Big 12 Opening Weekend: 14 Teams, Real Depth
The new-look Big 12 features 14 baseball programs, a legitimate Omaha contender in TCU, and more depth than the national conversation gives it credit for.
The Big 12 lost Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC. It gained Arizona, Arizona State, UCF, Houston, Cincinnati, BYU, and others from various conferences. The identity shifted. The geography expanded. And in 2026, the conference is finding out what it actually is — not what it used to be.
What it is: deeper than you think. TCU is a legitimate Omaha contender. Kansas has built something quietly special. Oklahoma State reloads every year. Arizona brings Pac-12 pedigree and desert heat. The Big 12 may not have the SEC’s top-end depth, but the middle of the conference is competitive and the bottom is not as far away as the rankings suggest.
Opening Series to Watch
The Horned Frogs are the Big 12 favorite. Pitching depth is elite, the lineup is balanced, and the Fort Worth faithful will be out in force. Kirk Saarloos has this program humming.
The Jayhawks are a legitimate dark horse for Omaha. Ritch Price has built something real in Lawrence and the roster is deep enough to compete in a loaded Big 12.
Josh Holliday has the Cowboys reloaded. Stillwater is a tough place to play and the pitching staff has arms that miss bats.
The Wildcats are in the dark horse conversation. Chip Hale has the program trending and the talent is there for a regional host.
The Sun Devils have pieces. Willie Bloomquist is building steadily in Tempe. A breakout season is possible if the pitching develops.
The Cougars are building in the Big 12 era. Todd Whitting has the program competitive but the conference is unforgiving.
Four Storylines for the Big 12
TCU Sets the Standard
The Horned Frogs are the preseason favorite and it is not particularly close. Kirk Saarloos has elite pitching, a deep lineup, and a program that knows what Omaha looks like. The Big 12 runs through Fort Worth until someone proves otherwise.
Kansas Is for Real
This is not a typo. The Jayhawks are ranked and they deserve it. Ritch Price has quietly built one of the most competitive programs in the conference and the 2026 roster has the depth to make a regional — or more.
The 14-Team Experiment
The Big 12 has 14 baseball programs now, a mix of traditional powers (TCU, Oklahoma State), rising programs (Kansas, Arizona), and rebuilding projects (Utah, Kansas State). The conference tournament will be chaotic and the regular season race is wide open.
Post-Realignment Identity
With Texas and Oklahoma gone to the SEC, the Big 12 is finding its identity. TCU has stepped into the flagship role. Arizona and Arizona State bring Pac-12 pedigree. The conference is different but it is not weaker — it is deeper.
The Big 12 is not the SEC. It doesn’t need to be. What it is: a 14-team conference with a genuine Omaha contender at the top, three or four programs capable of hosting regionals, and enough depth in the middle to make every weekend series competitive. TCU is the team to beat. Kansas is the team nobody wants to face. And the rest of the conference is better than you think.