Tall 12 preview: High transfers, novices and key games to know

Digital Author August 6, 2024

0 0 11 minutes read

Dave Wilson
Shut

Dave Wilson

ESPN Group Author
Kyle Bonagura
Shut

Kyle Bonagura

ESPN Group Author
- Covers college football.
- Joined ESPN in 2014.
- Attended Washington Instruct College.

Aug 6, 2024, 10: 00 AM ET

The Tall 12 appears to be a dinky bit various this season with the addition of four unique faculties and Texas and Oklahoma long gone to the SEC. Arizona, Arizona Instruct, Colorado and Utah are enthusiastic to present a gigantic assertion in their first year within the Tall 12 despite big questions surrounding these applications. Tall 12 mainstay Oklahoma Instruct, which fell short within the conference title game closing season, objectives to attain the championship again with the next raze result, while Kansas Instruct is shoring up its offense with a gigantic switch.

Can Utah pull off a Tall 12 title in its first year after its beginning quarterback has been a long way off from the game for a season? Will Colorado imprint it is miles the accurate deal as Shedeur Sanders appears to be to be in Heisman Trophy conversations? After a gigantic game within the Pop-Tarts Bowl closing year, can Kansas Instruct QB Avery Johnson continue to kind as the projected starter this fall? Can Arizona produce a bustle on the conference title beneath a novel head coach?

ESPN newshounds Dave Wilson and Kyle Bonagura scrutinize on the league’s top newbies, greatest early-season games, coaches on the hot seat and MVP and championship game picks.

CFB Outlook

Would possibly perhaps most doubtless perhaps perhaps like to be in

Steadiness breeds self assurance, and fully Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz has been in distress longer than Utah’s Kyle Whittingham and Oklahoma Instruct’s Mike Gundy, both of whom are beginning their 20th seasons as head coach. Both groups enter the season with confirmed quarterbacks, neatly-known person skill gamers and talented defenses.

In the running

Both like a range of skills and favorable schedules, however a dinky bit little bit of a test imprint as a result of instructing changes. In the case of Arizona, Jedd Fisch’s departure change into a loss, however the advent of dilapidated San José Instruct coach Brent Brennan change into ready to retain worthy of the roster collectively, including quarterback Noah Fifita and all-all the things receiver Tetairoa McMillan. Kansas Instruct has won 37 games and a Tall 12 title over the final three years, however will doubtless be breaking in Avery Johnson at QB and changing offensive coordinator Collin Klein, who departed for Texas A&M, with co-coordinators Conor Riley and dilapidated Texas Tech coach Matt Wells.

Prolonged shot

Kansas had a dinky little bit of a step forward closing year, a success its first bowl game in 15 years and beating Oklahoma for the first time since 1997. The Jayhawks held on to coach Lance Leipold, and a wholesome Jalon Daniels will produce them a possibility in any game. The many three are complicated outs with avid gamers at quarterback — TCU’s Josh Hoover, Iowa Instruct’s Rocco Becht and West Virginia’s Garrett Greene — who all produce admiration from rival coaches. Equivalent to TCU two years ago, within the event that they are going to stroll the tightrope, they are going to produce a bustle.

High transfers

UCF QB KJ Jefferson: At 6-3, 247 kilos, Jefferson has already been labeled as the closest prototype to Cam Newton by Gus Malzahn himself. No rigidity there. Jefferson started 39 games at Arkansas, where he holds college files for profession passing yards (7,923), passing TDs (67) and completion proportion (65.1). He has additionally rushed for more than 1,876 yards, and can simply aloof be a staple in Malzahn’s energy bustle game.

Texas Tech WR Josh Kelly: After showing promise at some level of four years at Fresno Instruct, Kelly had a breakout season for Washington Instruct, catching 61 passes for 923 yards and eight touchdowns. Kelly straight turns into one amongst the most unhealthy deep threats within the Tall 12 — a worthy-wished dynamic for the Purple Raiders offense.

Kansas Instruct Wildcats RB Dylan Edwards: Edwards burst onto the scene in Colorado’s opening steal towards TCU closing year when he caught five passes for 135 yards and three touchdowns to switch alongside with 24 yards speeding and one other uncover. After that, however, Edwards old style into the background as Colorado’s offensive line made running the ball all however no longer doable. Abet dwelling in Kansas, Edwards must be a key player within the Wildcats’ Tall 12 title pursuit.

Impact novices

Colorado OT Jordan Seaton: Sure, this one is rather glaring, however despite Seaton being a freshman, he’s an toughen in skills over what Colorado change into fidgeting with closing year and he has already been on campus as a midyear enrollee. We feel Seaton will doubtless like a identical season to Kadyn Proctor at Alabama in 2023 — highs, lows, flashes of greatness, however additionally a lustrous amount of struggles. Offensive address is one amongst the most intricate positions to transition in from high college to school.

UCF DB Chasen Johnson: Gus Malzahn change into ready to flip the dilapidated three-neatly-known person from Pitt at some level of the recruiting direction of and Johnson answered the name within the spring, rotating with the first workforce showing toughness, competitiveness and the rate to adapt hasty to the college level. Whether or no longer it be at corner or security, Johnson would possibly perhaps most doubtless most doubtless perhaps scrutinize well-known time for the Knights as they head into year two within the Tall 12.

Houston WR Jayshon Ridgle: Ridgle can also simply like flown beneath the radar on the nationwide recruiting scene, however all unique Houston coach Willie Fritz does is steal and know accumulate gamers. Houston loses its top two targets from closing year, and Ridgle is accessible in having posted a 10.83 100 meter time in 2023. He can play a few positions including particular groups. Potentialities are you’ll most doubtless most doubtless perhaps most doubtless also’t coach straggle.

Kansas DE Deshawn Warner & DE Dakyus Brinkley: Right here’s a twofer for you. Both Warner and Brinkley are two of the best doubtless-rated prospects Kansas has ever signed and most importantly at a top rate distress. Kansas is light on the brink in the case of depth and skills, which supplies both prospects the opportunity to play early and imprint their price over the direction of the season. Brinkley change into in the beginning an OLB and both prospects will want to win well-known weight, however will doubtless be historical as situational pass rushers. — Tom Luginbill

Our accepted gamers

Utah QB Cam Rising: From 2021 to 2022, Rising change into one amongst the most efficient quarterbacks within the nation, leading the Utes to abet-to-abet Pac-12 titles. After missing all of closing season, he ushers the Utes into their unique conference with a uncommon opportunity to both files a workforce to some conference titles and kind that in various conferences.

Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan: Expectations were sky-high in Tucson when McMillian arrived as the best doubtless-ranked recruit in class history and, by some capability, the dilapidated five-neatly-known person recruit has exceeded them. He’s the most efficient receiver within the Tall 12 by a wholesome margin and must be a first-round steal within the 2025 NFL draft.

Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter: See, who doesn’t admire staring at a guy slide both ways? Avid gamers love Hunter are uncommon for the time being, so it be easy to admire what he does playing cornerback and receiver for the Buffs.

ASU RB Cam Skattebo: Operating abet, quarterback, receiver, tight quit, return man, Skattebo change into pressured to present it taking into account Arizona Instruct closing season. It wasn’t finest for ASU as a result of it change into fully well-known thanks to accidents, however it showcased unprecedented versatility and selflessness from the 2022 Tall Sky Offensive Player of the Yr (at Sacramento Instruct).

TCU QB Josh Hoover: Hoover turned the starter midway thru his redshirt freshman season closing year, beginning the final six games. He averaged 339.5 yards per game over that stretch, including two 400-yard performances, and threw eight touchdowns to two interceptions over the final three games towards Texas, Baylor and Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Instruct RB Ollie Gordon II: OSU’s season rotated when it stopped overthinking the offense and gave the ball to Gordon. After ideal 19 carries within the first three games, Gordon reeled off eight 100-yard games in his past nine, including 837 total yards and seven TDs in a 3-week interval towards Kansas, West Virginia and Cincinnati.

UCF RB RJ Harvey: Harvey can wing, and UCF likes to uncover him in dwelling, where he can’t be caught. Harvey closed the season with seven 100-yard games in his final eight, including 206 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-3 blowout towards Oklahoma Instruct, who made it to the Tall 12 championship game.

Kansas QB Jalon Daniels: Thought to be one of the most inviting talents, his abet has betrayed him over his profession. At the tip of 2022, he threw for 544 yards and five TDs in a 55-53 Liberty Bowl loss to Arkansas, and change into named the preseason Tall 12 Offensive Player of the Yr closing season. But by the tip of September, after ideal three games and a 3-0 delivery (705 yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT) he change into on the rupture list. He stayed at KU moderately than trying to search out a novel delivery, surroundings the table for a final season if we’re lucky ample to uncover to search him.

Must-scrutinize games

Utah at Oklahoma Instruct, Sept. 21: An early preview of the Tall 12 title game? It ideal would possibly perhaps most doubtless most doubtless perhaps be. The winner of this game will doubtless emerge as the Tall 12 accepted, while the loser will doubtless be on the brink of exiting the title dialogue with a elaborate game the following week.

Oklahoma Instruct at Kansas Instruct, Sept. 28: OSU has won four of the past five matchups, however the one loss change into a 48-0 rout in Ny in 2022, the Cowboys’ first shutout loss since 2009. At Okay-Instruct, the Wildcats are 3-2 over the final decade towards OSU, with two losses by a total of eight facets and three wins by 34, 19 and 48.

Arizona at Utah, Sept. 28: Arizona and Utah weren’t precisely competitors within the Pac-12, however there is a shared history now as they produce the switch to the Tall 12 collectively. Both faculties enter the season with within playoff expectations and this game would possibly perhaps most doubtless most doubtless perhaps play a deciding role.

Colorado at Nebraska, Sept. 7: Colorado’s steal towards Nebraska closing year fueled the Coach High hype machine, however after both groups wilted beneath their respective first-year coaches, they’re now having a scrutinize to leap abet.

BYU at Utah, Nov. 9: The Holy War rarely fails to entertain, and right here is a specific model brooding about it is a conference game again, and, for the first time, in a well-known conference.

Kansas at Kansas Instruct, Oct. 26: Kansas lost an 11-level third quarter Sunflower Showdown lead closing season in a 31-27 Okay-Instruct steal in Lawrence, however the Jayhawks were down to third-string freshman quarterback Cole Ballard. Right here’s on the total a fight of two of the most efficient QBs within the Tall 12 if both KU’s Jalon Daniels and Okay-Instruct’s Avery Johnson are wholesome.

Numbers to know

Quite so much of of various faculties to play within the past four Tall 12 championship games

Years since Kansas won a conference title (Jayhawks were co-champs of the Tall Eight in 1968)

Oklahoma Instruct’s trot of seasons with a a success file, third most efficient in FBS (Boise Instruct and Wisconsin)

7.72

Yards per lift by West Virginia‘s Jahiem White closing season, most efficient amongst FBS running backs (minimum 100 carries) — ESPN Stats & Files

On the hot seat

Wilson: Dave Aranda, Baylor

After going 12-2 in 2021 with a Sugar Bowl steal over Ole Hasten over, Baylor has struggled to search out an identity. Aranda hasn’t been alarmed to present changes, however after closing year’s 3-9 season, he replaced OC Jeff Grimes and his NFL-style manner with Jake Spavital’s Air Raid, hoping to screen offensive line struggles. Aranda is additionally taking on retain watch over of the defensive playcalling, his specialty. He is conscious of right here is his closing shot at proving 2021 change into the norm, no longer the outlier.

Wilson: Scott Satterfield, Cincinnati

Satterfield has fully been at Cincinnati for one season, however change into 17-19 in his closing three seasons at Louisville, which then went 10-4 beneath his replacement, Jeff Brohm. Final year, the Bearcats went 1-8 within the Tall 12 in its first season within the league and carried out with ideal two FBS wins, over Pitt and Houston groups that won fully three and 4 games. Cincinnati has punched above its weight for years, and a instructing commerce amid a step up in conferences change into a elaborate aggregate. But Satterfield needs to generate some enthusiasm in a novel era within the Queen City.

Groups on the rise

Bonagura: Arizona

Had Jedd Fisch remained at Arizona, there would be worthy more hype in regards to the Wildcats real now. They went from 1-11 to 5-7 to 10-3 beneath Fisch and like most of their key gamers returning, including quarterback Noah Fifita, who deserves to be within the Heisman Trophy dialogue. What’s aloof unknown is how unique coach Brent Brennan’s arrival will impression lifestyles within the desolate tract.

Wilson: Iowa Instruct

Sure, Matt Campbell’s tenure in Ames has on the total considered the Cyclones listed amongst the most improved groups. But Iowa Instruct will doubtless be due for a step forward, a year after a gambling scandal threw the season into turmoil sooner than freshman QB Rocco Becht took over, settled in and turned the Tall 12 Offensive Player of the Yr, surroundings ISU freshman files for passing yards (3,120) and TDs (23). Jon Heacock’s defenses are amongst the nation’s most efficient year in and year out, and this year, expectations are sky high. That’s a aggregate that supplies hope in Ames.

Vitality rankings

1. Utah: If Utah stays wholesome, it is miles the most efficient workforce within the conference.

2. Oklahoma St.: Mike Gundy most steadily figures it out, and Ollie Gordon’s return offers it one amongst the nation’s top backs to like around.

3. Arizona: With all its returning skills, Arizona has a case to be the favourite.

4. Kansas St.: Avery Johnson is one amongst the most talented gamers the Wildcats like ever landed. Can he lead them amongst the elite?

5. Iowa St.: If Rocco Becht builds on his spectacular freshman debut, look out.

6. WVU: Neal Brown acquired the contract and steadiness he wished to retain constructing after nine wins and a bowl victory.

7. Kansas: As Jalon Daniels grows, so will the Jayhawks.

8. TCU: Sonny Dykes is having a bet on unique DC Andy Avalos to lend a hand steadiness out a talented offense after a 5-7 disappointment that ended by giving up 69 facets to Oklahoma.

9. Texas Tech: Joey McGuire’s roster makeover is paunchy of his gamers. The offensive line is the most well-known, finding dwelling for Tahj Brooks, who ran for 1,541 yards closing year.

10. UCF: Gus Malzahn has his QB in Jefferson; the Knights carried out 6-7 closing year, however three losses were by a total of four facets, including a 2-level loss in Norman to OU after a regrettable 2-level conversion try to tie.

11. Baylor: Dave Aranda is involving to the Air Raid on offense, and taking on the protection again. DeQuan Finn arrives from Toledo in hopes of steadiness at QB.

12. BYU: After a disappointing first year within the Tall 12, the Cougars like so much to imprint.

13. Houston: Fresh coach Willie Fritz has been a winner in each single distress he has been. At 64, he at closing will get the job he wants in a energy conference in a metropolis he has recruited for years.

14. Colorado: After a closing-distress win within the Pac-12 closing year, the Deion Sanders advertising and marketing and marketing machine needs to showcase it will retract care of industry on the field.

15. Cincinnati: It be hard to reveal the Bearcats’ time out to the Faculty Soccer Playoff change into in 2021.

16. Arizona St: The Sun Devils reveal they’ve addressed their roster needs, however will it be ample to be aggressive after a 3-steal 2023?