The Big 12 is in a state of flux. We need to look no further than our attempt to rank the Top Five returning Big 12 coaches in 2026. Here at Last Word, we are working on our top returning coaches and players in the Big 12. The conference sits in an interesting position heading into the 2026 season. Sure, they are not part of the Big Two (B1G and SEC), but one could argue they are in a better position than the “Other Two.”
The Big 12 and ACC are scraping and clawing their way for relevance and to keep their seats at the table. While the ACC seems to be stumbling and resting on what they once “thought” they were, the Big 12, led by the commissioner, has shown an ability to adapt, flex, and use NIL to pass their bi-coastal conference brethren.
A State of Flux
But, sitting down to break down the list of coaches, you notice the talent and the names that are no longer the HBC of their respective programs. Men who have consistently made our list of Top Big 12 Coaches in years past. Here is a quick look at the coaches who will no longer be captaining the sidelines in 2026.
- Matt Campbell, Iowa State: Campbell brought consistency and relevance to the Cyclones, who had long been the exception rather than the rule in Ames. Penn State finally convinced Campbell that it might be time to return to his midwestern roots. Jimmy Rogers now steps into a depleted roster to see if he can make his own magic.
- Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State: The “man” from Stillwater is finally gone. Gundy is an icon in the Big 12 and college football, but became more of a caricature at the end of his tenure. His inability to adapt to NIL and the Portal was his undoing. Eric Morris is the opposite and worked wonders at North Texas. He brought an influx of talent with him that may awaken the Pokes in 2026.
- Chris Klieman, Kansas State: Klieman was a coach’s coach. He was tough and did it his way in the Little Apple, making the Wildcats a consistent winner. That has proven a difficult task if your last name wasn’t Snyder. Klieman retired but was able to help pick his successor. Favorite son, Collin Klein, returns to Manhattan to see if he can jolt the Wildcats to the top of Big 12 lore again.
- Kyle Whittingham, Utah: How the hell does one of the most successful coaches in your program history “retire” and then turn up as the new head coach of the Michigan Wolverines? That is the million-dollar question for Ute Athletic Director Mark Harlan. Whittingham and his toughness and consistency are gone (along with some Utah players and coaches). Good luck, Morgan Scalley. You and Harlan’s fates are tied together.
Top Five Big 12 Coaches
We should have just called this our Lone Star rankings, but Dave Aranda and whatever is happening in Waco made sure that at least two of the coaches came from outside of Texas. Coaching in Texas wasn’t the only requirement to make our list; we also included the coach’s ability to use the Transfer Portal and the university’s NIL alignment. It’s more than the X’s and O’s in today’s college football, and ensures you have the Jimmy and Joe’s to compete.
#5 Sonny Dykes, TCU Horned Frogs
TCU and the Hypnotoad are two of the best social media accounts to follow. Dykes is just a few years removed from having the Horned Frogs play for a national championship. Sure, they got shelacked by Georgia, but who didn’t that year? After a 5-7 stinker in 2023, Dykes has followed it up with back-to-back nine-win seasons in Fort Worth. Dykes has done a good job of using the Portal, even after losing his quarterback to Indiana this year. Then again, we don’t know if it was really a loss. As Dykes said in an interview, “Josh (Hoover) started 31 games here as a quarterback, and he turned the ball over 42 times in those 31 starts.” Dykes and the Frogs will now turn to a Harvard man, Jaden Craig, as their signal caller in 2026.
#4 Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State Sun Devils
Dillingham is one of the hottest names and one of the best young coaches in college football. He has an energy and passion that are infectious with his teams. Dillingham led the Sun Devils to a Big 12 Championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff last year. The Sun Devils took a small step back last year, finishing 8-4. Dillingahm was without his quarterback, Sam Leavitt, who went down with a lower-body injury and missed the second half of the season. Leavitt has taken his talents to Baton Rouge, and Kentucky’s Cutter Boley will be QB1 and a first-team selection on the Big 12 All-Name team in 2026.
#3 Kalani Sitake, BYU Cougars
BYU almost saw its program CRUMBL in January. Sitake’s name was closely linked to the Penn State job before Crumbl Cookies CEO Jason McGowan, a BYU alum, decided to “do something,” helping Sitake get a new contract and keeping him in Provo. Sitake has done an excellent job at BYU. He understands the culture and who he can bring to Provo. The Cougars were in the mix for a CFB spot last year and should be again heading into 2026. Besides, they have a quarterback who wears #47 on the field and is #1 in our hearts. Thank you, Bear (Bachmeier).
#2 Willie Fritz, Houston Cougars
Texas Tech was all the rage in 2026 (and the outrage of the 2026 offseason). While we won’t look into the 2027 offseason, we will make a bold prediction that the Houston Cougars could make some big moves in the 2026 regular season. A big reason for that success is their head coach, Willie Fritz. All Fritz does is win. He is not the sexiest or the most vocal; he is just a dad-gum good football coach. Fritz is known for turning around football programs and has won at almost every level of college football. After going 4-8 in his first season, Fitz had the Coogs’ finish 10-3 last year. With quarterback questions in Lubbock, Fitz and Houston are in a great position for a big year in 2026.
#1 Joey McGuire, Texas Tech Red Raiders
Public enemies #1 and #2 in college football seem to be affiliated with the Texas Tech Red Raiders. Neither is head coach Joey McGuire; instead, most of the ire has been directed at Guns Up Booster Cody Campbell and maligned quarterback Brendan Sorsby. Campbell has not seen a microphone or a Twitter message he doesn’t like, but it is a big reason for the Red Raiders’ success. He has provided the resources for McGuire and his staff to build and compile one of the top rosters in college football. McGuire, on his part, is a football coach, focused on relationships. He has brought in these big personalities and helped bring them all together. No doubt, he will be able to leverage the toxicity around his program to get his guys to bunker together and show the world that 2025 was not a fluke.
Main Photo: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
