With Texas and Oklahoma off to the SEC and Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah joining the conference, the Big 12 season predictions look quite different than in seasons past. Are any of the newcomers favored, or do incumbents lead the conference?
Big 12 Season Predictions for 2024
It’s never too early to preview the season ahead, and FanDuel has posted the current odds for projected regular-season wins from each Big 12 team. Only two of the Pac-12 additions have win totals over 5.5, and one is tied for the conference lead.
Big 12 Season Predictions – Regular-Season Win Totals
- Kansas State: 9.5
- Utah: 9.5
- Kansas: 8.5
- Arizona: 7.5
- Iowa State: 7.5
- Oklahoma State: 7.5
- TCU: 7.5
- Texas Tech: 7.5
- UCF: 7.5
- West Virginia: 6.5
- Baylor: 5.5
- Cincinnati: 5.5
- Colorado: 5.5
- Arizona State: 4.5
- BYU: 4.5
- Houston: 4.5
Let’s start with the favorites: Utah and Kansas State. With Cameron Rising and Brant Kuithe back, the Utes are battle-tested on offense, and we know how the defense will perform with Kyle Whittingham at the helm.
Kansas State acts as their foil, as QB Avery Johnson is inexperienced but has all the tools to cause headaches for defenses. RBs DJ Giddens and Dylan Edwards will ease the pressure on the first-year starter, and transfer WR Dante Cephas will provide another weapon on the outside.
As for Utah’s Pac-12 brethren, Arizona lost head coach Jedd Fisch and much of his staff and players to Washington, but QB Noah Fifita and WR Tetairoa McMillan remain the best QB-WR tandem in the conference.
Arizona State’s outlook is far more dire in their first year in the conference, and although HC Kenny Dillingham is amending the past regime’s mistakes, results likely won’t follow in 2024.
Then, there is the traveling circus which is Deion Sanders and Colorado. The Buffaloes have been walking on their hind legs and parading around this offseason, drawing criticism from analysts and fans alike.
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What began as an interesting if unique take on roster building in the new transfer portal era has turned into concerning questionable treatment of players. This will only become heightened if Colorado fails to produce on the field, which, by their 5.5 win total, isn’t expected to happen — Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter are only two of 22 starters (21 since Hunter starts both ways).
I’d also be remiss if I didn’t discuss Kansas and the quarterback-running back duo of Jalon Daniels and Devin Neal. Even with a new offensive coordinator, those two have the talent to carry the team to its first double-digit win season since 2007.
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