There are few conferences where it’s as easy to climb up and fall in the standings as the Big 12. Because of that, there has also been a consistent push to try to quickly flip rosters and make that jump to the top of the conference in one season.
So, it’s worth taking some time and looking at the five most interesting transfers coming to the Big 12 this season. Importantly, these aren’t the five best transfers, but the five most interesting.
A couple of ground rules. Only one player per Big 12 team, and because only five players are being highlighted, not every Big 12 team is going to be represented. On top of that, the effort isn’t to strictly include quarterbacks, though it’s very possible to become focused on them.
A Texas native, DJ Lagway went to Florida as a five-star recruit, but amid injuries and underperformance, it never quite worked out there. In 24 games, he completed 62 percent of his passes for 4,179 yards, 28 touchdowns and 23 interceptions. Now, he’s set to be the starter at Baylor.
This comes at a time when Baylor head coach Dave Aranda is on the hot seat. However, if Baylor can unlock something with Lagway, then the Bears might do more than save Aranda’s job. They could have a quarterback good enough to win the Big 12.
It’s a new era at Oklahoma State, and head coach Eric Morris brought in 56 new transfers, including almost his entire North Texas offense. That includes star quarterback Drew Mestemaker, but everyone knows how good he is. What’s more interesting is how running back Caleb Hawkins fits in.
A First Team All-American Conference selection in 2025, Hawkins rushed for 1,434 yards and 25 touchdowns a year ago. He also had 370 receiving yards for four touchdowns. If he can do that at a higher level in the Big 12 against more talented defenses, then he’ll help balance the Cowboys and make their offense deadly.
Texas Tech has been on a spending spree over the last few seasons. That has helped it to use the transfer portal to build one of the best teams in the country, not just the Big 12. Importantly, it has done that on the line of scrimmage, with players like David Bailey, Lee Hunter and Skyler Gill-Howard transferring in before going to the NFL.
This year, the Red Raiders need to replace those defensive linemen. A major name they’re turning to there is Mateen Ibirogba. Previously at Georgetown and then Wake Forest, he had 3.5 tackles for a loss last season, and now he wants to make his mark in the Big 12.
UCF, to put it lightly, had issues at quarterback in 2025. In the end, four different quarterbacks saw massive playing time, and none of them played particularly well. So, Scott Frost looked to the transfer portal for Alonza Barnett III.
Barnett is a year removed from taking James Madison to the College Football Playoff. Now, he wants to be part of the rebuild at UCF. If he provides consistency and leadership, then the Knights should go bowling again. He can bridge to Rocco Marriott, the highest-ranked QB recruit in program history.
Now on his third school in as many years, Wendell Gregory left one Big 12 school for another. That’s after he was phenomenal for Oklahoma State a season ago, with 12.0 tackles for a loss and 4.0 sacks.
The Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year has plenty of proof he can compete in this conference already. With another year of development, there’s a chance that Kansas State walks away with one of the best pass-rushers in the entire conference.
