What does the Big 12 QB landscape look like without Brendan Sorsby?

Texas Tech was a heavy favorite in the Big 12 with Brendan Sorsby under center, and his departure — with hopes of entering the NFL Supplemental Draft — opens the window for other contenders ever so slightly.

The Red Raiders are still by far the most talented group in the conference, as betting sites have switched them from unequivocal favorites to just favorites. But, they’ll now be led by a quarterback who has not been a full-time starter at the college level, one who is coming off a torn ACL.

Ordered by BetMGM’s projected win totals — which were adjusted after the Sorsby news to project one fewer win — here’s a look at the QB situations around the conference:

Likely starting quarterbacks around the Big 12

Texas Tech (10.5 wins) — Will Hammond (redshirt sophomore)

After Hammond tore his ACL in late October, Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire has stated the QB is on track to be ready early in the season, at least by the time conference play starts.

Although he only has a handful of starts under his belt, two of his best games in 2025 came against two of the best defenses in the Big 12, both on the road: at Utah and Arizona State.

Utah (8.5) — Devon Dampier (senior)

Coming off a coaching change — albeit one where much of the staff stuck around — Dampier, a Valley native, is looking to carry momentum from a 458-yard, five-touchdown bowl performance into the new system.

That game against Nebraska (which Utah won, 44-22) came days after then-head coach Kyle Whittingham took the Michigan job and a few weeks after new coach Morgan Scalley was named his successor.

BYU (8.5) — Bear Bachmeier (sophomore)

Very few true freshman QBs had the kind of year that Bachmeier had, surpassing 3,000 passing yards with a better than 2-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio (15-7), adding 527 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground.

He’s expected to take a big step forward, especially with 2025 Big 12 rushing leader L.J. Martin back alongside him.

Kansas State (8.5) — Avery Johnson (senior)

Perhaps the Big 12 quarterback with the most raw talent, Johnson is yet to put it all together for a full season and at the right moments to win games.

New head coach Collin Klein, a former Wildcats QB himself (2008-12), could hold the keys to unlock Johnson coming from College Football Playoff team Texas A&M, where he was offensive coordinator.

Houston (7.5) — Conner Weigman (redshirt senior)

After three limited seasons at Texas A&M, Weigman was one of the best Big 12 quarterbacks in 2025 under head coach Willie Fritz. Expect more of the same in 2026 out of the former five-star high school prospect in his final college season.

Arizona (7.5) — Noah Fifita (redshirt senior)

Already the Wildcats’ all-time leader in passing touchdowns, Fifita will likely catch Nick Foles to be the new all-time leader in passing yards (823 to go) and total completions (148 away) in his final year in Tucson.

After throwing nearly five times as many touchdowns as interceptions in 2025 (29 to six), Fifita has a chance to be the league’s best quarterback if he can quickly get on the same page with a largely new group of receivers.

TCU (6.5) — Jaden Craig (redshirt senior)

One of the top quarterback transfers this offseason, Craig replaces Indiana-bound Josh Hoover after an impressive few seasons at Harvard that included 2,869 passing yards and 25 touchdowns with just seven interceptions in 2025.

He’s hoping his year in Fort Worth boosts his NFL Draft stock.

ASU (6.5) — Cutter Boley (redshirt sophomore)

Boley won SEC Offensive Freshman of the Year as a redshirt freshman at Kentucky in 2025, and he’s benefitting from quite the olive branch for development by playing for head coach Kenny Dillingham.

By all indications, he’s on track to be named the starter and will have top wide receiver transfers Reed Harris (No. 9 among portal WRs) and Omarion Miller (No. 11) at his disposal.

Baylor (6.5) — D.J. Lagway (junior)

One of the top prospects coming out of high school in 2024, Lagway was a starter from Day 1 at Florida. However, he’s come far from his ceiling due to inaccuracies and a high interception rate (his 14 in 2025 led the SEC).

Now playing where his father, Derek Lagway, rushed for over 700 yards as a running back (1997-2001), the Bears are hopeful the highly talented QB can help get them back on track after 16 wins over the last three years.

West Virginia (5.5) — Scotty Fox Jr. (sophomore)

The incumbent after moving into the starting role for the final five games, Fox brings some of the improvisational, dynamic playmaking that can work so well in a Rich Rodriguez offense. It came with freshman mistakes, however, such as the game-sealing interception he threw against ASU.

If Fox doesn’t make the strides that Rodriguez needs to see, the Mountaineers have Michael Hawkins Jr., Oklahoma’s backup QB the past two seasons, to fall back on.

Oklahoma State (5.5) — Drew Mestemaker (redshirt sophomore)

The Cowboys may see the biggest turnaround of any Big 12 team, as they followed up a one-win season by adding the architect of one of the most high-powered offenses at North Texas with head coach Eric Morris, who brought the quarterback who led the nation in passing yards (4,379) along with him.

The 6-foot-4 Mestemaker had at least three total touchdowns nine of 14 games, and he threw for at least 290 yards in seven.

UCF (5.5) — Alonza Barnett III (redshirt senior)

UCF was the only Big 12 team to add a CFP quarterback in the portal, as the Knights nabbed the former James Madison star. Although JMU trailed Oregon by 28 at the half with the game all but decided, Barnett managed to tally 273 yards and two touchdowns (no interceptions), with 45 rushing yards and a rushing score as well.

Barnett had 38 total touchdowns after throwing for 2,806 yards (eight interceptions) and rushing for 589 more.

Kansas (5.5) — Cole Ballard (redshirt junior)

This is the closest thing to a truly open competition in the conference, as the Jayhawks look to replace six-year mainstay Jalon Daniels.

Ballard has seen limited action (64 attempts) over 15 games the past three seasons, while Isaiah Marshall had 15 attempts across nine games in 2025. Besides the two returning talents, Kansas added Rice transfer Chase Jenkins (1,556 total yards with 32 more attempts on the ground than through the air in 2025).

Iowa State (5.5) — Jaylen Raynor (senior)

The Cyclones were bit hard by the coaching cycle, as former head coach Matt Campbell took QB Rocco Becht and many other players with him to Penn State.

Raynor comes in as a logical replacement, coming off three seasons as Arkansas State’s starting QB. He led the Sun Belt in passing yards in 2025 (3,361), but he also led the league in interceptions (11). He brings a dynamic rushing aspect with 423 yards and seven touchdowns last season.

Cincinnati (5.5) — JC French IV (redshirt senior)

French is in line to be the Bearcats’ answer to Sorsby’s transfer departure, having played the last two seasons as Georgia Southern’s starter. He’s completed 64.7% of his nearly 800 pass attempts over the past two seasons with 37 touchdowns and 19 interceptions.

Colorado (4.5) — Julian Lewis (redshirt freshman)

Lewis preserved his redshirt by appearing in only four games. He was the only Buffaloes QB who started a game in 2025 that didn’t throw an interception (four touchdowns across 94 attempts).

Former Utah starting quarterback Isaac Wilson joined Colorado this offseason to give Lewis added competition.

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