The 12 Biggest Storylines in the Big 12 for 2024 -

By Brandon U @GoBeercats

12. Can Cincinnati bounce back from a rough first season in the Big 12?

Last year the Bearcats were in a transition year, two-fold. First, the Bearcats made the jump up to the Big 12 from the American. Second, it was year one under new head coach Scott Satterfield after Luke Fickell left for Wisconsin. The Bearcats will look to get back to at least bowl eligibility this year. However, recent news of their All-American defensive linemen Dontay Corleone being out indefinitely with blood clots in his lungs certainly doesn’t help their chances in making a leap in year two, light schedule or not.

11. Will Kansas actually be good at football?

For the first time in as long as anyone can remember Kansas has real expectations when it comes to football. They finished the season last year ranked in the final AP Top 25 for the first time since 2007. The Jayhawks play seven opponents that finished 2023 with a losing record. They return a ton of production on both sides of the ball and whether or not they match or best their 9-4 record of 2023 will largely depend on QB Jalon Daniels actually staying healthy this season. With all the hype, potential, and ability he’s never completed a full season of football at Kansas due to injuries.

10. Where’s Texas Tech after a disappointing season?

In his first two seasons HC Joey McGuire sits 15-11 at Tech. After a strong first year it’s safe to say the Red Raiders missed expectations last season and took a step back, finishing seventh place in 2023. Coach McGuire has tried to reload his offense using the transfer portal while bringing back the Big 12’s second leading rusher in Tahj Brooks. Patrick Mahomes isn’t walking out of that tunnel so Begren Morton is going to be the guy under center. So far, through his first three years his numbers have been pedestrian with a 59.5 completion percentage over the last two seasons. Enter 5-star freshman WR Micah Hudson and Washington State transfer WR Josh Kelly though and the Red Raiders could get to cookin’.

9. Can Ollie Gordon win the Heisman?

Ollie Gordon was just arrested for a DUI this past week. Before that he was considered one of the best running backs in college football. The Cowboys were certainly looking to lean on the running back to not only make it back to Dallas but beyond in the first year of the expanded playoffs. Gordon made his potential journey to the Heisman Trophy presentation much harder with a bad decision. Now HC Grundy might have to start talking out of both sides of his mouth so Gordon doesn’t miss a game. To get to New York Gordon will have to not only battle Big 12 defenses all season long but public perception now as well.

8. Is West Virginia for real after a bounce back season from Neal Brown?

It seemed like Neal Brown had the hottest of hot seats going into the 2023 season. He and the Mountaineers responded with a 9-4 (6-3) record including a win over rival Pitt in week 3 and a win over UNC in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. QB Garrett Green is back and will challenge every quarterback in the Big 12 for the crown of best QB in the conference. The Mountaineers also bring back plenty of depth and talent from last year’s team in addition to adding to in the portal. West Virginia fans will have expectations of back to back winning seasons in the Big 12, something Neal Brown hasn’t been able to do since taking over in Morgantown in 2019.

7. Arizona, a for real top 25 team?

Last season the Arizona Wildcats had themselves a season. They beat five Top 25 teams, including Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl. They finished 10-3 and ranked #11 in the final AP Top 25 poll. With a returning QB that can sling the football around (25 touchdowns against six interceptions last season) and a stout defense that returns the PAC 12’s leading tackler LB Jacob Manu (116 tackles) the Wildcats are out to prove that they can play football too.

6. Was Sonny Dykes and TCU a flash in the pan?

After getting annihilated by Georgia in the CFP Final in 2022 the Horned Frogs seemed to be a little hungover in 2023. They finished the 2023 season 5-7 with their best win being a down Baylor squad. The only heat Dykes is probably feeling is that of Texas but another season with him asleep at the wheel and that seat will start getting hot. I wouldn’t call TCU’s schedule easy this season either. They’re at Stanford, SMU, Kansas, Utah, Baylor and Cincy and have Long Island, UCF, Houston, Tech, OSU, and Ariona at home.

5. Who’s the best QB in the conference?

Kansas’ Jalon Daniels, West Virginia’s Garrett Green, Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, UCF’s KJ Jefferson, Iowa State’s Rocco Becth, Arizona’s Noah Fifita, and Utah’s Cam rising highlight the cream of the crop in the Big 12 this year. Each of these guys have a claim at the best QB in the conference and following the progress each week will have fan bases claiming stakes and bragging rights while their QB’s pile up big numbers.

4. Who goes into the season on the hot seat?

There are a couple of coaches who have seats that are warm while others are waiting for someone to flip the switch on the burner. Baylor’s Dave Aranda though, might have the hottest seat in the Big 12. After going 12-2 in 2021 the Bears have gone 6-7 and 3-9 over the past two years, respectfully. If things go sideways early do they cut ties with Aranda midseason?

Other coaches who might start sweating by year’s end if their teams don’t see improvements include TCU’s Sonny Dykes, ASU’s Kenny Dillingham, and Cincinnati’s Scott Satterfield.

3. Can Utah, in year one, win the conference?

Last year the Ute’s went 8-4 and finished 5th in the Pac 12. A team that switches conferences has never won the new conference in their first year. Most would believe that the Big 12 has been a more physical conference in recent memory. However, Utah was just voted the preseason number one in the Big 12 preseason media poll. Between senior QB Cameron Rising and the weapons they have around him the Utes should be fun to watch. Their schedule isn’t terribly difficult considering they avoid both schools in Kansas and get Arizona and Iowa State at home. That last game in Orlando could be a doozy though because we all know UCF loves to play the villain. The Utes have the roster to challenge K-State for the title but it’s a long road to Dallas.

2. The Prime Effect in year 2 but year 1 in the Big 12

Colorado arguably had the greatest 4-8 season ever last year. (That’s a joke). Between the constant coverage on every sports media outlet and the national brand that Prime brought to CU all eyes were on the team last year. This year Coach Prime and the Buffs take their talents to the Big 12. The media coverage will certainly be there but can Prime clean up some questionable in-game decisions and get to know his roster long enough to string together a winning season?

1. Will the flag bearing-world beater emerge? Does one have to in an expanded playoff?

The Big 12 doesn’t have a flag bearer in the conference when it comes to football right now. The Big 10 has Michigan and Ohio State. The SEC has Alabama and Georgia. The ACC has Clemson. From a national perception it seems like the Big 12 needs a team like this too. If you ask Big 12 fans though, they’d probably tell you the league is way more fun when you don’t have a world beater and each year the league’s title is legitly up for grabs by mostly anyone. With the playoffs expanding this year does the Big 12 really need a brand name flag bearer? That probably depends on how many teams the Big 12 would like to get into the playoffs each year. Most Big 12 fans would like to see at least two. For that to happen the league will need a frontrunner.

Brandon is a co-host of the GoBeercats Podcast that can be found on the Catskeller Social Club YouTube page and everywhere podcasts are available. The Catskeller Social Club is the official Cincinnati representative of the College Huddle.