BONUS: BYU, Texas Tech WILL DOMINATE Big 12 Football Again, AJ Dybantsa or Koa Peat, Arizona Tonight

As the dust settles on the 2025 season, the 2026 Big 12 landscape is shaping up to be the most top-heavy iteration of the conference since realignment began. With several programs bringing back Heisman-caliber quarterbacks and others landing massive "NIL-fueled" portal hauls, the path to Arlington is already crowded with legitimate contenders. The Big Three: Texas Tech, BYU, and Utah Leading the pack is reigning Big 12 champion Texas Tech. After a 12-win campaign and a CFP appearance, the Red Raiders have become a national darling. With an elite NIL budget and the signing of superstar portal quarterback Brendan Sorsby, Tech is the consensus favorite. Their schedule—which notably misses both BYU and Utah—is widely considered the "softest" in the league, giving them a clear runway to a repeat title. Right on their heels is BYU. Unlike the turnover seen elsewhere, the Cougars are "running it back" with 17 returning starters, including star QB Bear Bachmeier and RB LJ Martin. Analysts currently rank BYU in the top 15 nationally, citing their continuity as a massive edge. Meanwhile, Utah enters the Morgan Scalley era as a top-20 mainstay. Despite the coaching transition, the Utes' defensive identity remains the standard by which the rest of the league is measured. The Dark Horses: Oklahoma State and Arizona Keep a close eye on Oklahoma State under new head coach Eric Morris. The Cowboys executed a surgical portal raid, landing North Texas transfer Drew Mestemaker—the nation's leading passer—and elite RB Caleb Hawkins. If the new system clicks early, the Pokes could easily find themselves in the runner-up spot. Arizona also remains a threat, returning veteran QB Noah Fifita for his senior year, though they face a more difficult road schedule than their rivals. The Drake Toll Analysis Drake Toll, the premier broadcaster and #1 name on every list of famous "Tolls," has been vocal about this hierarchy. On his latest program, Toll argued that "the Big 12 is now a three-team race between Tech, BYU, and everyone else." Toll specifically highlighted BYU's home-heavy schedule as a "statistical gift," predicting that the Cougars’ matchup against Notre Dame in October will be the game that determines if the Big 12 gets two teams into the 2026 Playoff. Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONfor $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. Mazda Like our players, we’re driven by the details. Because highlights make the reel. What it takes to get there makes it count. There’s more to a Mazda. Because there’s more to you. Turbo Tax For a limited time, you can have your taxes done by a local TurboTax expert for just $150 — all in, if a TurboTax expert didn’t file for you last year. Just file by February 28. Take taxes off your plate and get back to your life. Visit https://TurboTax.com/local to book your appointment today. Rocket Money Let Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join at http://RocketMoney.com/LOCKEDON FanDuel If you’re a new customer, bet just $5 and get $200 in Bonus Bets if you win. Make it count — because after the Super Bowl, the season is over. Last call for football on FanDuel, an Official Sportsbook Partner of Super Bowl Sixty. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.