Post-spring Big 12 power rankings: How the Brendan Sorsby situation impacts the league

When 247Sports released its final transfer portal player rankings for the 2026 cycle, it only underscored how the Big 12 race will be impacted by what happens to Brendan Sorsby.

The former Cincinnati quarterback, who transferred to Texas Tech this offseason, has his final season of eligibility in question, as Sorsby took an “immediate indefinite leave of absence” at the end of April while entering a residential treatment program for a gambling addiction.

On Monday, Sorsby filed for an injunction against the NCAA, who is investigating the matter, seeking eligibility for this fall.

247Sports ranked him as the second-best transfer in the portal this offseason, with a five-star, 98 overall rating. He was expected to step right in for Behren Morton and lead a Texas Tech program that won the Big 12 last year and reached the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.

How does that impact the Big 12 race for the upcoming season?

Here’s how we see the teams stacking up as we head into the summer months.

1. Texas Tech Red Raiders

• 2025 record: 12-2 overall, 8-1 Big 12
• 2026 opener: Sept. 5 vs. Abilene Christian

Why they’re No. 1: The Red Raiders loaded up again via the transfer portal — 247Sports rates their transfer class No. 6 nationally. That includes several defensive players, like four-star transfer tackle Mateen Ibirogba, to help Texas Tech restock after six defenders were taken in the NFL draft, including four in the first three rounds.

A favorable schedule both in Big 12 play and the nonconference should help Texas Tech ease into things if Sorsby ultimately is ineligible. Head coach Joey McGuire also told ESPN this week that Will Hammond, the sophomore quarterback who was expected to back up Sorsby but is coming off a torn ACL, is expected to be cleared for all football-related activities in late August.

2. BYU Cougars

2025 record: 12-2 overall, 8-1 Big 12

2026 opener: Sept. 5 vs. Utah Tech

Why they’re No. 2: While it was tempting to have the Cougars vault to No. 1 given Sorsby’s uncertain status, it’s impossible to ignore that BYU was blown out in its two meetings with Texas Tech last season and the Red Raiders landed another outstanding transfer class outside Sorsby.

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The Cougars still have a lot of things working for them this season, though, and are expected to be right in the mix for Big 12 supremacy yet again after winning 11 or more games each of the past two seasons.

Bear Bachmeier and LJ Martin, the league’s reigning offensive player of the year, return on that side of the ball, while the Cougars brought in Cal linebacker Cade Uluave to pair with returning stars Isaiah Glasker and Faletau Satuala, among others.

3. Houston Cougars

• 2025 record: 10-3 overall, 6-3 Big 12
• 2026 opener: Sept. 5 vs. Oregon State

Why they’re No. 3: Willie Fritz has done wonders turning around the Houston program so quickly, and the Cougars head into 2026 as a contender. Their Big 12 opener at Texas Tech on Friday, Sept. 18 will go a long way toward setting the tone for the league chase this season.

There’s an exciting influx of talent this offseason as well, including five-star freshman quarterback Keisean Henderson, who could provide a running spark to complement senior Conner Weigman, and Oregon transfer Mahki Hughes, who had two 1,000-yard rushing seasons before spending last year in Eugene.

4. Arizona Wildcats

• 2025 record: 9-4 overall, 6-3 Big 12
• 2026 opener: Sept. 5 vs. Northern Arizona

Why they’re No. 4: Following a dreadful 2024 campaign, the Wildcats rebounded in Brent Brennan’s second season and it earned him a contract extension. Arizona returns Noah Fifita at quarterback and again should be a challenger in the league, though road games at BYU and Texas Tech will prove especially challenging.

Can Arizona rebuild its defense, particularly the secondary? That will be a big key to how much the Wildcats factor into the Big 12 race after they gave up just 18.9 points and 308.5 yards per game a year ago.

5. Utah Utes

• 2025 record: 11-2 overall, 7-2 Big 12
• 2026 opener: Sept. 3 vs. Idaho

Why they’re No. 5: The Utes, who’ve developed a reputation for physical football that carried them to the top of the Pac-12, just missed out on their chance at the Big 12 title game last year in a bounce-back 11-2 campaign following a rare losing season.

Utah is returning both of its dynamic quarterbacks, Devon Dampier and Byrd Ficklin, a star running back in Wayshawn Parker and defensive standouts Johnathan Hall and Scooby Davis are back as well. The Utes brought in four-star transfer receivers Braden Pegan and Kyri Shoels, too.

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So, why No. 5? Simply because there’s a new man in charge, Morgan Scalley, after more than two decades of Kyle Whittingham leading the program. Scalley looks up to the task after serving as Utah’s defensive coordinator for a decade, but replacing some of the coaching and on-field talent Whittingham took with him to Michigan — and replacing the entire starting offensive line — could lead to a few bumps.

Still, don’t be surprised if Utah is right back in the Big 12 race in November. The schedule is favorable early on, and the Utes could parlay that into finding their rhythm.

6. TCU Horned Frogs

• 2025 record: 9-4 overall, 5-4 Big 12
• 2026 opener: Aug. 29 vs. North Carolina (Dublin, Ireland)

Why they’re No. 6: Though TCU isn’t on the same level it was four years ago when the Horned Frogs reached the national championship game, Sonny Dykes’ program has had nine wins in back-to-back seasons and has been nipping on the heels of the league’s top teams the past couple of years.

TCU is implementing a revamped rushing attack behind an experienced offensive line this year under new OC Gordon Sammis, and its effectiveness could be the catalyst in whether the Horned Frogs are Big 12 contenders in 2026, or if they trail the leaders again.

7. Arizona State Sun Devils

• 2025 record: 8-5 overall, 6-3 Big 12
• 2026 opener: Sept. 5 vs. Morgan State

Why they’re No. 7: This feels a bit low for the Sun Devils, who’ve turned things around under the energetic Kenny Dillingham. Injuries took their toll on Arizona State last season, though its win over Texas Tech — the Red Raiders’ lone regular-season loss — showed ASU is dangerous.

The Sun Devils have to replace Sam Leavitt, who transferred to LSU, and first-round NFL draft pick receiver Jordyn Tyson, which is no easy feat. Arizona State has some intriguing transfers — 247Sports rated three of its additions as four stars — and former Kentucky quarterback Cutter Boley looks like he’ll earn the starting job.

8. Kansas State Wildcats

• 2025 record: 6-6 overall, 5-4 Big 12
• 2026 opener: Sept. 5 vs. Nicholls State

Why they’re No. 8: The Wildcats failed to live up to their preseason expectations last season, faltering to a .500 record. Now, they’re under new leadership with Colin Klein taking over his alma mater, replacing Chris Kleiman.

Kansas State could easily be headed into a rebuilding year this season — and a No. 8 prediction may be too high — but the Wildcats do have some offensive talent back, led by dual-threat quarterback Avery Johnson in his third season as starter. If Klein, most recently the OC at Texas A&M, can squeeze the most out of his offense, the Wildcats could be better than expected.

9. Oklahoma State Cowboys

• 2025 record: 1-11 overall, 0-9 Big 12
• 2026 opener: Sept. 5 at Tulsa

Why they’re No. 9: This is a HUGE leap for the Cowboys, who limped to a couple dreadful seasons in the tail end of Mike Gundy’s career at the school. Last season, in particular, set a low bar of expectations after Oklahoma State’s only win came against an FCS opponent in Week 1.

Anyone who watched North Texas last season, though, and saw what first-year coach Eric Morris was doing with the Mean Green can at least understand the optimism here. Drew Mestemaker was brilliant as a freshman QB — he’s listed as a top 5 transfer by 247Sports — and Morris also brought running back Caleb Hawkins and receiver Wyatt Young with him.

10. Baylor Bears

• 2025 record: 5-7 overall, 3-6 Big 12
• 2026 opener: Sept. 5 vs. Auburn (Atlanta)

Why they’re No. 10: Last season felt like a make-or-break season for Dave Aranda in Waco — if we’re being honest, so did 2024. But Baylor has brought the embattled head coach back for another season, and it feels like the Bears’ 2021 Big 12 title is a lifetime ago.

The pressure will be on new defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman, who was previously at Kansas State, to turn around that side of the ball. There’s optimism on offense that former five-star recruit DJ Lagway, the Florida quarterback transfer, can take over admirably for the departed Sawyer Robertson.

11. Kansas Jayhawks

• 2025 record: 5-7 overall, 3-6 Big 12
• 2026 opener: Sept. 4 vs. Long Island

Why they’re No. 11: The positive momentum the Jayhawks program had going after a 9-4 season in 2023 is lagging off, with two straight 5-7 seasons. Kansas is also replacing plenty of talent on both sides of the ball, including multiyear starting quarterback Jalon Daniels.

The Jayhawks were able to bring back former offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, which should help after he spent the past two seasons running Penn State’s offense. There is an open QB competition between Isaiah Marshall and Cole Ballard.

12. West Virginia Mountaineers

• 2025 record: 4-8 overall, 2-7 Big 12
• 2026 opener: Sept. 5 vs. Coastal Carolina

Why they’re No. 12: Rich Rodriguez’s first season back at West Virginia left plenty to be desired — the Mountaineers suffered several blowouts in league play before starting to put some things together near the end of the year.

That included an upset win over Houston, though — costing the Cougars in their race for a Big 12 championship berth. If West Virginia can build off some of that late-season momentum — and build some chemistry with a group that includes 69 newcomers, no easy task — perhaps the Mountaineers can make a climb toward bowl eligibility.

13. Cincinnati Bearcats

• 2025 record: 7-6 overall, 5-4 Big 12
• 2026 opener: Sept. 5 vs. Boston College

Why they’re No. 13: The Bearcats have a big hole to fill with Sorsby leaving for Texas Tech — he threw for 2,800 yards and 27 touchdowns last season in helping Cincinnati rise as high as No. 17 in the national rankings before a late-season slide.

Then again, Cincinnati has lost five straight to end each of the past two seasons, a troubling trend for Scott Satterfield’s squad. Can the Bearcats overcome those issues with a newcomer, likely transfer JC French IV, at quarterback and reconfigurations on defense?

14. UCF Knights

• 2025 record: 5-7 overall, 2-7 Big 12
• 2026 opener: Sept. 3 vs. Bethune-Cookman

Why they’re No. 14: The Knights are still trying to find their footing in the Big 12 heading into their fourth year in the conference. After making a bowl game — and losing — during their first year in the league in 2023, UCF has had losing campaigns the last two seasons.

Scott Frost’s team was competitive at times last season, though its offense was often its undoing. The Knights hit the transfer portal hard, bringing in 31 transfers, and hopefully found an answer at quarterback in former James Madison signal caller Alonza Barnett III, who led the Dukes to a College Football Playoff appearance last season.

15. Colorado Buffaloes

• 2025 record: 3-9 overall, 1-8 Big 12
• 2026 opener: Sept. 3 at Georgia Tech

Why they’re No. 15: The sheen has worn off the Deion Sanders era in Colorado a bit, after the Buffaloes failed to make a bowl appearance for the second time last season in his three years at the helm. Oftentimes, Colorado wasn’t even competitive.

As usual, the Buffaloes are transfer heavy under Sanders, bringing in 43 players via the portal this offseason. One of them is former Utah quarterback Isaac Wilson, who is pushing Julian Lewis for the starting position. Finding a solution at QB will be paramount for success this season.

16. Iowa State Cyclones

• 2025 record: 8-4 overall, 5-4 Big 12
• 2026 opener: Sept. 5 vs. Southeast Missouri

Why they’re No. 16: This is less of an indictment of the Cyclone program as a whole — Iowa State was often a Big 12 contender under previous coach Matt Campbell, especially the past few seasons, including its 11-win 2024 campaign — and more of a reflection on the tough situation they find themselves in.

This offseason, Campbell accepted the Penn State job — and took loads of Iowa State players with him — leaving a real rebuilding project for first-year coach Jimmy Rogers. He brought in 48 transfers this offseason, and it will likely take some time to get the program back on a winning track.