The Biggest Storyline for Every Big 12 Team in 2025

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With the season rapidly approaching, it’s time we start diving into the biggest storyline/question surrounding every power conference team heading into the season, along with each conference as a whole. These can range from team storylines, to player storylines, to coach storylines – really about anything. Some teams had a few that were hard to narrow down to one, but I did what I think is the biggest one from the outside looking in.

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Big 12 – Can the conference flip the national narrative?

Ever since the last round of realignment, the Big 12 has been on the wrong end of the new “power two” narrative being driven by the national media. While I do believe the SEC and Big Ten are the two best football conferences, at least at the top, I don’t think there’s as big of a difference between the “power two” and the Big 12/ACC. Unfortunately, the only way to really change that is if Big 12 teams knock off teams from the Big Ten and SEC. The best chances the conference has of reversing the narrative this year are Baylor against Auburn, Kansas against Missouri and Oklahoma State against Oregon.

Arizona Wildcats – Brent Brennan’s new philosophy/job security

It’s no secret that Brent Brennan’s first season in Tucson did not live up to expectations, as the Wildcats went a measly 4-8 after being ranked in the preseason top 25. But along with coaching staff turnover, Brennan has reportedly changed his philosophy this offseason, no longer “kissing everyone’s ass, asking them to stay,” he said at Big 12 Media Days. We’ll see if this new change in leadership style can turn a program with low expectations around this season.

Arizona State Sun Devils – How important was Cam Skattebo to the offense?

Arizona State returns nearly everyone from last season outside of All-American, do-it-all running back Cam Skattebo. Will quarterback Sam Leavitt continue down his path of being one of the top QB’s in the country this year with the defenses playing more for the pass? Will the running game be as close to as effective as a year ago? I think the answer to both those questions are yes, but I could see a world where they aren’t.

Baylor Bears – Can the defense improve enough to become Big 12 title contenders?

Many people, including myself, are very high on Baylor this year because of its offensive performance in the back half of the season a year ago. But will the Bears be able to improve enough defensively from a unit that finished 67th in the SNAP Model to be a Big 12 contender in 2025? They added good portal talent, but we won’t know for sure how they’ll be until the ball is snapped against Auburn week one.

BYU Cougars – Was last year a fluke?

BYU had an amazing season last year where they went 11-2 and was arguably the best Big 12 team for most of the season. But at the same time, a lot of those wins were done via toss-up games and pretty good turnover luck. With most of its roster returning for this season, it’ll be interesting if the Cougars can repeat their success from a year ago and put together another great season.

Cincinnati Bearcats – Scott Satterfield’s job security

It’s been two seasons since Scott Satterfield took over at Cincinnati, and since the Bearcats joined the Big 12. They’ve combined for a conference record of 4-14 in those two seasons, and with nothing really pointing to big improvement this year, a lot of Bearcat fans are already fed up with Satterfield. I believe he – at the very least – has to get Cincy to a bowl game to be there in 2026.

Colorado Buffaloes – Can they stay relevant in the post-Sanders/Hunter era?

Colorado surprised a lot of people with its nine win season in 2024, but losing maybe two of the five best players in college football from that team does not bode well for the Buffaloes this fall. They brought in a nice transfer class, including quarterback Kaidon Salter, but no one who will be as close to as talented as Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter.

Houston Cougars – Can Willie Fritz build on last season and turn the program around?

If you’ve been following my content this summer, you know I’m extremely high on Houston in 2025. The Cougars have all the makings of a team that makes a jump in year two of a head coach. But can they actually prove me right on the field this year?

Iowa State Cyclones – How will they replace the production of Higgins/Noel?

A huge reason for Iowa State’s success in 2024 was its cheat-code of a wide receiver duo in Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, who both went over 1,000 yards receiving. But with both Higgins and Noel off to the NFL, how will the Cyclones replace that production in 2025. It doesn’t necessarily all have to come in the receiver room, but Matt Campbell went out and got WR transfers Chase Sowell and Xavier Townsend to help the cause. The development of RB duo Carson Hansen and Abu Sama could take some of the load as well.

Kansas Jayhawks – Can Jalon Daniels return to 2022 form?

Jalon Daniels broke out in 2022 and was a huge part of the turnaround of Kansas football the past few years; but after battling injuries in 2023 and struggling for most of 2024, can Daniels return to 2022 form to try and lift Kansas to contending for a Big 12 title? The pieces are there, but they’re going to have to find a way to win close games on the back of Daniels.

Kansas State Wildcats – Avery Johnson’s consistency

Kansas State lived and died by Avery Johnson a year ago, and this season should be no different. Johnson showed flashes of greatness at times, but also made some costly mistakes that cost the Wildcats the game at other times. If Johnson can find a way to play at his ceiling more consistently in 2025, K-State may be the favorite to win the Big 12.

Oklahoma State Cowboys – Was last year a fluke?

Almost unfathomably, Oklahoma State didn’t win a single conference game last season after making the Big 12 title game two years ago. It almost doesn’t feel real that the Cowboys had that bad of a season under Mike Gundy, who had built the program into one of the more consistent in the country. But that begs the question that will get answered this year – was last year just a fluke, or has Gundy lost his touch in today’s day and age of college football?

TCU Horned Frogs – Can they find a running game?

TCU impressed a lot of people last year, winning nine games and six games in conference, but most of that success was due to its passing attack, led by returning quarterback Josh Hoover. The passing attack ranked 34th in the country, according to the SNAP Model, but the running game finished all the way down at 107th. If the Horned Frogs are going to take another step forward and compete for a conference title this season, they’re going to have to find more of a balanced attack.

Texas Tech Red Raiders – Will the new talent mesh?

Everyone and their mother knows about the crazy-talented transfer class Joey McGuire and Texas Tech brought in this year, but will all that talent form a great team, or will it just be a bunch of good individual players? Having good returning production helps lay the foundation of the team, but we’ve seen how relying on a team full of transfers can fall apart (see Florida State last year).

UCF Knights – Can Scott Frost replicate his magic at UCF again?

UCF is entering part two of the Scott Frost era, beginning this year. Frost has completely overhauled the roster from a year ago – which could be a good thing, considering the struggles that happened a year ago. But will he be able to have the same success again in Orlando, now being in a power conference and a different era of college football? That question doesn’t necessarily have to be answered this season, but we might start to get one.

Utah Utes – Devon Dampier’s development

Utah had maybe the worst QB injury luck in the country now, cycling through four starting quarterbacks all year and failing to really get anything going offensively. However, they bring in dual-threat QB Devon Dampier from New Mexico, along with his offensive coordinator. Dampier was an elite running quarterback a year ago, but struggled in the passing game at times. If he was able to develop a better passing game to pair with his running ability and an elite Utah defense, the Utes could go from 5-7 last season to winning the conference in 2025.

West Virginia Mountaineers – Rich Rod part two

We’ve got two legendary coach-program reunions in the Big 12 this year with Scott Frost and Rich Rodriguez. Similar to Frost, it will be interesting to see if Rich Rod can have the same success he did with the Mountaineers in his first go-around. The offense should certainly be very good in theory, but will it be as good as they were in the early 2010s, and will the defense complement it enough to be conference contenders. I don’t think they’ll do much in 2025, but the hire has longer-term potential.

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