The 2024 college football season will kick off in 17 days with Week 0 starting the season off. No Big 12 teams will play until Week 1 with UCF starting their season off on Thursday against New Hampshire, Colorado will play North Dakota State, Kansas will play Lindenwood, and Utah will face Southern Utah. On Friday we have TCU facing Stanford. On Saturday West Virginia faces Penn State, Arizona, and Arizona State will play their first games as members of the Big 12 games as Arizona faces New Mexico and Arizona State faces Wyoming.
Predicted Standings
Utah Utes 12-0 (9-0)
Oklahoma State Cowboys 10-2 (8-1)
Kansas Jayhawks 11-1 (8-1)
Kansas State Wildcats 10-2 (7-2)
West Virginia Mountaineers 9-3 (7-2)
Arizona Wildcats 10-2 (7-2)
TCU Horned Frogs 8-4 (5-4)
Texas Tech Red Raiders 8-4 (4-5)
Iowa State Cyclones 6-6 (4-5)
Colorado Buffaloes 6-6 (3-6)
UCF Knights 5-7 (3-6)
Baylor Bears 4-8 (2-7)
BYU Cougars 3-9 (2-7)
Arizona State Sun Devils 4-8 (1-8)
Cincinnati Bearcats 2-10 (1-8)
Houston Cougars 2-10 (0-9)
Top 10 Offensive Players
10.) Running Back – RJ Harvey – UCF Knights
Harvey is in his fourth season with UCF he’s played in 29 games recording 2,215 yards on 347 carries, he has 21 touchdowns and 2,668 total yards from scrimmage. Last season, he played in 13 games rushing 226 times for 1,416 yards and 16 touchdowns; he had 1,654 total yards with 17 touchdowns. He finished last season third in attempts, third in yards, and tied for second in touchdowns across the Big 12.
9.) Running Back – Devin Neal – Kansas Jayhawks
Neal is entering his senior season with Kansas; in his first three seasons he’s played in 37 games rushing the ball 541 yards for 3,077 yards and 33 touchdowns; he has 3,534 yards from scrimmage with 36 touchdowns. Last season in 13 games he ran the ball 203 times for 1,280 yards and 16 touchdowns. He finished sixth in the Big 12 in attempts, fourth in yards, and tied for second in touchdowns.
8.) Running Back – Tahj Brooks – Texas Tech Red Raiders
Brooks is entering his fifth season with the Red Raiders, he has played in 45 games rushing for 3,052 yards on 593 attempts, and he has 28 touchdowns. Last season, in 13 games he ran the ball 290 times for 1,538 yards and ten touchdowns. He finished first in rushing attempts, second in yards, and seventh in touchdowns.
7.) Quarterback – Shedeur Sanders – Colorado Buffaloes
Sanders is in his second season at Colorado, last season he played in 11 games completing 298 of his 430 yards for a 69.3 completion percentage, he had 3,230 yards for 27 touchdowns and three interceptions. He would have finished second in completions in the Big 12 last season, fourth in yards, and second in touchdowns.
6.) Wide Receiver – Travis Hunter – Colorado Buffaloes
Hunter is a special talent, in nine games last season he caught 57 passes for 721 yards with five touchdowns; he averaged 12.6 yards per pass. He would have finished eight in receptions, 14th in yards, and 15th in touchdowns.
5.) Quarterback – Cam Rising – Utah Utes
Rising is back at Utah and will be in his fourth season, he’s played in 27 games completing 456 passes on 712 attempts for a 64.0 completion percentage for 5,572 yards with 46 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Last season in 13 games he completed 249 passes for 3,034 yards with 26 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. He would have finished fifth in completions, fifth in yards, and second in touchdowns.
4.) Quarterback – Jalon Daniels – Kansas Jayhawks
Daniels has played in 25 games completing 365 passes on 574 attempts for a 63.6 completion percentage, he has thrown for 4,297 yards with 31 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Last season due to injuries he only played in three games completing 56 of his 75 passes for 705 yards with five touchdowns and one interception.
3.) Quarterback – Noah Fifita – Arizona Wildcats
Fifita will be entering his junior season, he has played in 15 games completing 250 of his 352 passes for a 71 completion percentage, and he has 2,997 yards with 26 touchdowns and six interceptions. Last season in 12 games he completed 241 passes for 2,869 yards with 25 touchdowns and six interceptions. He would have finished fifth in completions, fifth in yards, and second in touchdowns.
2.) Wide Receiver- Tetairoa McMillan – Arizona Wildcats
McMillan is in his third season at Arizona, he’s played in 25 games hauling in 129 passes for 2,104 yards with 18 touchdowns. Last season he caught 90 passes for 1,402 yards with ten touchdowns. He would have finished second in the Big 12 in receptions, first in yards, and tied for second in touchdowns.
1.) Running Back – Ollie Gordon – Oklahoma State Cowboys
Gordon is a name to watch for the Heisman in 2024, he’s played in 27 games at Oklahoma State rushing for 2,040 yards on 347 attempts for 23 touchdowns; he has 2,446 total yards from scrimmage with 26 touchdowns. Last season in 14 games he rushed for 1,732 yards on 285 carries for 21 touchdowns, he had 2,062 yards from scrimmage for 22 touchdowns. Gordon finished last season second in the Big 12 in rushing attempts, first in yards, and first in touchdowns.
Top 5 In Conference Games
5.) BYU @ Utah – November 9th
4.) Arizona @ Utah – September 28th
3.) Oklahoma State @ Kansas State – September 28th
2.) Kansas @ Kansas State – October 26th
1.) Utah @ Oklahoma State – September 21st
Preseason All-Big Ten Honors
Offensive Player of the Year – Running Back – Ollie Gordon – Oklahoma State Cowboys
Defensive Player of the Year – Defensive Back – Tacario Davis – Arizona Wildcats
Coach of the Year – Kyle Whittingham – Utah Utes
Championship Game Prediction
Utah over Oklahoma State 37-30
It might be a new-look conference, but it wouldn’t be the Big 12 without a high-scoring championship game. The Utes are the best team on paper entering the season and should remain undefeated with their easy schedule and win the Big 12 title in their first season in the conference. Ollie Gordon will keep Oklahoma State in the game, but it won’t be enough.
