Big 12 football: 2026 preseason all-conference team

Big 12 football is right around the corner. The conference has discontinued the preseason predicted order of finish for all 16 teams, but there is plenty of individual talent that will be still honored.

The preseason All-Big 12 team (along with three major awards) is voted on by the media and will be announced ahead of Big 12 media days in Frisco, Texas on July 7-8.

Here’s a look at my Big 12 football preseason all-conference ballot for the 2026 campaign:

Preseason All-Big 12 football team

Offense

QB: Noah Fifita, Arizona

Fifita bounced back from a rough 2024 campaign and earned first-team All-Big 12 honors last season. He threw for 3,228 yards (third in Big 12) and 29 TDs (second in Big 12) while limiting his interceptions to just six.

RB: LJ Martin, BYU

Martin led the Big 12 in rushing last season (1,305 yards and 12 TDs) and earned the conference’s offensive player of the year award. He has another strong offensive line unit blocking for him and he should be among the top RBs in college football this fall.

RB: Caleb Hawkins, Oklahoma State

Many will wonder if Hawkins’ game will translate from the American Conference to the Big 12, and many will soon find out. The North Texas transfer RB led the FBS with 29 total TDs last season while rushing for 1,434 yards. Hawkins also caught 32 passes for 370 yards, making him one of the best dual-threat weapons in the country.

FB: Garrett Oakley, Kansas State

Oakley holds the school record for TDs by a tight end (13) and he’s also a valuable blocker in the run game as an H-back. He caught 38 passes for 389 yards and six TDs last season.

WR: Amare Thomas, Houston

Thomas was second in the Big 12 in both receiving yards (966) and receiving TDs (12) last season, earning first-team All-Big 12 honors. His quarterback (Conner Weigman) is back which means 2026 could be even more productive.

WR: Omarion Miller, Arizona State

Miller was a second-team All-Big 12 selection last season despite shaky QB play at Colorado. That could hamper him again this fall in Tempe, but he’s undoubtedly one of the most talented WRs in the conference after totaling 808 yards and eight TDs in 2025.

WR: Danny Scudero, Colorado

Like Hawkins, some might have to see Scudero do it at the Big 12 level to believe the hype. The Biletnikoff semifinalist led college football in receiving yards last season (1,291) and is one of the highest-rated WRs on CFB 27 the video game. Scudero quickly established himself as an alpha in Boulder.

TE: Terrance Carter Jr., Texas Tech

Carter Jr. earned second-team All-Big 12 honors last season after totaling 624 yards and five TDs on 55 catches. He could be a top option in the Red Raiders’ passing game this fall.

OL Evan Tengesdahl, Cincinnati

Tengesdahl is arguably the top offensive lineman in the Big 12 after earning AP All-American honors (third-team) last season. He started all 13 games at left guard for the Bearcats and should hear his name called during the 2027 NFL Draft.

OL: Sheridan Wilson, Texas Tech

Wilson has started every game at center for the Red Raiders over the last two seasons and earned third-team All-Big 12 honors in 2025.

OL: Bruce Mitchell, BYU

Mitchell was first-team All-Big 12 as a center last season after starting his BYU career on the defensive line.

OL Shadre Hurst, Houston

Hurst followed his former head coach (Willie Fritz) from Tulane to Houston after back-to-back seasons of first-team All-AAC honors.

OL: Howard Sampson, Texas Tech

Sampson earned third-team All-Big 12 honors at left tackle last season after transferring to Texas Tech from North Texas.

PK: Kyle Konrardy, Iowa State

Konrardy missed a few games with injury last season but still went 14-of-18 on field goals, including a 63-yarder vs. South Dakota and a game-winning, 54-yarder to beat rival Iowa. His five career 50-yard field goals are tied for the second most in school history.

KR/PR: Antione Jackson, UCF

Jackson had the second-most punt return yards (187) in the Big 12 last season despite the seventh-most returns.

Defense

DL: CJ Fite, Arizona State

Fite had a career-high 6.5 TFLs last season and is one of the best returning interior defensive linemen in the conference.

DL: AJ Holmes Jr., Texas Tech

Holmes Jr. earned AP All-American honors (second-team) last season after racking up nine TFLs and 4.5 sacks for the Red Raiders.

DL: Adam Trick, Texas Tech

Trick was a first-team All-MAC selection at Miami (OH) in 2025, finishing the season with 12.5 TFLs and 8.5 sacks.

DL: Tre Smith, Arizona

Smith took a medical redshirt last season after being limited to just four games due to injury. Back in 2024, he totaled 7.5 TFLs and 4.5 sacks in his first season with the Wildcats.

DL: Isaac Terrell, Iowa State

Terrell was the Pac-12’s top defensive line performer last season after racking up 12 TFLs and seven sacks at Washington State.

LB: Austin Romaine, Texas Tech

Romaine earned second-team All-Big 12 honors in 2025 at Kansas State despite having his season cut short with a hand injury. He’ll be expected to fill the shoes of last season’s Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez.

LB: Cade Uluave, BYU

Uluave is another transfer LB with high expectations. The Cal transfer earned first-team All-ACC honors last season after racking up 100 tackles and 12 TFLs.

LB: Gideon ESPN Lampron, Colorado

Lampron totaled 119 tackles and 17.5 TFLs en route to first-team All-MAC honors at Bowling Green in 2025. He was the only player in the nation that finished the regular season with 100-plus tackles and 15-plus TFLs.

DB: Evan Johnson, BYU

Johnson is viewed as one of the top cornerbacks in the country after totaling eight PBUs and five INTs last season.

DB: Brice Pollock, Texas Tech

Pollock earned first-team All-Big 12 honors in 2025 (seven PBUs, five INTs) and should a popular name in 2027 NFL Draft circles.

DB: Boo Carter, Colorado

Carter had a rocky tenure in Tennessee but his talent is undeniable. He earned All-SEC Freshman honors in 2024 as a dynamic nickel and forced three fumbles in eight games last season.

DB: Jamel Johnson, TCU

Johnson tied with Johnson and Pollock for the Big 12’s lead in interceptions (five) last season while also having the third-most solo tackles (60).

DB: Faletau Satuala, BYU

Satuala earned third-team All-Big 12 honors last season after totaling 84 tackles to go along with four PBUs and three INTs.

P: Palmer Williams, Baylor

Palmer was the first-team All-Big 12 punter in 2025 thanks to this conference-leading 46.9-yard average punt.

Offensive Player of the Year  

QB Noah Fifita, Arizona

This will be Fifita’s fourth season as a starter and the veteran has seen just about everything. He put Arizona’s offense on his back in 2025 and might have to do it again this fall. The Wildcats return two dynamic WRs (Tre Spivey, Chris Hunter) which should allow Fifita to be the conference’s most productive QB.

Defensive Player of the Year  

LB Cade Uluave, BYU

Uluave was one of the top LBs in the portal this offseason and for good reason. He has an elite combination of speed and power that makes him a tackling machine. The uncertain health status of fellow BYU linebacker Isaiah Glasker entering the season gives Uluave even more opportunity to be the face of the Cougars’ defense.

Newcomer of the Year  

QB Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State

Mestemaker lit it up in the American Conference last season and should transition smoothly to Big 12 play. He threw for 4,379 yards and 34 TDs to just nine INTs in 2025 as a redshirt freshman. With his head coach (Eric Morris) and dynamic weapons (Hawkins, Wyatt Young) alongside him in Stillwater, Mestemaker could lead one of the Big 12’s most explosive offenses.

Follow Colorado Buffaloes beat reporter Scott Procter on X.