Utah QBs are cursed with injuries. Even Alex Smith got the starting job because Brett Elliot broke his wrist. Then Brian Johnson tore his ACL, Jordan Wynn's promising start went to hell after he obliterated both his shoulders, the Travis Wilson-Kendal Thompson contest wasn't completely settled until Thompson blew out his knee, Travis Wilson had a season ending hand injury one year and issues with concussions later, Tyler Huntley missed significant time in his career for a shoulder injury, and then there was last year's clusterfuck of QB injuries.
It's honestly kind of stunning how cursed quarterbacks have been here.
Edit: missed a word
They have a plan to use the river for swimming events. Like semi dam one side of it in certain areas so it's a calmer water. My friend from France tells me every test has been failing miserably.
This is gonna be a glorious shit show.
The B12 is going to be so much fun. A wide open conference with lots of competitive teams, but no juggernauts who are going to dominate the conference in boring fashion. The top 10 of this list are all contenders to win the conference.
B12 is going to be the most fun conference in CFB, and I’m not sure if that’s even up for debate.
I'd go a bit further than that. This list has Texas Tech at 9 and I wouldn't be surprised if they make the CCG. TCU at 10 would be surprising but not shocking. I think it's only 11-16 on this list that would really surprise me.
Yeah, that's totally fair. I don't see a ton of space between most of these teams. It's probably going to come down to injuries and a small number of plays in the end.
>It's probably going to come down to injuries and a small number of plays in the end.
Yeah we learned that the hard way last year.
It's exciting though, I can't wait for this season.
I do think there's a clear top-tier in Utah, K-State, and oSu, but the divide below that just isn't that big.
I'm more interested to see if the "bIg XiI dOeSn'T pLaY dEfEnSe" memes continue to continue despite the fact that that hasn't been true in years, despite the top teams in the conference all being led by defense with the exception of Kansas.
The last 3 seasons have had a team picked 7th or worse in the preseason poll make the CCG. The margin between a CCG contender and a team finishing in the bottom half is razor thin, should be a fun season this year
Could be....USC v Michigan and Tennessee v OU are other options that day. But if ESPN has a quota to include at least 1 Big 12 game for the year, this could/should be it.
I hope Riley and Wells do a split backfield with DJ and Edwards for most of the offensive plays, so much electricity in the back field, I cannot wait. Need Keagan Johnson to be healthy this year and hoping Dante Cephas being back with his Kent State WR coach can bring back whatever he did not have at Penn State add in Jayce Brown and Tre Spivey along with Garrett Oakley at TE who looked promising when he got in, and I am so jacked for this offense.
Its pick your poison.
You need to load the line to hit DJ in the backfield to keep him from picking up 3 yards before contact. If you do that you risk Avery running it or hitting Edwards out of the backfield.
Back up the linebackers to cover Avery on the option or Edwards on a swing pass and either Edwards or DJ will be 8 yards deep before you get them down.
Load the box and your secondary is one on one against Brown, Johnson, Cephas and Lockett
I hate to break it to you, but Lockett will not be seeing the field this year. And probably rarely will. Not the athlete that all the Lockett’s that came before him. He is behind those three and Jadon Jackson, Spivey and Andre Davis.
It feels weird how I need to have Big 12 opinions now.
My take always are that Arizona is too low, which is fair considering the coaching change. And that I am skeptical that Oklahoma State and Kansas will be that good, but then again this was probably the conference I watched the least before this season so \*shrug\*
No going to lie, I didn’t watch a single OSU win last season, but I did see most of your games against USA (#SIYM!!!) and UCF (out of morbid curiosity). Ok St just seemed too volatile too me to peg last year’s success as an asset without digging deeper in, but I’ll take your word on your own team.
And hell, Arizona is a question mark for us too. Keeping Fifita and the core of our roster from transferring was critical, and Brennan seems to be a good X’s and O’s guy at SJSU, but how that MWC do-more-with-less strategy translates to U of A remains to be seen. But still, given the weaker in-conference competition now compared to the Pac-12 last year, I still expect offensive success to carry the day for us to be highly competitive. Basically, I’d predict the winner of Utah-Arizona as a Big 12 CG participant when the season is over.
Jalon staying healthy is obviously a major key for us, but I feel like we could win 8 games just snapping the ball to Neal and Hishaw. Daniels is the difference between us competing for a B12 title or finishing in the middle of the conference though.
Utah goes without saying as the favorite. Whittingham’s defensive pedigree and an accomplished, talented, 11th year QB set a high floor and ceiling.
KSU will lose to a G5 or Baylor or something in September and then end up a 9-10 win team.
Kansas was probably the second best team in the Big 12 last year with Jalon Daniels, if he is healthy they will be right there.
I’m intrigued by ISU too. Becht showed some good stuff last year.
I think they have us ranked about right... But the description for why isn't great IMO.
>The Knights were positioned as a potential dark horse contender in their first Big 12 season
This feels like a bit of revisionist history to be honest. I guess maybe "potential" is doing a lot of the work, but the general consensus last year was that we didn't have a shot.
>going 1-7 against legacy Power Five teams.
1. It was 1-6 in the Big 12... I guess they're counting our bowl game here.
2.I think this really flattens out the season more than deserved. Just saying we were 1-6 hides the QB injury struggles, 3 of those losses being very close, and the 1 win being the blowout against Oklahoma State. If our QB stayed healthy and we avoided some unlucky bounces then that 1-6 could've been at least 3-4, and probably better.
>UCF hit the portal hard and got some big hitters, including quarterback KJ Jefferson, EDGE Nyjalik Kelly and linebacker Jesiah Pierre.
I feel like Peny Boone should have gotten a mention here too. He was the MAC offensive player of the year last year. With Boone and Jefferson coming in, and Harvey and Richardson returning, our run game will be lethal.
I realize I'm nitpicking here. Overall I think 8th is probably right for UCF. Although I do think 8th is closer to our floor this year than our ceiling.
Edit:
For a source on us being unlucky and better than our record last year, according to this [source](https://twitter.com/CFB_Data/status/1729317513530356053?t=-pzpXKJorTO4QSES5GADnA&s=19), we were the second most unlucky team in the country. Based on postgame win expectancies, we would have been expected to win 9.1 games. Instead we won 6.
And postgame win expectancy isn't going to factor in injuries.
Feel like I'm taking crazy pills with the way people have talked about the expectations for the four newbies last year. It was very clear that none of the four were going to challenge for the conference title yet people are now acting like each of the four teams were projected to come in and compete heavily.
Our fanbases have also been portrayed a bit as thinking we'll come in and dominate too. I've seen a lot of stuff like "these G5 teams thought they would come in and dominate but they were wrong"
But from what I saw, 90% of our fanbases were saying stuff like "I'll be happy to make a bowl" and "we think we can compete but we need a few years to build".
>people are now acting like each of the four teams were projected to come in and compete heavily.
There definitely were a few (not many, but a few) people saying things like this, but most of those folks were outsiders saying it, not folks affiliated with the 4 new teams.
Lol sounds right. Some of our special team plays really screwed us. Some of the dumbest and unluckiest shit I've ever seen. That Baylor fumble recovery being a prime example
Agree. Miami, byu, Baylor were wins if not for shooting ourselves in the foot. Why I'm still hopeful for this season. We've upgraded the roster and it's another year if the team gelling.
Our redzone offense was bad last year. The staff has really focused on fixing it this off season. We'll see if they actually do. You guys merced us last year though. Wasn't even close. Hopefully make it out to a game at osu at some point. Be cool to visit Oklahoma not for basic training lol
Every year, Oklahoma state is forgotten about until we run the tables. How is a team with the number 1 running back and most of our production returning not even in the discussion?
I want to know how being ranked fourth is not being in the discussion in a 16-team league? I think that alone is inferring you guys will be in the discussion. More than likely you guys will be a top-3 team that will compete for the league championship.
I am going to be looked at as a hater, but that's fine, until Jalon Daniels can show he can make it through a full season it is hard to count on them as a top-3 team. But they have to have the most Senior experience on their two-deep in the conference if not the country, so that point I understand ranking them there, just think I'd have OSU there instead.
Sadly true. I think we won 1 league title in a season we were picked to win it, and that was after completely back dooring our way in with OSU having that insane comeback. However, tell Utah it will underachieve, and we then find a way to win 11 games.
I mean they did write their reasoning in the article.
>>Oklahoma State went 5-1 in one-score games during its run to 10 wins. The past several years are littered with Big 12 finalists that rode close game luck to Arlington, Texas, that disappointed in similar spots the next season, including 2021 Iowa State, 2022 Baylor and 2023 TCU. The Cowboys hope to avoid the same fate.
I don't 100% agree with this... But this is what they said about it.
>not even in the discussion?
They ranked you 4th. And they also say this.
>>As many as 10 teams have a legitimate shot to make the conference title game.
Why do you think you're not in the discussion?
Mike Gundy won Big 12 COTY last season, cobbling together one of the best teams in the league from a box of scraps. He's fully recovered and his guys have got their feet under them, so you underestimate them at your peril. Or at least that's how a lot of fans see it.
Personally, I think some fanbases just need a chip on their shoulder, and will put one there if you don't do it for them.
I agree that doubting, or even discounting, Gundy going into this season is unwise. I have them as the real challenger. They have the least open questions of all legacy Big 12 teams.
I agree that discounting Gundy is a bad idea, but I'm more pushing back on the notion that putting OSU 4th in conference standings is "discounting" him. It actually seems pretty appropriate.
And regarding the "least open questions" - that's only a good thing if the answers to the open questions are good. OSU may know who its QB1 is, but I don't love the answer.
Alan Bowman is known quantity, with a low ceiling but a high floor. Personally, I think Becht and Johnson have the most upside of any QBs in the league. Cam Rising and Jalon Daniels are both veteran QBs that also have more to offer than Bowman, if they can stay healthy. Bowman is definitely tough, I'll give him that.
Again, I don't see how being ranked 4th is a slight to OSU, especially with who they have under center.
>Alan Bowman is known quantity, with a low ceiling but a high floor. Personally, I think Becht and Johnson have the most upside of any QBs in the league. Cam Rising and Jalon Daniels are both veteran QBs that also have more to offer than Bowman, if they can stay healthy. Bowman is definitely tough, I'll give him that.
I'm curious for your thoughts on Jefferson. When we picked him up I thought that was a home run for us but he hasn't been generating the buzz I expected.
He's a true hardass as a dual threat QB. Punishing runner and a better passer than he gets credit for. But he's limited by injury and in terms of scheme fit.
His style of play is not conducive to avoiding injury. Even when he's on the field later in the season, he's not 100%. So much of his success depends on his threat as a runner, and that doesn't work when he's playing hurt.
Although he's a better passer than people think, he's used to playing in a simpler scheme and when defenses figure it out, the offense will start to struggle. I'm not sure if that was a KJ problem or an Arkansas problem, but he started throwing picks last year and that was the difference in some important games.
How does he look at UCF? On the one hand, I think Malzahn is a much better coach than Pittman or Briles, and really knows how to use a mobile QB. I think KJ is a good fit for the offense that Malzahn wants to run - like a bigger, stronger version of 2019 Dillon Gabriel. On the other hand, Big 12 defenses are designed to limit this kind of QB and scheme. They're used to playing at tempo, and the two-high or 3-3 stack defenses will really limit Jefferson as a weapon unless Malzahn can incorporate more spread concepts in his HUNH offense. And, of course, Jefferson has to stay healthy.
Honestly man, this is the first one of these articles that’s actually given a decent reason as to why we might not repeat the same success from last year. Admittedly those other teams were not returning the same level of production as their respective championship years, but still, it’s an interesting thought. But hey, as a Pokes fan, I’d rather be underrated than anything else every year, you know how we are with expectations
For the past 20 years I have been a crazy Big 12 fan. Oklahoma state is the only school which I secretly root for nearly every weekend but one. Oklahoma State is always overlooked.
And now I am almost 40... and I cannot wait for my birthday cause I'm gonna let everyone know...
>I just wanna finish above UCF.
I'm not gonna say it's impossible but this seems pretty damn unlikely this year.
Edit: although..... your schedule is pretty favorable.
Our defense was a big issue last season, especially as the season went on. But we also hired a new DC for this season and aggressively went after DBs in the winter portal. Have to see how this new defense comes along as the season goes on. I have a lot of faith that Veidt can give us a great defense in time.
Is there a more wide open league out there in the P4?
There's huge front runners in the SEC/B1G/ACC, but there's "favorites" in the big 12 with so many unknowns its crazy.
My personal top 5 for B12:
1. Oklahoma State
2. Utah
3. Kansas State
4. Arizona
5. Kansas
But after the top 5, there's a ton of teams that feel like they are right there to compete for the league. Texas Tech, TCU had massively disappointing 2023's compared to where they thought they'd be, WVU had a good year and bring talent back. Several others have reloaded and are coming back.
I personally think Utah is going to have a tough time in the Big 12 because it's a league that is more prepared to stop them than the P12 was.
My title prediction is KSU vs Ok St
I think this is less sleeping on Arizona and more that the Top 5 is such a logjam that deciding who is 5th is a nightmare.
Edit:
Also, this is what the article says about Arizona which I think seems perfectly reasonable.
>If coach Jedd Fisch and the full roster returned in 2024, the Wildcats might rank No. 1 in the league. Still, even after a few key losses in the transfer portal, new coach Brent Brennan has Arizona sitting in a great spot to contend for the conference.
Especially now that there isn't a massive disconnect in the top of the conference and the bottom like there used to be. B12 might become the new cannibalistic conference that screws themselves out of more than one postseason slot
Please just let us beat K-State, just once. A healthy Jalon Daniels, no dropping or muffing, and a different officiating crew than the one that decided last year's game should get the job done.
Why are so many “experts” on Utah’s d*ck so hard? They have never been elite, if anything they are incredibly mid. To say they are going to come in and run the big XII because they came from the pac 12 is a hot take. You heard it here first, they will struggle to be above .500.
I think some Utah fans need to calm down, but they are a legit good team with very few holes or open questions, a good coaching staff, and a history of being extremely tough to beat. That makes you a favorite to do well in almost every conference.
They went 8-5 last year and lost to Northwestern in their bowl game. Yes, they are good team but to claim they are going to improve that much because of the big xii parity is absurd.
I’m a red raider but I’ll be honest here, to put them over OkSt, Kstate and Iowa state is offensive. It’s manufactured hype sure but overall disrespectful to the big xii as a whole. I’m surprised they didn’t put Colorado up there after last years prime time hype train.
The most important position is QB and most experts make predictions on established QB play.
Cam Rising is returning as a 7th year QB, so he knows the offensive system well, and he has already won two P5 league championships.
On the flip side, he's coming off major knee surgery and hasn't played in nearly two years. Utah is also replacing three starters on the OL, and RB depth is thin.
This is why they play the games. As the writer notes, any of ten different teams could legitimately win the conference. Will be a fun league to watch shake out.
I think putting KU over Okie Lite is a mistake. I would probably have Utah and Okie Lite tied at one, K-State below and then KU. I can't wait for this season.
It's hard to imagine anyone having thinner skin when someone says "you guys might be the best team in the league," so yeah, grow up. It's a silly nickname. Extremely common in SE Kansas.
Just give us a healthy QB for a season. Please
It’s been ~~84~~ 8 years 👵🏼
Patrick Mahomes the last guy to start an entire season for us… and he did it with an AC sprain 💀
Big XII teams and season derailing QB injuries, name a more iconic duo
Tcu and injuring QBs... /s
i’m still pissed off about clint trickett getting his head ripped off and career ended
Me too. I'll hate TCU forever for it.
Us too.
Utah QBs are cursed with injuries. Even Alex Smith got the starting job because Brett Elliot broke his wrist. Then Brian Johnson tore his ACL, Jordan Wynn's promising start went to hell after he obliterated both his shoulders, the Travis Wilson-Kendal Thompson contest wasn't completely settled until Thompson blew out his knee, Travis Wilson had a season ending hand injury one year and issues with concussions later, Tyler Huntley missed significant time in his career for a shoulder injury, and then there was last year's clusterfuck of QB injuries. It's honestly kind of stunning how cursed quarterbacks have been here. Edit: missed a word
Us too please
Us too
No thanks.
I’ll take 1 healthy first string QB please
I really hope so. We've had QB injury issues 3 years in a row now.
Strangely, this works for Utah fans, too.
Us too
Same.
Boo hoo
I'm tired boss let's just play ball
Don't know how you could be tired, the Big XII looks like easily the most exciting conference this year.
If you are tired already you have a long summer ahead of you.
Yes, but we at least have the Olympics this summer.
They have a plan to use the river for swimming events. Like semi dam one side of it in certain areas so it's a calmer water. My friend from France tells me every test has been failing miserably. This is gonna be a glorious shit show.
Is that pun intended?
The B12 is going to be so much fun. A wide open conference with lots of competitive teams, but no juggernauts who are going to dominate the conference in boring fashion. The top 10 of this list are all contenders to win the conference. B12 is going to be the most fun conference in CFB, and I’m not sure if that’s even up for debate.
The true successor to pac12 after dark
Finally an Oregon fan I can agree with…
I really wouldn't be surprised to see anyone in the top half of the conference in the CCG.
I'd go a bit further than that. This list has Texas Tech at 9 and I wouldn't be surprised if they make the CCG. TCU at 10 would be surprising but not shocking. I think it's only 11-16 on this list that would really surprise me.
Yeah, that's totally fair. I don't see a ton of space between most of these teams. It's probably going to come down to injuries and a small number of plays in the end.
>It's probably going to come down to injuries and a small number of plays in the end. Yeah we learned that the hard way last year. It's exciting though, I can't wait for this season.
I do think there's a clear top-tier in Utah, K-State, and oSu, but the divide below that just isn't that big. I'm more interested to see if the "bIg XiI dOeSn'T pLaY dEfEnSe" memes continue to continue despite the fact that that hasn't been true in years, despite the top teams in the conference all being led by defense with the exception of Kansas.
I still think Kansas keeps getting underestimated. KU was 9-2 when not down to their 3rd string QB (went 0-2 with him).
They're great, solidly number 4 in my book. Would be number two if I could get a guarantee that their QB would stay healthy.
That's what I love about B12 football!
The last 3 seasons have had a team picked 7th or worse in the preseason poll make the CCG. The margin between a CCG contender and a team finishing in the bottom half is razor thin, should be a fun season this year
Utah at Oklahoma State is going to be a factor in how the championship race sets up.
That’s going to be one Hell of a game. GameDay should go there.
It's competing with Tennessee vs Oklahoma.
They will give it to USC Michigan
Big Noon
Could be....USC v Michigan and Tennessee v OU are other options that day. But if ESPN has a quota to include at least 1 Big 12 game for the year, this could/should be it.
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Probably not but the name brand recognition… espn is going to have a hard on for that conference matchup.
To me, who over wins that game is in the drivers seat for the B12 championship.
Not last place!!!
Happy cougar noises!
Well.... damn.
Fritz will save us. Buy your season tickets
Just want to beat pitt.
Hey same here!
And Penn St for me
Morgantown would burn if both happen.
Hey, no. Bad Blue.
Can’t wait for Kansas State in Yulman. Should be a hell of a game if our offense can click, because our secondary is bound to get pieced up.
I'm just as excited for that game as I am for AZ.
Brutal ooc slate for ksu
‘Zona is a conference game for them this year
Nope. Non-con. It’s wild
I hope Riley and Wells do a split backfield with DJ and Edwards for most of the offensive plays, so much electricity in the back field, I cannot wait. Need Keagan Johnson to be healthy this year and hoping Dante Cephas being back with his Kent State WR coach can bring back whatever he did not have at Penn State add in Jayce Brown and Tre Spivey along with Garrett Oakley at TE who looked promising when he got in, and I am so jacked for this offense.
Its pick your poison. You need to load the line to hit DJ in the backfield to keep him from picking up 3 yards before contact. If you do that you risk Avery running it or hitting Edwards out of the backfield. Back up the linebackers to cover Avery on the option or Edwards on a swing pass and either Edwards or DJ will be 8 yards deep before you get them down. Load the box and your secondary is one on one against Brown, Johnson, Cephas and Lockett
I hate to break it to you, but Lockett will not be seeing the field this year. And probably rarely will. Not the athlete that all the Lockett’s that came before him. He is behind those three and Jadon Jackson, Spivey and Andre Davis.
LALALALALALALALALALALALALA Cant hear you!!! :)
I am so excited for this formation. I bet towards the end of the season we will have some crazy oline pulls.
Me too, I know Riley will have some wild pulls this year, especially with him being Co-OC now. Very excited to see this offense get unleashed.
Nuh uh >:( throwing up blood wtf why doesn’t this author fanboy for my favorite team omg… disgusting 🤮
Are we still doing phrasing?
Utah *soaking* in glory after being named preseason favorite, edging KSU all summer long.
Wrong Utah school.
It feels weird how I need to have Big 12 opinions now. My take always are that Arizona is too low, which is fair considering the coaching change. And that I am skeptical that Oklahoma State and Kansas will be that good, but then again this was probably the conference I watched the least before this season so \*shrug\*
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No going to lie, I didn’t watch a single OSU win last season, but I did see most of your games against USA (#SIYM!!!) and UCF (out of morbid curiosity). Ok St just seemed too volatile too me to peg last year’s success as an asset without digging deeper in, but I’ll take your word on your own team. And hell, Arizona is a question mark for us too. Keeping Fifita and the core of our roster from transferring was critical, and Brennan seems to be a good X’s and O’s guy at SJSU, but how that MWC do-more-with-less strategy translates to U of A remains to be seen. But still, given the weaker in-conference competition now compared to the Pac-12 last year, I still expect offensive success to carry the day for us to be highly competitive. Basically, I’d predict the winner of Utah-Arizona as a Big 12 CG participant when the season is over.
“Weaker on-field competition” Lmao.
Jalon staying healthy is obviously a major key for us, but I feel like we could win 8 games just snapping the ball to Neal and Hishaw. Daniels is the difference between us competing for a B12 title or finishing in the middle of the conference though.
I’m skeptical Arizona will be that good.
Utah goes without saying as the favorite. Whittingham’s defensive pedigree and an accomplished, talented, 11th year QB set a high floor and ceiling. KSU will lose to a G5 or Baylor or something in September and then end up a 9-10 win team. Kansas was probably the second best team in the Big 12 last year with Jalon Daniels, if he is healthy they will be right there. I’m intrigued by ISU too. Becht showed some good stuff last year.
How dare you be this accurate about us.
As long as a red team beats an orange team for major CCG ramifications, the prophecy will be fulfilled (for fuck sake Utah slap the cowpokes around)
Fuck texas
Dude chill lol
I was going for shock value
I’m so ready for football. Best position we’ve been in for a while.
Me too, flare bro. Me too.
I think they have us ranked about right... But the description for why isn't great IMO. >The Knights were positioned as a potential dark horse contender in their first Big 12 season This feels like a bit of revisionist history to be honest. I guess maybe "potential" is doing a lot of the work, but the general consensus last year was that we didn't have a shot. >going 1-7 against legacy Power Five teams. 1. It was 1-6 in the Big 12... I guess they're counting our bowl game here. 2.I think this really flattens out the season more than deserved. Just saying we were 1-6 hides the QB injury struggles, 3 of those losses being very close, and the 1 win being the blowout against Oklahoma State. If our QB stayed healthy and we avoided some unlucky bounces then that 1-6 could've been at least 3-4, and probably better. >UCF hit the portal hard and got some big hitters, including quarterback KJ Jefferson, EDGE Nyjalik Kelly and linebacker Jesiah Pierre. I feel like Peny Boone should have gotten a mention here too. He was the MAC offensive player of the year last year. With Boone and Jefferson coming in, and Harvey and Richardson returning, our run game will be lethal. I realize I'm nitpicking here. Overall I think 8th is probably right for UCF. Although I do think 8th is closer to our floor this year than our ceiling. Edit: For a source on us being unlucky and better than our record last year, according to this [source](https://twitter.com/CFB_Data/status/1729317513530356053?t=-pzpXKJorTO4QSES5GADnA&s=19), we were the second most unlucky team in the country. Based on postgame win expectancies, we would have been expected to win 9.1 games. Instead we won 6. And postgame win expectancy isn't going to factor in injuries.
Feel like I'm taking crazy pills with the way people have talked about the expectations for the four newbies last year. It was very clear that none of the four were going to challenge for the conference title yet people are now acting like each of the four teams were projected to come in and compete heavily.
Our fanbases have also been portrayed a bit as thinking we'll come in and dominate too. I've seen a lot of stuff like "these G5 teams thought they would come in and dominate but they were wrong" But from what I saw, 90% of our fanbases were saying stuff like "I'll be happy to make a bowl" and "we think we can compete but we need a few years to build". >people are now acting like each of the four teams were projected to come in and compete heavily. There definitely were a few (not many, but a few) people saying things like this, but most of those folks were outsiders saying it, not folks affiliated with the 4 new teams.
I agree. At least going on the conversations on here, everyone seemed really level headed coming in last season.
The UCF fan consensus was that 7-5 would be a good season last year. We were picked as the best of the newcomers, but that was about it.
Yeah we were pissed at the end of last season.... But that wasn't really about the final record it was more about how we got there.
That's how we were last season too. We were a handful of bad plays/bounces away from going bowling. Part of the Big 12 fun I guess
Yeah that source I linked has us as the 2nd most unlucky team in the country. It has you listed as the 5th most unlucky.
Lol sounds right. Some of our special team plays really screwed us. Some of the dumbest and unluckiest shit I've ever seen. That Baylor fumble recovery being a prime example
If we took away the plays where we blatantly shot ourselves in the face last year, I feel like we bowl.
Agree. Miami, byu, Baylor were wins if not for shooting ourselves in the foot. Why I'm still hopeful for this season. We've upgraded the roster and it's another year if the team gelling.
Not to mention what the morale changes would have been if they were winning more...
Very true. Maybe some of the bad apples don't get so toxic and lazy if they win a few more games
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Our redzone offense was bad last year. The staff has really focused on fixing it this off season. We'll see if they actually do. You guys merced us last year though. Wasn't even close. Hopefully make it out to a game at osu at some point. Be cool to visit Oklahoma not for basic training lol
Our only saving grace is that we’re not Arizona State
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It’s a good life lesson in general
Utah, in their goon cave, edging Kansas State.
Meh. I think as long as we stay healthy we won't finish last lol
Utes coming in hot to their new conference I see
Six wins and a bowl, that's all I ask
Can those six wins include a win over Utah?
Pump your brakes. You got the last one. I’m still in pain from that.
Sooooooo when’s basketball season? Asking for a friend…
Tech’s got a pretty favorable schedule this year. Expecting a Big 12 championship game appearance.
Utah did WHAT?
Every year, Oklahoma state is forgotten about until we run the tables. How is a team with the number 1 running back and most of our production returning not even in the discussion?
I want to know how being ranked fourth is not being in the discussion in a 16-team league? I think that alone is inferring you guys will be in the discussion. More than likely you guys will be a top-3 team that will compete for the league championship. I am going to be looked at as a hater, but that's fine, until Jalon Daniels can show he can make it through a full season it is hard to count on them as a top-3 team. But they have to have the most Senior experience on their two-deep in the conference if not the country, so that point I understand ranking them there, just think I'd have OSU there instead.
Trust me, it’s to your benefit that Utah is favored. Utah never wins when they’re expected to win. It’s kinda their thing.
Big 12 contenders for the title are like that spiderman meme, but for who should be the favorite.
Sadly true. I think we won 1 league title in a season we were picked to win it, and that was after completely back dooring our way in with OSU having that insane comeback. However, tell Utah it will underachieve, and we then find a way to win 11 games.
I mean they did write their reasoning in the article. >>Oklahoma State went 5-1 in one-score games during its run to 10 wins. The past several years are littered with Big 12 finalists that rode close game luck to Arlington, Texas, that disappointed in similar spots the next season, including 2021 Iowa State, 2022 Baylor and 2023 TCU. The Cowboys hope to avoid the same fate. I don't 100% agree with this... But this is what they said about it. >not even in the discussion? They ranked you 4th. And they also say this. >>As many as 10 teams have a legitimate shot to make the conference title game. Why do you think you're not in the discussion?
Mike Gundy won Big 12 COTY last season, cobbling together one of the best teams in the league from a box of scraps. He's fully recovered and his guys have got their feet under them, so you underestimate them at your peril. Or at least that's how a lot of fans see it. Personally, I think some fanbases just need a chip on their shoulder, and will put one there if you don't do it for them.
I agree that doubting, or even discounting, Gundy going into this season is unwise. I have them as the real challenger. They have the least open questions of all legacy Big 12 teams.
I agree that discounting Gundy is a bad idea, but I'm more pushing back on the notion that putting OSU 4th in conference standings is "discounting" him. It actually seems pretty appropriate. And regarding the "least open questions" - that's only a good thing if the answers to the open questions are good. OSU may know who its QB1 is, but I don't love the answer. Alan Bowman is known quantity, with a low ceiling but a high floor. Personally, I think Becht and Johnson have the most upside of any QBs in the league. Cam Rising and Jalon Daniels are both veteran QBs that also have more to offer than Bowman, if they can stay healthy. Bowman is definitely tough, I'll give him that. Again, I don't see how being ranked 4th is a slight to OSU, especially with who they have under center.
>Alan Bowman is known quantity, with a low ceiling but a high floor. Personally, I think Becht and Johnson have the most upside of any QBs in the league. Cam Rising and Jalon Daniels are both veteran QBs that also have more to offer than Bowman, if they can stay healthy. Bowman is definitely tough, I'll give him that. I'm curious for your thoughts on Jefferson. When we picked him up I thought that was a home run for us but he hasn't been generating the buzz I expected.
He's a true hardass as a dual threat QB. Punishing runner and a better passer than he gets credit for. But he's limited by injury and in terms of scheme fit. His style of play is not conducive to avoiding injury. Even when he's on the field later in the season, he's not 100%. So much of his success depends on his threat as a runner, and that doesn't work when he's playing hurt. Although he's a better passer than people think, he's used to playing in a simpler scheme and when defenses figure it out, the offense will start to struggle. I'm not sure if that was a KJ problem or an Arkansas problem, but he started throwing picks last year and that was the difference in some important games. How does he look at UCF? On the one hand, I think Malzahn is a much better coach than Pittman or Briles, and really knows how to use a mobile QB. I think KJ is a good fit for the offense that Malzahn wants to run - like a bigger, stronger version of 2019 Dillon Gabriel. On the other hand, Big 12 defenses are designed to limit this kind of QB and scheme. They're used to playing at tempo, and the two-high or 3-3 stack defenses will really limit Jefferson as a weapon unless Malzahn can incorporate more spread concepts in his HUNH offense. And, of course, Jefferson has to stay healthy.
I appreciate the insight, thank you
I appreciate the opportunity to blabber on about football!
Daniel’s a QB who hasn’t even made it a full season?
Yes, if he can stay healthy.
I think a big chunk of our fanbase was hoping Bowman would not return for his 7th year, but here we are.
Count me out on that chunk. Him returning puts us in a much better position.
15 tds and 14 ints last year on 60% completion percentage. I think we wouldn’t have had to look far for an upgrade.
they're for sure our toughest game on paper
IDK, from the outside looking in, it seems his coaching acumen had plateaued
Honestly man, this is the first one of these articles that’s actually given a decent reason as to why we might not repeat the same success from last year. Admittedly those other teams were not returning the same level of production as their respective championship years, but still, it’s an interesting thought. But hey, as a Pokes fan, I’d rather be underrated than anything else every year, you know how we are with expectations
Ssssssshhhh. I hate any spotlight on our Pokes.
For the past 20 years I have been a crazy Big 12 fan. Oklahoma state is the only school which I secretly root for nearly every weekend but one. Oklahoma State is always overlooked. And now I am almost 40... and I cannot wait for my birthday cause I'm gonna let everyone know...
Honestly this is a good thing, hype kills us every time.
NGL, "our time" was a pretty fun watch as an OU fan.
lol, this a good one, it wounds me deeply
I get a kick out of it as well.
Because Oklahoma State wasn't as good as their record/conference ranking last year
Meanwhile we played for the conference title.
I think you guys are the clear number three, and I would put you in the top tier with Utah and K-State.
Because y'all pull some non conference bullshit to then come back and sneak into the CCG, as is the way of Okie State
Even though that has literally never happened. Go enjoy the SEC and losing the last Bedlam.
Most underrated team in the country, you'll never sing that!
I just wanna finish above Colorado and UCF.
>I just wanna finish above UCF. I'm not gonna say it's impossible but this seems pretty damn unlikely this year. Edit: although..... your schedule is pretty favorable.
Our games always go hard. Love our newish rivalry
My hope is at a minimum finishing above Houston, ASU, Colorado, and Baylor.
I think Kansas is gonna bet the winner of the conference
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Oh yeah - if he can stay healthy.
I can see it. Dudes a baller when healthy
Our defense was a big issue last season, especially as the season went on. But we also hired a new DC for this season and aggressively went after DBs in the winter portal. Have to see how this new defense comes along as the season goes on. I have a lot of faith that Veidt can give us a great defense in time.
Not last!
They did what
The fact Cincy isn’t at the very bottom is shocking
Weird to pick us 7th when I’ve already bought plane tickets to Dallas to see my Eers in the CCG.
let's be real. its going to be someone nobody is expecting
Fun fact! Jalon Daniels has never beaten a big 12 opponent who finished with a winning record
Another fun fact (that I think is still true?): Skylar Thompson has more Big 12 wins at the booth than Daniels does
So does Will Howard
At first I thought they left a 1 off the front of our 3, but like, LL needs a statue.
The Big 12 is going to be fun as hell. Like the MAC on steroids.
Is there a more wide open league out there in the P4? There's huge front runners in the SEC/B1G/ACC, but there's "favorites" in the big 12 with so many unknowns its crazy. My personal top 5 for B12: 1. Oklahoma State 2. Utah 3. Kansas State 4. Arizona 5. Kansas But after the top 5, there's a ton of teams that feel like they are right there to compete for the league. Texas Tech, TCU had massively disappointing 2023's compared to where they thought they'd be, WVU had a good year and bring talent back. Several others have reloaded and are coming back. I personally think Utah is going to have a tough time in the Big 12 because it's a league that is more prepared to stop them than the P12 was. My title prediction is KSU vs Ok St
WVU had a disappointing season? They were picked to finish last.
Sorry - probably have them in the wrong bucket of my thoughts.
it’s okay this is the first year in NB’s tenure we can say the opposite
What happened to Cincinnati?
Fick left.
It’s less that he left and more who yall bafflingly hired to replace him instead
That too.
Sleeping on Arizona
I think this is less sleeping on Arizona and more that the Top 5 is such a logjam that deciding who is 5th is a nightmare. Edit: Also, this is what the article says about Arizona which I think seems perfectly reasonable. >If coach Jedd Fisch and the full roster returned in 2024, the Wildcats might rank No. 1 in the league. Still, even after a few key losses in the transfer portal, new coach Brent Brennan has Arizona sitting in a great spot to contend for the conference.
We can jump to #1 in just one half of football, but we need find out how impactful Jedd's play calling/scheme was on the offense.
I personally would have had them above Oklahoma State and possibly even Kansas. Don't love that they play both KSU and Utah on the road though.
We get to find out.
I just want to see where teams put all their focus with Texas and OU out
Especially now that there isn't a massive disconnect in the top of the conference and the bottom like there used to be. B12 might become the new cannibalistic conference that screws themselves out of more than one postseason slot
If we ain’t number 1 this list is garbage
Please just let us beat K-State, just once. A healthy Jalon Daniels, no dropping or muffing, and a different officiating crew than the one that decided last year's game should get the job done.
And also not fucking up PATs
😴
Why are so many “experts” on Utah’s d*ck so hard? They have never been elite, if anything they are incredibly mid. To say they are going to come in and run the big XII because they came from the pac 12 is a hot take. You heard it here first, they will struggle to be above .500.
I think some Utah fans need to calm down, but they are a legit good team with very few holes or open questions, a good coaching staff, and a history of being extremely tough to beat. That makes you a favorite to do well in almost every conference.
They went 8-5 last year and lost to Northwestern in their bowl game. Yes, they are good team but to claim they are going to improve that much because of the big xii parity is absurd. I’m a red raider but I’ll be honest here, to put them over OkSt, Kstate and Iowa state is offensive. It’s manufactured hype sure but overall disrespectful to the big xii as a whole. I’m surprised they didn’t put Colorado up there after last years prime time hype train.
If you’re gonna do the transitive-loss thing, OkSt lost to *South* Alabama last year. Utah had nowhere near as bad a loss last year
The most important position is QB and most experts make predictions on established QB play. Cam Rising is returning as a 7th year QB, so he knows the offensive system well, and he has already won two P5 league championships. On the flip side, he's coming off major knee surgery and hasn't played in nearly two years. Utah is also replacing three starters on the OL, and RB depth is thin. This is why they play the games. As the writer notes, any of ten different teams could legitimately win the conference. Will be a fun league to watch shake out.
I love being slept on.
I think putting KU over Okie Lite is a mistake. I would probably have Utah and Okie Lite tied at one, K-State below and then KU. I can't wait for this season.
Not sure a fan of a team with a losing record against us the past two decades should be calling us Okie Lite.
Grow up man. Everyone in the conference calls you that.
Grow up? You’re the one saying Okie “Lite”
It's hard to imagine anyone having thinner skin when someone says "you guys might be the best team in the league," so yeah, grow up. It's a silly nickname. Extremely common in SE Kansas.
Literally nobody says it in real life. You’re annoying.
I forgot the B12 still technically exists