2024 Big 12 Football Preview: Projections and Players to Watch

RJ Young

FOX Sports National College Football Analyst

It’s a brand new day in the Big 12. Oklahoma and Texas are gone. Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah are in, and the battle for league supremacy has begun with more parity among the top 12 teams than it has in years.

Utah and Kansas State have both shown they can win conference titles in their respective leagues over the past three years, but Oklahoma State, Kansas and Arizona all appear to be contenders, while West Virginia, Iowa State and Colorado all look to show some guts.

Here’s what to expect from the new Big 12 this season:

(Read more: College Football Rankings 2024: RJ Young’s Ultimate 134)

Top five conference games to watch:

No. 12 Utah at no. 17 State of Oklahoma (September 21st)

This game features two starting quarterbacks who are both seventh-year players and multi-year starters in Utah’s Cam Rising and OSU’s Alan Bowman. This could be a preview of this year’s Big 12 title game. It’s exactly the kind of game we like to see early in the season, establishing both a pecking order and a baseline for what expectations should be for the two top-ranked teams in the conference.

No. 21 Arizona at no. 18 Kansas State (September 13, 8:00 PM ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app)

Arizona is riding a wave of excitement in its first season of Big 12 play with Noah Fifita and Tetairoa McMillan leading an offense that has been dynamic through the air. Fifita threw for 527 yards against Arizona State last year and McMillan returns as one of the nation’s most productive wide receivers with more than 1,400 yards through the air.

No. 18 Kansas State bee Colorado (Oct 12)

The Dylan Edwards Bowl! Edwards, who started last year at tailback for CU, will likely be on the field for K-State this year. The Wildcats, who won the league two years ago, are just a few weeks removed from their preseason top 25 matchup against Arizona and may be hoping to set a marker for CFP selection with a win against the hottest team in the sport.

No. 23: Iowa State at no. 12 Utah (November 23)

The Cyclones are a smart pick to win the Big 12 title, with quarterback Rocco Becht and receiver Jayden Higgins leading an offense with enough firepower to give Morgan Scalley’s defense trouble. If Iowa State can come within striking distance of earning a spot in the conference title game, the game against the Utes could be the defining game of the Big 12 season.

Colorado in return for. No. 17 State of Oklahoma (November 29)

This matchup features two of the biggest coaching personalities in the sport and at least three players who expect their names to be called on the first day of the upcoming NFL Draft. If Colorado proves to be a force, this game will be a measure of just how strong that force is.

Top five players to watch:

Travis HunterWR/CB and Shedeur SandersQB, Colorado

They are the two biggest superstars in college football and they both play for a team coached by the most prestigious coach in college football.

In 2023, Hunter has consistently played over 100 snaps per game with 31 tackles, three interceptions and eight passes defensed. He’s also caught 57 passes for 721 yards and five touchdowns. Going both ways just means more.

Sanders threw for 3,320 yards and 27 touchdowns while completing 69 percent of his passes en route to being named Pac-12 Newcomer of the Year after setting program records for passing yards in a season, completion percentage and touchdown-to-interception ratio.

Hunter has been on the cover of EA Sports’ “College Football 25” and has benefited from the game’s huge success, which is said to earned more than $500 million with more than five million unique players on the service since its launch in July. Meanwhile, Sanders has benefited from NIL deals with some of the world’s biggest brands, including a reported NIL deal with Nike.

In a year where there is no clear Heisman favorite heading into the season, Hunter and Sanders have the skills needed to transcend the sport and become the center of the sports world if Colorado can put together a championship season.

Ollie GordonRB, State of Oklahoma

Gordon is the nation’s top running back after rushing for over 1,700 yards, 2,000 from scrimmage, earning unanimous All-American honors and becoming the first Doak Walker Award winner in Oklahoma State history. With another season like 2023, Gordon could lead Oklahoma State to its first College Football Playoff appearance. If he’s as good this season as he was last year, a 2,000-yard rushing season isn’t out of the question.

Ollie Gordon II breaks loose for a 42-yard rushing TD, giving Oklahoma State a lead over Kansas

Jalon DanielsQB, Kansas

Daniels is the most explosive player in the Big 12 at his position. If he stays healthy, he can be a 3,000-yard passer and 1,000-yard rusher for a program on the verge of greatness. He just needs to stay healthy all year.

Tetairoa McMillanWR, Arizona

McMillan’s 90 catches for 1,402 yards with 10 TDs made him one of the breakout stars of 2023 and earned him All-American honors — as a sophomore. His 11 catches for 266 yards with two TDs against Arizona State was one of the best performances by a wideout in the last three years. He could be the first wideout off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Tahj Brooks, RB, Texan technology

In 2023, Brooks rushed for more yards (1,541) than he did in his previous three seasons combined (1,317). With 1,168 rushing yards this season, he’ll leave Tech as the school’s all-time rushing leader. His superpower is making defenders miss: His 96 missed tackles led all FBS players last year.

Top five freshmen to watch:

Jordan SeatonOT, Colorado

If Colorado wants to field an offensive line capable of protecting Shedeur Sanders, Seaton is likely one of those players who needs to play well right away. A five-star prospect and offensive tackle, he’s the most significant recruit — high school or transfer — that Coach Prime has brought in since trading Travis Hunter from Florida State to Jackson State.

Will Colorado and Deion Sanders fare better in their return to the Big 12 Conference?

Jayshon RiddleOT Houston

The Texas native has a 10.8 100-yard dash and fills a need following Matthew Golden’s decision to transfer from Houston to Texas. Ridgle, a four-star recruit, can play multiple positions and be a force on special teams for Cougars coach Willie Fritz in Year 1.

DJ WarnerTHE, Kansas

Warner is the second-highest-ranked recruit the Jayhawks have ever had. He left Arizona State as the second-highest-ranked player in the state and is poised to be an immediate impact player for Lance Leipold in Year 1. Along with freshman Dakyus Brinkley, Leipold has set up his defense with a few bookends that could carry it well into the future.

Micah HudsonWR, Texan technology

He enters this season as the highest-ranked recruit to ever sign with Texas Tech. The expectation is that one of the best players in his class — let alone his position — will leave Tech with his name among Michael Crabtree, Wes Welker and Danny Amendola as the best wideouts in school history.

Jadon PorterWR, Bay

Porter, a four-star recruit and Texas native, could enjoy the same kind of breakout season in production that Richard Reese had at tailback two years ago. Given that new offensive coordinator Jake Spavital’s passing game is based on air-raid principles, Porter could see plenty of targets to show off his ability to rack up yards after the catch.

Conference Championship: Utah

The Utes won the Pac-12 title back-to-back years with Rising at quarterback, and he’s back under center this year. Until a program shows it can beat Utah, they’ve earned the privilege of winning — and that’s what we expect of them.

RJ Young is a national college football writer and analyst for FOX Sports and the host of the podcast “The best college football show.“Follow him up @RJ_Young And Subscribe to “The RJ Young Show” on YouTube.

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