The race for the 2026 Biletnikoff Award is officially underway, and the Big 12 is once again loaded with pass-catching talent.
The TQC Foundation released its preseason watch list for the award, which annually recognizes the most outstanding receiver in college football, regardless of position. The Big 12 landed representatives from eight different programs, highlighting the offensive firepower spread across the conference entering the 2026 season.
Leading the way is Texas Tech tight end Terrance Carter Jr., who is one of the few tight ends included on the watch list. Carter has emerged as one of the Red Raiders’ most dangerous offensive weapons and will be a focal point of Texas Tech’s passing attack this fall.
TCU wide receiver Jordan Dwyer also earned recognition, giving the Horned Frogs a representative among the nation’s top pass catchers. At Kansas, Nik McMillan was named to the list after establishing himself as one of the Jayhawks’ most reliable receiving threats.
The reigning Big 12 champion Arizona State Sun Devils landed Omarion Miller on the watch list. Miller has flashed elite playmaking ability throughout his career and enters the season with high expectations as one of the conference’s premier wide receivers.
Colorado received multiple selections, with both Kam Perry and Danny Scudero making the preseason list. The Buffaloes’ inclusion of two receivers underscores the talent in Boulder and the expectation that Colorado’s passing game could once again be among the conference’s most explosive.
Houston also boasts two candidates in Amare Thomas and Trent Walker, giving the Cougars a pair of playmakers capable of producing big numbers in 2026. Meanwhile, Wyatt Young represents Oklahoma State and has a chance to become the latest standout receiver in the Cowboys’ long tradition of productive pass catchers.
While only eight of the conference’s 16 programs had players named to the initial watch list, that number could grow as the season progresses. The Biletnikoff Award’s selection process allows players to be added throughout the year based on their on-field performance.
Among the Big 12 schools not represented on the preseason list are Baylor, BYU, Cincinnati, Iowa State, Kansas State, UCF, Utah, West Virginia and Arizona. However, preseason watch lists often serve as just a starting point, and breakout stars frequently emerge during the season.
As the 2026 campaign approaches, the Big 12’s collection of proven producers and rising stars should once again make the conference one of the nation’s most entertaining leagues offensively. If recent history is any indication, at least a few of these names will be firmly in the national spotlight by season’s end.
