If the 2026 NFL and NBA Draft cycles proved anything, it’s this: the Big 12 isn’t just competing nationally, it’s dominating the Top 10, and if this was the SEC, you know ESPN would be crowing about it.
Looking at the combined top 10 picks across both drafts, the Big 12 leads all conferences with seven selections — three in the NFL Draft and four in the NBA Draft. That total edges out the Big Ten (6), while the ACC (4) and SEC (2) trail well behind.
And when you attach actual names to those numbers, the story only becomes more impressive.
The Names Behind the Big 12’s Dominance
The Big 12’s haul includes high-end, recognizable stars across both sports.
NBA Draft (4 Big 12 players in top 10)
- AJ Dybantsa (BYU) – No. 1 overall
- Darryn Peterson (Kansas) – No. 2
- Kingston Flemings (Houston) – No. 8
- Brayden Burries (Arizona) – No. 10
Landing the No. 1 and No. 2 overall picks in the NBA Draft alone would be enough to headline this story. Doing it while adding two more lottery talents underscores just how loaded the league remains on the hardwood.
NFL Draft (3 Big 12 players in top 10)
- David Bailey (Texas Tech) – No. 2
- Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State) – No. 8
- Spencer Fano (Utah) – No. 9
The Big 12’s Balance On Display
And here’s the other part of this: The Big 12 was represented by seven of their 16 programs having Top 10 picks between either the NBA or NFL Draft. The other leagues? Not even close.
Let’s look at the Big 10, where three of their four Top 10 NFL Draft picks were all from Ohio State in Carnell Tate, Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles. The No. 1 overall pick, Fernando Mendoza, was also a Big Ten guy, from Indiana. Meantime, the SEC only had one football player in the Top 10 with LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane.
In hoops, the NBA had two players from the Big Ten in the Top 10 with Illinois’ Keaton Wagler and Michigan’s Morez Johnson Jr.. Meantime, the SEC had one Top 10 pick with Darius Acuff Jr. from Arkansas.
The Big 12 is doing just fine, despite what the national media narrative might be.
