Man, what a ride it’s been in the Big 12! Five weeks into the 2026 season, and the Monster Energy Big 12 Football Standings are already heating up with Utah, BYU, and Texas Tech leading the charge. But let’s be real, the biggest story coming out of the offseason, and still echoing loud and clear, is the seismic shift on the sidelines that has completely reshaped the conference.
Coach Chaos: When the Musical Chairs Never Stop
It feels like just yesterday we were talking about #4 Texas Tech taking down #11 BYU in the Big 12 Championship back in 2025, only for the Red Raiders to get blanked by Oregon in the College Football Playoffs. You’d think that would be the end of the drama, right? Nope. The ink was barely dry on that championship trophy before the coaching dominoes started falling, and they haven’t really stopped.
First up, Kansas State swapped out a Hall of Famer in Chris Klieman for one of their own legends, Collin Klein. That’s a bold move right there. But then, just a few hours north, Ames got hit with a bombshell. Iowa State’s rock, Matt Campbell, bolted for Penn State. That’s a gut punch for Cyclones fans, losing the guy who brought stability and success to the Big Ten. Thankfully, Iowa State moved fast, snatching up Jimmy Rogers from Wazzu, who might have only gone 6-6 last year but led South Dakota State to an undefeated 15-0 national title run in the FCS just a few years ago in 2023. Talk about a resume! Then, over in Salt Lake City, Kyle Whittingham traded the Utah mountain air for Ann Arbor. His successor, Morgan Scalley, is as “Utah” as it gets, and it looks like they’ve made a smooth transition. And hey, let’s not forget Oklahoma State, where Mike Gundy got fired last September. Doug Meacham stepped in as interim, but now Eric Morris, a Mike Leach protege from North Texas, is calling the shots. It’s been a total overhaul across the league!
Early Season Jitters and High Hopes
All that chaos, and now we’re five weeks into 2026. The new guys have settled in, and the battle lines are drawn. Utah, BYU, and Texas Tech are currently at the top of the Monster Energy Big 12 Football Standings. Can the Cougars and Red Raiders make it back to the title game like last year? That’s the big question right now. It’s too early for any real predictions, but you gotta wonder how those new coaching staffs will fare as the season wears on.
Keep an eye on Arizona, too. They’re sitting pretty at 4-1 overall and 1-1 in conference play. After an unexpectedly strong 9-4 season in 2025, they brought back their entire coaching staff and most of the team. Repeating that kind of performance would be huge for them, especially since back-to-back nine-win seasons have been a rarity.
This season is shaping up to be a wild one. With so much upheaval and new faces in charge, every game feels like it has extra weight. You can bet fans are on the edge of their seats, watching to see which teams truly emerge from this new Big 12 landscape.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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