Big 12 football season 2024 preview: predictions and players to watch

It's a brand new day in the Big 12. Oklahoma and Texas are gone. Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah have joined, and the battle for league supremacy hasn't started with such parity among the top 12 teams in years.

Utah and Kansas State have both shown the ability to win conference titles in their respective leagues over the past three years. Oklahoma State, Kansas and Arizona should also be contenders, while West Virginia, Iowa State and Colorado will also look to show some grit.

Here's what to expect this season in the new-look Big 12:

[Read more: 2024 college football rankings: RJ Young’s Ultimate 134]

The top five conference games to watch:

No. 12 Utah at No. 17 State of Oklahoma (21 September)

This game features two starting quarterbacks who are both in their seventh year and have been in the starting lineup for multiple years: Utah's Cam Rising and OSU's Alan Bowman. This could be a preview of this year's Big 12 title matchup. It's exactly the kind of game we like to see early in the season, as it establishes both a pecking order and a baseline for expectations for the two top-ranked teams in the conference.

No. 21 Arizona at No. 18 State of Kansas (September 13, 8 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app)

Arizona is riding a wave of excitement into its first season in the Big 12, with Noah Fifita and Tetairoa McMillan leading an offense that has been dynamic through the air. Fifita threw for 527 yards against Arizona State last year and McMillan returns as one of the most productive wide receivers in the country with over 1,400 yards through the air.

No. 18 State of Kansas at Colorado (October 12)

The Dylan Edwards Bowl! Edwards, who played tailback for CU last year, will likely play for K-State this year. The Wildcats, who won the league two years ago, are coming off their Top 25 game against Arizona just a few weeks ago and may be looking to set a milestone for CFP selection with a win against the most popular team in the sport.

No. 23: State of Iowa at No. 12 Utah (23 November)

The Cyclones are a stealth favorite for the Big 12 title, with quarterback Rocco Becht and receiver Jayden Higgins leading an offense with enough firepower to give Morgan Scalley's defense problems. If Iowa State is within striking distance of making the conference title game, the matchup against the Utes could be the deciding game of the Big 12 season.

Colorado Against. No. 17 State of Oklahoma (29 November)

This matchup features the two biggest coaching personalities in the sport and at least three players who expect to hear their names called on the first day of the upcoming NFL Draft. If Colorado proves to be a power, this game will be a measure of just how strong that power is.

Top five players to keep an eye on:

Travis HunterWR/CB and Shedeur SandersQB, Colorado

They are the two biggest superstars in college football and they both happen to play for a team coached by the most notable coach in college football.

In 2023, Hunter regularly played more than 100 snaps per game with 31 tackles, three interceptions and eight passes defensed. He also caught 57 passes for 721 yards and five touchdowns. Going both ways just means more.

Sanders threw for 3,320 yards and 27 touchdowns and completed 69% of his passes en route to Pac-12 Newcomer of the Year after setting program records for most passing yards in a season, pass completion percentage and touchdown-to-interception ratio.

Hunter was featured on the cover of EA Sports' “College Football 25” and benefited from the huge success of the game, which reportedly earned more than $500 million with over five million unique players on the service since its launch in July. Meanwhile, Sanders has profited from NIL deals with some of the biggest brands, including a rumored NIL deal with Nike.

In a year where there is no clear Heisman favorite entering the season, Hunter and Sanders have the tools necessary to transcend the sport's boundaries and take center stage in the sports world if Colorado can put together a championship season.

Ollie GordonRB, State of Oklahoma

Gordon is the best running back in the country after rushing for over 1,700 yards, including 2,000 yards from scrimmage, earning unanimous All-American honors and becoming the first Doak Walker Award winner in Oklahoma State history. With another season like the one he had in 2023, Gordon could lead Oklahoma State to its first College Football Playoff appearance. If he's as good this season as he was last year, a 2,000-yard rushing season isn't impossible.

Ollie Gordon II breaks free and scores a 42-yard touchdown, giving Oklahoma State the lead against Kansas

Jalon DanielsQB, Kansas

Daniels is the Big 12's most explosive player at his position. If he stays healthy, he can put up 3,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing in a program that's on the verge of a breakthrough. He just needs to stay healthy throughout the year.

Tetairoa McMillanWR, Arizona

McMillan's 90 catches for 1,402 yards with 10 TDs made him one of the shooting stars of the 2023 class and earned him All-American honors as a sophomore. His 11 catches for 266 yards with two TDs against Arizona State are one of the best performances by a wideout in the last three years. He could be the first wideout taken off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Tahj Brooks, RB, Texas Tech

In 2023, Brooks rushed for more yards (1,541) than in his three previous seasons combined (1,317). With 1,168 rushing yards this season, he will leave Tech as the school's all-time leading rusher. His superpower is leaving defenders running into empty space: His 96 missed tackles were the most of any FBS player last year.

Top five newbies to keep an eye on:

Jordan SeatonOT, Colorado

If Colorado wants to build an offensive line that can protect Shedeur Sanders, Seaton is one of the players who will need to play well right away. A five-star prospect and offensive tackle, he is the most important signing – high school or transfer – that Coach Prime has made since Travis Hunter transferred from Florida State to Jackson State.

Will Colorado and Deion Sanders improve in their return to the Big 12 Conference?

Jayson RiddleOT Houston

The Texas native has 10.8 100-yard speed and fills a void after Matthew Golden decided to transfer from Houston to Texas. Ridgle, a four-star recruit, can play multiple positions and be a force on Cougars coach Willie Fritz's special teams in year one.

DJ WarnerEN, Kansas

Warner is the second-best recruit the Jayhawks have ever had. He left Arizona State as the No. 2 player in the state and is expected to be an immediate impact player for Lance Leipold in his first year. Along with freshman Dakyus Brinkley, Leipold has equipped his defense with two pillars that can continue to lead them in the future.

Michael HudsonWR, Texas Tech

He will enter this season as Texas Tech's highest-ranked freshman — ever. One of the best players in his class — not to mention his position — he is expected to leave Tech alongside Michael Crabtree, Wes Welker and Danny Amendola as the best wideouts in school history.

Jadon PorterWR, Baylor

Porter, a four-star recruit and Texas native, could have a similar streak this season as Richard Reese did as a tailback two years ago. With new offensive coordinator Jake Spavital's passing game based on air raid principles, Porter could get plenty of targets that allow him to showcase his yards after the catch skills.

Conference Championship: Utah

The Utes won the Pac-12 title two years in a row with Rising at quarterback, and he's under center again this year. Until a program shows they can beat Utah, they've earned the privilege of winning — and that's what we expect of them, too.

RJ Young is a national college football writer and analyst for FOX Sports and the host of the podcast “The number one college football show.“Follow him at @RJ_Young And Subscribe to “The RJ Young Show” on YouTube.

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