Exit powerhouses Texas and Oklahoma. Enter former Pac-12 members Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah. The Big 12 has experienced immense change over the last two years, and it’s evident in the 2024 Big 12 Power Rankings. Who will fill the gaps atop the conference left by the Longhorns and Sooners?
16) Arizona State Sun Devils
Yes, Arizona State lost Jaden Rashada to Georgia, but Michigan State transfer Sam Leavitt had already taken pole position for the starting QB job. While the Sun Devils are on the rise in Year 2 of Kenny Dillingham’s tenure, the move to the Big 12 could stunt their growth. Herm Edwards tied the program’s hands behind its back, and Dillingham is dealing with the fallout as best he can.
15) BYU Cougars
BYU hasn’t had back-to-back losing seasons since 2003-2004, but the Cougars are in danger of that streak ending in 2024. Although transfer QB Gerry Bohanon has an experienced group of pass catchers to throw to, he didn’t throw a pass for USF last year.
Defensively, Tyler Batty and Weber State’s Jack Kelly form one of the best EDGE duos in the conference. Is that enough to make up for a defense that allowed nearly six yards per play last season?
14) Cincinnati Bearcats
Transfer portal acquisitions could ultimately make up 9-10 starters for Cincinnati, which isn’t exactly a bad thing coming off a 3-9 season. Indiana’s Brendan Sorsby is the favorite to start under center, and he showcased his potential in limited action.
However,Scott Satterfield needs a bounce-back campaignnow. He’s gone 28-33 (25-24 over four years at Louisville) as a Power Five head coach after winning three straight Sun Belt titles at Appalachian State.
13) Houston Cougars
Houston hired Willie Fritz to turn the program around after he led Tulane to back-to-back 10+ win seasons. A quick glance at the depth chart shows he got to work quickly, using the transfer portal to his advantage.
With so much turnover, it will take the Cougars some time to get the engine running, but QB Donovan Smith can generate points on his own.
12) Baylor Bears
The 2024 season could be Dave Aranda’s last in Waco if he doesn’t right the ship. Since going 12-2 and winning the Sugar Bowl in 2021, the Bears have gone 9-16. Landing Toledo star Dequan Finn was massive and makes new OC Jake Spavital’s job easier.
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Will that be enough for the Bears to turn back the clock? Probably not, but crazier things have happened in the Lone Star State.
11) Texas Tech Red Raiders
With strong recurring and transfer portal classes, there’s optimism in Lubbock. Health has been QB Behren Morton’s biggest hurdle, but he has the tools to thrive on the field. The schedule is favorable, as the Red Raiders face Abilene Christian, Washington State, North Texas, and Arizona State to open the year and get Cincinnati, Colorado, and West Virginia at home.
10) TCU Horned Frogs
TCU was in the national championship just two years ago, but that fact already seems a distant memory. Considering the 65-7 final score against Georgia, it’s probably best for the Horned Frogs. Regardless, QB Josh Hoover flashed in his redshirt freshman season, but his injury allowed transfer addition Ken Seals to receive valuable first-team reps in the spring.
If Seals is named the starter, the Horned Frogs will fall down the 2024 Big 12 Power Rankings — we know who he is, and he isn’t a winning QB. Former Boise State head coach Andy Avalos comes in to stabilize a unit that was dead last in turnovers forced in the conference last year.
9) UCF Knights
The Knights’ first year in the Big 12 wasn’t great, resulting in a 6-7 campaign — their first losing season since 2016. To avoid a repeat performance, Gus Malzahn paired 1,000-yard rusher RJ Harvey with Arkansas QB KJ Jefferson and Toledo RB Peny Boone.
Opening the year against FCS outfit New Hampshire and a struggling FBS newcomer in 2023 — Sam Houston State — will build confidence, but ending the season against West Virginia and Utah could crush hopes.
8) Colorado Buffaloes
All press is good press … unless you aren’t performing on the field. Deion Sanders and Colorado took the country by storm early last season but fell off their own hype train, stumbling to a 4-8 record. Shedeur Sanders returns as a top QB in the 2025 NFL Draft, and his father overhauled the roster via the portalagain.
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The talent is there for the Buffaloes to make some noise in the Big 12, but it’s up to Sanders and Co. to put their players in a position to succeed.
7) Iowa State Cyclones
Entering his ninth season, Matt Campbell is one of the longest-tenured coaches in the conference. The Cyclones surprised many by posting a winning record last year, and now they return nearly every starter on both sides of the ball.
That continuity gives Iowa State a leg up on the competition, but the roster is still young. If QB Rocco Becht takes a step forward in his development, this team could reach double-digit wins.
6) Kansas Jayhawks
In just three years, Lance Leipold has taken the Jayhawks from 2-10 to 9-4 with a bowl victory. With QB Jalon Daniels and RB Devin Neal back in 2024, could Kansas continue the linear progression? Daniels has missed 14 games in his career due to injury, so his health is a major factor in the team’s performance.
Losing OC Andy Kotelnicki to Penn State hurts, but QBs coach Jim Zebrowski was promoted to co-OC alongside former Baylor assistant Jeff Grimes.
5) West Virginia Mountaineers
Head coach Neal Brown only had one winning season (6-4 in 2020) entering 2023, and his seat was heating up. A 9-4 campaign and Mayo Bowl victory later, he received a contract extension. Were the Mountaineers a one-year wonder? My money’s on no.
QB Garrett Greene and RBs C.J. Donaldson Jr. and Jahiem White return after leading West Virginia to No. 4 nationally in rushing yards per game. The WR corps is deep, Wyatt Milum is one of the best OTs in the nation, and transfers have revamped the defense, particularly the secondary.
A Big 12 Championship is within reach for the Mountaineers — they just need a little health, luck, and consistency to make the dream come true.
4) Oklahoma State Cowboys
The Cowboys haven’t won a Big 12 title since 2011. Fresh off a 10-4 campaign that ended with a conference championship loss, can Mike Gundy lead his program back to the promised land?
Doak Walker Award winner Ollie Gordon IV headlines the list of key returners, including seven-year QB Alan Bowman, WR Brennan Presley, OT Dalton Cooper, LBs Collin Oliver and Nick Martin, CB Korie Black, and S Trey Rucker.
3) Arizona Wildcats
Jedd Fisch jumped ship for the Washington job, taking several coaches and players with him. Yet, QB Noah Fifita, OT Jonah Savaiinaea, WR Tetairoa McMillan, LB Jacob Manu, and CB Tacario Davis all decided to stay for new head coach Brent Brennan.
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That’s a talented foundation to build on, and with bouts against Kansas State (Week 3) and Utah (Week 4) early in the season, we’ll get to see just how competitive Arizona will be in the expanded Big 12.
2) Kansas State Wildcats
Avery Johnson. DJ Giddens. Dylan Edwards. Need I say more? The Wildcats have one of the most explosive backfields in the country, but we’ll need to see Johnson perform over a longer period of time as the QB1 before pushing the Wildcats over the No. 1 team on the 2024 Big 12 Power Rankings.
Nevertheless, Chris Klieman runs a well-coached program primed for its fourth straight 8+ win season.
1) Utah Utes
Kyle Whittingham, Cam Rising, and Brant Kuithe — a college trio as old as time (or at least the last seven seasons). Following back-to-back 10-4 campaigns, the Utes fell to 8-5 last year without the services of their starting QB and TE. They return with WRs Money Parks and Mycah Pittman, TE Landen King, and RBs Micah Bernard and Jaylon Glover.
Speaking of returners, the defense will have eight 2023 starters back in 2024, and CB transfers Cameron Calhoun (Michigan) and Kenan Johnson (Georgia Tech) shined during the spring. The Utes have a real shot at the Big 12 crown in their first year in the conference.
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