The 2026 NFL season is rapidly approaching, with the first preseason games kicking off this weekend.
The Big 12 continues to produce more and more NFL-level talent each year. It was especially noticeable this past draft when the Big 12 had three players drafted in the top 10. David Bailey from Texas Tech was selected No. 2 overall to the New York Jets, Jordyn Tyson from Arizona State was selected No. 8 overall to the New Orleans Saints, and Spencer Fano from Utah was selected No. 9 overall to the Cleveland Browns. Bailey and Tyson should compete for rookie of the year honors this season, while Fano will push to be a starter for a Browns team trying to find their way.
Let’s take a look at five former Big 12 players who have some big headlines surrounding them heading into the 2026-2027 NFL season.
Patrick Mahomes
Mahomes is already one of the most decorated quarterbacks in NFL history, and he’s only 30 years old. The former Red Raider is a 3x Super Bowl Champion and Super Bowl MVP. Mahomes is a 2x NFL MVP and First Team All-Pro as well as a 6x Pro Bowler. If all goes according to plan, Mahomes isn’t even halfway through his NFL career yet. However, last season an injury finally did something no team in the AFC West could do, and that is knock Mahomes and the Chiefs off the top of the division for the first time since he’s been in the league. The Chiefs did not win a single game after Mahomes went down with an injury in mid-December. Now the entire NFL world is looking to see how Mahomes and the Chiefs bounce back. Mahomes is already the favorite to be the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year but, with his talent, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he’s in the running for NFL MVP at some point this season as well.
Travis Hunter
Hunter had a rough rookie season that came to an abrupt end in late October after suffering a non-contact LCL tear in his right knee. There was a lot of hype surrounding Hunter heading into last season. He had just come off a collegiate season in which he won the Heisman Trophy and was a complete two-way player. Expectations were high, and while they still may be high for the Jaguars, coming off an injury will take some of that pressure off. Hunter could challenge Mahomes for Comeback Player of the Year if he comes out and has the type of season everyone was hoping to see in his rookie season. If he can stay healthy, he can be a special player in the NFL.
Puka Nacua
Nacua has been one of the biggest surprises in the NFL over the past few seasons. He went from being a fifth-round selection to being one of the top receivers in the NFL. Being in one of the most explosive offenses in the league with Sean McVay as his head coach and MVP Matthew Stafford as his quarterback has certainly helped Nacua’s growth. The expectations are Super Bowl or bust for the Rams, and Nacua (and his health) will have all eyes on him heading into this season. Nacua also had some off-field issues this past offseason, and there have been rumors that he could face a possible suspension at some point. That’s not the kind of noise you want to deal with, but unfortunately sometimes that is part of the game. On the field, Nacua can be one of the top receivers in the league if healthy.
Cam Skattebo
Skattebo, like Mahomes and Hunter, is coming off a major injury. During a Week 8 game against the Eagles, Skattebo suffered a dislocated right ankle, fibula fracture, and deltoid ligament rupture. Not good! However, before the injury, Skattebo looked like he could be a solid starting running back for the Giants. Adding John Harbaugh as the head coach should only help expedite the rebuilding process that started last year in New York. There is a young core on this team that should have Giants fans excited heading into this season, and Skattebo is a big piece of that puzzle.
Travis Kelce
Yes, this is a wildcard. Kelce played at Cincinnati when the Bearcats were a part of the Big East Conference. However, Cincinnati is fully immersed in the Big 12 now, so we will let this one slide. Kelce just so happens to be coming off an offseason in which he married one of the biggest superstars in the world, Taylor Swift. If you haven’t heard by now, that’s fine. We don’t need to dive into the details. The bigger story here is this could be Kelce’s final season in the NFL. Kelce has a first-ballot Hall of Fame resume and is looking to add to his legacy at this point. He is one of the greatest tight ends of all-time and you can make an argument for being the best of all-time looking at his postseason resume. If the Chiefs get back to the playoffs, Kelce has a chance to try and break even more records. Right now he has all of the tight end records for touchdowns, yards, and receptions. Kelce is No.2 and only two touchdowns behind Jerry Rice on the all-time playoff touchdown list. Kelce is only 167 yards behind Rice on the all-time playoff receiving yards. It seems like Kelce could have all of the postseason receiving records if the Chiefs can play two or three playoff games this season. All eyes will be on Kelce to see how he wraps up his legendary NFL career.
The Big 12 is well represented all across the NFL, but these five guys will have the full attention of national media going into the 2026-2027 NFL season.
