Kansas is aiming for its 18th Big 12 regular-season title in the 2026-27 season, buoyed by the arrival of Tyran Stokes, the top-ranked recruit in the Class of 2026. Stokes, a 6-foot-8 guard and the favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2027 NBA Draft, joins Bill Self’s squad as the Jayhawks try to return to the Sweet 16 for the first time since their national championship run in 2022.
Bill Self, entering his 24th year at Kansas, has added a player who could become just the third Jayhawk to go No. 1 overall in the NBA Draft, following Danny Manning (1988) and Andrew Wiggins (2014). Stokes’s impact is expected to be immediate, with many projecting him to claim Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors. His presence gives Kansas a strong shot at reclaiming the conference crown, although the path will be challenging with Arizona, Houston, Texas Tech, and Iowa State all standing in their way.
Arizona, last season’s Big 12 champion and a Final Four participant, returns with a high-profile recruiting class led by Caleb Holt, the third-ranked player in the Class of 2026. Holt is expected to start alongside North Carolina transfer Derek Dixon in the Wildcats’ backcourt. His defensive prowess, highlighted by an 81-inch wingspan, could be a major factor for Tommy Lloyd’s team as they aim to repeat their Big 12 title and make another deep NCAA Tournament run.
The Wildcats are ranked second nationally on BartTorvik.com’s preseason rankings and are seen by CBS Sports analysts as strong contenders to win the league again. Despite losing Koa Peat to the NBA Draft, Arizona still boasts a talented roster with returning starters Mo Krivas and Ivan Kharchenkov, plus a top-10 recruiting class.
Houston also remains a force in the Big 12, having made seven straight trips to the Sweet 16 and two Final Four appearances during that stretch. Joseph Tugler, a consistent rotation player and 2025 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, continues to anchor the Cougars. Although Houston lost key scorers like Kingston Flemings and Emanuel Sharp, their defensive identity under coach Kelvin Sampson remains intact, making them a likely participant in a fourth consecutive Sweet 16 appearance.
Texas Tech faces uncertainty after JT Toppin, the 2025 Big 12 Player of the Year, tore his ACL late last season. Toppin had improved his scoring and rebounding averages significantly before the injury but is not expected to start the upcoming season. The Red Raiders will look to him for contributions once he returns from rehab.
BYU, projected to make the NCAA Tournament for a fourth straight year, retained guard Rob Wright after his brief flirtation with the transfer portal. Wright’s decision to recommit to BYU after considering Kentucky is a significant boost for coach Kevin Young’s third-year squad. Wright averaged 18.1 points and 4.6 assists last season and is a cornerstone for the Cougars.
The Big 12 sent eight teams to the 2026 NCAA Tournament, with Arizona reaching the Final Four in Indianapolis after clinching the conference title and tournament. The conference also saw two alums, AJ Dybantsa (BYU) and Darryn Peterson (Kansas), go first and second in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Kansas’s challenge is to break back into the Sweet 16 and beyond, a stage they have not reached since their 2022 championship. With Tyran Stokes leading the way, Self’s team is poised to contend for the Big 12 title, but the competitive landscape remains fierce. Arizona and Houston, in particular, loom as significant obstacles in the Jayhawks’ pursuit of their 18th league crown.
According to CBS.