The Big 12 Conference adds four teams from the Pac-12 Conference in 2024 after losing Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC. It's a potent mix of new and old rivalries that sees at least five teams — maybe more? — who have realistic hopes of winning the Big 12 and making the 12-team College Football Playoff.
Here's a look at the TSN Preseason Big 12 Football Rankings:
1. Oklahoma State (2023 record: 10-4, 7-2 Big 12)
The Cowboys return 21 starters — 10 on offense, 10 on defense and the punter off a team that won 10 games last season and played in the Big 12 Championship Game. They also have a Heisman Trophy contender in running back Ollie Gordon II, last year’s Doak Walker Award winner.
2. Arizona (2023 record: 10-3, 7-2 Pac-12)
Arizona has four potential first-round picks with quarterback Noah Fifita, wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, offensive tackle Jonah Savaiinaea and cornerback Tacario Davis, all of whom earned some type of postseason Pac-12 honor last season.
3. Kansas State (2023 record: 9-4, 6-3 Big 12)
It might be good so much attention is being placed on sophomore quarterback Avery Johnson headed into the season — the running back combination of D.J. Giddens and Dylan Edwards could be the real key to the season.
4. Utah (2023 record: 8-5, 5-4 Pac-12)
Too much depends on seventh-year quarterback Cam Rising to pick the Utes to win the Big 12 in their rookie season — he only played one game in 2020 and missed all of 2023 because of injuries.
5. Iowa State (2023 Record: 7-6, 6-3 Big 12)
Iowa State returns nine starters on offense and nine starters on defense off a team that was one of the youngest in college football in 2023.
6. West Virginia (2023 record: 9-4, 6-3 Big 12)
If WVU quarterback Garrett Greene can continue to channel boyhood heroes Baker Mayfield and Johnny Manziel like he has in the past — he rushed for 772 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2023 — then watch out.
7. Texas Tech (2023 record: 7-6, 5-4 Big 12)
Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton and freshman wide receiver Micah Hudson might be one of the best duos in the Big 12 from Game 1.
8. Kansas (2023 Record: 7-6, 6-3 Big 12)
Like Utah, Kansas has a quarterback with a history of brilliance … and injury issues. It’s hard to see Jalon Daniels staying healthy for an entire season at this point.
9. Colorado (2023 Record: 4-8, 1-8 Pac-12)
Expectations were unrealistic for Colorado after a 3-0 start in 2023. Realistically, 8-4 and a .500 record in Big 12 play in 2024 should be considered a success.
10. Houston (2023 Record: 4-8, 2-7 Big 12)
New Houston head coach Willie Fritz has been a success everywhere he’s been — why would this be any different?
11. TCU (2023 record: 5-7, 3-6 Big 12)
The drop off from making the College Football Playoff National Championship Game following the 2022 season to fnishing two games below .500 in 2023 was alarming. Things don’t look like they’ll get better in 2024.
12. UCF (2023 record: 6-7, 3-6 Big 12)
Quarterback KJ Jefferson transferred to UCF after three seasons as the starter at Arkansas — should there be some concern he left after his worst year in 2023?
13. BYU (2023 record: 5-7, 2-7 Big 12)
It’s a bad sign BYU struggled like it did in its first year in the Big 12 in 2023 — and they don’t really have a quarterback in 2024. Not ideal.
14. Baylor (2023 record: 3-9, 2-7 Big 12)
All signs point to the Dave Aranda era coming to an end in 2024, but we can’t say we’re not intrigued by how transfer quarterback Dequan Finn will do after dominating at Toledo the last three seasons.
15. Arizona State (2023 record: 3-9, 2-7 Pac-12)
Arizona State saw a lot of talent walk out the door via the transfer portal — including some of the best players on other teams in the Big 12 like Colorado defensive end B.J. Green and Texas Tech tight end Jalin Conyers.
16. Cincinnati (2023 Record: 3-9, 1-8 Big 12)
It must have been a shock for Scott Satterfield to go 1-8 in the Big 12 in his first season at Cincinnati after going mostly .500 in four seasons at Louisville. It’s still not clear when the Bearcats will have their best player back in defensive lineman Dontay Corleone.
The mini movie from Texas's win in the Big 12 Championship Game over Oklahoma State a couple of weeks ago! pic.twitter.com/TKjvOgLjfK
— Hook'em Headlines (@HookemHeadlines) December 13, 2023
