An early look at the Big 12 football recruiting rankings for the class of 2026

With spring games and summer fast approaching, the class of 2026 recruiting cycle is about to heat up.

The Big 12 only had one team land a top-25 class last recruiting cycle, with TCU coming in at No. 24 on 247Sports Composite. Kansas State, Baylor, Colorado and Utah all came in the top 40. The conference does not feature many recruiting powerhouses like the SEC or Big Ten, with most teams hovering around the No. 50 ranked recruiting class instead of vying for a top-25 class.

It is still extremely early in the 2026 cycle, but one Big 12 team is in the top five of the national rankings. The team might surprise many, but it is definitely on an upward trajectory.

Colorado is, interestingly enough, the only team without a commitment in its 2026 class. Expect that to change this month, with recruits committing soon after the Buffaloes' April 19 spring game. Otherwise, there isn't much to take away from programs like Kansas State and Utah sitting near last place in the rankings, as some schools like the Buffs have yet to start putting a class together. These updates will be far more critical come the summer when programs expect more commitments.

With the acknowledgment that these rankings will quickly change, here is an early glimpse at the Big 12 class of 2026 team recruiting rankings as determined by 247Sports:

1. Kansas Jayhawks

Oct 28, 2023; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; A general view of a Kansas Jayhawks helmet against the Oklahoma Sooners prior to a game at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

National ranking: 5

Total commits: 13

Five-star commits: 0

Four-star commits: 2

2. Iowa State Cyclones

Nov 9, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Iowa State Cyclones helmets on the bench during the first quarter against the Kansas Jayhawks at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images

National ranking: 22

Total commits: 9

Five-star commits: 0

Four-star commits: 0

3. TCU Horned Frogs

Sep 28, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; A general view of a TCU Horned Frogs helmet against the Kansas Jayhawks during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

National ranking: 24

Total commits: 8

Five-star commits: 0

Four-star commits: 2

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