Big 12 chase to be a mix of old and new
Texas and Oklahoma are gone, but here comes “Prime Time.”
The Big 12 brings four former Pac-12 schools to bring its membership to 16 teams, and the new additions could be stealing the headlines in their first season in the conference.
The race for the Big 12 title is a mix of new and old. Oklahoma State and Kansas State are among the legacy favorites, but Utah and Arizona can come in with a bang. But all eyes will be focused on if Deion Sanders can make Colorado a legit contender in his second season in Boulder.
Arizona
2023 record: 10-3, 7-2 (Pac-12). Top players: QB Noah Fifita, WR Tetairoa McMillan, LB Jacob Manu.
After its best finish in the coaches poll since 1998, it looked like Arizona would be back to square one when coach Jedd Fisch bolted for Washington. But new coach Brent Brennan arrived from San Jose State and got off to a solid start by making sure the standouts – Fifita, McMillan and DB Tacario Davis – all stayed in Tucson, giving Wildcats fans hope that last year’s success wasn’t a oneyear wonder.
Arizona State
2023 record: 3-9, 2-7 (Pac-12). Top players: RB Cameron Skattebo, DL Prince Dorbah, DL C.J. Fite.
Despite a plethora of injuries, Kenny Dillingham made progress in getting Arizona State off the ground in his first season. Unfortunately, there’s still plenty of work to do. The offense will need consistent quarterback play to complement Skattebo.
Baylor
2023 record: 3-9, 2-7. Top players: OL Campbell Barrington, LB Matt Jones, DB Caden Jenkins.
Baylor had the worst scoring offense and defense last season, continuing a major drop off since it won the conference in 2021. Now the pressure is Dave Aranda to turn things around in Waco. The defense should see improvement, but the offense remains a mystery with Jake Spavital coming in as offensive coordinator.
Brigham Young
2023 record: 5-7, 2-7. Top players: RB LJ Martin, WR Chase Roberts, DL Tyler Batty.
Batty is one of the best defensive lineman in the conference, but he’ll need help around the line of scrimmage for a team that had trouble stopping the run. Things weren’t great offensively either and a quarterback needs to emerge to compliment Martin and Roberts.
Cincinnati
2023 record: 3-9, 1-8. Top players: RB Corey Kiner, OL Luke Kandra, DL Dontay Corleone.
hhhhhNo team had a tougher transition to the Big 12 like Cincinnati. As a result, Scott Satterfield went heavy into the transfer portal to revamp the roster. The Bearcats excelled at running the ball last season and Kiner has the potential to be one of the top rushers in the conference, but it won’t matter if the defense doesn’t turn it around.
Colorado
2023 record: 4-8, 1-8 (Pac-12). Top players: QB Shedeur Sanders, CB/WR Travis Hunter, DL B.J. Green.
No team will be more scrutinized than Colorado this season. After last season’s dismal end, can the Buffaloes prove they can live up to the hype? Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter are NFL talents, but the rest of the roster is unknown with so much turnover.
Houston
2023 record: 4-8, 2-7. Top players: QB Donovan Smith, OL Tank Jenkins, LB Jamal Morris.
Willie Fritz takes over at Houston and he has the tools to make Houston relevant again after a bumpy start to its move to the Big 12. The first season for Fritz could be a struggle with not much continuity around.
Iowa State
2023 record: 7-6, 6-3. Top players: WR Jayden Higgins, OL Jarrod Hufford, DB Jeremiah Cooper.
If there is a sleeper pick for the Big 12 title, it’s Iowa State. They have one of the most dynamic receiving duos in Higgins and Jaylin Noel catching passes from QB Rocco Becht, and if the offense takes leaps behind the stout defense, it’ll be tough to beat the Cyclones.
Kansas
2023 record: 9-4, 5-4. Top players: QB Jalon Daniels, RB Devin Neal, DB Cobee Bryant.
The hype for Kansas hasn’t been this high since its last appearance in the preseason poll in 2009. The offense should be one of the best in the Big 12 with Daniels returning from injury alongside Neal, who rushed for almost 1,300 yards.
hhhhhKansas State
2023 record: 9-4, 6-3. Top players: QB Avery Johnson, RB DJ Giddens, LB Austin Moore.
Chris Klieman has made the Wildcats a constant contender in his tenure, and this could be among his best teams. Johnson showed enough promise in limited action to justify high expectations and send last year’s starter, Will Howard, to the portal.
Oklahoma State
2023 record: 10-4, 7-2. Top players: RB Ollie Gordon, WR Brennan Presley, LB Nick Martin.
With Heisman Trophy contender Gordon leading a team that has most of its starters back, the Cowboys should be in the mix to push the best teams in the Big 12. Entering his seventh season, Alan Bowman is a seasoned quarterback now.
TCU
2023 record: 5-7, 3-6. Top players: WR Savion Williams, LB Namdi Obiazor, DB Bud Clark.
TCU followed up its national championship game appearance by missing out on a bowl game last season. The Horned Frogs will need to be more clutch after it was 0-4 in onescore games in 2023, and that will mostly hinge on whether the defense has improved.
Texas Tech
2023 record: 7-6, 5-4. Top players: RB Tahj Brooks, OL Caleb Rogers, LB Ben Roberts.
The enigma of the Big 12, it could be boom or bust for Texas Tech in 2024. The offense is explosive with Brooks running all over the field and has the ability to simply outscore opponents.
Central Florida
2023 record: 6-7, 3-6. Top players: QB KJ Jefferson, RB RJ Harvey, DL Lee Hunter.
Gus Malzahn got one of the most intriguing transfers in the Big 12 with Jefferson joining from Arkansas. The experienced signal caller should make the Knights competitive and give them a chance to climb up the conference standings.
Utah
2023 record: 8-5, 5-4 (Pac-12). Top players: QB Cam Rising, TE Brant Kuithe, DL Junior Tafuna.
Rising is finally back for his swan song in Salt Lake City. The quarterback led his squad to back-to-back Pac-12 titles before an injury in the Rose Bowl at the end of the 2022 season caused him to miss all of last year’s campaign.
West Virginia (9-4)
2023 record: 9-4, 6-3. Top players: QB Garrett Greene, OL Wyatt Milum, DB Aubrey Burks.
Neal Brown is no longer on the hotseat after a stellar 2023 season. Greene returns after a solid season and should help the Mountaineers become one of the better passing teams in the conference.
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