The modern Big 12 has officially become the wild west of college football signal-callers.
Long gone are the days when every team in the league ran the exact same brand of four-wide, empty-backfield spread offense. As the 2026 season kicks off, the conference has transformed into an aggressive tactical laboratory under center. At the top of the mountain sits Arizona’s veteran Noah Fifita, who brings 34 career starts into another season in Tucson. Yet the path to the conference crown is littered with landmines, from the pure dual-threat electricity of Utah’s Devon Dampier to the enormous upside of Colorado sophomore Julian Lewis and the high-stakes transfer portal arrival of Oklahoma State’s Drew Mestemaker.
The quarterback position in the Big 12 is defined by a fascinating mixture of proven veterans, breakout candidates, highly touted young quarterbacks and players looking to make an immediate impact after changing programs.
There is also very little separation.
Our three writers certainly don’t agree on exactly how the conference should be sorted.
To determine our 2026 Big 12 quarterback rankings, Caleb, Matt and Zack each ranked all 16 Big 12 quarterback rooms from No. 1 through No. 16.
The voting system awards 16 points for a first-place vote, 15 for second, 14 for third and so on down to one point for 16th place.
The result is a consensus ranking that reveals plenty of agreement at the top, but also some massive disagreements once we move beyond the conference’s elite.
Consensus Big 12 Quarterback Rankings
| Rank | Team | Caleb | Matt | Zack | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utah | 3 | 3 | 2 | 43 |
| 2 | Arizona | 2 | 7 | 1 | 41 |
| 3 | Oklahoma State | 1 | 9 | 3 | 38 |
| 4 | Houston | 6 | 5 | 4 | 36 |
| 5 | Kansas State | 5 | 11 | 6 | 29 |
| 5 | Colorado | 10 | 1 | 11 | 29 |
| 7 | TCU | 8 | 6 | 9 | 28 |
| 8 | BYU | 4 | 16 | 5 | 26 |
| 9 | Baylor | 7 | 12 | 8 | 24 |
| 10 | Arizona State | 14 | 2 | 12 | 23 |
| 10 | Texas Tech | 9 | 4 | 15 | 23 |
| 10 | UCF | 11 | 10 | 7 | 23 |
| 13 | West Virginia | 13 | 8 | 14 | 16 |
| 14 | Kansas | 12 | 13 | 16 | 10 |
| 14 | Iowa State | 16 | 15 | 10 | 10 |
| 16 | Cincinnati | 15 | 14 | 13 | 9 |
The first thing that jumps off the page is the strength of the consensus at the very top.
Utah, Arizona and Oklahoma State separated themselves from the rest of the conference. Each finished inside the top three on at least two ballots, and Utah was the only team to finish in the top three on all three ballots.
Utah ultimately claims the consensus No. 1 ranking with 43 points.
Arizona is just two points behind at 41, while Oklahoma State comes in third with 38.
Houston is the only other team to crack the 30-point mark, finishing fourth with 36 points.
After that, however, the rankings become considerably more difficult to separate.
Kansas State and Colorado are tied for fifth with 29 points.
Arizona State, Texas Tech and UCF are all tied for 10th with 23 points.
Kansas and Iowa State are tied for 14th with 10 points.
And that’s appropriate because the ties tell an important part of the story.
There is a tremendous amount of uncertainty throughout the middle of the Big 12 quarterback rankings.
1. Utah — 43 Points
Utah takes the consensus No. 1 spot because the Utes were the only team to finish in the top three on all three ballots.
Caleb and Matt both ranked Utah third, while Zack placed the Utes second.
Caleb’s Explanation:
Utah gets the third spot because Devon Dampier brings a combination of experience, athleticism, and playmaking ability that is difficult to find. Dampier is especially dangerous as a runner, which adds another dimension to Utah’s offense. He also has enough arm talent to make defenses respect the passing game. With a physical running game around him, Dampier has the potential to be one of the most difficult quarterbacks in the Big 12 to defend. He was also named to the preseason All-Big 12 team.
Matt’s Explanation:
Morgan Scalley’s offense features a top-tier group anchored by explosive junior Devon Dampier. Dampier gives the Utes a highly efficient, dual-threat weapon coming off a stellar campaign where he routinely manufactured chunk plays with his legs and arm.
Zack’s Explanation:
Devon Dampier is the Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year, and if he can build on last year’s successful season, he could land the Utes in the Big 12 Championship. The dual-threat quarterback combined for 34 touchdowns (24 passing, 10 rushing) last season, and this team will go as far as he can take them.
There is perhaps no better example of consensus than Utah.
All three voters see essentially the same thing.
Dampier combines athleticism, experience and production, and his ability to create plays with both his arm and legs gives the Utes an extremely high floor.
That consistency is enough to put Utah at No. 1.
2. Arizona — 41 Points
Arizona comes in just two points behind Utah.
Zack ranked the Wildcats first, Caleb put them second and Matt had them seventh.
Caleb’s Explanation:
Arizona has one of the safest quarterback situations in the Big 12 with Noah Fifita returning. Fifita already has multiple seasons of starting experience and has shown that he can be extremely productive when the offense is built around him. He combines accuracy with good pocket awareness and the ability to make plays downfield. With another year of experience and a talented supporting cast, Fifita gives Arizona one of the highest floors at quarterback in the conference. He was also selected as a first-team preseason All-Big 12 quarterback.
Zack’s Explanation:
Noah Fifita is the Preseason All-Big 12 pick at quarterback for good reason. He touts 34 starts as a Wildcat, where he has spent his entire career, and he is poised to lead Arizona to another successful season, despite the mediocre expectations for the team.
The Wildcats are a perfect example of the value of experience.
Fifita has spent his entire career at Arizona and enters 2026 with 34 starts.
That gives the Wildcats one of the safest quarterback floors in the conference.
3. Oklahoma State — 38 Points
Oklahoma State lands third in the consensus rankings, thanks largely to Caleb’s belief in Drew Mestemaker.
Caleb ranked the Cowboys first, Zack had them third and Matt ranked them ninth.
Caleb’s Explanation:
Oklahoma State gets the top spot because Drew Mestemaker gives the Cowboys one of the most proven and productive quarterbacks in the conference. He has already shown that he can put up big numbers and consistently move the football through the air. What really separates Oklahoma State is the combination of Mestemaker’s production and his ability to make plays outside of structure. The Cowboys also have enough depth behind him to give the room a strong overall ceiling. Athlon’s current Big 12 rankings also have Mestemaker at or near the top of the conference.
Zack’s Explanation:
Drew Mestemaker is the Preseason Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, and if he can lead the Cowboys as well as he did the Mean Green at North Texas last season, then the Stillwater faithful might try to build a statue of him as soon as possible. Mestemaker threw for 4,379 yards and 34 touchdowns as a redshirt freshman last year, nearly 900 yards and twice as many touchdowns as Oklahoma State’s entire offense. If he can repeat even close to those numbers for the Cowboys, then they’ll be back in contention for a conference championship before long.
Mestemaker may ultimately prove to be one of the most important players in the entire conference.
Caleb believes he is the best quarterback in the Big 12.
Zack has him third.
Matt’s ninth-place ranking represents a dramatically different evaluation.
If Mestemaker carries his North Texas production to Stillwater, Oklahoma State could quickly make a case that the consensus ranking was too low.
Where Caleb, Matt and Zack Were Closest
While there are some enormous differences between the ballots, there are also several teams where the three voters were remarkably close.
Utah
Utah is the clearest example.
- Caleb: No. 3
- Matt: No. 3
- Zack: No. 2
That’s a one-position range.
The Utes are the only team that appears in the top three on all three ballots.
TCU
TCU also received relatively consistent evaluations.
- Caleb: No. 8
- Matt: No. 6
- Zack: No. 9
That’s only a three-position range.
All three voters view the Horned Frogs as a legitimate middle-to-upper-tier Big 12 quarterback room.
Cincinnati
At the bottom of the rankings, there is also significant agreement on Cincinnati.
- Caleb: No. 15
- Matt: No. 14
- Zack: No. 13
Again, that’s just a three-position range.
All three voters believe Cincinnati has one of the conference’s least proven quarterback rooms entering 2026.
Kansas State
Kansas State received rankings of fifth, 11th and sixth.
While Matt is lower on the Wildcats, Caleb and Zack both put Kansas State inside their top six.
That consistency from two voters is enough to put Kansas State into a tie for fifth in the consensus.
Where Caleb, Matt and Zack Were Furthest Apart
This is where the rankings become particularly fascinating.
BYU
BYU has one of the largest gaps on the board.
- Caleb: No. 4
- Matt: No. 16
- Zack: No. 5
That’s a 12-position difference.
Caleb and Zack both believe the Cougars have a quarterback room capable of competing near the top of the Big 12.
Matt sees BYU as the worst quarterback room in the conference.
The consensus lands BYU eighth.
Arizona State
Arizona State also has a 12-position difference between its highest and lowest ranking.
- Matt: No. 2
- Zack: No. 12
- Caleb: No. 14
Matt sees the Sun Devils as the second-best quarterback room in the conference.
Caleb has them 14th.
Zack has them 12th.
The result is a three-way tie for 10th in the consensus.
Colorado
Colorado produces another enormous split.
- Matt: No. 1
- Caleb: No. 10
- Zack: No. 11
That’s a 10-position difference.
Matt is clearly betting on the enormous potential of Julian Lewis and Colorado’s offensive direction.
Caleb and Zack are much more cautious.
The Buffaloes ultimately finish tied for fifth with Kansas State.
Texas Tech
Texas Tech is another fascinating case.
- Matt: No. 4
- Caleb: No. 9
- Zack: No. 15
That’s an 11-position difference.
Matt sees the defending Big 12 champion’s quarterback room as one of the four best in the league.
Zack sees it as the second-worst.
The primary issue is obvious: Brendan Sorsby’s ineligibility has created significant uncertainty, leaving Will Hammond to take on a much larger role.
The Middle of the Big 12 Is Wide Open
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from these rankings is just how difficult it is to separate the middle of the conference.
Kansas State and Colorado are tied at No. 5.
TCU is seventh.
BYU is eighth.
Baylor is ninth.
Arizona State, Texas Tech and UCF are all tied at 10th.
That means seven teams occupy the range from fifth through 10th.
And they aren’t there because our guys agreed.
They’re there because our guys disagreed.
That’s an important distinction.
Colorado is fifth because Matt believes strongly in the room.
BYU is eighth despite Caleb and Zack putting the Cougars fourth and fifth.
Arizona State, Texas Tech and UCF all arrive at the same 23-point total through very different paths.
The Big 12’s middle class could ultimately determine the conference championship race.
The Biggest Wild Cards
Colorado
Colorado might be the biggest wild card in the entire conference.
Julian Lewis gives the Buffaloes an enormous amount of upside, but the gap between Matt’s first-place ranking and Caleb’s and Zack’s lower evaluations demonstrates how much projection is involved.
If Lewis thrives, Matt could look prophetic.
If the young quarterback struggles, Caleb and Zack could look much smarter.
Texas Tech
The Red Raiders are another major question mark.
They are the defending Big 12 champions, yet the quarterback situation changed dramatically with Sorsby’s ineligibility.
Will Hammond has talent, but he is also coming off a torn ACL and has limited experience.
That creates a fascinating question: can Texas Tech’s overall roster and coaching compensate for the uncertainty under center?
BYU
BYU may be the most polarizing team on the board.
Two of us have the Cougars in the top five.
One of us has them 16th.
That’s not a small difference.
That’s a completely different evaluation of the position.
The Individual Rankings
Caleb
- Oklahoma State | Oklahoma State gets the top spot because Drew Mestemaker gives the Cowboys one of the most proven and productive quarterbacks in the conference. He has already shown that he can put up big numbers and consistently move the football through the air. What really separates Oklahoma State is the combination of Mestemaker’s production and his ability to make plays outside of structure. The Cowboys also have enough depth behind him to give the room a strong overall ceiling. Athlon’s current Big 12 rankings also have Mestemaker at or near the top of the conference.
- Arizona | Arizona has one of the safest quarterback situations in the Big 12 with Noah Fifita returning. Fifita already has multiple seasons of starting experience and has shown that he can be extremely productive when the offense is built around him. He combines accuracy with good pocket awareness and the ability to make plays downfield. With another year of experience and a talented supporting cast, Fifita gives Arizona one of the highest floors at quarterback in the conference. He was also selected as a first-team preseason All-Big 12 quarterback.
- Utah | Utah gets the third spot because Devon Dampier brings a combination of experience, athleticism, and playmaking ability that is difficult to find. Dampier is especially dangerous as a runner, which adds another dimension to Utah’s offense. He also has enough arm talent to make defenses respect the passing game. With a physical running game around him, Dampier has the potential to be one of the most difficult quarterbacks in the Big 12 to defend. He was also named to the preseason All-Big 12 team.
- BYU
- Kansas State
- Houston
- Baylor
- TCU
- Texas Tech
- Colorado
- UCF
- Kansas
- West Virginia
- Arizona State
- Cincinnati | Cincinnati has questions at quarterback after losing Brendan Sorsby. The Bearcats have options available, but replacing an experienced starter leaves the room with considerably more uncertainty entering 2026.
- Iowa State | Iowa State has the most uncertainty at quarterback entering 2026. The Cyclones lost Rocco Becht, and the program is going through significant roster turnover. There is potential within the room, but compared with the rest of the Big 12, Iowa State has the least proven production and experience at the position.
Matt’s Big 12 Quarterback Rankings
- Colorado | The Buffaloes likely have the most dangerous aerial circus in the conference. The offense is spearheaded by sophomore Julian Lewis, whose touch and football IQ make him a perfect fit for offensive coordinator Brennan Marion’s explosive new “Go-Go” offense.
- Arizona State | Kenny Dillingham secured his QB1 after an intense offseason competition, officially naming Kentucky transfer Cutter Boley the starting quarterback. The 6’5″, 213-pound former SEC All-Freshman selection gives the Sun Devils elite arm velocity and natural pocket presence. The structural upside of the room is elevated by Michigan transfer Mikey Keene, giving ASU a rare pair of quarterbacks with high-volume, starting experience.
- Utah | Morgan Scalley’s offense features a top-tier group anchored by explosive junior Devon Dampier. Dampier gives the Utes a highly efficient, dual-threat weapon coming off a stellar campaign where he routinely manufactured chunk plays with his legs and arm.
- Texas Tech
- Houston
- TCU
- Arizona
- West Virginia
- Oklahoma State
- UCF
- Kansas State
- Baylor
- Kansas
- Cincinnati
- Iowa State | The Cyclones face a brutal developmental reset under center following the departures of long-term veteran production. The room is in total transition and currently lacks proven, high-volume Power Four game experience at the top of the depth chart. This variance forces the offense to rely heavily on unique backfield adjustments and defensive game plans to keep games manageable
- BYU — The Cougars land at the bottom of the conference rankings due to severe personnel and depth limitations. To open the season, sophomore Bear Bachmeier was named the starter to pilot a heavily run-first scheme alongside star back LJ Martin.
Zack’s Big 12 Quarterback Rankings
- Arizona | Noah Fifita is the Preseason All-Big 12 pick at quarterback for good reason. He touts 34 starts as a Wildcat, where he has spent his entire career, and he is poised to lead Arizona to another successful season, despite the mediocre expectations for the team.
- Utah | Devon Dampier is the Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year, and if he can build on last year’s successful season, he could land the Utes in the Big 12 Championship. The dual-threat quarterback combined for 34 touchdowns (24 passing, 10 rushing) last season, and this team will go as far as he can take them.
- Oklahoma State | Drew Mestemaker is the Preseason Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, and if he can lead the Cowboys as well as he did the Mean Green at North Texas last season, then the Stillwater faithful might try to build a statue of him as soon as possible. Mestemaker threw for 4,379 yards and 34 touchdowns as a redshirt freshman last year, nearly 900 yards and twice as many touchdowns as Oklahoma State’s entire offense. If he can repeat even close to those numbers for the Cowboys, then they’ll be back in contention for a conference championship before long.
- Houston
- BYU
- Kansas State
- UCF
- Baylor
- TCU
- Iowa State
- Colorado
- Arizona State
- Cincinnati
- West Virginia
- Texas Tech | The Red Raiders are favorites to repeat as Big 12 Champs, but after Brendan Sorsby was ruled ineligible for his gambling hijinks, the quarterback situation is certainly concerning. Will Hammond is inexperienced and coming off a torn ACL, so there’s plenty of unknown about him.
- Kansas | The Jayhawks still haven’t decided on a quarterback, but the options aren’t great. Cole Ballard and Isaiah Marshall are both about as green as they come. The Jayhawks are a bit of a question mark with their hopes riding on an even bigger question mark at QB.
Final Thoughts
The consensus Big 12 quarterback rankings paint a picture of a conference with an incredible amount of parity — and an even greater amount of uncertainty.
Utah takes the No. 1 spot because the Utes were the only team to appear in the top three on every ballot.
Arizona is right behind them, powered by Noah Fifita’s enormous amount of experience.
Oklahoma State comes in third, with Drew Mestemaker representing one of the most intriguing breakout candidates in the conference.
Houston is fourth, giving the Big 12 four teams that clearly separated themselves from the rest of the field.
Then comes the chaos.
Kansas State and Colorado are tied for fifth.
TCU is seventh.
BYU is eighth.
Baylor is ninth.
Arizona State, Texas Tech and UCF are all tied for 10th.
And that’s where these rankings become particularly revealing.
The Big 12 doesn’t have a shortage of talented quarterbacks.
It has a shortage of consensus.
Caleb believes Oklahoma State has the best quarterback room in the conference.
Zack believes Arizona does.
Matt believes Colorado does.
Those are three completely different answers.
And all three have legitimate arguments.
The same thing happens throughout the rankings.
Caleb has BYU fourth while Matt has the Cougars 16th.
Matt has Arizona State second while Caleb has the Sun Devils 14th.
Matt has Texas Tech fourth while Zack has the Red Raiders 15th.
Matt has Colorado first while Caleb has the Buffaloes 10th and Zack has them 11th.
That’s what makes the 2026 Big 12 so compelling.
There isn’t a single dominant team that everyone agrees has the quarterback advantage.
Instead, there are proven veterans like Fifita, explosive dual-threats like Dampier, statistical monsters like Mestemaker and young phenoms like Lewis.
There are also plenty of quarterbacks who will be asked to prove that they belong.
And in a conference where the championship race appears wide open, quarterback play could ultimately decide everything.
The Big 12 Championship race may come down to which quarterback handles the pressure of November.
Which quarterback protects the football?
Which quarterback makes the third-down throw?
Which quarterback can create something when the play breaks down?
Which quarterback can deliver when the entire season is riding on one possession?
Those questions won’t be answered by preseason rankings.
They’ll be answered on the field.
But if these rankings are any indication, the Big 12 quarterback race should be one of the most fascinating position battles in college football throughout the 2026 season.
Sixteen teams. Sixteen quarterback rooms. And almost no agreement on what happens next.
That’s the Big 12 in 2026.