The Big 12 looks a little different this season with the addition of four new schools and Texas and Oklahoma gone to the SEC. Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah are eager to make a big statement in their first year in the Big 12 despite big questions surrounding these programs. Big 12 mainstay Oklahoma State, which fell short in the conference title game last season, aims to reach the championship again with a better outcome, while Kansas State is shoring up its offense with a big transfer.
Can Utah pull off a Big 12 title in its first year after its starting quarterback has been away from the game for a season? Will Colorado prove it is the real deal as Shedeur Sanders looks to be in Heisman Trophy conversations? After a big game in the Pop-Tarts Bowl last year, can Kansas State QB Avery Johnson continue to perform as the projected starter this fall? Can Arizona make a run at the conference title under a new head coach?
ESPN reporters Dave Wilson and Kyle Bonagura look at the league’s top newcomers, biggest early-season games, coaches on the hot seat and MVP and championship game picks.
Kansas had a bit of a breakthrough last year, winning its first bowl game in 15 years and beating Oklahoma for the first time since 1997. The Jayhawks held on to coach Lance Leipold, and a healthy Jalon Daniels will make them a threat in any game. The other three are tough outs with gamers at quarterback — TCU’s Josh Hoover, Iowa State’s Rocco Becht and West Virginia’s Garrett Greene — who all earn admiration from rival coaches. Similar to TCU two years ago, if they can walk the tightrope, they can make a run.
Top transfers
Texas Tech WR Josh Kelly: After showing promise during four years at Fresno State, Kelly had a breakout season for Washington State, catching 61 passes for 923 yards and eight touchdowns. Kelly instantly becomes one of the most dangerous deep threats in the Big 12 — a much-needed dynamic for the Red Raiders offense.
Kansas State Wildcats RB Dylan Edwards: Edwards burst onto the scene in Colorado’s opening win against TCU last year when he caught five passes for 135 yards and three touchdowns to go along with 24 yards rushing and another score. After that, however, Edwards faded into the background as Colorado’s offensive line made running the ball all but impossible. Back home in Kansas, Edwards should be a key player in the Wildcats’ Big 12 title pursuit.
Impact freshmen
Colorado OT Jordan Seaton: Yes, this one is fairly obvious, but despite Seaton being a freshman, he is an upgrade in talent over what Colorado was playing with last year and he has already been on campus as a midyear enrollee. We feel Seaton will likely have a similar season to Kadyn Proctor at Alabama in 2023 — highs, lows, flashes of greatness, but also a fair amount of struggles. Offensive tackle is one of the most difficult positions to transition in from high school to college.
UCF DB Chasen Johnson: Gus Malzahn was able to flip the former three-star from Pitt during the recruiting process and Johnson answered the call in the spring, rotating with the first team displaying toughness, competitiveness and the speed to adapt quickly to the college level. Whether it’s at corner or safety, Johnson could see significant time for the Knights as they head into year two in the Big 12.
Houston WR Jayshon Ridgle: Ridgle may have flown under the radar on the national recruiting scene, but all new Houston coach Willie Fritz does is win and know how to find players. Houston loses its top two targets from last year, and Ridgle comes in having posted a 10.83 100 meter time in 2023. He can play multiple positions including special teams. You can’t coach speed.
Kansas DE Deshawn Warner & DE Dakyus Brinkley: Here’s a twofer for you. Both Warner and Brinkley are two of the highest-rated prospects Kansas has ever signed and most importantly at a premium position. Kansas is light on the edge in terms of depth and experience, which gives both prospects the opportunity to play early and prove their worth over the course of the season. Brinkley was initially an OLB and both prospects will need to gain significant weight, but could be used as situational pass rushers. — Tom Luginbill
Our favorite players
Utah QB Cam Rising: From 2021 to 2022, Rising was one of the best quarterbacks in the country, leading the Utes to back-to-back Pac-12 titles. After missing all of last season, he ushers the Utes into their new conference with a rare opportunity to both guide a team to three conference titles and accomplish that in different conferences.
Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan: Expectations were sky-high in Tucson when McMillian arrived as the highest-ranked recruit in school history and, somehow, the former five-star recruit has exceeded them. He’s the best receiver in the Big 12 by a healthy margin and should be a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter: Look, who doesn’t love watching a guy go both ways? Players like Hunter are rare these days, so it’s easy to appreciate what he does playing cornerback and receiver for the Buffs.
ASU RB Cam Skattebo: Running back, quarterback, receiver, tight end, return man, Skattebo was forced to do it all for Arizona State last season. It wasn’t ideal for ASU because it was only necessary because of injuries, but it showcased incredible versatility and selflessness from the 2022 Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year (at Sacramento State).
TCU QB Josh Hoover: Hoover became the starter midway through his redshirt freshman season last year, starting the final six games. He averaged 339.5 yards per game over that stretch, including two 400-yard performances, and threw eight touchdowns to two interceptions over the final three games against Texas, Baylor and Oklahoma.
Oklahoma State RB Ollie Gordon II: OSU’s season turned around when it stopped overthinking the offense and gave the ball to Gordon. After just 19 carries in the first three games, Gordon reeled off eight 100-yard games in his past nine, including 837 total yards and seven TDs in a three-week period against Kansas, West Virginia and Cincinnati.
UCF RB RJ Harvey: Harvey can fly, and UCF likes to get him in space, where he can’t be caught. Harvey closed the season with seven 100-yard games in his final eight, including 206 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-3 blowout against Oklahoma State, who made it to the Big 12 championship game.
Kansas QB Jalon Daniels: One of the most tantalizing talents, his back has betrayed him over his career. At the end of 2022, he threw for 544 yards and five TDs in a 55-53 Liberty Bowl loss to Arkansas, and was named the preseason Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year last season. But by the end of September, after just three games and a 3-0 start (705 yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT) he was on the injury list. He stayed at KU instead of looking for a fresh start, setting the table for a final season if we’re lucky enough to get to watch him.
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