2025 Big 12 soccer preview: Power Rankings, key gamers, must-see video games

As was the case in 2024, the Big 12 title seems to be accessible to just about any crew within the convention. Kenny Dillingham’s Arizona State Sun Devils had been notably picked within the preseason media ballot to complete final within the league, after which went on to win it and take Texas to the wire within the College Football Playoff. But ASU was only one loss away from failing to even make the Big 12 title recreation — 4 groups completed the season with seven in-conference wins. Iowa State, Colorado, and BYU hung round till the very finish.

This 12 months, Texas Tech, recent off a large push to usher in new expertise within the offseason, will look to hitch the convention’s elite. Utah, TCU, Baylor and Kansas is perhaps within the combine as effectively. And who is aware of, maybe the crew we choose to complete final would be the one to finish the season on high. Anything can occur within the nation’s most wide-open energy convention.

We’re right here to get you caught up on the Big 12 by breaking down the convention’s CFP outlook, Power Rankings, must-see video games, high freshmen, key transfers and numbers to know.

CFP outlook

Should be in: Arizona State. The Big 12 is probably probably the most unpredictable convention within the nation. Arizona State, picked to complete final at the start of the 2024 season, was the league’s lone participant within the first 12-team Playoff. In 2025, the Sun Devils loom as the favourite, despite the fact that that is not official because the convention did away with the preseason ballot. But the Sun Devils return 79 % of their manufacturing from final season, good for 2nd finest within the nation. Sam Leavitt will enter the season as a Heisman candidate, particularly with a wholesome Jordyn Tyson on the surface, and regardless of the lack of RB Cam Skattebo, Army switch Kanye Udoh ought to fill in properly as a alternative.

In the operating: Texas Tech, Kansas State, Iowa State, Utah, Baylor, Kansas, BYU, TCU, and Colorado. As Bill Connelly identified in his Big 12 season preview, the highest 5 groups in final season’s preseason Big 12 media ballot ended up going a mixed 26-35 general and 13-32 in convention play, whereas the underside 5 groups within the ballot went a mixed 39-25 (26-19). Here, a stable case might be made for all 9 of those groups to all win the convention or earn an at-large bid. There’s no such factor as a simple schedule within the Big 12, and given the potential for every of those groups, there is not any telling how issues may shake out amongst this group.

Long photographs: West Virginia, UCF, Oklahoma State, Houston, Cincinnati, Arizona. Given what Arizona State confirmed final season after going 3-9 in 2023, the groups on this class should not be with out hope. Scott Frost and Rich Rodriguez are hoping to deliver their respective groups in UCF and West Virginia again to glory. Mike Gundy and Oklahoma State have been ranked in some unspecified time in the future within the high 25 each season since 2008, and may rebound from the worst season of his tenure. Houston confirmed enchancment within the second half of final season underneath Willie Fritz. Cincinnati has potential for continued offensive effectivity with Brendan Sorsby, and Noah Fifita’s talents will all the time give Arizona a shot to win video games. At the very least, every of those groups is probably going good for an upset or two through the season. — Harry Lyles Jr.

Must-see video games

From Bill Connelly’s Big 12 convention preview

Here are the 5 convention video games that function (a) the very best mixed SP+ rankings for each groups and (b) a projected scoring margin underneath 10 factors.

Iowa State vs. Kansas State in Dublin (Aug. 23). This is perhaps my favourite Week 0 recreation but. Not solely can we get a Farmageddon matchup in nearly the most effective dairy land on the planet, however we additionally get one of many greatest video games of the Big 12 season earlier than Week 1 even rolls round.

TCU at Kansas State (Oct. 11). TCU and Baylor each surged within the late levels of 2024, although not like Arizona State, they every did it when it was too late to make a mark within the convention title race. The Horned Frogs have fairly a little bit of purpose for optimism, however by the point this Week 7 matchup is completed, they’re going to have performed at each Arizona State and Okay-State. A convention title run may require a win at one or the opposite.

Texas Tech at Arizona State (Oct. 18). The defending champ in opposition to the offseason’s buzziest crew. The Red Raiders took down ASU in Lubbock, Texas, final season 30-22, nevertheless it was effectively earlier than the Sun Devils discovered fifth gear. Which crew might be in correct midseason kind for this one?

Texas Tech at Kansas State (Nov. 1). It seems the schedule makers decreed Okay-State and Tech to be probably the most impactful groups on this 12 months’s title race — if they do not win it themselves, they’re going to determine who does.

Kansas State at Utah (Nov. 22). Another Okay-State recreation! Goodness. Utah went from title favourite to 2-7 in convention play final season, however a redesigned offense and higher harm luck (and the ensuing higher close-games fortune) may produce a 180-degree turnaround. If so, this one may determine a spot within the title recreation. — Bill Connelly

Three freshmen to observe

Julian Lewis, QB, Colorado

Lewis has been on the nationwide radar since eighth grade and left highschool with over 10,000 passing yards in simply three seasons. Despite common bodily measurables at 6-1, 195 kilos, Lewis’ elite mechanics and wonderful soccer information allowed him to choose aside the most effective highschool defenses in Georgia. Deion Sanders and the remainder of the employees acknowledged that Lewis has the kind of maturity that helps freshmen acclimate shortly within the fall. While Liberty switch Kaidon Salter stays the starter after spring apply, Lewis sits shut behind him, prepared for any alternative to guide the Buffalo offense this season. Considering Colorado’s offensive historical past of sacks and violent hits to their quarterback within the pocket, Lewis may solely be one snap away from main the Buffs’ offense in 2025.

Carde Smith, OT, Colorado

Smith does not essentially have to step in instantly given the veteran expertise returning on Colorado’s line. But at 6-5 and 290 kilos, he’s a pressure to be reckoned with within the trenches, utilizing his athleticism to achieve defenders within the second degree shortly and his energy to place them within the filth. This spring, Smith displayed his college-level energy and psychological toughness, sending a message to the Colorado employees that he is not shy about seeing the sector early. Phillip Houston is predicted to start out at proper sort out, though a critical harm suffered on the finish of final season stored him out of spring apply. Smith will definitely be able to rise to the event when his identify is named, very similar to Cash Cleveland was a 12 months in the past.

Linkon Cure, TE, Kansas State

Performing at a excessive degree throughout spring apply as a real freshman is a tall process for any latest 18-year-old graduate, even for somebody like Cure, the primary five-star recruit in Kansas State historical past. He lived as much as these excessive expectations in a small pattern measurement, handing over among the best spring campaigns of any true freshman within the nation. Cure solidified his bodily talents and uncooked athleticism, standing out in a veteran tight finish room who took the freshman underneath their wing. Coach Chris Klieman praised of the 6-foot-5, 230-pound versatile athlete throughout spring apply, and Okay-State may use Cure in any offensive function on the perimeter. Cure’s positional flexibility, elite fingers and athleticism ought to make a major affect on the Wildcats offense this fall, and he seems the a part of a dependable goal for third-year beginning quarterback Avery Johnson. — Billy Tucker

Three high transfers

These alternatives are based mostly on Max Olson’s rating of the highest 100 transfers from the 2024-25 switch cycle.

Transferring from: Stanford | Top 100 rank: 9

HT: 6-3 | WT: 250 | Class: Junior

Background: Bailey entered the portal quickly after Stanford fired coach Troy Taylor in late March and immediately grew to become one of many high gamers accessible forward of the spring portal window. The former No. 122 recruit loved a breakout debut season in 2022, incomes Freshman All-America honors, and led the Cardinal in tackles for loss in every of his three seasons with this system. Bailey has produced 111 profession tackles, 81 pressures, 22.5 TFLs and 14.5 sacks and has a possibility to grow to be an early-round NFL draft choose if he can put collectively a powerful senior season. — Olson

Scout’s take: Bailey is a disruptive presence as an edge defender and one of many extra explosive outdoors linebackers in faculty soccer. He’s not the largest or longest, however he is tremendous robust, compact and performs with wonderful leverage. Bailey makes use of nice speed-to-power, which might shock and shed greater tackles on his pursuit to the QB. He may also bend and rip the nook with clear, fluid actions. Bailey flashes wonderful closing velocity to chase down perimeter runs and has fast upfield burst to disrupt performs earlier than they develop. Bailey can maintain up in protection, however it isn’t his strongest trait. His finest asset is perhaps an intense motor: Bailey performs the sport on excessive octane. — Tucker

What he brings to Texas Tech: The Red Raiders had been among the many greatest spenders of the December portal interval and have spared no expense in upgrading at edge rusher with Bailey and Georgia Tech switch Romello Height. They seen Bailey as among the best returning defensive gamers within the nation, beat Texas and UCLA for his pledge and instantly introduced him in for spring apply. Texas Tech has assembled probably the most proficient defensive strains within the nation with NFL-caliber expertise and powerful depth. All these strikes have made the Red Raiders the clear Big 12 front-runner for 2025. — Olson

Transferring from: North Carolina | Top 100 rank: 18

HT: 6-8 | WT: 325 | Class: Redshirt sophomore

Background: New coach Bill Belichick managed to get a number of UNC starters to withdraw from the portal and stick with this system, however the brand new regime was not in a position to maintain on to Sampson. The large former North Texas switch began 12 video games at left sort out in his first season with the Tar Heels, allowed only one sack in convention play and picked up honorable point out All-ACC recognition. Sampson has the dimensions and expertise to grow to be an early-round draft choose a 12 months from now. — Olson

Scout’s take: Sampson is a mountain on the nook with an enormous body and greater than enough bend. His lengthy attain and deceptively mild ft make it tough for defenders to win the sting. Once he will get his large fingers inside and locked on, he seems to complete and is bodily in his demeanor. Sampson can nonetheless get into bother when his pads get excessive and he overextends. He’s at his finest using defenders outdoors the pocket using his fast kick and punch. Sampson nonetheless wants some refinement however has first-round measurement and ft to develop. — Tucker

What he brings to Texas Tech: The Humble, Texas, native is coming residence to hitch a Texas Tech squad that’s completely loading as much as chase a Big 12 championship in 2025. The Red Raiders had an enormous want at sort out with tremendous senior proper sort out Caleb Rogers graduating and left sort out Ty Buchanan transferring to Arizona, and so they succeeded in locking up among the best available on the market. — Olson

Transferring from: UCF | Top 100 rank: 19

HT: 6-4 | WT: 320 | Class: Redshirt junior

Background: The defensive lineman was the No. 60 participant within the 2021 ESPN 300 and redshirted throughout his lone season at Auburn earlier than transferring to reunite with Gus Malzahn in Orlando. Hunter developed right into a pressure in the midst of the Knights’ entrance over his three years in this system and has racked up a mixed 20.5 tackles for loss over the previous two seasons. In 2024, he earned second-team All-Big 12 honors and completed with the most effective stress charge (8.6%) amongst all Big 12 defensive tackles, based on ESPN Research. — Olson

Scout’s take: Hunter can management the center of the protection. He’s not only a big-bodied D-lineman who forces double-teams; he is a disrupter with good preliminary burst to penetrate and create issues for opposing offenses. He performed snaps at tight finish in highschool and flashes fast ft at 320 kilos, splitting the double-team and chasing performs down the road of scrimmage. Hunter does a very good job utilizing his fingers to maintain separation as a go rusher and has the explosive energy to persistently win one-on-one blocks and collapse the pocket. His skill to play in a two-gap or shade scheme provides to his worth. — Tucker

What he brings to Texas Tech: Hunter was scheduled to take an official go to to Texas after his journey to Lubbock. The Red Raiders weren’t going to let that occur and bought a deal carried out so as to add him to their rising portal class. New Texas Tech DC Shiel Wood provides one of many Big 12’s finest returning D-linemen and might count on him to make a major affect in the midst of the protection. — Olson

Numbers to know

5: Five totally different groups have gained the Big 12 championship over the previous 5 years. No different energy convention has had greater than three totally different groups win its title in that span.

2: There are two new coaches within the Big 12 — and each are again for his or her second stint. Scott Frost returns to UCF after main the Knights to a 13-0 mark in 2017, then shifting on to Nebraska; Rich Rodriguez rejoins West Virginia, the place he gained 60 video games over seven seasons, after leaving in 2007 to take over at Michigan.

+550: The odds of Kansas State successful the Big 12 title, the longest odds for an influence convention favourite since at the very least 2008. – ESPN Research

Power Rankings

1. Arizona State

The Sun Devils broke via final season by doing what coaches say is the toughest factor to do: studying how one can win. After a blowout within the opener in opposition to Wyoming, ASU’s subsequent 5 video games had been all determined by eight factors or much less, as they went 4-1 over that span, with only a loss to Texas Tech in Lubbock. Their season led to a heartbreaking 39-31 double-overtime loss to Texas within the College Football Playoff, which solely gave them much more confidence since they stood toe-to-toe with a crew that’s probably the nationwide championship favorites this 12 months. The Sun Devils misplaced Cam Skattebo to the NFL, however are returning almost everybody else.

2. Texas Tech

Behren Morton is again at QB, and he is bought lots of new pals, because of Tech’s aggressive offseason, one of many greatest tales of the previous few months, as Joey McGuire made waves in Lubbock with a battle chest because of the Red Raiders’ collective. The consequence was one of many nation’s top-ranked portal courses, which included preseason all-Big 12 defensive linemen David Bailey and Lee Hunter. McGuire welcomed two new coordinators, together with Mack Leftwich from Texas State. Shiel Wood will take over the protection after doing a powerful job in a single season at Houston. He’ll have an enormous piece of the puzzle in place with Jacob Rodriguez, the preseason Big 12 defensive participant of the 12 months, returning at linebacker.

3. Kansas State

The Wildcats are one of many Big 12’s most constant applications, and Chris Klieman all the time makes enjoying them a problem. After opening the season in Ireland in opposition to Iowa State, Okay-State will get two of the more durable groups on its schedule, TCU and Texas Tech at residence. Austin Romaine (96 tackles) returns at linebacker to QB the protection, and if Avery Johnson lives as much as expectations together with a powerful backfield, the Wildcats may return to the Big 12 championship recreation.

4. TCU

The Frogs should navigate one of many trickier Big 12 schedules, together with highway journeys to Arizona State, Kansas State and BYU. Out of convention, they’re going to face a wild media circus for the opener at North Carolina in Bill Belichick’s debut. But the Frogs will as soon as once more have a powerful offense with Josh Hoover (3,949 yards, 27 TDs final 12 months) returning and a protection that improved within the second half final 12 months underneath first-year coordinator Andy Avalos.

5. Utah

The Utes, probably the most constant applications within the nation underneath Kyle Whittingham, stumbled to a 5-7 season in Year 1 within the Big 12 after accidents and struggles at quarterback. They responded by hiring New Mexico offensive coordinator Jason Beck, who introduced in his starter, Devon Dampier, a real twin risk who rushed for 1,166 yards and 19 TDs whereas throwing for two,768. Trusting Whittingham’s protection is not laborious, however including 5 transfers at huge receiver together with a brand new offense would be the key to how far this Utes crew can go.

6. Baylor

One of final season’s bounce-back tales, the Bears misplaced to their first 4 Power 4 opponents, starting 2-4 after which reeled off six straight wins to shut the season earlier than a loss to LSU within the Texas Bowl to save lots of Dave Aranda’s job. Offensive coordinator Jake Spavital discovered his beginning quarterback, Sawyer Robertson, and operating again, Bryson Washington, within the course of, and each return together with a powerful offensive unit. Robertson’s emergence makes the Bears a dark-horse contender.

7. Iowa State

Doubt Matt Campbell at our personal peril. Last season, he led the Cyclones to their first 11-win season in class historical past and a No. 15 end. Rocco Becht returns at quarterback after throwing for 3,505 yards with 25 TDs. But his two star receivers, Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, are gone. The schedule is manageable, although there’s Farmageddon in Ireland, the Cy-Hawk go to to Iowa and journeys to Colorado and TCU to deal with.

8. BYU

The Cougars stormed to an 11-win season and an Alamo Bowl victory, together with a nonconference win over future CFP crew SMU, and misplaced its solely two video games, to Kansas and Arizona State in consecutive weeks, by a mixed 9 factors. An offseason controversy round quarterback Jake Retzlaff, who was accused of sexual assault in a civil lawsuit, which was later dismissed, then confronted a BYU Honor Code suspension, led to his switch to Tulane. As a consequence, the Cougars want to select a brand new starter from the trio of Treyson Bourguet, McCae Hillstead and Bear Bachmeier. The Cougars even have to switch a major quantity of begins on each the offensive and defensive strains.

9. Kansas

Jalon Daniels returns for hopefully an injury-free 12 months to complete a Kansas profession filled with tantalizing potential and irritating accidents. Lance Leipold has carried out unimaginable work to construct the Jayhawks into winners, and even final 12 months’s 5-7 report included three consecutive wins over ranked groups. But Kansas changed each coordinators this offseason and has an inexperienced protection. Replacing Devin Neal’s manufacturing at operating again will not be straightforward, both.

10. Colorado

It’s been fairly an offseason for Deion Sanders, who revealed just a few weeks in the past that he’d undergone most cancers therapy. That places his soccer challenges in perspective, notably in having to switch Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders. Senior Kaidon Salter, a switch from Liberty, and five-star freshman Julian Lewis are vying for the quarterback job. But there’s no one that may change Hunter. The Buffaloes have introduced in additional than 30 transfers to bolster the strains and add some expertise at huge receiver. This might be an interesting 12 months in Coach Prime’s rebuild.

11. Cincinnati

Brendan Sorsby (2,813 and 18 TDs, 447 yards and 9 TDs speeding) is again at quarterback, and all-everything defensive sort out Dontay Corleone is again in soccer form after being sidelined with points with blood clots that did not enable him to apply. Those are two large items for Cincinnati, which gained simply three Big 12 video games — on in opposition to Arizona State — however had been hardly ever blown out. The Bearcats will attempt to change Corey Kiner’s productiveness with Evan Pryor (418 yards, 6 TDs) and Wisconsin and Oklahoma switch Tawee Walker.

12. Houston

Willie Fritz’s first 12 months was a rebuilding one, and he is needed to embark on slightly little bit of a makeover already, changing offensive coordinator Kevin Barbay, who was fired earlier than the ultimate recreation final season, along with his former Tulane OC Slade Nagle, and changing Shiel Wood, who left for a similar job at Texas Tech, with former Florida DC Austin Armstrong. Former five-star recruit Conner Weigman will take over at quarterback after transferring from Texas A&M. Fritz is named a turnaround professional. After a 4-8 begin, how large of a bounce can the Cougars make this 12 months?

13. Oklahoma State

Mike Gundy is the final word “figure-it-out” coach. But final 12 months, no one may determine the Cowboys. A disastrous 12 months, Gundy’s first dropping season since his first on the helm in Stillwater in 2005, led to him turning to 2 new skilled coordinators in Todd Grantham on protection and Doug Meacham on offense. There are transfers and new starters all over the place, together with almost each place on protection. Gundy has gained 7 or extra video games 18 occasions at OSU, with solely his first season and final 12 months because the outliers. Can he determine it out this time?

14. Arizona

After successful 10 video games in 2023, Jedd Fisch departed for Washington, and Brent Brennan, who’d all the time overachieved at San Jose State, arrived with star energy readily available in quarterback Noah Fifita and huge receiver Tetairoa McMillan sticking round. But the offense sputtered, notably the operating recreation, and the Wildcats crashed again to a 4-8 season, together with seven of their ultimate eight, with only a win over Houston. It wasn’t the season the remaining stars envisioned. McMillan grew to become the eighth general choose within the draft, however Fifita remains to be in Tucson, decided to return the Wildcats to their former standing.

15. UCF

After a 4-8 season, Gus Malzahn jumped on the probability to assist former assistant Mike Norvell at Florida State and grow to be his offensive coordinator, clearing the way in which for UCF to reunite with former coach Scott Frost. In his final season in Orlando in 2017, Frost went 13-0. That will not occur this 12 months, however there’s not a lot of a technique to count on how the Knights will look. They return only one starter on offense, and former Oklahoma DC Alex Grinch might be changing many of the protection with transfers too.

16. West Virginia

Rich Rodriguez is again! So are Pat White and Noel Devine! Unfortunately, they’re coaches now and might’t assistance on the sector. Still, Jahiem White offers Rodriguez star energy to construct round at operating again, and his offensive system is certain to supply some pleasure between a trio of candidates at QB in junior returner Nicco Marchiol, or transfers Jaylen Henderson or Max Brown. But with greater than 50 new gamers on the roster, RichRod’s Year 1 could also be extra about reigniting some nostalgia and pleasure than contending. — Dave Wilson