Team Superlatives

Conference Champion: Texas Tech

Money talks. Texas Tech stepped up to the plate in the NIL game and has become a national contender as a result.

The Red Raiders have the No. 2 transfer class in the country, per 247Sports, with 13 four-star transfers added to the roster.

Combined with five four-star freshmen in its recruiting class, TTU should have the depth to win the league this year. Its road games at Utah, Arizona State, and Kansas State are critical in the Conference race.

If the Red Raiders go 2-1 or better during that stretch, they could find themselves in the Big 12 Championship Game with a shot at the Playoff.

All Eyes On: Arizona State

Expectations are high in Tempe after the Sun Devils made the Playoff last year.

Arizona State enters the season as the highest-ranked team in the Big 12, coming in at No. 11 in the AP Preseason Poll.

But the heightened attention puts a target on ASU’s back. No longer slept on, the rest of the league will have them circled on the schedule.

And with the departure of star running back Cam Skattebo to the NFL, it remains to be seen how ASU replaces his production.

Clear Contender: Iowa State

Matt Campbell is one of the top coaches in the country, and Iowa State has multiple contributors returning.

The Cyclones have one of the top offensive lines in the Big 12. They return their starting quarterback and their two leading running backs from a team that won a program-record 11 games.

Slotting in at a disrespectful No. 22 in the Preseason AP Poll, ISU is arguably a Top 10 team.

The Week Zero matchup against Kansas State is a golden opportunity to shift the national narrative.

Don’t Sleep On: Baylor

There is not enough noise surrounding Baylor heading into the season. Left out of the AP Top 25 Preseason Poll, the Bears have the potential to win the Big 12.

Not enough people are talking about star quarterback Sawyer Robertson. Or the fact that Baylor returns key starters on both sides of the ball.

BU went 8-5 last season in Robertson’s first full year as a starter.

Overlook Baylor at your own risk.

Dark horse: BYU

The national media seems to have forgotten about BYU. The loss of Jake Retzlaff has changed the outside expectations of the season.

But Kalani Sitake is cooking. Retzlaff was an important piece, yet one player does not define the program.

The Cougars have the No. 6 recruiting class in the Big 12, per 247Sports, and return key players along the offensive line.

If BYU gets its quarterback situation figured out early, it could be a contender in the Big 12.

Under the Radar Team: Colorado

For the first time in a few years, nobody is talking about Colorado. But that doesn’t mean the Buffs will fall off in 2025.

Deion Sanders has built a solid foundation in Boulder premised upon strong recruiting. CU has the No. 19 transfer class in the nation, per 247Sports, and the No. 4 recruiting class in the Big 12.

That should translate to a better-than-expected season. Liberty quarterback transfer Kaidon Salter and true freshman quarterback Julian Lewis are battling for the starting role.

The sooner CU finds its starter, the better.

Team Preview Capsules

Arizona Wildcats

Brent Brennan hit the reset button over the offseason.

New offensive and defensive coordinators should have the Wildcats looking like a different team.

And while improvement is expected, it’s unclear just how much better Arizona will be.

Noah Fifita is back for another year and tasked with running Seth Doege‘s scheme. If Fifita can execute it properly, the Cats might win enough games to become bowl eligible.

Arizona State Sun Devils

Sam Leavitt might be the star of the team, but Arizona State’s defense is the key.

Defensive coordinator Brian Ward is as talented as they come and should have the ASU defense near the top of the Big 12.

The offense figures to lean more towards the pass this year, with star receiver Jordyn Tyson set to fill the void that Cam Skattebo left.

The hype around the team is real. It’s up to the roster to meet expectations.

Baylor Bears

Expectations in Waco are high.

Baylor returns several key contributors on both sides of the ball at nearly every position group.

Quarterback Sawyer Robertson epitomizes the modern game. Quick enough to avoid pressure and willing to run, he is the exact type of quarterback that makes teams great.

Coming off a year where he threw for 28 touchdowns to just eight interceptions, it’s fair to say that the country is not paying enough attention to Baylor.

BYU Cougars

Who is BYU’s starting quarterback? That’s the question everyone wants the answer to. And it could determine the Cougars’ season.

In general, it’s never ideal to have a quarterback competition heading into the year. It hurts the chemistry of the starting offensive players because they are forced to continually shift between two different leaders.

But BYU has a solid offense outside of the quarterback question. A strong offensive line and key contributors at the skill positions make the Cougars a threat regardless of who is under center.

Still, the QB question needs to be resolved. Quickly.

UCF Knights

A wildcard. That’s the only way to describe UCF heading into the season.

The Knights have the No. 8 transfer class in the Big 12, but have the lowest-rated recruiting class, per 247Sports. Still, the program has recruited well over the last few seasons and should have the pieces to reach bowl eligibility.

Scott Frost is back to lead the team after a disappointing stint at Nebraska.

The Vegas oddsmakers view UCF on the same level as Arizona, Colorado, Oklahoma State, and West Virginia. All five schools have win projections of 5.5, which sounds about right.

Cincinnati Bearcats

Cincinnati does not have an impressive transfer class or traditional recruiting class.

In fact, 247Sports has the Bearcats with the second-worst overall class in the Big 12.

But UC has 10 returning starters, including star quarterback Brendan Sorsby. The dual-threat QB is one of the most underrated players in the Big 12.

If Cincinnati can effectively replace the production of star running back Corey Kiner, the Bearcats should have a winning season.

Colorado Buffaloes

Despite the loss of talent to the NFL over the offseason, there are still two wide receivers to keep an eye on in Boulder.

Junior Omarion Miller and sophomore Dre’lon Miller could have breakout years.

Deion Sanders’ offenses have leaned more towards the pass and the two players are primed to have expanded roles. The quarterback battle will remain the primary storyline in Boulder until a clear leader emerges.

But CU has stars at wide receiver that should shine.

Houston Cougars

It’s Year Two of the Willie Fritz era and Houston is expected to make a jump.

The Cougars went 4-8 last year, yet Fritz reeled in the Big 12’s No. 3 transfer class per 247Sports.

The program has potential to become a contender in the league and this season is critical to moving up the pecking order.

Texas A&M transfer quarterback Conner Weigman figures to play a vital role in this year’s success.

Iowa State Cyclones

One of the favorites to win the Big 12, Iowa State faces a critical test in Week Zero against Kansas State.

A defeat wouldn’t knock the Cyclones out of the race, but it would be a setback.

Star quarterback Rocco Becht is back to lead the way along with top two running backs Carson Hansen and Abu Sama III.

With 14 returning starters, ISU could find itself back in the Big 12 Championship Game for the second-straight year.

Kansas Jayhawks

The Jayhawks have a refurbished stadium and renewed hope.

Starting quarterback Jalon Daniels is back for another season after throwing 12 interceptions last season to just 14 touchdowns.

That’s an awful ratio for any quarterback and is one of the reasons Kansas failed to meet expectations last year.

This season, KU will go as far as Daniels takes them. Another year where he’s a turnover machine will likely end in disappointment. And with just six returning starters, it might be a long season in Lawrence.

Kansas State

Consistently above average, Kansas State can’t seem to break through.

Nine wins here, eight wins there. And once in a decade, the 10-win mark is reached. The continued success is admirable. But the Wildcats are stuck.

The fanbase is rabid and the talent on the roster is there. Perhaps this is finally their year.

But until KSU can advance out of its current tier, it’s fair to pick other teams in the Big 12 as the favorite to win the league.

Oklahoma State Cowboys

Has the game passed Mike Gundy by? It’s a fair question after Oklahoma State’s disaster last season.

The NIL era is a different ball game, and not everyone has adjusted.

And with Ollie Gordon II leaving for the NFL and no star quarterback primed to lead the offense, OK State may have another ugly year.

But Gundy still deserves the benefit of the doubt, and the Big 12 needs the Cowboys to get their program together.

TCU Horned Frogs

Making headlines for the wrong reasons, it’s been a bit of an embarrassing offseason for TCU.

Gen Z is a unique group, and perhaps it’s unfair to judge the players’ personal choices in how they live their lives. But this is a contact sport, and you don’t want to be viewed as soft.

If the players are practicing as much as they post on TikTok, then perhaps the Horned Frogs will have a good year.

But Sonny Dykes is an inconsistent coach, and the doubt is tangible.

Texas Tech Red Raiders

Quarterback Behren Morton has Texas Tech on his shoulders. Tahj Brooks is now in the NFL and the team looks to Morton to carry the weight.

Replacing that production will not be easy. The Red Raiders must develop their run game or face the consequences.

Morton played well last season, throwing for 27 touchdowns to eight interceptions.

But if TTU can’t run the ball as effectively, there is a risk that Morton becomes more turnover prone. A strong defense could help mask issues with the run game.

Utah Utes

The Utes enter a critical year in the trajectory of their program. This isn’t the Pac-12. And it’s not 2021 or 2022.

Those years of making the Rose Bowl are fading fast. If Utah falls short of expectations again this season, the college football world could pass them by.

To avoid living in the past and reminiscing about the glory days, the team has to deliver.

Devon Dampier can get the job done. The rest of the roster must go out there and prove it.

West Virginia Mountaineers

Rich Rodriguez is back in Morgantown. The coach’s offensive system is not easy to implement in a single offseason.

But if his players have bought in, which is always true of Rodriguez’s teams, then they should have reasonable success in Year One.

Essentially a read-option offense that operates with spread principals, the system is deadly when run correctly.

Don’t be surprised if WVU overperforms this season.