Tre White's Return Shifts the Big 12 Power Balance

In my view, the return of Tre White to Kansas—as CBS Sports first reported—does more than just fill a gap in the rotation; it fundamentally alters the early-season outlook for the Big 12. After a period of instability marked by early departures to the transfer portal and the NBA Draft, Bill Self and his staff have successfully repositioned the Jayhawks for contention.

According to CBS Sports, White's return was made possible after he was among nearly 90 college athletes granted a preliminary injunction in Indiana to play a fifth year. Just two days after that ruling, White recommitted to Kansas. His presence is vital, as he served as the team's second-leading scorer last season.

White's eligibility, combined with the arrival of Tyran Stokes—the sport's top-rated incoming freshman—and the addition of heralded perimeter piece Taylen Kinney, has triggered a jump in the standings. CBS Sports moved Kansas up to No. 18 in Version 28 of their 2026-27 preseason Top 25 And 1 rankings. This ascent pushed North Carolina out of the rankings entirely, making the Tar Heels the defacto No. 27 team.

While CBS Sports notes that Kansas likely won't enter the season as the Big 12 favorite, they are now part of a five-school contingent from the conference in the Top 25 And 1. Joining the Jayhawks in the rankings are Arizona at No. 6, Iowa State at No. 11, Houston at No. 14, and BYU at No. 24.

Beyond the immediate impact on the court, the addition of Stokes puts Kansas in a unique position regarding the NBA Draft. Stokes, a 6-foot-8 multi-positional player, is currently projected by most to be the No. 1 pick in 2027. If that projection holds, he would become the third Jayhawk to go first overall, following Andrew Wiggins in 2014 and Danny Manning in 1985. This would also mean the Big 12 could produce the top pick for the second consecutive year, following BYU's AJ Dybantsa in 2026 and Oklahoma State's Cade Cunningham in 2021.