No conference has been as tumultuous this past season as the Big 12. The Brendan Sorsby debacle at Texas Tech saw the league threaten legal action at one of its member schools, while presidents and athletic directors fired back at their counterparts in Lubbock.
How they all move forward is to be determined, but the Red Raiders — even without Sorsby — are favorites to win the Big 12 and return to the College Football Playoff. Texas Tech named nine players to the USA TODAY Network preseason All-Big 12 team, including an impressive six on defense.
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But don’t count out BYU, which just missed the CFP and managed to avoid the coaching carousel as Kalani Sitake defied Penn State to stay in Provo. The Cougars return QB Bear Bachmeier and preseason Big 12 offensive lineman RB LJ Martin.
We polled writers from within the USA TODAY Network covering Big 12 schools for their preseason predictions, all-conference teams and preseason awards at Big 12 media days, which run July 7-8 in Irving, Texas.
2026 Big 12 preseason football predicted order of finish
2026 Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team
* Unanimous choice
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DOING
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RB: Caleb Hawkins, Oklahoma State
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WR: Amare Thomas, Houston*
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WR: Omarion Miller, Arizona State
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WR: Wyatt Young, Oklahoma State
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TE: Terrance Carter Jr., Texas Tech*
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OL: Evan Tengesdahl, Cincinnati*
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OL: Shadre Hurst, Houston
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OL: John Pastore, Kansas State
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OL: Howard Sampson, Texas Tech
PROTECTION
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DL: AJ Holmes, Texas Tech*
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DL: Wendell Gregory, Kansas State
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DL: Adam Trick, Texas Tech
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DL: Mateen Ibirogba, Texas Tech
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LB: Ben Roberts, Texas Tech
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LB: Austin Romaine, Texas Tech
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DB: Brice Pollock, Texas Tech
EXPERTS
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K: Stone Harrington, Texas Tech
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P: Palmer Williams, Baylor
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KR/PR: J’Koby Williams, Texas Tech
GOOD SAYINGS:
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In Arizona: DB Jay’vion Cole; LB Taye Brown
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Arizona State: WR Reed Harris, DL CJ Fite
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BYU: QB Bear Bachmeier, DL Keanu Tanuvasa, LB Isaiah Glasker, DB Evan Johnson
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Cincinnati: OL Joe Cotton, OL Taran Tyo, DB MJ Cannon, P Max Fletcher, K Stephen Rusnak
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In Colorado: WR Danny Scudero, LB Gideon ESPN Lampron, KR Quentin Gibson
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State of Iowa: DL Isaac Terrell, K Kyle Konrady, KR Aiden Flora
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in Kansas: DL Leroy Harris III, LB Trey Lathan, KR Dylan Edwards
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Kansas State: TE Garrett Oakley
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Oklahoma State: QB Drew Mestemaker, LB Ethan Wesloski
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TCU: WR Jordan Dwyer, OL Ben Taylor-Whitfield, P John Hoyet Chance
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Texas Tech: RB Cameron Dickey, WR Coy Eakin, WR Malcolm Simmons, OL Sheridan Wilson, DB Brenden Jordan, DL Trey White
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Utah: RB Wayshawn Parker, DB Jackson Bennee, KR Mana Carvalho
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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.
And you get 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 selection last season, Roberts was named the Big 12 Championship game as the player of the year after picking off two passes and collecting five interceptions.
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And you get votes: DL AJ Holmes (Texas Tech); DB Brice Pollock (Texas Tech); LB Austin Romaine (Texas Tech)
Big 12 football preseason Rookie of the Year
QB Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State. He went from high school quarterback to top passer in the nation as a freshman at North Texas. Now, Mestemaker has followed UNT coach Eric Morris to Stillwater to add firepower to the Cowboys’ offense. Mestemaker threw for 4,379 yards last season and was the American Conference Player of the Year.
And you get votes: RB Caleb Hawkins (Oklahoma State); RB Cam Cook (West Virginia); DL Adam Trick (Texas Tech)
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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 first appeared in USA TODAY: Big 12 football predictions, preseason awards, all-conference teams
