​A great deal can shift in a ranking within a single week, let alone across an entire season. The latest evidence comes from a recent Big 12 coaches ranking for the 2026 season released by USA TODAY Sports. For the second consecutive year, an Arizona coach has climbed dramatically, underscoring how quickly fortunes can change in college football.
Arizona’s Brent Brennan jumped from No. 15 in 2025 to No. 6 in 2026, buoyed by a 9-4 campaign last year. This climb follows Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham, who ascended from No. 14 in 2024 to No. 1 in 2025, illustrating the rapid ascent possible when programs hit the right stride. USA TODAY Sports’ Jordan Mendoza commented on Brennan’s resurgence, noting that after a disappointing first season in Tucson, he orchestrated a nine-win year highlighted by a Territorial Cup win over Arizona State. Brennan reportedly made the necessary adjustments to help his key players excel, earning favor back from Wildcat Nation. Mendoza added that if Brennan can sustain consistency, he could remain firmly planted in the upper echelon, a place Arizona hadn’t visited with back-to-back winning seasons since 2014-15.
Dillingham’s standing also shifted, dropping two spots to No. 3 in 2026 after a meteoric rise to No. 1 in 2025. Mendoza observed that it took just two seasons for Dillingham to catapult his alma mater into the national spotlight, with a playoff berth and a Big 12 title in 2024. Although injuries derailed the Sun Devils’ title defense last season, Dillingham remains a formidable offensive mind capable of turning newcomers into immediate contributors. Mendoza highlighted his youth—still just 36—and his obvious passion for Arizona State as.Key to his continued trajectory is the promise of years ahead to keep the Sun Devils as a contender.
Among the Big 12 coaches named by USA TODAY Sports as the best in the conference for 2026, Kalani Sitake of BYU was listed as the top coach, a notable distinction given that he has never steered the Cougars to the College Football Playoff. Joey McGuire of Texas Tech was ranked second, followed by Kenny Dillingham at No. 3 and Sonny Dykes of TCU at No. 4. Houston’s Willie Fritz rounded out the Top 5. The rest of the ranking included Brent Brennan of Arizona, Deion Sanders of Colorado, Scott Satterfield of Cincinnati, Dave Aranda of Baylor, Rich Rodriguez of West Virginia, Lance Leipold of Kansas, Eric Morris of Oklahoma State, Scott Frost of UCF, Jimmy Rogers of Iowa State, Morgan Scalley of Utah, and Collin Klein of Kansas State.
Here is the full list of the coaches ranked by USA TODAY Sports entering the 2026 season: Kalani Sitake (BYU), Joey McGuire (Texas Tech), Kenny Dillingham (Arizona State), Sonny Dykes (TCU), Willie Fritz (Houston), Brent Brennan (Arizona), Deion Sanders (Colorado), Scott Satterfield (Cincinnati), Dave Aranda (Baylor), Rich Rodriguez (West Virginia), Lance Leipold (Kansas), Eric Morris (Oklahoma State), Scott Frost (UCF), Jimmy Rogers (Iowa State), Morgan Scalley (Utah), Collin Klein (Kansas), with the rankings reflecting expectations and the current state of the programs as they head into the 2026 season.
In related notes, there has been continued coverage of the season’s prospects across the Big 12. Analysts point to Texas Tech with strong odds to contend, along with BYU, Utah, and Arizona as teams to watch in the near future. The season’s narrative is driven not only by the coaches’ reputations but also by the ability of programs to translate talent into sustained success, and this ranking underscores how quickly perceptions can shift when a team experiences a turning point.
Former professional and Arizona football standout Rob Gronkowski was seen at a recent event walking the Wildcat Walk with head coach Brent Brennan prior to a game against Oklahoma, an image that has been used to bolster SEO and fan interest around Brennan’s program. As the 2026 season approaches, all eyes will be on whether Brennan and other reshuffled coaches can translate early momentum into lasting improvement for their programs.