Big 12 Football: Ranking the Rosters for 2026

Story by

Story by
Big 12 Football: Ranking the Rosters for 2026

Steven Lassan · Athlon Sports

Thu, Feb 12, 2026 ·

4 min read

About Our Ads

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.

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.

Mobilize your Website

View Site in Mobile | Classic

Share by: