2026 Big 12 Fall Camp Report: What We Know Right Now
Kevin looks at the camp reports for the Big 12.
Fall camp is underway across the Big 12, and we’re finally starting to get some real answers after an offseason full of depth-chart projections, breakout picks, and speculation.
This series is going conference by conference, one per day, breaking down what we know right now from fall camp. We’ll hit every team in the Power Four and focus on the information that actually matters for College Fantasy Football, Devy, and dynasty managers.
The goal isn’t to react to every positive quote or camp highlight. August is full of hype. Instead, we’re looking for things that can actually change player values: quarterback battles, first-team reps, running back rotations, emerging target leaders, freshmen pushing for real roles, injuries, and players who are consistently being mentioned by coaches and beat reporters.
For each team, I’ll keep it tight and focus on the biggest storylines coming out of camp so far. Some situations are already starting to become clear. Others are probably going to take another scrimmage or two before we know what we’re dealing with.
Today, we move to the Big 12.
Let’s get into it.
BIG 12
Arizona
Arizona enters the Big 12 portion of this series with one of the most stable quarterback situations in the conference because Noah Fifita is still the clear centerpiece of the offense. Seth Doege has been extremely complimentary of Fifita’s overall command, trust, and understanding of the system, and that familiarity is allowing Arizona to move faster through camp than it did a year ago. The offense is already showing more motion, more personnel variation, and more wrinkles than it did last season, which is a good sign for a veteran quarterback entering another year in the same system.
Fifita has also looked sharp in practice. One of his recent sessions was described as one of his best of camp, with his accuracy standing out throughout the day. He connected repeatedly with Tre Spivey and Gio Richardson, while also continuing to show the ability to create under pressure. That is exactly what you want to see from a quarterback who already has the job locked down and is now working on taking the offense to another level.
The backfield is much more crowded. Ismail Mahdi is back in the mix, but Arizona also has Kedrick Reescano, Quincy Craig, Antwan Roberts, and Wesley Yarbrough competing for touches. It has been a different back flashing from practice to practice, which tells me this could be a rotation rather than a one-man backfield. Reescano and Craig should still have meaningful roles, while Yarbrough has quietly put together a strong camp. Mahdi’s return obviously adds another layer, but we need to see how quickly he is fully reintegrated before assuming he takes over the room.
Receiver is probably the deepest position on the offense. Tre Spivey remains one of the key names, and the staff believes he is in a better position to increase his production this season if he can consistently create separation. Isaiah Mizell has been one of the bigger camp risers and has repeatedly made plays downfield, while Gio Richardson has looked like a reliable outlet for Fifita. Rodney Gallagher is also firmly in the rotation. This is a deep group, which is good for Arizona but could make weekly fantasy target shares a little harder to project.
Freshman Caleb Smith is another name worth monitoring. He has already been getting work as a punt returner and has made several impressive catches in camp, including one of the best plays of the early practices on a deep ball in traffic. He is not likely to jump the veterans immediately, but the staff clearly wants to find ways to get him involved, and the new eligibility rules make it easier for Arizona to use him right away.
For fantasy, Fifita is the clear centerpiece, Spivey is the established receiver I am watching closest, Mizell is the camp riser, and the backfield is the biggest question. Arizona has enough depth at both running back and receiver to make this offense dangerous, but that same depth could spread touches around. Fifita remains the safest bet because everything still runs through him, and the added schematic wrinkles give him a chance to build on what he did last season.
Arizona State
Arizona State has one of the more interesting quarterback battles in the Big 12 with Cutter Boley and Mikey Keene splitting first-team work. Both have been rotating through the top two units, and Kenny Dillingham has not rushed to name a starter. Boley has been generating some positive practice buzz, while Keene brings more experience. Freshman Jake Fette is also showing why he was such a highly rated recruit, but he still looks like the developmental option in this race rather than the immediate favorite.
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