Big 12 Football: Ranking the Rosters for 2026

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Since expansion to 16 teams in 2024, the Big 12 has arguably become college football‘s most wide-open or unpredictable conference. Parity in the standings and close games every week can be traced back to one factor: recruiting. Entering the ’26 season, Texas Tech has averaged the highest five-year ranking in high school recruiting. However, TCU and Utah are just a small step behind in the overall five-year window. And beyond the top three, theres little separation into the next tier or even into the bottom of the conference in recruiting rankings.

Although recruiting rankings aren’t 100 percent correct, the scouting services help to paint a valuable picture about roster talent for an upcoming year. Also, there is a direct line between finishing high in recruiting rankings/stars into success. Essentially, stars (and team rankings) matter a lot in college football. The increased usage of the transfer portal is another variable to consider for these rankings, but the main data from each signing period still holds a lot of weight.

Below are the national recruiting ranking averages for Big 12 schools over the last five (2022-26) classes, according to 247Sports’ Composite Team Rankings. Obviously, this doesn’t take into account attrition or transfers. However, this data provides an intriguing base line for talent evaluation within each conference.

Way-Too-Early 2026 Rankings: Top 25 | ACC | Big 12 | Big Ten | SEC

Ranking the Big 12’s College Football Rosters in 2026

’26

’25

’24

’23

’22

Five-YearAverage

1. Texas Tech

18

48

25

28

43

32.4

2. TCU

43

24

34

21

45

33.4

3. Utah

33

40

59

19

37

37.6

4. West Virginia

25

42

46

49

34

39.2

5T. Arizona

41

51

84

40

22

47.6

5T. BYU

21

59

44

58

56

47.6

7. Baylor

71

36

62

34

36

47.8

8. Kansas State

54

35

57

33

63

48.4

9. Iowa State

55

55

53

42

39

48.8

10. Houston

39

53

60

51

55

51.6

11. Oklahoma State

68

54

56

55

29

52.4

12. Colorado

67

37

95

30

47

55.2

13. Arizona State

37

44

48

46

103

55.6

14. UCF

62

77

39

50

52

56

15. Cincinnati

58

61

51

75

42

57.4

16. Kansas

60

72

43

73

117

73

*Note: Recruiting team rankings above compiled from 247Sports. These rankings do not take into account transfer portal class rankings or departures. 

*Texas Tech’s No. 18 class in ’26 moved coach Joey McGuire’s program to the No. 1 spot in the Big 12. The Red Raiders ranked fifth in roster talent from the high school level last season. However, with talent clustered close together in this conference, Texas Tech’s top-25 haul this year pushed the program to the No. 1 ranking.

*Just three Big 12 teams – Texas Tech, BYU, and West Virginia – landed a top-25 recruiting class in ’26.

*Over the last five seasons, no Big 12 team averages a top-25 recruiting class.

*While the Big 12 lacks a team recruiting at a top-10 level, this conference is loaded with depth. Texas Tech takes the top spot with an average class of 32.4 over the last five years. Kansas State isn’t far behind at 48.4 (eighth in the Big 12), with UCF at No. 14 with a average class of 56. 

*Rich Rodriguez’s rebuilding effort in Morgantown got a huge boost this offseason. In addition to a solid transfer portal haul, the Mountaineers landed the No. 25 class per 247Sports Composite. That’s easily the highest signing class for West Virginia over the last five seasons. 

*Houston is a program on the rise under coach Willie Fritz. The Cougars landed the No. 39 class in ’26, which was the highest or the program over the last five years. A strong freshman haul with another standout transfer class should help Houston rank in the top 25 this fall.

*BYU’s ’26 class that ranked No. 21 was a 38-spot improvement (No. 59) from the previous year. The top-25 haul was also the program’s first class rated above No. 44 over the last five years. 

*Oklahoma State has fallen from No. 3 in the Big 12 in ’22 in roster talent to No. 11 entering ’26.

*After landing the No. 37 haul in ’25, Colorado regressed to No. 67 this year.  

*Kansas is ranked last in five-year recruiting average (No. 73). However, the No. 117 haul in ’22 is weighing down coach Lance Leipold’s program. Once that total cycles off next year, the Jayhawks will be much closer to the tier ahead in the class rankings. 

Related: 10 Biggest Winners in College Football’s Transfer Portal for the 2026 Season

Related: The 8 Most Intriguing Teams in College Football for 2026

Related: Grading College Football’s First-Year Head Coaches for 2025

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Feb 12, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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