Coaches and players from the 16 teams in the Big 12 Conference will gather for Big 12 Media Day son July 9-10 in Las Vegas, with four new teams in the mix with Colorado, Utah, Arizona and Arizona State coming over from the Pac-12 Conference.
Here’s a look at the biggest storyline for all 16 teams ahead of their time with the press:
Arizona: NFL talent all over the field, including likely Top 10 pick wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, means the Wildcats could make a run at the new, 12-team College Football Playoff.
Arizona State: Kenny Dillingham was hired to right the ship after Herm Edwards but went 3-9 in his first season in 2023 — the same record Edwards had in his final season. Discuss among yourselves.
Baylor: Head coach Dave Aranda starts 2024 on the hot seat after back-to-back losing seasons and a 3-9 record in 2023.
BYU: The Cougars went 1-5 on the road in their first year in Big 12. Not ideal.
Cincinnati: The Bearcats made the College Football Playoff in 2022 … then went 1-8 in their first season in the Big 12 in 2023. How do you bounce back from that?
Colorado: So much hype. So much pressure. Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter and a clutch of talented transfers and recruits will begin the season in the spotlight once again.
Houston: Longtime head coach Willie Fritz finally gets his shot at at Power Four program after delivering big at every previous stop in his career.
Iowa State: Cyclones could be surprise Big 12 contender and return almost the entire starting lineup from 2023.
Kansas: Lance Leipold has the Jayhawks being talked about as Big 12 contenders. Historically speaking that’s no small feat.
Kansas State: All eyes will be on sophomore quarterback Avery Johnson, who Kansas State’s coaching staff had enough faith in to let last year’s starter, Will Howard, transfer to Ohio State.
Oklahoma State: The Cowboys return the nucleus of its team from last year, including Doak Walker Award winner Ollie Gordon II at running back. That should be the story but it won’t be. It will be about Gordon’s recent arrest for DUI.
TCU: Sonny Dykes has one of the nation’s best recruiting classes for 2025 but if the Horned Frogs go 5-7 again in 2024 … can they keep them?
Texas Tech: Incremental progress is one thing, but college football is not a place for patience. Winning 10 games would be a giant leap forward for third-year head coach Joey McGurie. The Red Raiders play two of their final three games at home — Colorado on Nov. 9 and West Virginia in the regular-season finale on Nov. 30.
UCF: Explain to us what the Knights have beyond quarterback K.J. Jefferson, who was a three-year starter at Arkansas before transferring to UCF.
Utah: ThIs team warrants three questions: Is this longtime head coach Kyle Whittingham’s final season? Is BYU-Utah automatically the Big 12’s best rivalry? Can seventh-year QB Cam Rising regain his old form after injuries?
West Virginia: There’s something to love about WVU quarterback Garrett Greene modeling his game after former Heisman Trophy winners Baker Mayfield and Johnny Manziel.
WVU quarterback Garrett Greene recently participated in the Manning Passing Academy as the 2024 season is on the horizon.
— WVU Foundation (@WVUFoundation) July 6, 2024
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