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| Avery Johnson, Kansas State |
Realignment Recap: Over a decade since Oklahoma and Texas first reportedly started eying a potential move to the Pac-12, the flagship programs of the Big 12 are indeed moving on. However, the two won't be moving to the Pac-12, but instead the SEC, a move that spurred another wave of realignment over the last two years. This time, as opposed to the early 2010s when they watched Texas A&M, Missouri, Colorado and Nebraska all leave, the Big 12 was prepared. They had already added four programs from across the country in response to the original decision from OU and Texas, and commissioner Brett Yormark was aggressive in sweeping up the remnants of the Pac-12 when it became clear the league was on the precipice of collapse. Now, Colorado is back in their longtime home, Utah has tagged along, and the Arizona schools have expanded the Big 12's footprint into the West Coast. That leaves the Big 12 with 16 teams, and despite the absence of their two premier powers in the Sooners and Longhorns, it has a chance to be the most competitive power conference in America. 2024 in particular could be an incredibly fun year - there's no obvious frontrunner and no clear bottom-feeder, which means we could be in store for some fireworks this fall.
Power Rankings
1. Utah Utes
Offense: Cam Rising's recovery from a torn ACL suffered in the 2023 Rose Bowl was the talk of last offseason and into the fall in Salt Lake City. By midseason, it became clear the veteran quarterback wasn't healthy enough to return for the 2023 campaign, leaving the Utes shuffling between several short-term solutions at the position.
Rising appears ready for his grand return, and is the clear starter at the position now that Bryson Barnes and Nate Johnson have both transferred out of the program. There may be some rust after missing a whole season of action, but Rising has proven his worth as a steady, tough winner. He enters the year with 58 career touchdowns and over 6,000 yards of total offense to his credit, making him one of the best in the league.
There will be some new faces alongside Rising, although the offense remains in an overall stable place. Coordinator Andy Ludwig is back, and is still going to run heavily on the ground game, with veterans Micah Bernard and Jaylon Glover set to handle the load after the surprising transfer of Ja'Quinden Jackson.
At receiver, Utah will benefit greatly from the addition of Dorian Singer, who had previous pit stops at USC and Arizona and was one of the best in the former Pac-12 when healthy. Add in seniors Money Parks and Mycah Pittman, this could be the best receiver group Rising has worked with since arriving at Utah. Then there's tight end Brant Kuithe, who much like his quarterback, missed all of 2023 after suffering a knee injury the year prior. He's one of the best in the nation when 100 percent, and could be a John Mackey Award candidate this year.
Defense: Although the defense didn't have the injuries to their big names that the offense did, this side of the ball was still hit hard by the injury bug. Despite this, they still managed to boast a Top 20 unit, one that surrendered just 19.3 points per game in 2023.
12 sacks are gone from the defensive front following the departure of Jonah Elliss, but the Utes are hopeful the holdovers will keep this group stout. Seniors Van Fillinger and Connor O'Toole have proven to be disruptors, with O'Toole back to 100 percent after missing five games last fall.
Senior Karene Reid will play a key leadership role at linebacker, but the Utes are particularly excited about junior Lander Barton, another player who missed time a year ago. Barton, a former blue-chipper, has had flashes throughout his time in Salt Lake City so far, but he's likely to move all over the field in 2024 and has this season circled as the one he emerges as a true difference-maker.
The secondary was already in a good spot with all the returning pieces, even with Cole Bishop and Sione Vaki moving on, and this staff further bolstered this unit through the portal. Kenan Johnson and Zemaiah Vaughn are a superb 1-2 combo at corner, and now have more help with Michigan transfer Cameron Calhoun. Add in rising sophomore Tao Johnson, the Utes have to feel good about this spot heading into the fall.
Bottom Line: Few programs across the country come close to Utah when it comes to consistently winning football games, and 2024 has the looks of a resurgent campaign. Considering the poor injury luck the program dealt with last season, going 8-5 should be treated like quite the accomplishment, but don't expect Kyle Whittingham and this team to be satisfied. They should be eager to get into the Big 12 and show what they can do, and without a clear frontrunner beyond them and potentially Kansas State, this has the looks of the program's first ever Playoff team.
2. Kansas State Wildcats
Offense: Things will look a bit different offensively in Manhattan this fall after the surprising decision by coordinator Collin Klein to leave his alma mater and take the same position at Texas A&M. Chris Kleiman opted to stay in-house and promote offensive line coach Conor Riley, a reminder of the stability and continuity he has built into this program.
Riley will move forward with a new quarterback under center. The rise of talented sophomore Avery Johnson essentially forced out veteran Will Howard, who in turn ended up at Ohio State. Johnson, the highest-rated recruit in program history, looked the part in backup duty last fall and now that he has control of the offense, he's expected to be one of the sport's breakout candidates. With that being said, staying healthy will be crucial, especially considering his dual-threat ability. Kansas State is remarkably thin at the position behind Johnson, the type of thing that could derail an otherwise potentially special season.
Junior tailback D.J. Giddens is one of the most underrated in the nation after tallying over 1,200 yards in 2023 and he'll have support alongside him in Colorado transfer Dylan Edwards. Edwards struggled at times during his true freshman season playing behind an atrocious CU O-Line, but his playmaking ability as a receiver will yield immediate value.
Giddens and Edwards will have their work cut out for them operating behind an offensive line that must replace four starters, but the hope is that a more dynamic passing game will help take the load off this rush offense. Johnson will have the luxury of throwing to a talented receiver corps that includes Jayce Brown, Keagan Johnson, and Penn State transfer Dante Cephas, but being without tight end Ben Sinnott hurts.
Defense: This is a program that reloads, not rebuilds, on the defensive side of the ball and they should be in a good spot once more in 2024. A few key defenders may move on, but the Wildcats are particularly strong off the edge and in the secondary.
Defensive end Brendan Mott and senior tackle Uso Seumalo give Kansas State a great starting point up front, although the coaching staff is hopeful others will emerge to give this unit depth. Fortunately, senior linebacker Austin Moore is back to create constant pressure off the edge, as he notched 12.5 tackles for loss a year ago.
Moore will be flanked by junior outside linebacker Desmond Purnell, a playmaker at the position, but it will be interesting to see what happens at middle linebacker. Sophomore Austin Romaine and New Mexico transfer Alec Marenco are in competition to start, with junior Jake Clifton pausing his football career to serve an LDS mission.
Kobe Saving and Will Lee II are notable losses on the back-end, but just about every other piece is back in the fold. Safeties V.J. Payne and Marquis Sigle are two of the best in the Big 12, and should line up just about everywhere for coordinator Joe Klanderman.
Bottom Line: Much like Utah, Kansas State has been a model of consistency under Chris Kleiman, so it's no surprise that they are considered the top contender in the new-look Big 12 alongside the Utes. You could argue K-State may have the higher ceiling if Johnson is as good as advertised and the offensive line can mesh quickly, but the turnover offensively gives enough pause for them to come in just behind Utah in these power rankings. With that being said, the Wildcats are firmly in the mix for a Playoff spot in the expanded field, and the program looks the most ready of the Big 12 holdovers to take advantage of the absence of Oklahoma and Texas in the conference.
3. Kansas Jayhawks
Offense: Years ago, who would have thought top-tier college football programs would be going into Lawrence and stealing away coaches off their staff? Lance Leipold has just done such a superb job at KU the college football world is taking notice, resulting in Penn State hiring away offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki as their new OC.
With Kotelnicki off to Happy Valley, Jeff Grimes will take over the offensive show at Kansas, hoping to polish up his resume after the shine wore off during a disappointing stint at Baylor. With the talent he will have at his disposal, while coaching alongside one of the nation's best in Leipold, Grimes should be able to do just that.
Quarterback Jalon Daniels appeared poised for a monster 2023 and was named the preseason Big 12 Player of the Year, but was limited to just three games. He is back healthy and ready to go for the fall, giving the Jayhawks an elite playmaker who can score on any even given snap. However, avoiding injuries will be extra important now that Jason Bean, who performed admirably in his stead in 2023, is graduated.
Daniels and tailback Devin Neal, who ran for 1,280 yards and 16 touchdowns a season ago, will form one of the most feared tandems in all of the land this year. Add in a receiver corps that boasts proven veterans Lawrence Arnold and Luke Grimm, the Jayhawks should have little troubles moving the ball this fall.
The offensive line must replace several starters, but does return a pair of seniors in Michael Ford Jr. and Bryce Cabeldue, and big things are expected of former Wisconsin transfer Logan Brown. A former five-star prospect, Brown can play multiple spots throughout the line, but left tackle is his most likely spot in 2024.
Defense: Steady improvement has been the story of the Jayhawk defense under Leipold, and there is hope 2024 could be a breakthrough moment. Six starters are back, including plenty of talent in the back-end, but it's the front seven that will have to take a step forward for this unit to fulfill its potential.
Senior Jereme Robinson emerged as a playmaking defender in his first season as a starter last year and will now be counted on heavily in 2024, but it will be interesting to see who else emerges up front. Junior D.J. Withers will be a factor in the ground game, while junior Dylan Brooks could become a starter in his own right. Keep an eye on true frosh D.J. Warner as well, one of the highest-rated recruits in program history. This defensive line will have to play well, because the linebacker corps has questions beyond junior J.B. Brown.
Don't be shocked if Kansas features the best cornerback duo in the country this fall, with Cobee Bryant and Mello Dotson both back in town. The pair combined for eight interceptions and 16 pass deflections a season ago and will look to go out with a grand finale in what will undoubtedly be their final runs in Lawrence. Both are considered potential first-round NFL Draft prospects.
Safety is in a good spot as well, with senior Marvin Grant back in the fold. Grant finished fifth on the team with 52 tackles last year and will move all over the field, with O.J. Burroughs likely to join him. There's a highly touted newcomer here, too, as Austin Alexander could see immediate snaps in his first season in the collegiate ranks.
Bottom Line: It seemed only a matter of time before Lance Leipold got things going at KU, but it's been truly remarkable how swift the turnaround has been at a school that seemed to be going nowhere on the gridiron. Now that Leipold is locked up for the long-term, there should be no signs of slowing down, and 2024 should be his best yet. Jalon Daniels and Devin Neal alone are enough to be high on the Jayhawks and if the defense continues its upward trajectory, a Big 12 Title isn't out of the question. The first double-digit win season for the program since 2007 seems likely.
4. Arizona Wildcats
Offense: Arizona's entire season changed when quarterback Noah Fifita was inserted into the starting lineup, as the freshman sensation ripped off 25 touchdowns and 2,869 yards for a 10-win Wildcat team last fall. There was some concern Fifita may follow head coach Jedd Fisch north to Washington, but he instead opted to stay put, and looks to build on an impressive 2023.
It will be an interesting pairing to see how Fifita works with new offensive coordinator Dino Babers, the longtime Syracuse head man. Babers was known for his explosive offenses and although things slowed down towards the end at 'Cuse, this could be the perfect scenario to revive his career.
Fifta will not have his trusted backfield mate Jonah Coleman next to him at running back, but he will have his favorite target, superstar junior Tetairoa McMillan. McMillan is a jaw-dropping athlete, the type of player that you don't always see come through a program like Arizona. What he does in 2024 with Fifita could be truly special. And fortunately, he's not the only weapon - Montana Lemonious-Craig is a proven commodity alongside him.
Without Coleman, look to junior Rayshon Luke or San Jose State transfer Quali Conley to handle feature back duties. Luke is a home run hitter who is still looking for his breakthrough in Tucson, which means Conley may have the early edge here, especially considering his relationship with Brent Brennan. Either way, they'll benefit from operating behind a strong O-Line, headlined by tackle Jonah Savaiinaea.
Defense: Duane Akina will now be the new defensive coordinator under Brennan, a call back to the heyday of Arizona football in the late 1990s. Akina was an analyst for the program last fall but prior to that, spent the better part of two decades coaching defensive backs at both Texas and Stanford.
Akina's expertise with the defensive backfield should help a talented unit reach their potential in the secondary. Senior free safety Gunnar Maldonado could be an All-Big 12 player in his first year in the league, while juniors Dalton Johnson and Treydan Stukes are also familiar faces for Wildcat fans. Nickel Tacario Davis is a coverage specimen, batting away a team-leading 15 passes in 2023.
The front seven has more questions - the defensive line was hit hard by attrition, and may lean on several transfers. That includes senior Tre Smith, another former SJSU player who followed Brennan from his previous post and will need to adjust to the power conference level.
Fortunately, junior linebacker Jacob Manu will be back to be the heart and soul of this defense after notching 116 tackles a year ago. He also showed he could get after the quarterback, with 6.5 sacks to his credit. And beside him, there's still hope for junior Justin Flowe, once one of the nation's top-ranked recruits before injuries derailed his career. He had 45 tackles for Arizona in his first season with the program in 2023 and could be ready for a true breakout.
Bottom Line: In a matter of years, Jedd Fisch took Arizona from a one-win team to one that won 10 games and beat five ranked teams through the course of 2023. His departure to Washington stung, but Brent Brennan is a proven program builder who hired a pair of coordinators with extensive ties to the program in Babers and Akina. Fisch left the cupboard far from bare, with legit NFL talent in the form of McMillan and Savaiinea, and although replicating all of last year's magic will be a tall order, the Wildcats shouldn't be going away just yet.
5. Oklahoma State Cowboys
Offense: Years later than anyone expected, Alan Bowman had his moment. The 24-year old quarterback, who first began his career at Texas Tech all the way back in 2018 before a short pit stop at Michigan, had a strong first season in Stillwater and finished with 3,460 passing yards to his credit. Now he's back to run the offense once again, but must learn to take better care of the football after throwing 14 interceptions in 2023.
The good news for Bowman is that he doesn't have to shoulder much of the offensive burden. In fact, he has the luxury of handing off to one of the sport's signature stars in junior Ollie Gordon II, who won the Doak Walker Award as the nation's best back a season ago. He's the latest in a long line of impressive Cowboy running backs, but will try to do what the most recent (Chuba Hubbard) struggled to do - build on it. An offseason arrest didn't help, but Gordon should be expected to still play a leading role in this offense.
There isn't a Justin Blackmon or a James Washington at receiver, but senior Brennan Presley is rock-solid, coming in just below 1,000 yards receiving last year. He'll be the leader in the room, with senior Rashod Owens and junior De'Zhaun Stribling likely to factor in heavily.
The offensive line is tremendous, returning a staggering six super seniors, and a redshirt senior for good measure. There's not an obvious headliner or top-tier NFL Draft prospect among them, but the group is skilled, experienced, and has elite chemistry.
Defense: Oklahoma State's quiet growth defensively over the last several years has been the secret sauce of Mike Gundy's success, but this unit struggled in 2023. They allowed nearly 29 points per game, which ranked 90th nationally, and their pass defense was among the worst in power conference football. If they hope to repeat last year's 10 victories, or even reach greater heights, they need to improve on this side of the ball.
The front seven has experience, but it lacks star power and will need something more in 2024. Senior linebacker Collin Oliver is tremendous, and senior defensive tackle Kody Walterscheid plugs up running lanes, but can others show up? Perhaps senior Obi Ezeigbo, who comes in from the Division II ranks, could be the type of addition that spurs this front to reach their potential.
Nick Martin, who will play alongside Oliver at linebacker, was a revelation in 2023 and will now be counted on as a leader of this defense. He finished with 140 tackles and was constantly in opposing backfields, with 16 of those tackles going for a loss. He could be a Butkus Award candidate this fall.
There's no reason the pass defense should be as bad as it was last year. Just about every starter is back in the fold, and there are standouts here, namely safety Kendal Daniels, who notched 105 tackles a year ago. Senior Trey Rucker is also a rangy defender who will rack up the tackles, but it's corner that the Cowboys are hoping for more from. Senior Korie Black and sophomore Cam Smith are both still here, with Black's 26 starts making him the most experienced Cowboy defender on the roster.
Bottom Line: Although there's been some bumpy moments on the ride, there's no denying that Mike Gundy continues to excel at Oklahoma State. One of the longest tenured coaches in the country, he should keep the Cowboys in prime position to compete right away in the new-look Big 12. Gordon running behind the country's most experienced O-Line is reason alone to tune in, and with Bowman and these receivers, the scoreboard operators should be kept plenty busy. It will be the defense that ultimately decides Oklahoma State's fortunes - if they once again one of the worst in the league, this feels like a team capped at around 8-9 wins. If there is improvement, Oklahoma State could be awfully dangerous, and despite a tricky schedule, a conference title run isn't completely out of the question.
6. West Virgina Mountaineers
Offense: West Virginia's offense was reminiscent of the Pat White and Steve Slaton days with how effectively they ran the ball in 2023, ranking as the top rushing offense in the Big 12. Expect that ground-and-pound mentality to carry into this fall, as both C.J. Donaldson and Jahiem White return. White will operate as the big-play threat, a speedster with excellent burst, while Donaldson does his damage between the tackles and in short yardage.
Donaldson and White will be running behind a quality offensive line that brings back three starters, including one of the best in the conference in tackle Wyatt Milum. Milum has lived up to the hype as a blue-chip prospect, a multiyear starter who has a chance to be a high NFL Draft selection next spring.
Quarterback Garrett Greene won't have to do too much with the ground game, but he's proven to be a rock-solid starter at the position. He won the quarterback battle out of fall camp and proceeded to throw for 2,406 yards and 16 touchdowns. Most impressively, he took care of the football, finishing with just four interceptions.
Greene will benefit from a deep and experienced receiver room that now includes Oklahoma State transfer Jaden Bray. Sophomore Hudson Clement and junior Preston Fox will also feature in heavily, while tight end Kole Taylor is a difference-maker.
Defense: While the offense has gone through waves, defense has typically been the strength of the Mountaineers under Neal Brown. They continued their upward trajectory in 2023, finishing as one of the best in the league in several key defensive categories.
The front seven dealt with injuries and adversity last season and still finished in a good spot, reason to believe even greater things could be in store this time around. They led the Big 12 in sacks in 2023 and added further depth through the portal, including Ty French from Gardner-Webb to pair with Sean Martin and Tyrin Bradley. Behind them, linebacker Ben Cutter stepped up as a true freshman and emerged as a playmaker, but there will be more support around him this year. Having Josiah Trotter and Trey Lathan healthy could make all the difference.
There's significant turnover in the secondary, especially at corner, where WVU will likely lean on several newcomers. T.J. Crandall and Ayden Garnes come from Colorado State and Duquesne, respectively, and could realistically start, but I'm still waiting on junior Jacolby Spells to have his breakout. Missing a big chunk of spring ball hurts Spells, but he's seen a healthy dosage of action his first two seasons on campus and could be ready for more.
Safety is in a good spot, with the Mountaineers bringing back seniors Aubrey Burks and Anthony Wilson. Jaheem Joseph also comes over from Northwestern to provide depth, which was a problem for this secondary last fall.
Bottom Line: Entering last season, Neal Brown was arguably on the hottest seat in all of the land, and it seemed like a foregone conclusion somebody else would be leading West Virginia football in 2024. Instead, Brown and the Mountaineers put together one of the most surprising seasons of any team in power conference football, winning nine games and going 6-3 in the Big 12. They'll be out to prove last season wasn't a fluke, and have the pieces in place to build on that positive upswing. The defense does have turnover, and facing two other Power 4 teams in the non-conference isn't easy, but the Mountaineers will be a tough out. Replicating last season's nine wins, and perhaps even adding to that total, is in reach.
7. UCF Knights
Offense: John Rhys Plumlee was hoping for his final season of college football to go out with a bang, but injuries prevented the exciting dual-threat from having the type of sendoff he was hoping for. He did play in 10 games, but simply wasn't himself, resulting in backup Timmy McClain seeing more action than expected.
With Plumlee graduating and McClain off to Arkansas State, Gus Malzahn and staff pulled off one of the biggest moves of the portal this offseason, bringing in K.J. Jefferson from Arkansas. Jefferson brings 39 career starts with him from the SEC and the type of playmaking ability at the position the Knights were missing last year. He'll be an immediate upgrade, and should be an ideal fit in Malzahn's scheme.
Flanking Jefferson will be superb backs R.J. Harvey and Johnny Richardson, a pair that combined for nearly 2,000 yards on the ground in 2023. Harvey alone had 1,416 of those and will be one of the best at his position in the conference, one that is clearly defined by its tailbacks this year, once more.
Receiver remains a strength, even with Javon Baker now playing on Sundays, as Kobe Hudson finished as the team leader in touchdown receptions and should have no issues sliding into the No. 1 target role. Trent Whittemore, a former Florida transfer, and junior Xavier Townsend are two other names to watch at receiver. Meanwhile, at tight end, UCF is hoping for someone to emerge at a position that Malzahn doesn't use often, but can occasionally sprinkle in some fun stuff.
Senior left tackle Amari Knight should be in the All-Big 12 mix this season, but there are questions beyond him. Senior guard Marcellus Marshall will help clear the runway, but these two veterans need others to step up if this unit is to survive the rugged Big 12.
Defense: There are notable changes on this side of the ball in 2024 after the Knights had a rude awakening to life in a power conference last season. Ted Roof joins back up with his longtime friend in Gus Malzahn, looking to breath some life back into a group that needs to get more physical and tough up front.
Roof will benefit from the fact the defensive line does bring back a pair of veteran tackles in Ricky Barber and Lee Hunter. Are these two up to the task in 2024? They learned the Big 12 was not the American Athletic a season ago, and it will be interesting to see what adjustments are made. Malachi Lawrence is another familiar name back up front, fresh off a 2023 in which he finished with 7.5 sacks.
Struggles at linebacker prompted the staff to work the portal to bring on two defenders who are likely to start right away in Ethan Barr from Vanderbilt and Deshawn Pace from Cincinnati. Both bring a proven pedigree to the table, and more versatility than the Knights had at the position previously.
Senior Brandon Adams, a multiyear starter at corner, anchors the secondary, but is looking to make a larger impact after pedestrian numbers last fall. Junior safety Demari Henderson is also going to be an important, while we should look to Ole Miss transfer Ladarius Tennison to fill an immediate need at nickel. Tennison will blitz and help in run support more often than a typical player at his position, an interesting tool for Roof to use him in 2024.
Bottom Line: Much like each of the four Big 12 newcomers last season, UCF took their fair share of lumps in their first year in the league. Although they still managed to sneak into a bowl, their 6-7 mark felt a bit flat given their expectations, and Malzahn is out to prove he can get this program to where they want to go in the Big 12. 2024 has a chance to be a resurgent year - Jefferson makes the offense much more dangerous and is joined by elite skill position talent, and the changes this team made defensively should greatly benefit them. Add in the fact UCF misses both Kansas schools on their schedule and gets Utah and Arizona at home, I get the sense this team could surprise quite a few folks this fall.
8. Texas Tech Red Raiders
Offense: Offensive coordinator Zack Kittley has quickly ascended up the coaching ranks and is considered one of the top young offensive minds in today's game. This year, he's hoping for more consistency with the Red Raiders, who put up monster numbers at times in 2023, but often followed them up with some true stinkers.
Fortunately for Kittley, he has one of the nation's top running backs, Tahj Brooks, who still seems underrated in the grand scheme of things. His 1,538 yards last fall were surprisingly quiet, but the veteran doesn't appear to be showing any signs of slowing down. Cam'Ron Valdez is back behind him in the backfield, which should take some of the load of Brooks, who finished with 290 attempts in 2023.
Alongside Brooks, quarterback Behren Morton is the clear-cut starter and looking to take the next step in his development. He split time with Tyler Shough and Jake Strong in 2023 but now that Shough is at Louisville, it feels like its Morton's time to shine. The junior has a huge arm, but learning to harness that arm strength will be the next step forward.
Beyond the backfield, there are notable questions surrounding the Red Raider offense. There is undoubtedly talent at receiver, headlined by five-star true freshman Micah Hudson, but it's mainly newcomers or inexperienced options at the position. And then up front, Texas Tech must replace four starters, with center Caleb Rodgers as the lone holdover.
Defense: Tim DeRuyter has done an impressive job with the Texas Tech defense during his two seasons in charge, but this year will be a challenge. There is significant personnel turnover, at every single level, meaning the Red Raiders will need new guys to emerge and may need to mix and match at certain positions.
It's hard to know what to expect up front for Texas Tech this year. Joseph Adedire and E'maurion Banks are two holdovers who see a healthy number of snaps last fall, but even more may be expected from each. The end spot opposite of Adedire is wide open as things stand today, while Banks is likely to pair with Rice transfer De'Braylon Carroll in the middle.
Fortunately, the linebacker corps should be able to take some of the pressure off the defensive line, as this group returns an elite duo in Jacob Rodriguez and Ben Roberts. Roberts was the lone freshman in all of FBS ball to record over 100 tackles and should solidify himself as one of the best defenders in the Big 12 this year, while Rodriguez appears healthy again after missing the majority of 2023 with injuries. When healthy, Rodriguez is a difference-maker, a sideline-to-sideline defender who can line up just about anywhere.
It's a mixed bag in the Texas Tech secondary - there are departures, but also impactful returnees. Senior Brayln Lux is a strong starting point at corner, while senior C.J. Baskerville put together a quality campaign in 2023 after coming over from San Diego State. Freshman Peyton Morgan could also factor into the rotation at safety - if not for Hudson at receiver, he would be the gem of this 2024 recruiting class.
Bottom Line: After going 8-5 in his debut season, Joey McGuire's team slipped back slightly last fall to 7-6. As he enters the ever-critical Year Three, McGuire is out to prove that his program hasn't stagnated, and that the hard work the staff has done in the recruiting game can actually translate to more wins. The Red Raiders are good enough to be a dark horse title contender in this league, especially if Morton continues his growth, but the defensive questions are significant. The more likely scenario is the team finishes at around 7-8 wins once again, as a tricky road schedule limits their overall ceiling.
Teams 9-16 in Part 2*
All-Big 12 Teams
First Team
QB Jalon Daniels, Kansas
RB Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State
RB Tahj Brooks, Texas Tech
WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
WR Kobe Hudson, UCF
TE Brant Kuithe, Utah
OL Wyatt Milum, West Virginia
OL Dalton Cooper, Oklahoma State
OL Joe Michalski, Oklahoma State
OL Amari Knight, UCF
OL Jonah Savaiinaea, Arizona
DL Tyler Batty, BYU
DL Dontay Corleone, Cincinnati
DL Junior Tafuna, Utah
DL Brendan Mott, Kansas State
LB Collin Oliver, Oklahoma State
LB Nick Martin, Oklahoma State
LB Jacob Manu, Arizona
CB Cobee Bryant, Kansas
CB Travis Hunter, Colorado
S Kendal Daniels, Oklahoma State
S Jeremiah Cooper, Iowa State
Second Team
QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
RB D.J. Giddens, Kansas State
RB Devin Neal, Kansas
WR Brennan Presley, Oklahoma State
WR Dorian Singer, Utah
TE Jalin Conyers, Texas Tech
OL Carver Willis, Kansas State
OL Michael Ford, Kansas
OL Josh Baker, Arizona
OL Marcellus Marshall, UCF
OL Preston Wilson, Oklahoma State
DL Malachi Lawrence, UCF
DL Lee Hunter, UCF
DL Jereme Robinson, Kansas
DL Van Fillinger, Utah
LB Karene Reid, Utah
LB Austin Moore, Kansas State
LB Ben Roberts, Texas Tech
CB Mello Dotson, Kansas
CB Tacario Davis, Arizona
S Gunner Maldonado, Arizona
S Aubrey Burks, West Virginia
Superlatives
Offensive Player of the Year: Ollie Gordon II, RB, Oklahoma State
Defensive Player of the Year: Travis Hunter, CB, Colorado
Coach of the Year: Chris Kleiman, Kansas State
Freshman of the Year: Micah Hudson, WR, Texas Tech
Big 12 Championship Game: Utah or Kansas State
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