Big 12 Recruiting Report: Early Signing Period Winners and Losers

The early signing period for the 2026 class, has provided a dynamic conclusion to this recruiting cycle. Based on the final 247Sports Composite team rankings, some Big 12 programs are celebrating a top-tier haul, while others are left re-evaluating their strategies after critical losses.

Winners: Texas Tech, BYU, and WVU
Texas Tech secured the top-ranked class in the Big 12, a significant victory for the program. The Red Raiders' success was anchored by in-state talent, including five-star offensive tackle Felix Ojo, rated as the No. 6 overall prospect nationally by 247Sports. This elite class marks the first time Texas Tech has led the conference in recruiting rankings.
BYU also emerged as a clear winner, finishing second in the Big 12 team rankings. A major highlight for the Cougars was landing four-star quarterback Ryder Lyons, a highly sought-after prospect who chose BYU over several national powerhouses.
West Virginia is also a winner, having assembled its highest-rated recruiting class in the 247Sports era and its best since joining the Big 12. The Mountaineers made a late push to flip key four-star prospects, including safety Matt Sieg and running back Amari Latimer, significantly boosting their class ranking to a top 25 national level.
Losers: Colorado Buffaloes
Colorado faced significant challenges during the early signing period, finishing last in the Big 12 recruiting rankings. The Buffaloes' class was notably small and lacked top-tier talent compared to other conference members, continuing their reliance on the transfer portal over high school recruiting. This approach has left their 2026 high school class in a difficult position within the conference.
The Big Picture
The early signing period saw intense competition for talent in the Big 12. While Baylor and Oklahoma State also saw a number of quality prospects sign, Texas Tech, BYU, and WVU's strong performance, as reflected in their top rankings, has positioned them for potential success in the coming seasons.

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