New Big 12 Coaches: Who Faces the Most Pressure in 2026?

Along with replacing successful, winning head coaches, all four of the new coaches are taking over programs that have come to expect competing for a Big 12 title year in and year out. Outside of the normal expectations for each school, which new Big 12 head coach faces the most pressure heading into the 2026 season?

Morgan Scalley, Utah

Named as the Utes’ “coach-in-waiting” prior to the 2024 season, Scalley was the Utah defensive coordinator for the past nine seasons and now steps in for the only coach fans have known for almost a generation. In 22 seasons, Whittingham finished with 10 or more wins eight different times, including a 10-3 finish in 2025, and had a career .668 winning percentage. Along with a somewhat messy separation between Utah and Whittingham that lead to him landing in Ann Arbor, Mich. as the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines, Scalley will be expected to continue to build on Whittingham’s success and will be picked by many to finish near the top of the Big 12 standings. Scalley’s promotion earned him a five-year deal worth about $5 million per year.

Collin Klein, Kansas State

Klein returns to his alma mater where he not only starred on the field, but also excelled as an offensive coordinator. The 2012 Heisman Trophy finalist was Klieman’s offensive coordinator when the Wildcats won their third-ever Big 12 Championship in 2022.

Although many consider Klein an extension of legendary coach Bill Snyder and is keenly aware of the championship expectations at Kansas State, following Kleiman is no small task. In seven years at the helm, Kleiman had a .614 winning percentage and won 57 percent of his conference games. The 36-year-old is the second youngest head coach in the Big 12 and signed a five-year contract worth around $21.5 million.

Jimmy Rogers, Iowa State

Campbell put Cyclones’ football on the map during his 10-year tenure, but Rogers should be afforded some leash after not being named the head coach until December of last year and 19 players following Campbell to Penn State.

Although the 38-year-old’s only FBS head coaching experience came last season at Washington State, where the Cougars finished 7-6, Rogers won the 2023 FCS National Championship in his first season as head coach at South Dakota State. Knowing the struggles ahead, Iowa State signed Rogers to a six-year deal that will pay him roughly $3 million per year.

Eric Morris, Oklahoma State

After two successful head-coaching stints at Incarnate Word and North Texas, Morris will get his first shot at a Power Four job for a team that has fallen hard times. Despite playing in the 2023 Big 12 Championship game the Cowboys have won just four games total in the last two seasons and have finished winless in the conference in back-to-back seasons. Despite an overall winning percentage of .654 during his 21-year span as the head coach of the Cowboys, Mike Gundy was let go after a 1-2 start to the 2025 season. Morris is coming off his best season as a head coach after leading the Mean Green to an 11-2 record and an American Conference Championship and will have some help in turning around the OSU football program with 11 of his former players transferring to Stillwater, Okla., including quarterback Drew Mestemaker, running back Caleb Hawkins and wide receiver Wyatt Young.

Although all four new coaches have some mighty shoes to fill, the 2026 season will be another transitional season for the Big 12 Conference.