College Football is nearly here. Whether you’re more of a College Gameday fan or a Big Noon Kickoff kinda guy, the action on the field is all the same and we want to make sure you’re ready for it. There is plenty to be pumped for this season and after an exciting and successful first year of the 12-team College Football Playoff, fans from all over are excited to root on their teams and hope they can cash their ticket to the postseason. Of course, some fans are just hoping their team will be bowl eligible. Here’s our 2025 Big 12 football preview.
Last Year
The 2024 Big 12 football season was all about a changing lineup and new faces in the mix. Arizona State, making its conference debut, made a statement by winning the Big 12 title over Iowa State 45-19. The league welcomed former Pac-12 members Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah, adding a different vibe. Nine teams earned bowl trips and collectively finished 5-4 in those games.
The standings were tight in the middle, with Baylor, TCU, and Texas Tech all finishing with strong records. Parity was the story week to week, with almost every team feeling like it had a shot. The new-look conference brought plenty of close games and entertaining matchups as fans got to know these fresh rivalries and different styles.
What to Watch
The former Pac 12 schools came into the conference and made a big statement with Arizona State winning the conference and Colorado becoming one of the top billings in college football. My big question is whether Arizona State can truly create something special in this conference or if they were a one-hit wonder.
And how about the old guard? Baylor was in the thick of things last year. Texas Tech added the most expensive roster in all of college football this offseason. You have Oklahoma State coming off their worst year in program history under Mike Gundy. Who is going to take the big step and assume the role that Oklahoma played in this conference for so long? While this conference screams parity, I am looking for the team that breaks out and becomes dominant. Hopefully we have an answer come December.
Heisman Candidate
There are two players that I really think have a great chance to jump into the Heisman race although it could be tough if there is no true dominant team coming out of the Big 12. I like Sam Leavitt from ASU who fit into the offense really well in year one and has a chance to lead the best team in the conference.
Avery Johnson is another player capable of making a big leap. Kansas State is typically right in the mix and Johnson put together an impressive 2024 campaign.
Prediction
Baylor’s Dave Aranda was on the hot seat a year ago, but all those thoughts will vanish when he wins another Big 12 title this season. He has one of the best offenses in the nation with a proven QB in Sawyer Robertson and experience on the defensive side of the ball will help achieve that conference championship goal.