As was the case in 2024, the Large 12 title appears to be out there to almost any group within the convention. Kenny Dillingham’s Arizona State Solar Devils have been notably picked within the preseason media ballot to complete final within the league, after which went on to win it and take Texas to the wire within the Faculty Soccer Playoff. However ASU was only one loss away from failing to even make the Large 12 title sport — 4 groups completed the season with seven in-conference wins. Iowa State, Colorado, and BYU hung round till the very finish.
This yr, Texas Tech, recent off an enormous push to usher in new expertise within the offseason, will look to affix the convention’s elite. Utah, TCU, Baylor and Kansas is perhaps within the combine as properly. And who is aware of, maybe the group we choose to complete final would be the one to finish the season on high. Something can occur within the nation’s most wide-open energy convention.
We’re right here to get you caught up on the Large 12 by breaking down the convention’s CFP outlook, Energy Rankings, must-see video games, high freshmen, key transfers and numbers to know.
CFP outlook
Must be in: Arizona State. The Large 12 is probably probably the most unpredictable convention within the nation. Arizona State, picked to complete final firstly of the 2024 season, was the league’s lone participant within the first 12-team Playoff. In 2025, the Solar Devils loom as the favourite, regardless that that is not official for the reason that convention did away with the preseason ballot. However the Solar Devils return 79 p.c of their manufacturing from final season, good for 2nd finest within the nation. Sam Leavitt will enter the season as a Heisman candidate, particularly with a wholesome Jordyn Tyson on the surface, and regardless of the lack of RB Cam Skattebo, Military switch Kanye Udoh ought to fill in properly as a substitute.
Within the working: Texas Tech, Kansas State, Iowa State, Utah, Baylor, Kansas, BYU, TCU, and Colorado. As Invoice Connelly identified in his Large 12 season preview, the highest 5 groups in final season’s preseason Large 12 media ballot ended up going a mixed 26-35 general and 13-32 in convention play, whereas the underside 5 groups within the ballot went a mixed 39-25 (26-19). Right here, a stable case could be made for all 9 of those groups to all win the convention or earn an at-large bid. There isn’t any such factor as a straightforward schedule within the Large 12, and given the potential for every of those groups, there is no telling how issues may shake out amongst this group.
Lengthy photographs: West Virginia, UCF, Oklahoma State, Houston, Cincinnati, Arizona. Given what Arizona State confirmed final season after going 3-9 in 2023, the groups on this class should not be with out hope. Scott Frost and Wealthy Rodriguez are hoping to carry their respective groups in UCF and West Virginia again to glory. Mike Gundy and Oklahoma State have been ranked sooner or later within the high 25 each season since 2008, and may rebound from the worst season of his tenure. Houston confirmed enchancment within the second half of final season beneath Willie Fritz. Cincinnati has potential for continued offensive effectivity with Brendan Sorsby, and Noah Fifita’s talents will all the time give Arizona a shot to win video games. On the very least, every of those groups is probably going good for an upset or two through the season. — Harry Lyles Jr.
Should-see video games
From Invoice Connelly’s Big 12 conference preview
Listed here are the 5 convention video games that function (a) the best mixed SP+ rankings for each groups and (b) a projected scoring margin beneath 10 factors.
Iowa State vs. Kansas State in Dublin (Aug. 23). This is perhaps my favourite Week 0 sport but. Not solely will we get a Farmageddon matchup in nearly the very best dairy land on the earth, however we additionally get one of many largest video games of the Large 12 season earlier than Week 1 even rolls round.
TCU at Kansas State (Oct. 11). TCU and Baylor each surged within the late levels of 2024, although in contrast to Arizona State, they every did it when it was too late to make a mark within the convention title race. The Horned Frogs have fairly a little bit of purpose for optimism, however by the point this Week 7 matchup is finished, they’re going to have performed at each Arizona State and Ok-State. A convention title run would possibly require a win at one or the opposite.
Texas Tech at Arizona State (Oct. 18). The defending champ in opposition to the offseason’s buzziest group. The Crimson Raiders took down ASU in Lubbock, Texas, final season 30-22, nevertheless it was properly earlier than the Solar Devils discovered fifth gear. Which group will probably be in correct midseason kind for this one?
Texas Tech at Kansas State (Nov. 1). It seems the schedule makers decreed Ok-State and Tech to be probably the most impactful groups on this yr’s title race — if they do not win it themselves, they’re going to resolve who does.
Kansas State at Utah (Nov. 22). One other Ok-State sport! Goodness. Utah went from title favourite to 2-7 in convention play final season, however a redesigned offense and higher harm luck (and the ensuing higher close-games fortune) may produce a 180-degree turnaround. In that case, this one may resolve a spot within the title sport. — Invoice Connelly
Three freshmen to look at
Julian Lewis, QB, Colorado
Lewis has been on the nationwide radar since eighth grade and left highschool with over 10,000 passing yards in simply three seasons. Regardless of common bodily measurables at 6-1, 195 kilos, Lewis’ elite mechanics and wonderful soccer data allowed him to select aside the very best highschool defenses in Georgia. Deion Sanders and the remainder of the workers acknowledged that Lewis has the kind of maturity that helps freshmen acclimate shortly within the fall. Whereas Liberty switch Kaidon Salter stays the starter after spring apply, Lewis sits shut behind him, prepared for any alternative to guide the Buffalo offense this season. Contemplating Colorado’s offensive historical past of sacks and violent hits to their quarterback within the pocket, Lewis would possibly solely be one snap away from main the Buffs’ offense in 2025.
Carde Smith, OT, Colorado
Smith does not essentially have to step in straight away given the veteran expertise returning on Colorado’s line. However at 6-5 and 290 kilos, he’s a drive to be reckoned with within the trenches, utilizing his athleticism to succeed in defenders within the second stage shortly and his power to place them within the dust. This spring, Smith displayed his college-level energy and psychological toughness, sending a message to the Colorado workers that he is not shy about seeing the sector early. Phillip Houston is predicted to begin at proper sort out, though a critical harm suffered on the finish of final season saved him out of spring apply. Smith will definitely be able to rise to the event when his identify known as, very similar to Money Cleveland was a yr in the past.
Linkon Cure, TE, Kansas State
Acting at a excessive stage throughout spring apply as a real freshman is a tall activity for any latest 18-year-old graduate, even for somebody like Remedy, the primary five-star recruit in Kansas State historical past. Remedy solidified his bodily talents and uncooked athleticism in summer season exercises, standing out in a veteran tight finish room who took the freshman beneath their wing. Ok-State may use Remedy in any offensive function on the perimeter. Remedy’s positional flexibility, elite palms and athleticism ought to make a big impression on the Wildcats offense this fall, and he appears the a part of a dependable goal for third-year beginning quarterback Avery Johnson. — Billy Tucker
Three high transfers
These picks are based mostly on Max Olson’s rating of the highest 100 transfers from the 2024-25 switch cycle.
Transferring from: Stanford | High 100 rank: 9
HT: 6-3 | WT: 250 | Class: Junior
Background: Bailey entered the portal quickly after Stanford fired coach Troy Taylor in late March and immediately turned one of many high gamers out there forward of the spring portal window. The previous No. 122 recruit loved a breakout debut season in 2022, incomes Freshman All-America honors, and led the Cardinal in tackles for loss in every of his three seasons with this system. Bailey has produced 111 profession tackles, 81 pressures, 22.5 TFLs and 14.5 sacks and has a possibility to turn out to be an early-round NFL draft choose if he can put collectively a robust senior season. — Olson
Scout’s take: Bailey is a disruptive presence as an edge defender and one of many extra explosive outdoors linebackers in school soccer. He isn’t the most important or longest, however he is tremendous sturdy, compact and performs with wonderful leverage. Bailey makes use of nice speed-to-power, which may shock and shed larger tackles on his pursuit to the QB. He also can bend and rip the nook with clear, fluid actions. Bailey flashes wonderful closing pace to chase down perimeter runs and has fast upfield burst to disrupt performs earlier than they develop. Bailey can maintain up in protection, however it’s not his strongest trait. His finest asset is perhaps an intense motor: Bailey performs the sport on excessive octane. — Tucker
What he brings to Texas Tech: The Crimson Raiders have been among the many largest spenders of the December portal interval and have spared no expense in upgrading at edge rusher with Bailey and Georgia Tech switch Romello Height. They seen Bailey as top-of-the-line returning defensive gamers within the nation, beat Texas and UCLA for his pledge and instantly introduced him in for spring apply. Texas Tech has assembled some of the gifted defensive strains within the nation with NFL-caliber expertise and robust depth. All these strikes have made the Crimson Raiders the clear Large 12 front-runner for 2025. — Olson
Transferring from: North Carolina | High 100 rank: 18
HT: 6-8 | WT: 325 | Class: Redshirt sophomore
Background: New coach Invoice Belichick managed to get a number of UNC starters to withdraw from the portal and stick with this system, however the brand new regime was not capable of maintain on to Sampson. The large former North Texas switch began 12 video games at left sort out in his first season with the Tar Heels, allowed only one sack in convention play and picked up honorable point out All-ACC recognition. Sampson has the scale and expertise to grow to be an early-round draft choose a yr from now. — Olson
Scout’s take: Sampson is a mountain on the nook with an enormous body and greater than enough bend. His lengthy attain and deceptively mild toes make it troublesome for defenders to win the sting. As soon as he will get his large palms inside and locked on, he appears to complete and is bodily in his demeanor. Sampson can nonetheless get into hassle when his pads get excessive and he overextends. He is at his finest driving defenders outdoors the pocket using his fast kick and punch. Sampson nonetheless wants some refinement however has first-round measurement and toes to develop. — Tucker
What he brings to Texas Tech: The Humble, Texas, native is coming dwelling to affix a Texas Tech squad that’s completely loading as much as chase a Large 12 championship in 2025. The Crimson Raiders had an enormous want at sort out with tremendous senior proper sort out Caleb Rogers graduating and left sort out Ty Buchanan transferring to Arizona, they usually succeeded in locking up top-of-the-line available on the market. — Olson
Transferring from: UCF | High 100 rank: 19
HT: 6-4 | WT: 320 | Class: Redshirt junior
Background: The defensive lineman was the No. 60 participant within the 2021 ESPN 300 and redshirted throughout his lone season at Auburn earlier than transferring to reunite with Gus Malzahn in Orlando. Hunter developed right into a drive in the midst of the Knights’ entrance over his three years in this system and has racked up a mixed 20.5 tackles for loss over the previous two seasons. In 2024, he earned second-team All-Large 12 honors and completed with the very best stress price (8.6%) amongst all Large 12 defensive tackles, based on ESPN Analysis. — Olson
Scout’s take: Hunter can management the center of the protection. He isn’t only a big-bodied D-lineman who forces double-teams; he is a disrupter with good preliminary burst to penetrate and create issues for opposing offenses. He performed snaps at tight finish in highschool and flashes fast toes at 320 kilos, splitting the double-team and chasing performs down the road of scrimmage. Hunter does a extremely good job utilizing his palms to maintain separation as a cross rusher and has the explosive energy to constantly win one-on-one blocks and collapse the pocket. His potential to play in a two-gap or shade scheme provides to his worth. — Tucker
What he brings to Texas Tech: Hunter was scheduled to take an official go to to Texas after his journey to Lubbock. The Crimson Raiders weren’t going to let that occur and acquired a deal carried out so as to add him to their rising portal class. New Texas Tech DC Shiel Wooden provides one of many Large 12’s finest returning D-linemen and might anticipate him to make a big impression in the midst of the protection. — Olson
Numbers to know
5: 5 completely different groups have received the Large 12 championship over the previous 5 years. No different energy convention has had greater than three completely different groups win its title in that span.
2: There are two new coaches within the Large 12 — and each are again for his or her second stint. Scott Frost returns to UCF after main the Knights to a 13-0 mark in 2017, then transferring on to Nebraska; Wealthy Rodriguez rejoins West Virginia, the place he received 60 video games over seven seasons, after leaving in 2007 to take over at Michigan.
+550: The percentages of Kansas State profitable the Large 12 title, the longest odds for an influence convention favourite since not less than 2008. – ESPN Analysis
Energy Rankings
1. Arizona State
The Solar Devils broke by way of final season by doing what coaches say is the toughest factor to do: studying easy methods to win. After a blowout within the opener in opposition to Wyoming, ASU’s subsequent 5 video games have been all determined by eight factors or much less, as they went 4-1 over that span, with only a loss to Texas Tech in Lubbock. Their season led to a heartbreaking 39-31 double-overtime loss to Texas within the Faculty Soccer Playoff, which solely gave them much more confidence since they stood toe-to-toe with a group that’s doubtless the nationwide championship favorites this yr. The Solar Devils misplaced Cam Skattebo to the NFL, however are returning practically everybody else.
2. Texas Tech
Behren Morton is again at QB, and he is acquired quite a lot of new mates, because of Tech’s aggressive offseason, one of many largest tales of the previous few months, as Joey McGuire made waves in Lubbock with a warfare chest because of the Crimson Raiders’ collective. The end result was one of many nation’s top-ranked portal courses, which included preseason all-Large 12 defensive linemen David Bailey and Lee Hunter. McGuire welcomed two new coordinators, together with Mack Leftwich from Texas State. Shiel Wooden will take over the protection after doing a powerful job in a single season at Houston. He’ll have an enormous piece of the puzzle in place with Jacob Rodriguez, the preseason Large 12 defensive participant of the yr, returning at linebacker.
3. Kansas State
The Wildcats are one of many Large 12’s most constant applications, and Chris Klieman all the time makes taking part in them a problem. After opening the season in Eire in opposition to Iowa State, Ok-State will get two of the more durable groups on its schedule, TCU and Texas Tech at dwelling. Austin Romaine (96 tackles) returns at linebacker to QB the protection, and if Avery Johnson lives as much as expectations together with a robust backfield, the Wildcats may return to the Large 12 championship sport.
4. TCU
The Frogs should navigate one of many trickier Large 12 schedules, together with highway journeys to Arizona State, Kansas State and BYU. Out of convention, they’re going to face a wild media circus for the opener at North Carolina in Invoice Belichick’s debut. However the Frogs will as soon as once more have a robust offense with Josh Hoover (3,949 yards, 27 TDs final yr) returning and a protection that improved within the second half final yr beneath first-year coordinator Andy Avalos.
5. Utah
The Utes, some of the constant applications within the nation beneath Kyle Whittingham, stumbled to a 5-7 season in 12 months 1 within the Large 12 after accidents and struggles at quarterback. They responded by hiring New Mexico offensive coordinator Jason Beck, who introduced in his starter, Devon Dampier, a real twin risk who rushed for 1,166 yards and 19 TDs whereas throwing for two,768. Trusting Whittingham’s protection is not exhausting, however including 5 transfers at extensive receiver together with a brand new offense would be the key to how far this Utes group can go.
6. Baylor
Considered one of final season’s bounce-back tales, the Bears misplaced to their first 4 Energy 4 opponents, starting 2-4 after which reeled off six straight wins to shut the season earlier than a loss to LSU within the Texas Bowl to avoid wasting Dave Aranda’s job. Offensive coordinator Jake Spavital discovered his beginning quarterback, Sawyer Robertson, and working again, Bryson Washington, within the course of, and each return together with a robust offensive unit. Robertson’s emergence makes the Bears a dark-horse contender.
7. Iowa State
Doubt Matt Campbell at our personal peril. Final season, he led the Cyclones to their first 11-win season in class historical past and a No. 15 end. Rocco Becht returns at quarterback after throwing for 3,505 yards with 25 TDs. However his two star receivers, Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, are gone. The schedule is manageable, although there’s Farmageddon in Eire, the Cy-Hawk go to to Iowa and journeys to Colorado and TCU to deal with.
8. BYU
The Cougars stormed to an 11-win season and an Alamo Bowl victory, together with a nonconference win over future CFP group SMU, and misplaced its solely two video games, to Kansas and Arizona State in consecutive weeks, by a mixed 9 factors. An offseason controversy round quarterback Jake Retzlaff, who was accused of sexual assault in a civil lawsuit, which was later dismissed, then confronted a BYU Honor Code suspension, led to his switch to Tulane. In consequence, the Cougars want to select a brand new starter from the trio of Treyson Bourguet, McCae Hillstead and Bear Bachmeier. The Cougars even have to switch a big quantity of begins on each the offensive and defensive strains.
9. Kansas
Jalon Daniels returns for hopefully an injury-free yr to complete a Kansas profession stuffed with tantalizing potential and irritating accidents. Lance Leipold has carried out unbelievable work to construct the Jayhawks into winners, and even final yr’s 5-7 report included three consecutive wins over ranked groups. However Kansas changed each coordinators this offseason and has an inexperienced protection. Changing Devin Neal’s manufacturing at working again will not be straightforward, both.
10. Colorado
It has been fairly an offseason for Deion Sanders, who revealed a number of weeks in the past that he’d undergone most cancers therapy. That places his soccer challenges in perspective, notably in having to switch Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders. Senior Kaidon Salter, a switch from Liberty, and five-star freshman Julian Lewis are vying for the quarterback job. However there’s no person that may exchange Hunter. The Buffaloes have introduced in additional than 30 transfers to bolster the strains and add some expertise at extensive receiver. This will probably be a captivating yr in Coach Prime’s rebuild.
11. Cincinnati
Brendan Sorsby (2,813 and 18 TDs, 447 yards and 9 TDs dashing) is again at quarterback, and all-everything defensive sort out Dontay Corleone is again in soccer form after being sidelined with points with blood clots that did not enable him to apply. These are two large items for Cincinnati, which received simply three Large 12 video games — on in opposition to Arizona State — however have been not often blown out. The Bearcats will attempt to exchange Corey Kiner’s productiveness with Evan Pryor (418 yards, 6 TDs) and Wisconsin and Oklahoma switch Tawee Walker.
12. Houston
Willie Fritz’s first yr was a rebuilding one, and he is needed to embark on slightly little bit of a makeover already, changing offensive coordinator Kevin Barbay, who was fired earlier than the ultimate sport final season, together with his former Tulane OC Slade Nagle, and changing Shiel Wooden, who left for a similar job at Texas Tech, with former Florida DC Austin Armstrong. Former five-star recruit Conner Weigman will take over at quarterback after transferring from Texas A&M. Fritz is called a turnaround knowledgeable. After a 4-8 begin, how large of a soar can the Cougars make this yr?
13. Oklahoma State
Mike Gundy is the final word “figure-it-out” coach. However final yr, no person may determine the Cowboys. A disastrous yr, Gundy’s first dropping season since his first on the helm in Stillwater in 2005, led to him turning to 2 new skilled coordinators in Todd Grantham on protection and Doug Meacham on offense. There are transfers and new starters all over the place, together with practically each place on protection. Gundy has received 7 or extra video games 18 occasions at OSU, with solely his first season and final yr because the outliers. Can he determine it out this time?
14. Arizona
After profitable 10 video games in 2023, Jedd Fisch departed for Washington, and Brent Brennan, who’d all the time overachieved at San Jose State, arrived with star energy readily available in quarterback Noah Fifita and extensive receiver Tetairoa McMillan sticking round. However the offense sputtered, notably the working sport, and the Wildcats crashed again to a 4-8 season, together with seven of their remaining eight, with only a win over Houston. It wasn’t the season the remaining stars envisioned. McMillan turned the eighth general choose within the draft, however Fifita remains to be in Tucson, decided to return the Wildcats to their former standing.
15. UCF
After a 4-8 season, Gus Malzahn jumped on the probability to assist former assistant Mike Norvell at Florida State and turn out to be his offensive coordinator, clearing the way in which for UCF to reunite with former coach Scott Frost. In his final season in Orlando in 2017, Frost went 13-0. That will not occur this yr, however there’s not a lot of a strategy to anticipate how the Knights will look. They return only one starter on offense, and former Oklahoma DC Alex Grinch will probably be changing a lot of the protection with transfers too.
16. West Virginia
Wealthy Rodriguez is again! So are Pat White and Noel Devine! Sadly, they’re coaches now and might’t assistance on the sector. Nonetheless, Jahiem White provides Rodriguez star energy to construct round at working again, and his offensive system is certain to supply some pleasure between a trio of candidates at QB in junior returner Nicco Marchiol, or transfers Jaylen Henderson or Max Brown. However with greater than 50 new gamers on the roster, RichRod’s 12 months 1 could also be extra about reigniting some nostalgia and pleasure than contending. — Dave Wilson