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| Sam Leavitt, Arizona State |
Power Rankings
1. Arizona State Sun Devils
There may not have been a better story in all of college football last fall than the Arizona State Sun Devils. The Sun Devils were fresh off a 3-9 season in Kenny Dillingham's debut campaign, and were picked last by the media in the preseason poll.
It quickly became apparent the preseason prognosticators had been dead wrong about the Sun Devils, who ripped off ten wins in the regular season and then pounded Iowa State in the Big 12 Championship Game. But, their success wasn't merely a product of a weak Big 12 - they gave Texas all they could handle in a double overtime loss in the Peach Bowl in one of the games of the year.
Now, the key for Dillingham and company will be about keeping the momentum going, and they'll have to do so without star tailback Cam Skattebo. Skattebo broke the school's single-season rushing record after going for 1,711 yards and 24 total touchdowns, and he was the heart-and-soul of the team. Fortunately, the cupboard is not bare on offense, as QB Sam Leavitt and top wide out Jordyn Tyson both return.
Leavitt, a former transfer from Michigan State, was a revelation in his first season in Tempe. He not only threw for 2,885 yards and 24 touchdowns, he looked in complete command of the offense and limited turnovers. It will be interesting to see how he handles being the star of the offense with Skattebo gone, but having a reliable weapon like Tyson will help significantly.
Returnees Kyson Brown and Raleek Brown are expected to split time in Skattebo's absence in the backfield, although Army transfer Kanye Udoh should also be in the rotation. The entire trio will benefit from running behind one of the strongest offensive lines in the Big 12, a group that returns four starters.
Don't be surprised if defense carries the way for Arizona State in 2025, as they return nine starters on this side of the ball. It all starts up front, where defensive tackle C.J. Fite is flanked by relentless edge rushers Prince Dorbah and Clayton Smith. Behind that group, linebackers Keyshaun Elliott and Jordan Crook have played a lot of football in their collegiate days.
The pass defense was an issue at times last fall, surrendering nearly 227 yards per game, which ranked 81st in the country. Fortunately, where the only significant loss, albeit a notable one, is nickelback Shamari Simmons. The group of Keith Abney II, Javan Robinson, Xavion Alford, and Myles Rowser should turn this from a question mark into a real strength for the Sun Devils.
Bottom Line: As impressive as the 2024 season was, it didn't feel like a fluke. Dillingham, an Arizona State alum himself, feels like the perfect fit in Tempe, and this program has always had limitless potential. Leavitt, Tyson, and a veteran offensive line will ensure the offense is able to overcome any early speed bumps, and the defense has the chance to be among the best in the league. Add in the fact the other top contenders in the Big 12 have questions of their own to answer, Arizona State feels like the clear favorite in the league as we inch towards the 2025 regular season.
2. Kansas State Wildcats
It was a bit of a strange season for Kansas State in 2024. On one hand, the program went out and won nine games, plus a bowl, marking their fourth straight season of eight wins or more. On the other, K-State did fade down the stretch, with three losses in their final four games costing them a shot at a Big 12 Title.
The good news for the Wildcats as they look ahead to 2025 is that Avery Johnson is primed for his second full season as starter. The true junior had his fair share of ups-and-downs last fall, but still finished with over 3,300 yards of total offense and 32 total touchdowns. As he prepares for this year, the Wildcats are hopeful he can continue to grow as a passer, as he's already one of the premier dual threats in the sport.
Johnson could use some help from this group of pass-catchers, and having junior Jayce Brown back helps in a significant way. He was one of the few players on this roster that could stretch the field vertically a season ago, and his chemistry with Johnson could set up a big 2025. However, Kansas State does need others to emerge beyond him, which could include true freshman tight end Linkon Cure, the highest-rated recruit in school history.
With D.J. Giddens off to the NFL, K-State turns to Dylan Edwards to handle feature back duties after he ran for 546 yards in his first season coming over from Colorado. Edwards is a fine pass catcher out of the backfield himself, which could give this offense another interesting element to play with. He'll work behind an offensive line that has turnover, but has always been good under head coach Chris Klieman.
There's some turnover on this defense, but coordinator Joe Klanderman returns a solid core, one led by the top two tacklers from 2024 in linebacker Austin Romaine and safety V.J. Payne.
Romaine is part of a veteran-laden front seven, but one that is short on star power. Senior Desmond Purnell has proven to be a great complementary piece next to Romaine at linebacker, and the addition of Gabe Powers could boost this unit. However, more is needed from this defensive line, as nearly all of K-State's sacks and pressures came from their linebackers.
Klanderman and company have typically ran a 3-3-5 to get as many defensive backs on the field as possible, and that looks to be the case in 2025. Yet, behind Payne, this is a unit with some significant turnover, including both cornerback spots. Payne will play a huge role, as will veteran free safety Gunner Maldonado, who has made the rounds in the college ranks but is looking for an impressive finale.
Bottom Line: Klieman-coached Kansas State teams always have a high floor, but can the Wildcats be ready to challenge for a Big 12 crown in 2025? There are notable losses, but they have the right quarterback in Johnson, and enough experience on both sides of the ball to learn from their mistakes in the second half of last season. In a Big 12 that is always so wide open, I tend to bet on teams like the Wildcats, programs with a clear identity who should be a safe bet for at least 8-9 wins - and potentially much more.
3. Iowa State Cyclones
A 7-0 start had Iowa State dreaming of the College Football Playoff in 2024, but a pair of head-scratching losses to Texas Tech and Kansas knocked them back to reality. And then there was the Big 12 Championship Game defeat to Arizona State, a 45-19 drubbing that showed Matt Campbell the program still has room for growth as he looks ahead to Year Ten.
Even so, it's hard not to consider 2024 a resounding success for the Cyclones, who now have enough back to keep things rolling this fall. That starts with QB Rocco Becht, who quietly threw for 3,505 yards leading an offense that was far more explosive than we've been accustomed to in Ames.
Becht will have to make do without his favorite two targets from the 2024 team, as 1,000-yard receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel both move on. However, I like what the Cyclones did in the portal by bringing in East Carolina transfer Chase Sowell, and could this be the year senior Daniel Jackson puts it completely together after missing all of 2024?
Iowa State should be able to pound the rock more often in 2024, as the duo of Carson Hansen and Abu Sama III gives them two workhorses to lean on. Running behind an offensive line that returns four starters, it feels like this offense is going to get back to their roots this fall and feel like a true ground-and-pound team.
Matt Campbell teams have typically been built on an elite front seven, but it was strange to see how the Cyclones fared defensively in 2024. They boasted the nation's top pass offense, smothering Big 12 foes all season long, but were gashed regularly on the ground. Fortunately several defenders are back from injury up front, namely senior linebacker Caleb Bacon, who was out for the year in the season opener. Iowa State also focused on the defensive line in the portal to bolster a pass rush that was underwhelming all last season.
There are some losses to that top-rated pass defense, but nothing Iowa State can't overcome. Junior corner Jontez Williams should be a leader for this team after a strong 2024, although it's unclear who will start opposite him at corner. Perhaps it will be Lindenwood transfer Tre Bell, who has appeared in 20 games over his time in FCS ball.
Bottom Line: It's been over a century since Iowa State last won or shared a conference title, all the way back to 1912 as part of the Missouri Valley Conference. After coming close last fall, can the Cyclones finish the job this time around? The offense should still be good, with Becht and the running back duo, despite the losses out wide. But, I do think it really hinges on this rush defense and whether they are able to stay healthy as the new transfers gel. If they can acclimate quick, Iowa State has all the pieces in place to potentially overtake the Sun Devils for the conference crown.
4. Baylor Bears
Dave Aranda entered the 2024 campaign on the hot seat, and midway through Baylor's season, it looked to be his last in Waco. The Bears started off just 2-4 and looked destined for the bottom of the Big 12. But then something changed in the final month-and-a-half, as they ripped off six straight victories before a Texas Bowl loss. An 8-5 mark was better than expected, and now has the program excited for what they can do for an encore.
Aranda has his quarterback, as former Mississippi State transfer Sawyer Robertson put up a monster 2024, throwing for over 3,000 yards and 28 touchdowns. With another full year in this offense, there's reason to believe last fall was just the beginning for Robertson, particularly with what Baylor has returning at receiver.
Josh Cameron and Ashtyn Hawkins finished 1-2 for the Bears in receiving last season, and now both returning for their senior seasons. The Bears also have some interesting transfers to monitor - Kobe Prentice flashed serious big-play potential while at Alabama, and tight end Michael Trigg has always had the tools, yet still has to put it all together on his third school.
Bryson Washington surpassed the 1,000-yard mark as a freshman tailback for Baylor last season, and is now the clear feature back entering 2025. He'll operate behind an offensive line that returns four starters, with the only "new" face being tackle Kaden Sieracki, who appeared in all 13 games a year ago.
Aranda has always been known as an elite defensive mind, but there's no denying the Bears struggled on that side of the ball in 2024. They allowed 26.2 PPG, which ranked 79th nationally, a clear sign there's work to do this year.
There are several key returnees, namely veterans like end Jackie Marshall, linebacker Keaton Thomas, and safety Devyn Bobby, but also a host of transfers expected to play significant roles. Thomas is the real standout after notching 114 tackles last fall, but the Bears hope they brought in enough help in the form of Florida International's Travion Barnes.
Bobby and senior safety Devin Turner could be an effective safety duo, but Baylor still needs more from their cornerbacks if they are to hold up in this league. Caden Jenkins made major strides over 11 starts a season ago and now looks to be the alpha at the position.
Bottom Line: The Bears have been volatile under Aranda's leadership, but the prognosis for 2025 appears promising. The offense has a chance to among the best not just in the Big 12 but nationally, although it's on the defense to make the improvements necessary for this team to make a run at a Big 12 Title. The conference still appears wide open and Aranda has won it before - don't be surprised if this team builds on 2024 and is heavily in the league title mix once more.
5. Texas Tech Red Raiders
It's been a busy offseason in Lubbock, with Texas Tech finishing among the most active and biggest spenders in the portal heading into 2025. Texas Tech booster Cody Campbell has made no secret his desire to spend significant money to build a winner in the new-look Big 12, and Joey McGuire and staff used that cash to fill holes throughout their roster.
The offense was far from the issue during last year's 8-5 campaign, as the Red Raiders finished fourth nationally in scoring and ninth in total offense. However, this group is in for a transition after saying goodbye to star tailback Tahj Brooks and top wide out Josh Kelly over the offseason. That will put even more pressure on fifth-year quarterback Behren Morton as he enters what is likely to be his final year of college ball.
Morton has been one of the better signal-callers in the Big 12 when healthy, but injuries have defined his career. With the lack of depth behind him, Texas Tech absolutely needs him to stay as close to 100 percent as possible. If he can, there's plenty to help him out at receiver, namely senior Caleb Douglas and junior Coy Eakin, the top returning options now that Kelly has moved on.
Replacing Brooks will be a huge challenge, as he was about as consistent as a running back as you'll find at the collegiate level. The Red Raiders are hopeful USC transfer Quinten Joyner can fill the void after totaling 478 yards a year ago. He'll run behind an offensive line that will rely heavily on transfers, although there are some standouts. Names like Cash Cleveland (Colorado) and Hunter Zambrano (Illinois State) should make this a fearsome group.
The defense has long been the problem here in Lubbock, and it's where the Red Raiders invested the most money in over the offseason. The defensive line in particular has a lot of fresh blood, namely Stanford transfer David Bailey and UCF's Lee Hunter. Add in the return of tackling machine Jacob Rodriguez at linebacker, this could be a pretty effective front seven.
The pass defense got shredded all last season and will be the greatest X-factor to this team's success this fall. There are some familiar faces coming back, including junior corner Maurion Horn and safety Brendan Jordan, but this unit will hinge heavily on transfers, too.
Bottom Line: So much offseason activity has Lubbock abuzz and Texas Tech ranked in preseason polls. And it's understandable why there is so much excitement given the return of a veteran quarterback and a slew of big-name transfers. Yet, I still proceed with caution when it comes to the Red Raiders - Brooks and his 1,505 yards will not be easy to replace. On defense, the Red Raiders brought in plenty of talent, but how will this group mesh together? Given they allowed nearly 35 points per game during the 2024 season, there's a long way to go. This will be a huge season for McGuire, who has done a fine job with the program but is still awaiting his breakthrough. This could be the team to do it if things break right, but you could also just as easily imagine another year spent right around the 7-8 wins territory.
6. Utah Utes
It was an uncharacteristic 2024 for the Utah Utes, one of the most consistent programs anywhere in the nation under Kyle Whittingham. They jumped out to a 4-0 start and then watched their offense fall apart, resulting in losses in seven of their last eight games. The 5-7 result was the worst record for the Utes since 2013, when they were still a freshly minuted member of the Pac-12.
It became clear the Utes needed a new direction after several seasons spent in football purgatory after Cam Rising's torn ACL in the 2023 Rose Bowl and subsequent injury issues. Rising has since called it a career, and Utah went out and made a splash as a replacement, bringing on Devon Dampier from New Mexico.
Dampier, who will be joined by his play-caller from UNM Jason Beck, is the type of athlete at the position the Utes have lacked for some time. He's an exceptional playmaker with his legs (1,166 rushing yards in 2024) and can open things up vertically with his huge arm. He may need time to adjust to power conference ball, but he adds excitement and energy to an offense that was a rough watch all of 2024.
Dampier will benefit from having an elite offensive line in front of him, headlined by future NFL linemen Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu, but the rest of the offense is brand new. Washington State transfer Wayshawn Parker is the most likely starter at running back, but receiver is full of questions. Mississippi State transfer Creed Whittemore has plenty of upside, but the unit as a whole is short on proven experience.
We've come to expect great defenses in Salt Lake City, but this group did take a slight step back last season. Was that merely a result of the offense being so bad, or does coordinator Morgan Scalley have real work to do with this unit entering 2025? If it is the latter, the Utes should feel good that they have several important pieces coming back at all three levels.
The front seven has a chance to be stingy, as sophomore end Logan Fano leads the D-Line, and linebackers Johnathan Hall and Lander Barton patrol the middle. Veteran Levani Damuni is also back and healthy - the former 2023 top tackler was another player that missed significant time a year ago with injury.
Free safety Tao Johnson is their top returnee in the secondary, but I am curious to see how the corners play this year. Smith Snowden is the familiar face, but names like Elijah "Scooby" Davis and Blake Cotton have been making waves so far in fall camp, which suggests this could be a position of intrigue heading into the regular season.
Bottom Line: Just about everything that could go wrong for Utah last fall did go wrong as they slipped to the bottom of the conference. But it's hard to imagine this program staying down for long, especially with Whittingham going out and bringing on the duo of Beck and Dampier. There may still be growing pains offensively but that group should at least have some playmakers that will keep defenses honest, a real change from the 2024 edition. Add in the usual stingy defense, it would not shock me at all to see the Utes back in the conference title mix again, especially with their schedule. They benefit from getting several of the top Big 12 contenders all in Salt Lake City, including Arizona State, Texas Tech, and Baylor.
7. BYU Cougars
It may not have been a turnaround quite at the level of Arizona State's, but BYU was a wonderful story in their own right a year ago. The Cougars took their licks in their first season in the Big 12 in 2023, going 5-7 overall and just 2-7 in the league. Picked to finish 13th in the preseason poll, they instead ripped off nine straight victories to begin the year.
A pair of late-season losses eventually doomed their Big 12 Title hopes, but Kalani Sitake's team still enters 2025 riding high. However, recent controversy surrounding returning QB Jake Retzlaff has thrown an interesting wrench into the latter part of the offseason. Retzlaff has since transferred out to Tulane, opening the door for a three-way QB competition in his absence.
Youngster Bear Bachmeier is considered the favorite to take control of this offense over veterans McCrae Hillstad and Treyson Bourguet. He doesn't have to do it all, as the Cougars also return steady tailback L.J. Martin and several key pieces out wide, but the lack of experience will be an interesting situation to watch moving forward.
Bachmeier, or whoever ends up winning the starting job, will have the advantage of a solid offensive line protecting them. Three starters are back, and the Cougars added further pieces through the portal, namely Michigan transfer Andrew Gentry, the likely starter at right tackle.
Defensive coordinator Jay Hill has done a superb job with this defense under Sitake, and there's reason to believe it will be the fuel for the Cougars in 2025. There are still notable losses, but the return of linebackers Jack Kelly and Isaiah Glasker mean this defense should have quite the high floor. Kelly in particular should be a Butkus Award frontrunner, as the former Weber State transfer notched 51 tackles, 10 TFL, and five sacks last year. Glasker is no slouch, either, as he led BYU in tackles last fall and recorded 14.5 tackles for loss himself.
The pass defense doesn't quite have the big names of the linebacker corps, although this was a really effective group a season ago. Senior Tanner Wall is an important building block, but the rest of this unit has questions. Long and athletic corner Mory Bamba did see a healthy amount of action last year, and the Cougars have to be hopeful he takes even further steps forward this season.
Bottom Line: Replicating the magic of last season won't be easy, considering how many close games BYU came out on the right side of. Yet, the Cougars have a really solid core back for 2025, one that should keep them in the mix in this conference. The quarterback questions are significant, and there are enough losses on defense to imagine at least a slight step back there. That most likely means a regression to the mean for BYU in 2025 - instead of 11 wins, 7-8 regular season victories feels more in line with what we should be expecting this fall.
8. TCU Horned Frogs
The 2024 season felt like a return to normalcy for the TCU Horned Frogs. After swinging between two wildly different seasons the two years prior - a National Championship Game appearance and then a 5-7 stinker - TCU finished 9-4 overall and went a respectable 6-3 in the Big 12.
As they prepare for 2025, the quarterback who led them to those nine victories, junior Josh Hoover, is back. Hoover finished second in the league in passing yards a year ago and third in touchdown passes, showcasing impressive arm talent in coordinator Kendal Briles' scheme. However, Hoover will have to make do without his three favorite targets from last year, as Savion Williams, Jack Bech, and J.P. Richardson all moved on.
Fortunately, the cupboard is not completely bare at wideout. Senior Eric McAllister was a clutch, big-play threat for the team in 2024 and now looks to be the alpha in the room. Idaho transfer Jordan Dwyer should also be one of Hoover's go-to targets after coming over from Idaho, while do-it-all Major Everhart returns to the field after missing nearly all of last season.
The ground game was underwhelming a year ago, and the Horned Frogs are hoping for more production from their running backs in 2025. Nate Palmer has a chance to be the guy, but TCU also brought on Kevorian Barnes from UTSA after he appeared in 12 games for the Roadrunners a season ago.
Andy Avalos quietly did an exceptional job in his first season as defensive coordinator for TCU, turning this group into a Top 50 overall defense. This defense is likely to always be at a disadvantage with the tempo and high-octane nature of the offense, but it could be a really quality group once more in 2025.
Markis Deal sets the tone for the defense at nose guard, but the real highlight of this defense is at linebacker, where edge rusher Devean Deal, and veteran Namdi Obiazor truly shine. Kaleb Elarms-Orr will also factor in heavily after totaling 54 tackles himself a season ago.
Bud Clark has proven he can be a difference-maker for the Horned Frogs on the back-end, but it will be interesting to see how the rest of the secondary fares. Cornerbacks Channing Canada and Avery Helm have potential to be an effective duo, especially with Helm returning to 100 percent after missing the entirety of the 2024 campaign.
Bottom Line: The Horned Frogs feel like a team that will likely pull off an upset or two, and end up losing a couple games they shouldn't. Hoover has a chance to elevate the team as a whole, even with the losses out wide, but there are still enough questions elsewhere to think that this team's ceiling is right around middle-of-the-pack in this league. However, things always have a tendency to get strange in the Big 12, and TCU may just have enough magic left in the tank from 2022. If they can overcome a tricky non-conference slate, they should be an intriguing wild card in this conference.
Teams 9-16 in Part 2
All Big 12 Teams
First Team
QB Sam Leavitt, Arizona State
RB Bryson Washington, Baylor
RB Jaheim White, West Virginia
WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
WR Caleb Douglas, Texas Tech
TE Tanner Koziol, Houston
OL Jordan Seaton, Colorado
OL Spencer Fano, Utah
OL Bryce Foster, Kansas
OL Howard Sampson, Texas Tech
OL Caleb Lomu, Utah
DL David Bailey, Texas Tech
DL Lee Hunter, UCF
DL Dontay Corleone, Cincinnati
DL Dean Miller, Kansas
LB Austin Romaine, Kansas State
LB Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
LB Jack Kelly, BYU
CB Jontez Williams, Iowa State
CB Smith Snowden, Utah
S Bud Clark, TCU
S V.J. Payne, Kansas State
Second Team
QB Josh Hoover, TCU
RB Carson Hansen, Iowa State
RB Ismail Mahdi, Arizona
WR Josh Cameron, Baylor
WR Jayce Brown, Kansas State
TE Chamon Metayer, Arizona State
OL Carson Bruno, TCU
OL Omar Aigbedion, Baylor
OL Ben Coleman, Arizona State
OL Taylor Poitier, Kansas State
OL Max Ihenachor, Arizona State
DL Nyjalik Kelly, UCF
DL C.J. Fite, Arizona State
DL Domonique Orange, Iowa State
DL Jackie Marshall, Baylor
LB Gabe Powers, Kansas State
LB Keaton Thomas, Baylor
LB Isaiah Glasker, BYU
CB Latrell McCutchin, Houston
CB Javan Robinson, Arizona State
S Xavion Alford, Arizona State
S Devyn Bobby, Baylor
The Five Most Important Games
1. Texas Tech @ Arizona State (October 18) -- The Sun Devils are the reigning conference champions, Texas Tech is the rising up-and-comer - could this be a Big 12 Championship Game preview? Not only are these the most talented two teams in the conference, it will be an elite QB battle between Sam Leavitt and Behren Morton.
2. Arizona State @ Iowa State (November 1) -- A rematch of last year's conference championship game, both of these teams could be looking to bolster their College Football Playoff resume by this point in the season. The Cyclones will undoubtedly be looking for vengeance after losing 45-19 in last year's game.
3. Iowa State vs. Kansas State (August 23) -- The "Farmageddon" rivalry game ... in Dublin, Ireland? Not only will this be an interesting locale, it will be a ranked "Week Zero" game between two teams hoping to contend in the Big 12. With the way these two play, it should be a low-scoring, physical matchup to open up the season.
4. Utah @ BYU (October 18) -- The "Holy War" is always a hard-fought rivalry game, particularly now that it is a conference game. This edition could be a very interesting one - Utah almost surely will be better than what they were last season, while BYU is looking to keep the magic alive after an impressive 2024. This could be the perfect appetizer to the Texas Tech - Arizona State matchup later in the day.
5. Auburn @ Baylor (August 29) -- This early-season matchup may not have conference title implications, but it will be an important game for the Big 12 as a whole. Can Baylor, who is considered to be a top Big 12 Title contender, hold off an SEC team at home? Winning these types of non-conference games will go a long way in helping the league battle for multiple bids in this year's Playoff.
Superlatives
Offensive Player of the Year: Sam Leavitt, QB, Arizona State
Defensive Player of the Year: Dontay Corleone, DL, Cincinnati
Coach of the Year: Kyle Whittingham, Utah
Freshman of the Year: Linkon Cure, TE, Kansas State
Transfer of the Year: Tanner Koziol, TE, Houston
Big 12 Championship Game: Arizona State over Kansas State
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