For the second straight year, the Big 12 Conference no release preseason football rankings for the upcoming season. But dat no stop the USA TODAY Sports Network from making their own predicted order of finish for the 2026 season and a preseason All-Big 12 team.
Sports writers wey cover the Big 12 throughout the network vote on the predicted order of finish for all 16 teams. Iowa State lose the winningest coach in program history, Matt Campbell, and get massive roster rebuild after finishing 8-4 last season.
With team wey get more than 60 newcomers and a coach wey new to power-conference level, Jimmy Rogers, the Cyclones dem tab to finish for last place for the USA TODAY Sports preseason Big 12 rankings. Texas Tech, wey win their first Big 12 title for school history last season and reach the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff, dem project to repeat and finish on top.
BYU, wey lose to the Red Raiders for the Big 12 championship game last season, dem predict to finish for second place. Utah, Houston and Arizona round out the top five of the USA TODAY Sports Network preseason Big 12 prediction.
For the USA TODAY Sports Network preseason All-Big 12 team, the Cyclones no get any player selected, but dem get some honorable mentions. Running back Aiden Flora, kicker Kyle Konrardy and defensive end Isaac Terrell dem choose as honorable mentions for the USA TODAY Sports Network preseason All-Big 12 team.
Flora and Konrardy na returning All-Big 12 selections. Flora na all-conference second-team returner last season, and Konrardy dem name All-Big 12 honorable mention. Terrell na one of the Cyclones promising newcomers. Dem name am the Pac-12 Defensive Line Top Performer of the Year and he get team-high seven sacks at Washington State last season.
Meanwhile, the 2026 Preseason All-Big 12 Team dem announce by the Big 12 Conference on Monday. The team, wey vote on by Big 12 media members, get players from Big 12 schools across the country. But Kansas football na one of four Big 12 programs – along with Colorado, Iowa State, and UCF – without player represented on either side of the ball.
Na the first time since 2022 wey no KU player make appearance on the Big 12 media preseason team. While maybe shock to some Jayhawk fans, e no be total surprise given the roster overhaul wey KU experience this offseason. The team get more than 40 newcomers on this year roster between transfers and incoming freshmen.
And only two returning players from last year team earn postseason Big 12 honors following the 2025 season as linebacker Trey Lathan and defensive end Leroy Harris III dem both name All-Big 12 Honorable Mention. The lack of preseason recognition from Big 12 media fit be sign of things to come as preseason polls start to roll in ahead of the 2026 season.
The Jayhawks dem expect to pick toward the bottom half of the conference given their roster turnover and another disappointing 5-7 finish last year. E likely to be topic of conversation for Kansas football head coach Lance Leipold at the 2026 Monster Energy Big 12 Football Media Days, wey now underway at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas, through July 8.
Players from this year Kansas team go also be available for questions throughout the day tomorrow. Lathan and Harris na two of the five players representing the team along with wide receiver Cam Pickett, offensive tackle Calvin Clements, and defensive tackle Blake Herold.
