The Large 12 despatched eight faculties to the 2026 NCAA Match — amongst them Arizona, which superior all the way in which to the Last 4 in Indianapolis after successful the league title by a number of video games and convention match in dramatic style. It was an important 12 months for the convention, all issues thought-about, particularly after Large 12 alums AJ Dybantsa (BYU) and Darryn Peterson (Kansas) went first and second within the 2026 NBA Draft.
Is the most effective but to return? Maybe.
For what it is price, three of the highest eight groups within the preseason rankings at BartTorvik.com are within the Large 12. And it’s these three groups — particularly Arizona, Houston and Kansas — that high our Large 12 projections after a panel of CBS Sports activities writers and analysts submitted ballots predicting how issues will unfold.
In my thoughts, probably the most attention-grabbing story is at Kansas, the place Invoice Self enters Yr 24 in Lawrence attempting to return to the Candy 16 for the primary time since he guided the Jayhawks to his second nationwide championship in 2022. To assist him do it, the Naismith Memorial Corridor of Fame coach has enrolled Tyran Stokes, the top-ranked prospect within the Class of 2026 and favourite to be the No. 1 choose within the 2027 NBA Draft. An 18th Large 12 regular-season title is certainly potential. However Arizona and Houston — to not point out Texas Tech and Iowa State — are apparent hurdles in KU’s path to securing one other trophy.
ACC skilled picks: 2026-27 projected order of end, preseason predictions, high gamers to observe
Cameron Salerno
Right here is all the pieces it’s essential to know in regards to the Large 12 — together with participant of the 12 months predictions, convention standings and the most effective gamers within the league.
CBS Sports activities Large 12 Preseason Participant/Freshman of Yr
Tyran Stokes | G/F | Kansas
Pistons star Cade Cunningham received 2021 Large 12 Participant of the Yr honors in his solely season of school basketball at Oklahoma State. Since then, the award has been given out 5 extra instances, and but Cunningham stays the final freshman to win it. However that ought to change this season due to Tyran Stokes’ enrollment at Kansas. The 6-foot-8 guard is the highest prospect from the Class of 2026 and main candidate to be the primary choose of the 2027 NBA Draft. If Stokes meets these expectations, he ought to grow to be in June simply the third Kansas participant to go No. 1 general — becoming a member of Danny Manning (1988) and Andrew Wiggins (2014).
4 extra gamers to observe
Caleb Holt | SG | Arizona
If Stokes does not win Large 12 Freshman of the Yr honors, it is perhaps Caleb Holt’s award to seize. The 6-5 guard is ranked third within the Class of 2026, in keeping with 247Sports, behind solely Stokes and Arkansas freshman Jordan Smith. Holt is predicted to start out in Arizona’s backcourt subsequent to North Carolina switch Derek Dixon. For Arizona to make back-to-back Last Fours below Tommy Lloyd, the Wildcats will want Holt to affect issues on each ends of the courtroom, particularly defensively, the place his 81-inch wingspan is a big benefit on the perimeter.
JT Toppin | PF | Texas Tech
JT Toppin was the 2025 Large 12 Participant of the Yr whereas averaging 18.2 factors and 9.4 rebounds as a sophomore at Texas Tech. Then, as a junior final season, the 6-9 ahead averaged extra factors (21.8) and extra rebounds (10.8), that means he would’ve probably received the award once more if not for him tearing the ACL in his proper knee throughout a Feb. 17 loss to Arizona State. Surgical procedure got here subsequent. Rehab adopted. And although Toppin shouldn’t be anticipated to start out the season, all indications are that he’ll play in some unspecified time in the future — and probably ahead of most anticipated when he went down and missed the Purple Raiders’ ultimate eight video games.
Joseph Tugler | PF | Houston
Joseph Tugler has by no means been Houston’s main scorer or main rebounder. He may by no means be both of these issues. However what he has been, for 3 straight years now, is a vital rotation piece for a Houston group that is completed within the high 4 at KenPom.com yearly he is been enrolled. Tugler was on the Large 12 All-Freshman Group in 2024 and the Large 12 Defensive Participant of the Yr in 2025. He is began 69 video games the previous two seasons and may play in a fourth straight Candy 16 in March.
Rob Wright | PG | BYU
When Rob Wright entered the switch portal, and Kentucky pursued him with all that cash, the 6-1 guard appeared on the verge of enrolling in a 3rd college in three years after spending his first two seasons at Baylor and BYU, respectively. He even took a go to to Lexington. However shortly after doing so, Wright recommitted to BYU in what doubled as a giant recruiting win for third-year Cougars coach Kevin Younger. Wright averaged 18.1 factors and 4.6 assists final season. He is the most important motive why BYU is projected to make the NCAA Match for the fourth straight 12 months.
Large 12 predicted order of end
1. Arizona
Breakdown: Tommy Lloyd, final season, turned the primary coach to information Arizona to the Last 4 since Naismith Memorial Corridor of Famer Lute Olson did it in 2001. Within the course of, the 51-year-old former Gonzaga assistant was pursued by North Carolina to interchange Hubert Davis. However, in the end, Lloyd stayed put, and one other journey to the game’s final weekend in 2027 is not some far-fetched dream.
Would it not have been higher if Koa Peat returned to high school like lots of evaluators prompt he ought to? Sure, in fact. However with two starters again in Mo Krivas and Ivan Kharchenkov, and a top-10 recruiting class highlighted by five-star freshman Caleb Holt, four-star freshman Cameron Holmes and North Carolina switch Derek Dixon, the Wildcats are nonetheless proficient sufficient to win a second consecutive outright Large 12 championship. That is why they’re the choose right here. And, for what it is price, they’re additionally ranked second nationally at BartTorvik.com. So, yeah, on paper, robust group.
2. Houston
Breakdown: The Cougars have made seven straight journeys to the Candy 16, two of which resulted in appearances within the Last 4. (In a associated observe, Kelvin Sampson not already being within the Naismith Memorial Corridor of Fame is not sensible to me.) Will Houston make an eighth straight Candy 16? If that is the query this preseason, my reply can be a thumbs up.
Sure, the Cougars misplaced quite a bit — particularly their high 4 scorers, most notably top-10 choose Kingston Flemings and three-year starter Emanuel Sharp. However among the many issues the Cougars did not lose is defensive star Joseph Tugler — and their coach. And that mixture, together with returning rotation items Mercy Miller and Chase McCarty, plus LSU switch Dedan Thomas Jr., needs to be sufficient to maintain Houston nationally related in what might be Sampson’s thirteenth 12 months on the college he moved from the American to the Large 12 with completely no points in any respect.
3. Kansas
Breakdown: Relative to its personal ridiculous customary established over the earlier 20 years below Naismith Memorial Corridor of Fame coach Invoice Self, Kansas has been down these days. The Jayhawks have completed tied for fifth (2024), sixth (2025) and tied for third (2026) within the Large 12 previously three seasons. Within the 20 years that preceded that stretch, Kansas by no means completed decrease than outright-third within the Large 12 whereas successful two nationwide championships, 17 Large 12 regular-season titles and 9 Large 12 Match championships.
Pointless to write down, Self may actually use a bounce-back 12 months — both to re-establish his place within the league or to permit the 63 year-old to exit the game, as they are saying, on a excessive observe. This projection suggests our panel of writers and analysts consider {that a} bounce-back season is on the way in which thanks largely to the enrollment of five-star freshman Tyran Stokes and return of double-digit scorer Tre White.
4. Texas Tech
Breakdown: When will JT Toppin be able to go? That is the most important query linked to the Purple Raiders this preseason. As famous above, the 2025 Large 12 Participant of the Yr tore his ACL in February — and no one has indicated he’ll be cleared prematurely of Texas Tech’s season-opener towards Jackson State.
So when will we see him? If it is early, this projection is perhaps too low for the Purple Raiders. If it is late, it is perhaps too excessive. Both approach, Darrion Williams is amongst this season’s boomerang-transfers. He spent final 12 months at NC State after serving to Texas Tech advance to the Elite Eight of the 2025 NCAA Match because the group’s second-leading scorer, behind solely Toppin. Backside line, if Toppin returns early, and Williams is nearly as good as he is already proven himself to be, do not rule out the Purple Raiders successful their first outright Large 12 regular-season championship — ever.
5. Iowa State
Breakdown: In some unspecified time in the future, the cash Kentucky was providing to confirmed faculty basketball gamers was going to downgrade a program someplace. Iowa State turned a sufferer of this when three-year starter, and final season’s main scorer, Milan Momcilovic, dedicated to UK. The value tag was reportedly round $6 million. Iowa State was in no place to counter-offer. However that does not imply the Cyclones are going to overlook the NCAA Match for the primary time below sixth-year coach TJ Otzelberger. The other is probably going true.
The offseason shoulder-injury to Killyan Toure is a bummer. However the NCAA’s new five-for-five rule, mixed with a good choose, has given Tamin Lipsey a fifth 12 months of eligibility. The 6-1 guard has began 137 video games for an Iowa State program that is superior within the NCAA Match each season he is performed. The guess right here is that the Cyclones will do it once more, partially as a result of Lipsey is in place to do it once more.
6. BYU
Breakdown: AJ Dybantsa led the game in scoring final season earlier than changing into the No. 1 choose of the 2026 NBA Draft. He was superior. (And there isn’t any motive to consider that sentence will not be typed quite a bit for the subsequent decade, no less than.) However have you learnt who else was actually good at BYU final season? Rob Wright! The 6-1 guard averaged 18.1 factors and 4.6 assists for a BYU group that was ranked sixteenth within the AP ballot when Richie Saunders, the Cougars’ third-leading scorer, went down with a torn ACL. With Dybantsa and Saunders off to the NBA, Wright thought-about leaving the Large 12; he truly visited Kentucky. However not lengthy after assembly with UK a couple of potential switch, Wright recommitted to the Cougars. Consequently, the projection right here is now that the Montverde Academy alum can have BYU within the NCAA Match, expanded as it’s, for the fourth time in 4 years.
Wright needs to be BYU’s finest participant — but when he is not, control Bruce Department III. He is a 6-7 ahead ranked sixth within the Class of 2026, in keeping with 247Sports. The trio of Wright, Kentucky switch Collin Chandler and Department creates a excessive ceiling for the Cougars.
7. Baylor
Breakdown: Scott Drew main the Bears to the nationwide championship in 2021 is the factor that pushed his profession from superb to hall-of-fame worthy. No person has ever taken any program from that far all the way down to that far up. It is movie-worthy. However, undeniably, final season was tough. Baylor performed 18 convention video games and misplaced 12 of them. Consequently, the Bears missed the NCAA Match for the primary time since 2018.
However the projection right here is that Baylor might be again in the most effective bracket come March, partially due to the enrollment of Dylan Mingo, a five-star combo guard from the Class of 2026 who initially dedicated to North Carolina however pulled again after the varsity fired Hubert Davis. Additionally; control Isaac Celiscar. The 6-6 ahead averaged 13.2 factors and 6.3 rebounds final season for Yale, a group coached by James Jones, the four-time Ivy League Coach of the Yr.
8. Cincinnati
Breakdown: Bringing an alum again to information a school basketball program is, like anything, a hit-or-miss proposition. Typically it is superior like Jon Scheyer at Duke. Different instances it is much less superior like Patrick Ewing at Georgetown. Jerrod Calhoun is the newest to take a shot. He graduated from Cincinnati in 2004 and rapidly launched into a training profession that is taken him in all places from Fairmont State to Youngstown State and finally to Utah State, the place Calhoun guided the Aggies to 55 victories over the previous two seasons.
Whether or not Calhoun can win 25-plus video games for the third straight 12 months is unclear. However the projection right here is that he’ll have the Bearcats within the NCAA Match — although which may in the end be decided by whether or not former Utah State standout MJ Collins will get eligible. Proper now, he isn’t.
9. West Virginia
Breakdown: The objective at West Virginia is to not win a secondary postseason match just like the School Basketball Crown Championship — however when you’re in it, you may as properly. And the Mountaineers successful it by recording victories over power-conference opponents like Stanford, Creighton and Oklahoma put a pleasant button on Ross Hodge’s first season at WVU.
Is a visit to the NCAA Match the subsequent step? It might be — particularly after Brenen Lorient and Javan Buchanan obtained favorable rulings in courtroom that can permit them to play for the Mountaineers this season. Each averaged greater than 11 factors per recreation final season — Lorient at West Virginia, Buchanan at Boise State.
10. Oklahoma State
Breakdown: Oklahoma State’s fast-paced type led to 6 completely different Cowboys averaging double-figures final season — however solely Kanye Clary is again. So Steve Lutz’s third group in Stillwater will look completely different from his final. There’s nonetheless expertise in this system, although, after the Cowboys enrolled a top-10 recruiting class highlighted by McDonald’s All-American Latrell Allmond, North Carolina switch Luka Bogavac and UCF switch Jordan Burks.
Brian Thornton, the Large 12’s Chief Basketball Officer, is on report stating that the objective for his league is to place 10 groups within the NCAA Match for the primary time ever this season — after which yearly. If that occurs, primarily based on the projection right here, the Cowboys may assist the league make historical past.
11. TCU
Breakdown: Jamie Dixon enters Yr 11 at his alma mater having made the NCAA Match in 4 of the earlier 5 seasons. He is proved to be a terrific rent for a program that used to wrestle in Convention USA in an earlier period below earlier coaches.
Dixon’s Horned Frogs are returning two of their high three scorers — particularly Xavier Edmonds and Micah Robinson — from a group that received 23 video games and beat Ohio State within the NCAA Match. That is among the many explanation why I personally have TCU 4 spots greater than this and projected to make the NCAA Match once more. However our panel of voters is barely decrease on the Horned Frogs. So if Dixon wants bulletin board materials, think about this the place to get it.
12. Arizona State
Breakdown: When Matt Norlander and I requested roughly 100 coaches to call the finest high-major rent of the 2026 cycle in our annual Candid Coaches collection, the main vote-getter was Randy Bennett at Arizona State. There have been different cheap choices — amongst them Jerrod Calhoun at Cincinnati or Michael Malone at North Carolina. Nevertheless it’s arduous to argue towards any vote for Bennett given what he did in 25 years at Saint Mary’s. Regardless of restricted assets in a mid-major convention, Bennett guided the Gaels to seven West Coast Convention regular-season championships and 12 NCAA Match appearances. It was a Corridor of Fame worthy run.
Paulius Murauskas, a 6-8 ahead from Lithuania, adopted Bennett from Saint Mary’s to Arizona State after main the Gaels in scoring final season. That is clearly nice. However cracking the highest 10 of this super-competitive league ought to nonetheless be robust in Bennett’s first season again teaching within the state by which he was born and raised.
13. UCF
Breakdown: Johnny Dawkins’ Knights exceeded expectations final season and made the NCAA Match, prompting the varsity to reward its 63 year-old coach with a three-year contract extension. His seat is instantly cooler. However returning to the NCAA Match this season, even an expanded model of it, will not be simple after UCF misplaced every of its high 4 scorers — most notably Riley Kugel and Themus Fulks. If it occurs, although, Dior Johnson will doubtless be a giant motive. He is again in Orlando, the place he performed his freshman 12 months, after spending final season at Tarleton State. Johnson averaged 24.0 factors in 20 contests final season for the WAC program run by former Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie. Solely AJ Dybantsa, the BYU star who was the No. 1 choose within the 2026 NBA Draft, averaged extra.
14. Kansas State
Breakdown: The Jerome Tang period at KSU began with a bang and ended with a settlement. It featured a visit to the 2023 Elite Eight and a 1-11 report within the Large 12 to start out his fourth season that compelled the varsity to take away the person who was named the Large 12 Coach of the Yr simply three years earlier. Now it is Casey Alexander’s program to run. And although some Kansas State followers have famous the previous Belmont coach’s lack of postseason success as an space of concern, maybe the main target needs to be on how he guided the Bruins to 3 league championships in seven seasons whereas successful two convention Coach of the Yr awards. Put one other approach, Alexander has a track-record of competently operating a school basketball program. Clearly, that alone does not assure success within the Large 12. But when KSU supporters are searching for one thing to consider in, that is the place they need to level their eyes whereas hoping a switch class highlighted by former Colorado State standout Brandon Rechsteiner by some means out-performs expectations.
15. Colorado
Breakdown: Headlines emerged final March detailing how Colorado deliberate to extend its monetary dedication to Tad Boyle’s program after the 63-year-old coach completed sixteenth and tied for eleventh in back-to-back years within the Large 12 — after which misplaced his main scorer, Isaiah Johnson, to the switch portal. It was a essential adjustment in an ever-changing sport. However the projection right here nonetheless is not optimistic.
Getting Barrington Hargress to return is a plus after the 6-1 guard averaged 14.1 factors and 4.5 assists final season. However, identical to Johnson, double-digit scorers Sebastian Rancik and Bangot Dak each transferred out of Colorado — to Florida State and Vanderbilt, respectively — leaving Boyle with a principally new-look roster that is not anticipated to compete for a visit to the NCAA Match.
16. Utah
Breakdown: With conventional recruiting ties not that necessary, hiring coaches straight off of NBA staffs has grow to be extra regular than it as soon as was. Alex Jensen is among the many newest examples. When Utah employed the previous Viewmont Excessive star who was Utah’s Mr. Basketball in 1994 earlier than changing into a standout for the Utes below Wealthy Majerus, Jensen had not labored on a school campus since 2011.
If the 50 year-old former Coach of the Yr in what’s now often known as the G League finally proves to be a profitable faculty coach, it is wanting prefer it will not occur rapidly. Jensen went 2-16 within the Large 12 final season in Yr 1 at his alma mater whereas dropping 13 of his ultimate 14 contests. The truth that you are studying these phrases this far down suggests Yr 2 is perhaps higher — however most likely not a lot better, if in any respect, with a principally remade-roster unlikely to compete as soon as the calendar flips to January.