Dec 7, 2024; Arlington, TX, USA; A view of the Big 12 logo and American flag before the game between the Iowa State Cyclones and the Arizona State Sun Devils at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
With Big 12 Football Media Days kicking off in Frisco this week, here’s one question for each team heading into the season:
Arizona: Is the offensive overhaul enough?
After being picked to finish fifth in their first ever season, it’s safe to say that their 4-8 season was a massive disappointment. The Wildcats lose first round superstar Tetairoa McMillan and will need to rebuild an offense that wasn’t even good with arguably the best receiver in the conference. Arizona returns Noah Fifita and brings in Mike Leach disciple Seth Doege to be their new offensive play caller along with four transfers at wide receiver and five on the offensive line. That’s a lot of changes after just one season of head coach Brent Brennan. That tells me that the offensive overhaul needs to work or this could be last of Brennan in Tuscon.
Arizona State: Are the defending champs ready for a target on their back?
The Sun Devils caught everyone by surprise in 2024. From picked dead last to the College Football Playoff. With rising star head coach Kenny Dillingham and 17 starters returning, Arizona State won’t be catching a soul by surprise. Last year, they were the best story in College Football. Now, they’ve got a target on their back. Are they ready for that? More importantly, can they be ready for it without experiencing it already? We’ll find out with tough road trips to Starkville, Waco, Salt Lake City, Ames and Boulder.
Baylor: Is this the year where they finally live up to expectations?
Baylor has had some pretty good years under Dave Aranda, including a Big 12 Championship in 2021. However, pretty much every time they’ve had expectations, the Bears have fallen short. Baylor returns quarterback Sawyer Robertson, their leading rusher (Bryson Washington), leading receiver (Josh Cameron) and four starters on the offensive line from a team that finished the regular season with six straight wins. It’s unfair to place Big 12 Championship or bust expectations on most programs but if Baylor isn’t even in Big 12 contention by November, it very well could be Dave Aranda’s final season in Waco.
BYU: Where do they go without Jake Retzlaff?
According to multiple reports, BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff is expected to enter the transfer portal after violating the school’s honor code, resulting in a potential seven game suspension. If the Cougars are without their starting QB, how is their ceiling affected? Right now it seems that the quarterback job is a battle between two transfers who sat on the bench at BYU in 2024: former Utah State transfer McCae Hillstead and former Western Michigan transfer Treyson Bourguet. Whoever wins the battle has plenty of talent to work with at the skill positions but can they live up to what Retzlaff accomplished in BYU’s 11 win season in 2024?
Cincinnati: Do they have Big 12 level WRs and DBs?
Through Cincinnati’s first two seasons in the Big 12, their wide receivers have been lackluster at best. The Bearcats three top receivers are gone and now they rely on three transfers: Jeff Caldwell from Lindenwood, Cyrus Allen from Texas A&M, Caleb Goodie from Colorado State. Does that group have what it takes to help elevate quarterback Brendan Sorsby’s arm? On the other side of the ball, one of Cincinnati’s biggest strengths is now a question mark. The Bearcats lost all five starters in the secondary to the NFL or the portal. With plenty of new faces in the secondary, can they come near the level they’ve been at in recent history?
Colorado: Can Deion replicate the portal magic again?
Once again, pretty much all of Colorado’s roster is new to Boulder. Everyone knows that Sheduer Sanders and Travis Hunter but they also lost their next three leading receivers and top rushers. There’s no doubt they brought in loads of talent across the board. The question is: can they replicate their impressive nine win season or do they end up closer to Florida State from last season?
Houston: Do the Cougars make a year two jump under Willie Fritz?
Despite a putrid offense in 2024, Houston managed to go 4-8 while pulling off a couple of impressive wins towards the end of Willie Fritz‘ first season. Their quarterback problem is sure to get better with the addition of Texas A&M’s Conner Weigman while they also boost their receiving core. With only four starters back from a pretty good defense, there’s plenty of holes to plug but most expect this program to take a second year jump under Fritz. Can they do it?
Iowa State: Can they get to the quarterback?
In 2024, the Cyclones were dead last in the Big 12 in sacks… by a lot. Whether it was because of an abundance of injuries at the linebacker position or something else, the problem needs fixed. Domonique Orange has proven to be able to wreak havoc at nose tackle but where does he get help? Is it on the edge from Tulsa transfer Vontroy Malone or returner Ike Ezeogu? Is Jon Heacock more aggressive with his now experienced line backing core? Iowa State won’t have a Will McDonald IV, which is okay, they just have to find a way to be middle of the pack.
Kansas: How do they avoid a nightmare like 2024?
There’s no doubt that Kansas ended last season strong. One could argue that they were the best team in the league down the stretch but I haven’t forgotten how they started the year. When the Jayhawks lost to Illinois, UNLV and West Virginia to open up with a 1-3 record, they held win probabilities over 80% in the second half of all three games. The Jayhawks have plenty of talent and they’ll have to capitalize on that early in 2025.
Kansas State: Can Avery Johnson avoid major mistakes?
Avery Johnson has shown flashes as an elite quarterback. He’s also made some inexcusable mistakes that very well could’ve been the difference between K-State making a trip to the Big 12 Championship. I hate to pin it on one guy but I believe K-State has one of the best rosters in the conference and it’s on Johnson to develop from a young QB to a veteran after his first full season as a starter.
Oklahoma State: Does Mike Gundy have one more trick up his sleeve?
It’s a brand new coaching staff and roster for Mike Gundy and the Pokes after a disappointing 3-9 season. It’s clearly desperation time in Stillwater for the greatest coach in program history and there’s no way of knowing if it’ll work out until we see it on the field. Gundy has had his back against the wall before but never to this extent, can he get himself out of this jam or is it Gundy’s last ride at Boone Pickens?
TCU: Can they get anything on the ground?
Josh Hoover is one of the best quarterbacks in the league and the Horned Frogs bring in some reinforcements at receiver after losing a lot of talent in 2024. The question is can they compliment him at all? Despite the second-best air attack in the conference, TCU finished with the fourth-worst rushing attack in 2024. Improvement up front is needed and they’ll need a running back to step up if Sonny Dykes‘ offense wants to reach the status of elite.
Texas Tech: Are they ready for the pressure?
No one in the conference spent more this offseason. Joey McGuire has brought in elite transfer and recruiting classes. It’s not just flash either, they’ve brought in some big time players in the trenches. There’s no doubt in my mind that they’ve got the best roster in the league. Everyone will be hunting them down and adversity is sure to strike. Does this program have a culture strong enough to stand up to the pressure or could we see something similar to Florida State last season? Either way, Red Raider fans are desperate for a great season… they haven’t finished a season ranked since Mike Leach’s final year back in 2009.
UCF: Is Scott Frost the right guy?
We know that Scott Frost was the right guy when UCF was tearing up the American but is he fit for this UCF job in the Big 12? I thought Gus Malzahn was going to have the Knights towards the top of the conference for a decade and I was dead wrong. It’s been a long time since Frost reached his heights in Orlando and his competition now is a lot tougher. Is the influx of resources and lack of pressure compared to Nebraska enough for the Frost Era to be a success? Time will tell, but we won’t know in year one.
Utah: Was 2024 a fluke?
Cameron Rising was either bad or hurt all year, so was Isaac Wilson. It’s hard to be as bad as Utah’s offense was in their opening season in the Big 12, especially considering the expectations. Kyle Wittingham has brought in OC/QB duo Jason Beck and Devon Dampier from New Mexico to bring life to the offense. Everyone seems to think that’ll return Utah to where they belong and that’s fair. But then again, who would’ve thought the Utes would finish dead-last in 2024?
West Virginia: Can Jaheim White carry them to a bowl game?
In year one of Rich Rodriguez‘ return to Morgantown, pretty much all of the offense is new except for Preseason All-Big 12 running back Jaheim White. As a sophomore, White ran for 845 yards and seven touchdowns and will be West Virginia’s biggest weapon. The question is, how big of a weapon can he be during a full rebuild in Morgantown? If he’s the best running back in the league, West Virginia very well could turn some heads in Rich Rod’s return.
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