DJ Lagway Is About to Put Baylor on Notice, and the Big 12 Better Pay Attention

College football spring camps are finally rolling, and the Big 12 is loading up with new faces and fresh starts. After a hyperactive transfer cycle and tons of roster turnover, teams are figuring out what they've actually got on campus. No more mid-season reinforcements coming, no more excuses. This is what you built, and you're living with it.

Here's what's brewing across the conference as we head into the 2026 season.

Baylor Found Its Guy in Lagway, and He's Ready to Sling It

Let's start with Baylor. The Bears had a rough 5-7 season and a weak transfer haul, so they went all in on DJ Lagway, the former No. 3 overall recruit from Florida. Yeah, Lagway's got some health stuff to sort through after his tumultuous Florida tenure, and sure, there's no guarantee he won't still turn the ball over at times. But stepping into a quarterback-friendly system in Waco? This could be his moment. Lagway's best chance at staying healthy and productive is right now, and if everything clicks, he could push close to 4,000 yards passing. The roster has question marks all over it, but he's legitimately their best shot at getting back to bowl eligibility.

BYU's Defense Just Got Scary Without Their Coordinator

BYU's defense was one of the best in the country last year under Jay Hill. Hill's gone now, and star linebacker Jack Kelly left too. You'd think that's a disaster, right? Wrong. Linebacker Isaiah Glasker, safety Faletau Satuala, and defensive tackle Keanu Tanuvasa all have cases as the best at their respective positions in the Big 12. Kelly Poppinga is calling plays for the first time as the primary play caller, but Kalani Sitake's steady leadership means the Cougars should stay elite on that side of the ball. This defense might actually be even better than last year.

The Rest of the Big 12 Has Problems

Arizona's got the toughest luck in the conference. Their schedule is loaded with nearly every major Big 12 contender, but here's the wild part: in their final five weeks, they play at Texas Tech, versus TCU, versus Utah, at Kansas State, and at home against Arizona State. If Arizona goes 3-2 in that stretch, they could singlehandedly shape who plays in the title game in Arlington.

Over at Arizona State, transfer receiver Omarion Miller is ready to dominate. He posted 45 catches for 808 yards and eight touchdowns last season at Colorado. Now he's the primary option for a Sun Devils team starting over at quarterback and running back. Cutter Boley takes over under center, and with offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo knowing how to get the ball to his playmakers, Miller could lead the Big 12 in receiving yards.

UCF quarterback Alonza Barnett III has a clear target: join the elite company of McKenzie Milton, Daunte Culpepper, Dillon Gabriel, and Blake Bortles by cracking the top five in total offense in UCF history. That requires more than 3,731 total yards. Coming off nearly 3,500 yards at James Madison last season, Barnett's got a legitimate shot.

Spring ball is just getting started, but the Big 12 is shaping up to be a completely different beast in 2026.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.