All Summer long, Last Word has been previewing all of the best players returning for Big 12 action in 2024. Whether it was the best quarterbacks, running backs, offensive linemen, defensive backs, or even specialists, Last Word had everyone covered. Now, with just two weeks until the season begins, the writers have spoken once again. With the gap between the top and the bottom of the league being small, these Big 12 predictions for the 2024 season gave plenty of voice to multiple teams.
2024 LWOS Big 12 Predictions
Final Predicted Standings
With 11 writers chiming in, Last Word landed on the following Big 12 predictions (first-place votes are in parenthesis):
- Utah (7)
- Oklahoma State (1)
- Kansas State
- Kansas (1)
- Arizona (1)
- Iowa State
- West Virginia (1)
- UCF
- Texas Tech
- TCU
- Colorado
- Baylor
- BYU
- Cincinnati
- Houston
- Arizona State
25% of the League Received A First Place Vote
Utah is a program that arrives ready to contend for Big 12 titles from day one. They received an overwhelming amount of first-place votes. But while Utah has demonstrated immense consistency, they are far from a shoo-in to win the Big 12. Oklahoma State has basically their entire team back, including possibly the best running back in college football. Assuming quarterback Jalon Daniels can stay healthy, Kansas has plenty of firepower to compete. Arizona might have the best quarterback-wide receiver duo in the country in Noah Fifita and Tetairoa McMillan. And West Virginia is a good, veteran team with a loaded backfield and one of the best offensive lines in the conference.
Fear The Farmegedon Winner
Kansas State did not receive a first-place vote but led the Big 12 predictions with five, second-place votes. This shouldn’t come as a surprise with star dual-threat quarterback Avery Johnson and a backfield two-headed monster in DJ Giddens and Dylan Edwards. Meanwhile, Iowa State is fielding its most talented team since Brock Purdy and Breece Hall led the program to historic heights. The only thing that could keep Iowa State from breaking through is one of the toughest schedules of all Big 12 teams.
Three Teams Too Close To Separate
In determining these Big 12 predictions, all writers were asked to assign each team to a spot 1-16. All of the selections were then added together and the teams with the lowest totals were at the top and largest totals at the bottom. UCF, Texas Tech, and TCU essentially finished in a three-way tie for eighth place with totals being 92, 94, and 95 respectively. These three teams all find themselves in a position to ruin one of the front-runner’s chances at a Big 12 title. The Knights are hoping Gus Malzahn is correct that KJ Jefferson truly is the closest thing he’s seen to Cam Newton. Texas Tech has its best offensive weapons since Joey McGuire took over, headlined by running back Tahj Brooks. TCU is starting fresh on defense but expects quarterback Josh Hoover to elevate and steady the Horned Frog offense.
Colorado Not Quite Ready For Prime Time
The Buffs occupy the 11th spot seemingly in their own tier of the Big 12 predictions for 2024. Colorado did receive a vote to finish as high as a third from one of the LWOS writers. However, they had one vote for tenth and six votes for 11th, with the rest of the writers picking them to finish even further back. It is clear Colorado has two skill position players who are amongst the best in all of college football and future NFL draft picks. But after seeing the results of portal-ing an entire offensive line in year one, the writers don’t feel confident that doing it for a second consecutive year is going to yield any significant improvement.
Rest of Big 12 Predictions Don’t Bode Well For Five Programs
The last five teams in LWOS’ Big 12 predictions only received a combined six selections out of a possible 55 to finish higher than 10th. A few voters do see a potential turnaround season for Dave Aranda, who is trying to pull his best Neal Brown impression and coach himself off the hot seat. But for the most part, LWOS is projecting that Baylor, BYU, Houston, Cincinnati, and Arizona State are all in for a long season.
BYU and Cincinnati still appear they need at least one more year of adjusting from G5 to P4 schedules. Even though Arizona State is entering year two under Kenny Dillingham, he and Willie Fritz at Houston are essentially going through a season one. Both coaches still need to build up competitive rosters to compete weekly in the Big 12. However, if any team of the Big 12 decides to overlook these teams, it could come back to bite them in the race for a Big 12 conference championship.
