2025.
Brent Brennan rises in Big 12 coach ranking
USA TODAY Sports’ Jordan Mendoza wrote of Brennan in his recent ranking: “After a major disappointing first season in Arizona, Brennan turned it around for a nine-win season highlighted by beating Arizona State to win the Territorial Cup. He made the necessary changes to help his star players thrive and is no longer on the hot seat, getting back into the good graces of Wildcat nation. If he can find consistency, he’ll be set since Arizona hasn’t had back-to-back winning seasons since 2014-15.”
Kenny Dillingham drops in Big 12 coach ranking
Mendoza ranked Dillingham third in the ranking of Big 12 coaches for 2026, down two spots from 2025.
He wrote: “It took just two seasons for Dillingham to thrust his alma mater into the national spotlight with the playoff berth and Big 12 title in 2024. There was a chance to repeat before injuries derailed the Sun Devils last season. Even with the stars of the playoff team gone, he’s a great offensive mind who can instantly find success with newcomers. The best part is he has plenty of years ahead of him to keep Arizona State a contender. He is still only 36 and bleeds Sun Devil maroon with a passion.”
Who are the top coaches in the Big 12?
The best football coach in the Big 12, according to USA TODAY Sports? BYU’s Kalani Sitake, who took over the top spot despite never having led the Cougars to the College Football Playoff.
Texas Tech’s Joey McGuire was second. TCU’s Sonny Dykes came in at No. 4, after Dillingham, with Houston’s Willie Fritz rounding out the Top 5 coaches in the Big 12 in the rankings.
Complete ranking of Big 12 football coaches for 2026
Here’s how USA TODAY Sports ranked every Big 12 coach entering the 2026 season:
- Kalani Sitake, BYU
- Joey McGuire, Texas Tech
- Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State
- Sonny Dykes, TCU
- Willie Fritz, Houston
- Brent Brennan, Arizona
- Deion Sanders, Colorado
- Scott Satterfield, Cincinnati
- Dave Aranda, Baylor
- Rich Rodriguez, West Virginia
- Lance Leipold, Kansas
- Eric Morris, Oklahoma State
- Scott Frost, UCF
- Jimmy Rogers, Iowa State
- Morgan Scalley, Utah
- Collin Klein, Kansas State
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Big 12 coach rankings see Brent Brennan surge, Kenny Dillingham fall
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