UTAH OVER OKLA. ST, KANSAS ST, AND KANSAS IN THE BIG 12…….

UTAH, OKLAHOMA STATE, KANSAS STATE AND KANSAS ARE THE CLASS OF THE BIG 12

There are a few really good teams in the Big 12 this year yet the balance of the league is either mediocre or trach.  We shall see some coaching changes come 2025.  Individually, there are some top quality talent in the league.  

Big 12

1. Utah

2. Oklahoma State

3. Kansas State

4. Kansas

5. Iowa State

6. Texas Tech

7. West Virginia

8. Arizona

9. TCU

10. Baylor

11. UCF

12. Colorado

13. BYU

14. Cincinnati

15. Houston

16. Arizona State

1.  Utah:  With the easier schedule than their top rivals this year, the Ute’s have two games to that are  toss-ups.  I think they lose to Okla. St. in Stillwater but beat Arizona at home.  With a one loss conference schedule they should make the Big 12 title game in Arlington with ease.  11-1 or 12-0 and a win in the championship game gives them a place in the 12 team playoffs.  Even a loss could still propel them as the 2nd team in the playoffs. They look solid in August.
2. The Pokes have a much harder schedule to make the Big 12 Championship but I think they will make it with a win over Utah in Stillwater.  The best offensive line (top five nationally), the best running back in the country (Ollie Gordon), some explosive pass catchers that are game breakers, put the OSU offense in high gear if quarterback Alan Bowman, in his 7th season of college football can avoid costly turnovers.  I think he will be good enough.  Having some of the best defensive players in the league (Kendall Daniels, Colin Oliver, and linebacker Nick Martin),  OSU will have playmakers to do much damage against their opponents.  With all that, the Pokes have to go to Kansas State after the Utah game and for them to win both will not be easy. I say the Wildcats put the L on OSU in the Little Apple.  An 11-1 record and 8-1 in conference puts them in the Big 12 title game.  Yet Kansas State and Utah might be good enough to spoil them too.  I say OSU loses two game, both in conference.
3. Kansas State: The Wildcats have just too many tough games for them to just lose one conference game. Good for them that the Arizona game will not count as a Big 12 conference game this season.  I think KSU will lose at least two in conference, maybe three.  But they are one of the top 3 to make the title game. Do not count them out.  I have KSU going 9-3 or even 8-4 but with losing conference games will hurt them.
4. Kansas:  A great year is possible with the light Big 12 schedule but I think this team is headed for a down year.  Maybe, but maybe not.  I have the Jayhawks going 9-3 but only 6-3 in league.  They have the coaching to win more but not this year.
5. Iowa State:  Another Big 12 team that could win nine or ten games but there are issues with games at Iowa, West Virginia, Kansas and Utah.  A home game with K-State will not be easy too.   8-4 and at least three conference loses.
6. Texas Tech:  Hope for an 8 or more win season is not unrealistic.  But only 7 returning starters does not help Coach McGuire even with a returning quarterback in Martin.  A quick five win start will not hurt and might give the team time to get ready for the tougher team.  7-5 is my prediction with five out of nine in conference.
7. West Virginia:  A tough schedule will give the Mountainmen a chance to be good.  Maybe they will get their asses beat but with fourteen starters and a good quarterback they will give it an honest try.  6-6 and 5-4 are possible.
8. Arizona:  There will be some rebuilding with only 11 starters coming back with a new head  coach.  Brent Brennan was a marginal winner at San Jose State which is not bad, but this step up might be just too much for a coach that is 34-48 career.  I look for a team not as good as last year in Tucson even with a top quarterback and pass catcher returning.  A weak run defense will spell trouble for the Wildcats yet 8 wins against a weak schedule gives hope.  Arizona could finish 8-4 but 6-3 is possible in conference.  But upsets will settle them at 7-5.  It is in their favor that the K-State game is not a conference game.
9. TCU:  Six wins should be a given but conference games with Kansas and Utah and a home game with OSU are checked as loses for me.  SMU and Texas Tech will be messes for them too.
10. Baylor:  I like coach Aranda and this could be a come back season for the Bears.  And then again, it could be his last season in Waco with another losing season.  5-7 and 3-5. The Utah game is will not count as a Big 12 game.
11. UCF:  The Knights must show improvement for advancement in the Big 12.  They will score points but that is not good enough.  6-6 is my take and 3-6 in conference.
12. Colorado:  4-8 and 2-6 are heading Coach Sanders way.  Top heavy with a couple of the best players in the country will not stop others from running up the scores.  I do not like this team but to understand that they could get hot on any Saturday and pull of an upset or two.
13. BYU:  3-9 with two conference wins.  That is not acceptable in Provo. New coach ahead.
14. Cincinnati:  3-9 with two, at most, conference wins.  Better than last year but wins will not come in 2024.  Good luck in 2025.
15. Houston:  I like new coach Willie Pitts and I believe that this will be the down year in Houston and next year things will brighten up.  2-10 with one conference win.
16. Arizona State:  A zero win season is possible. The pits of the Big 12 is in Tempe. 

I have Utah winning the conference title game over either Kansas State or Oklahoma State.  If either OSU or KSU can get out of the Big 12 loss with only two defeats they will be in the running for a spot in the playoffs.  Utah with two loses and losing the conference title game has a strong change to make the playoffs.

FEATURE PHOTO:  Cameron Rising has thrown for 5,527 yards and 46 touchdowns the past two seasons as Utah’s starting QB. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Headline photo: Mike Gundy (AP)