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1. Willie Fritz, Houston

It didn’t take long for Willie Fritz to lead Houston to a 10-win season.

Having that level of success at a program like Houston is distinguishable.

Imagine what he would do at a school with more resources.

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2. Kalani Sitake, BYU

A proven culture-builder with a strong foundation in place.

BYU football is a growing powerhouse in the Big 12.

Consistent success is hard to come by. Kalani Sitake knows how to get the job done.

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3. Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State

The Sun Devils are flying under the radar this offseason.

There aren’t any real expectations and the buzz is minimal.

But don’t be surprised if ASU exceeds expectations this year.

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4. Sonny Dykes, TCU

The run to the National Championship Game in 2022 was historic.

But with an up-and-down career, Sonny Dykes will be judged by what happens next.

TCU has the resources to compete. The onus is on Dykes to deliver.

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5. Joey McGuire, Texas Tech

The blowout defeat to Oregon in the Playoff is a stain on Joey McGuire’s resume.

Combined with the Brendan Sorsby disaster, it’s been an ugly period for Texas Tech.

With so much money to compete, the results should be better.

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6. Rich Rodriguez, West Virginia

A washed-up has-been. That’s what some would say about Rich Rod.

The truth is he’s one of the best coaches in college football.

He will get it rolling again in West Virginia.

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7. Brent Brennan, Arizona

This season could change the trajectory of Brent Brennan’s career.

Coming off nine wins in 2025, the expectations are raised. Both coordinators return along with a senior quarterback.

The stars may be aligning for Arizona.

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8. Scott Satterfield, Cincinnati

Momentum is building in Cincinnati.

The Bearcats are becoming competitive in league games after stumbling in their first few seasons in the Big 12.

It takes time to build a consistent foundation. With that now in place, the expectations to continually improve are real.

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9. Dave Aranda, Baylor

Willing to go for it on fourth down with regularity, Dave Aranda is unique.

But Baylor has been underperforming lately. The expectations for this year are muted.

The Bears might be in for another season of mediocrity.

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10. Lance Leipold, Kansas

It’s not easy to win at a place like Kansas.

Lance Leipold makes the most out of the resources he has available.

With an artificially low bar, the primary challenge is staying consistent.

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11. Scott Frost, UCF

With no benefit of the doubt, Scott Frost enters a critical year.

He led UCF to five wins in 2025. If he can deliver a bowl appearance this season, his job will be secure.

Frost’s past coaching record doesn’t exactly inspire confidence, though.

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12. Deion Sanders, Colorado

Colorado is trending in the wrong direction.

The hype around the program has faded.  Once the darlings of the college football world, reality has set in.

All it takes is one season to regain the momentum.

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13. Jimmy Rogers, Iowa State

After spending one season at Washington State, Jimmy Rogers took the opportunity that Iowa State provided.

He led the Cougars to a respectable 6-6 mark in his first year as an FBS coach.

Lauded for his results at the FCS level, the Cyclones might’ve made a home run hire.

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14. Eric Morris, Oklahoma State

The former coach of North Texas takes over for Oklahoma State. He spent three years in Denton, accumulating a career coaching record of 22-16.

He enters a big stage in Stillwater.

Keep an eye on the Pokes. The potential for a surprising season is real.

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15. Morgan Scalley, Utah

First year coaches are wildcards.

Utah is talented enough to compete in the Big 12. Yet, regime changes are never easy.

How Morgan Scalley navigates Year One will be critical.

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16. Collin Klein, Kansas State

Entering his first year as a head coach, the expectations outside of Manhattan are low.

Without any experience to judge, it’s hard to handicap Collin Klein and Kansas State’s season.

Perhaps the Wildcats overperform under his leadership.