College Gameday crew pick who will win Big 12 Conference in 2026
Sep 5, 2026, 10:24 AM | Updated: Sep 6, 2026, 11:45 am
SALT LAKE CITY – ESPN College Gameday kicked off the 2026 season on Saturday morning from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in preparation for LSU vs. Clemson.
While the matchup was the center of attention, the Gameday crew also shared their picks for who will win the Power Four leagues this fall.
College Gameday picks who will win the Big 12 in 2026
Desmond Howard: BYU
Nick Saban: Texas Tech
Lainey Wilson: BYU
Pat McAfee: West Virginia
Kirk Herbstreit: Texas Tech pic.twitter.com/fRt1h4xCCx— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 5, 2026
Among those leagues discussed was, of course, the Big 12 Conference.
One of the fixtures on the College Gameday desk picked BYU to win the league this year. That was Desmond Howard.
“Everyone loves Texas Tech; give me some Bear Bachmeier and BYU. Let’s go Cougs,” Howard said.
“I think it’s kind of a two-team race in that league. But BYU couldn’t beat Texas Tech last year; I don’t think they’re going to beat them this year. I’m taking Texas Tech,” said Nick Saban.
Howard responded to Saban’s take: “Bringing up old stuff.” Which got a laugh on the set.
The thing about Saban’s take is that BYU and Texas Tech don’t meet in the regular season this year. If they do meet this year, it will be in the Big 12 Championship Game in Arlington.
Pat McAfee then rolled with his head coach, Rich Rodriguez, and alma mater, West Virginia, to win the league.
Country music star Lainey Wilson picks BYU to win the Big 12 for personal reasons
Then, country music star Lainey Wilson was the celebrity guest picker for the week. She picked BYU for personal reasons.
“Give me BYU because they’re the Cougars. And I’m a Cougar, and I married me a young man,” Wilson said.
Country music singer Lainey Wilson explained why she picked BYU to win the Big 12. pic.twitter.com/GpadmfFpTO
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 5, 2026
Then Kirk Herbstreit closed it out by rolling with Texas Tech.
“I’m going Texas Tech. Will Hammond. Remember Sorsby, all the noise about that? Will Hammond’s healthy; I like Texas Tech. They’re gonna have a big year.”
College Gameday picks who will win the Big 12 Conference in 2026
- Desmond Howard: BYU
- Nick Saban: Texas Tech
- Lainey Wilson: BYU
- Pat McAfee: West Virginia
- Kirk Herbstreit: Texas Tech
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSL and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.
Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.
