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2024 Big 12 Preview

PAC MAN

PAC MAN

Bison to the core.
Club Member
Note: Data changes are inevitable due to the transfer portal or players gambling their careers away.

Arizona

New starting QB? Noah Fifita threw for 2,515 yards and 23-5 TD-INT.
Other notable offensive players: Tetairoa McMilan caught 80 passes for 1,242 yards and 10 receiving TDs. UA does lose a WR and TE with significant yards and TDs. Jonah Coleman returns with 851 rushing yards and 5 TDs. Two other Wildcat RBs in the rotation aren't coming back though.
Seniors on 2023 roster: 15
Juniors on 2023 roster: 9
Sophomores: 27
Head Coach On Hot Seat? No.
Expected returning OL starters: Four. Just two seniors listed in two deep.
Expected returning DL starters (3 man front): Zero. Five seniors listed in depth chart.
Expected starting LB starters (four man) Four. Just one senior listed in depth chart.
Expected starting DB starters: (four man) Four. Just one senior listed in depth chart.

Arizona State

New starting QB? No. ASU QBs were beat up during the season but four QBs gained playing experience. Could be the hottest QB competition in the Big 12 next spring & summer.
Other notable offensive players: Cameron Skattebo returns and the bruising RB ran for 783 yards and 9 TDs. WR Elijah Badger caught 65 passes for 713 yards and 3 TDs. There is a TE and a few other WRs in addition to Skattebo who return for the passing game.
Seniors on 2023 roster: 21.
Juniors on 2023 roster: 30
Sophomores: 14
Head Coach On Hot Seat? No.
Expected returning OL starters: Three. Four seniors listed in depth chart.
Expected returning DL starters (four man): Three. Two seniors listed in depth chart.
Expected returning LB starters (two man): One. One senior listed in depth chart.
Expected returning DB starters (five man): One. Six seniors listed in depth chart.

BYU

New starting QB? Yes.
Other notable offensive players: Seems similar to Baylor's returning production.
Seniors on 2023 roster: 17
Juniors on 2023 roster: 27
Sophomores: 27
Head Coach On Hot Seat? Yes. #24 on Hotseat Blog which was surprising.
Expected returning OL: Four. Five seniors in depth chart.
Expected returning DL (four man): Two. Two seniors in depth chart.
Expected returning LB (two man): One. Two seniors in depth chart.
Expected returning DB (five man): Three. Three seniors in depth chart.

Baylor

New starting QB? No. Blake Shapen to return as senior. Whoever returns or comes via the transfer portal has quite some returning production to work with.
Other notable offensive players: BU is to return three RBs with a combined 1,100 yards rushing and 8 rushing TDs. The Bears return most of their top WRs & TEs and the only loss is a TE who had 5 TD receptions.
Seniors on 2023 roster: 13
Juniors on 2023 roster: 20
Sophomores: 27
Head Coach on Hot Seat? Yes. #4 on Hotseat Blog. Slow start could mean midseason coaching change.
Expected returning OL starters: 3.
Expected returning DL starters (3 man front): One.
Expected returning LB starters (3 LBs): Two. One more LB could have been a co-starter.
Expected returning DB starters (5 DBs): Four. There is just one senior in the two deep.

Cincinnati

New starting QB? Yes.
Other notable offensive players: Several RBs with a combined 1,500 yards and 8 rushing TDs are expected back. Bearcats are losing three of the top four receivers.
Seniors on 2023 roster: 25
Juniors on 2023 roster: 25
Sophomores: 19
Head Coach on Hot Seat? Yes. #10 on Hotseat Blog and finished dead last in the Big 12. Worst season of the four newcomers to the Big 12 for the 2023 season.
Expected returning starting OL: Four. Three seniors in the two deep are expected to depart.
Expected returning DL starters (3 man front): One. Five seniors in the three deep.
Expected returning LB starters (3 man): One. Two seniors in the three deep.
Expected returning DB starters (5 man) Three. Three seniors in the three deep.

Colorado

New starting QB? No. Shedeur Sanders, the presumptive #1 pick of the 2025 NFL Draft returns.
Other notable players: Travis Hunter. You know him.
Seniors on 2023 roster: 21
Juniors on 2023 roster: 24
Sophomores: 28
Head Coach on Hot Seat? No.

Houston

New starting QB? No. Donovan Smith will be starting QB for a third season...if he stays in Houston. If Smith leaves, there is no one on the roster with much playing exprience.
Other notable offensive players: Four sophmore WRs with a combined 190 receptions and 2,000 receiving yards in addition to 18 receiving TDs are due back. They could have used a RB who is currently at CU at this point. But there's always the transfer portal.
Seniors on 2023 roster: 18
Juniors on 2023 roster: 20
Sophomores: 28
Head coach on Hot Seat? No as there will be a new head coach.
Expected returning OL: Two. Four seniors in depth chart.
Expected returning DL (four): Three. Just one senior in depth chart.
Expected returning LB (two): One. Two seniors in depth chart.
Expected returning DB (five): Two. Five seniors in depth chart.

Iowa State

New starting QB? No and you can bet that Rocco Becht will be the starting QB after a good freshman season.
Other notable offensive players: Top two WRs are returning and a frosh TE was third on the team in receptions. Four RBs who totaled about 1,400 rushing yards are due back as well.
Seniors on 2023 roster: 12
Juniors on 2023 roster: 22
Sophomores: 23
Head Coach on Hot Seat? No.
Expected returning OL: Three. Three seniors in depth chart.
Expected returning DL (four): Four. No seniors in depth chart.
Expected returning LB (three): Two. Just one senior in depth chart.
Expected returning DB (four): Three. Just two seniors and when they go to five DBs, there are four returning DBs.

Kansas

New starting QB? Sort of with Jason Bean moving on but dynamic talent Jalon Daniels who couldn't stay healthy this season.
Other notable offensive players: RB Devin Neal had a 1,209 yard rushing season with 15 rushing TDs.
Seniors on 2023 roster: 17
Juniors on 2023 roster: 27
Sophomores: 33
Head Coach on Hot Seat? No.
Expected returning OL starters: Three. Two seniors in two deep.
Expected returning DL starters (four man front): Four.
Expected returning LB starters (three man) One. Two seniors in two deep. Four players with at least three years at KU expected back.
Expected returning DB starters (four man): Three. Three seniors in two deep.

Kansas State

New starting QB? Yes. Will Howard is entering the portal but there's Avery Johnson who threw for three TD passes and ran for 6 TDs.
Other notable offensive players: DJ Giddens who ran for just over 1,000 yards and 9 rushing TDs. Ben Sinnot caught 6 TD passes at TE and it looks like KSU will have to find a WR.
Seniors on 2023 roster: 21
Juniors on 2023 roster: 19
Sophomores: 26
Head Coach on Hot Seat? No.
Expected returning OL starters: One. Five seniors in the two deep and while four were listed as starters, one was a co-starter. Two non-seniors were part time starters and both are from Colorado.
Expected returning DL starters (3 man front): Zero.
Expected returning LB starters (3 man): Two. Only one senior listed in the two deep.
Expected returning DB starters (5 man): Three. Two seniors listed in the two deep.

Oklahoma State

New starting QB? Yes.
Other notable offensive players: Ollie Gordon had a solid sophomore season on the ground with 1,580 rushing yards and 20 rushing TDs. I'm not sure he's back after OSU is losing four starting OL plus four more seniors in the OL two deep. Big massive hit to the OL.
Seniors on 2023 roster: 26
Juniors on 2023 roster: 19
Sophomores: 23
Head Coach on Hot Seat? No.
Expected returning OL starters: One. EIGHT seniors listed in two deep.
Expected returning DL starters (three man): Zero. Five seniors listed in two deep.
Expected returning LB starters (three man): Two. Just one senior listed in two deep.
Expected returning DB starters (five man): Three. Two seniors listed in two deep.

TCU

New starting QB? No at this point.
Other notable offensive players: Emani Bailey who had 1,209 rushing yards with 8 rushing TDs. Losing Jared Wiley and his 9 receiving TDs at TE is a big blow.
Seniors on 2023 roster: 20
Juniors on 2023 roster: 27
Sophomores: 31
Head Coach on Hot Seat? Surprisingly no according to the Hot Seat blog.
Expected returning OL: Two. Three seniors listed in depth chart.
Expected returning DL (three): Three. Three seniors listed in depth chart.
Expected returning LB (three): Two. One senior listed in depth chart.
Expected returning DB (four): Two. Four seniors listed in depth chart. Five man DB would be still two starters returning.

Texas Tech

New starting QB? No Behren Morton returns but he ended the season on a sour note throwing 3 INTs against Texas in a blowout loss. I think TT might look into the portal for a QB.
Other notable offensive players: No.
Seniors on 2023 roster: 27
Juniors on 2023 roster: 17
Sophomores: 22
Head Coach on Hot Seat? No but his seat should be warming up after a disappointing season.
Expected returning OL starters: Two. Two backups have started a few games.
Expected returning DL starters (3-man front): Zero. Four seniors in the two deep.
Expected returning LB starters (3 LBs): Two. Three seniors departing.
Expected returning DB starters (5 DBs): One. Five seniors departing.

UCF

New starting QB? Yes. KJ Jefferson from Arkansas is joining UCF.
Other notable offensive players: UCF looks like they are losing a lot of production from this season.
Seniors on 2023 roster: 43
Juniors on 2023 roster: 18
Sophomores: 19
Head Coach on Hot Seat? No. UCF was the only one of the four new Big 12 schools to qualify for a bowl game this season.
Expected returning OL starters: Three. Seven seniors listed in two/three deep.
Expected returning DL starters (3 man): Two. Two seniors listed in two deep.
Expected returning LB starters (3 man): Zero. Five seniors listed in two deep.
Expected returning DB starters (5 man): Two. Five seniors listed in two deep.

Utah

New starting QB? No. Cameron Rising is back but can he stay healthy? Utah has one of two backups returning.
Other notable offensive players: The Utes had quite a few sophs and juniors who contributed to the team in this category.
Seniors on 2023 roster: 11 and that is not counting Rising who will return next season.
Juniors on 2023 roster: 28
Sophomores: 21
Head Coach on Hot Seat? No.
Expected returning OL starters: Five. Just one senior listed in depth chart.
Expected returning DL starters (four man): Four. No seniors listed in depth chart.
Expected returning LB starters (three man): Three. Just one senior listed in depth chart.
Expected returning DB starters (four or five men): Three or four. Just two seniors listed in depth chart and one was a starter.

West Virigina

New starting QB? No. Garrett Greene threw for 2,178 yards with 15-4 TD-INT.
Other notable offensive players: Two other RBs in CJ Donaldson (798 YR and 11 TDs) and Jahiem White (792 YR and 3 TDs). They do have several WRs and one TE to keep an eye on.
Seniors on 2023 roster: 14
Juniors on 2023 roster: 25
Sophomores: 19
Head Coach on Hot Seat? No.
Expected returning OL: Five. Just one senior in depth chart.
Expected returning DL (three): Three. Just one senior and he's a third stringer.
Expected returning LB (three): Two. Two seniors listed in depth chart.
Expected returning DB (five): Three. Three seniors listed in depth chart.
 
Last edited:
Here is a condensed version.

Arizona - basketball school
ASU - Little Kenny Dillingham and his band of merry high school coaches
BYU - Chock full of 30 year old players. Went on mission, had a covid year, a redshirt year and a medical year.
Baylor - Misogynists
Cincinnati - Looking for next HC in 2 years
CU - Prime Time!
UH - Commuter school
ISU - I bet they aren't so good anymore
KU - Better basketball school than Arizona
KSU - Still need only a pulse to attend
OSU - Truck Stop champions
TCU - CU's little bitch
TTech - Oily tortillas
UCF - National Champions! Just ask 'em.
UU - Wishes they were BYU
WVU - Eat that racoon before making the hat
 
I'm at least gonna wait on a prediction until I know what QBs these teams get from portal & prep recruiting.
 
Buffnik said:
I'm at least gonna wait on a prediction until I know what QBs these teams get from portal & prep recruiting.
Click to expand...

Shedeur might be preseason all Big 12 at QB. It appears that the 4C schools are more solid at QB compared to the rest of the Big 12.

Travis Hunter…almost a certainty that he will get first team honors on both sides of the ball.

Coach Prime in DFW for Big 12 Media Days could overshadow the SEC Media Days being held in DFW as well.
 
4BienemyTDs said:
WINNABLE CONFERENCE
Lets Goooo
Click to expand...

Agreed that CU has a shot to win the Big 12 next season but it's by no means going to be easy.

2024 Home B12 games: OSU, KSU, UC, UU, and BU.
2024 Road B12 games: UCF, KU, UA, and TT.

OSU is the team I want to beat the most next season after what they did to us in the Alamo Bowl back in 2016. They have a real good RB coming back next season and OSU has been physical as well. Don't think CU would have beaten OSU this year on the field and next season's game will come down to the trenches.

KSU is another physical B12 team but beatable due to their QBs throwing INTs at the wrong times. I think beating KSU would have been 50-50 this year. Next year I think the odds would be more in CU's favor.

Cincy is probably regretting hiring their current coach away from Louisville because UL was not too far away from firing him. Not only did they have the worst B12 record this year but that was with at least 50 upper classmen this year. They got some rebuilding work to do this season and I think CU beats UC this year and next year as well.

Utah...we will kick their asses eventually and next year would be great.

BU...they did not have a good season and they are a team that I think CU beats this year and things are not looking good in Waco at this point so the Buffs should beat the Bears in Boulder next season.

UCF would have been a tough out and they were in a lot of B12 contests this year. They are losing quite some production but I would not underestimate the talent that UCF can bring in. I think CU has a good chance of winning in Orlando next season.

Kansas will be a tough road game if Daniels is healthy at QB and he has a good running mate at RB. I don't think CU would beat KU this recent season and given the game is in Kansas next season, that will be a tough game.

TT...a lot of hype earlier this season and they fizzled this season. Would CU have beaten TT this season? Depends on which teams show up. I'm thinking TT has some urgency next season because it will be year three of the McGuire regime in Lubbock. Toss up in my opinion.

UA...they are a school that will not necessarily out-talent CU but that game is going to be in Tucson next season and I'd say toss up in this one.

So there's four games that I feel CU wins next season: KSU, UC, UCF, and BU.
Tossups: TT and UA.
Losses: Utah, KU, and OSU.

Best case B12 record: 6-3.
Worst case B12 record: 4-5.

CU's OOC schedule is by no means easy. NDSU is going to lose 35 seniors after a disappointing season and there are only 10 juniors & 18 sophomores on this year's squad. I just hope that CU takes NDSU seriously next season given their history the last decade. Road trips to Nebraska and CSU will be tough.

Best case OOC record: 3-0.
Worst case OOC record: 1-2.

Aiming for a conference championship given the results of the last 15 years seems a bit much. Worst case record is 5-7 and best case record is 9-3 in this case. Let's start going to bowl games then championship contention can come after that.
 
Alfred91 said:
My guy, TCU played in the national championship game a year ago. Of course Dykes isn't on the hot seat.
Click to expand...

It might not appear so but there is an opportunity for any B12 school to take over the Big 12 after OU & UT departs the conference. If that doesn't materialize for a school, a firing might not be far behind. I have noticed with the move from the Big 8 to the Big 12 and the B12 to the Pac-12, there has been more than average changes after the first season or two.

Dykes cannot afford another season like the 2023 season in Ft. Worth or he could be gone by the end of the 2024 season. Each B12 team is getting a bump in TV money. Not the best time to be a coach on the hot seat.
 
Given that this is bowl season, we might as well look at what bowls are contracted with the Big 12. A few bowls are familar such as the Cotton, Alamo, and the Independence Bowl :sick:

The Big 12 bowl games are:

Liberty Bowl (Memphis) vs SEC
Pop Tarts Bowl (Orlando) vs ACC
Texas Bowl (Houston) vs SEC
Guaranteed Rate Bowl (Phoenix) vs Big Ten
Armed Forces Bowl (Ft Worth) vs AAC or CUSA
First Responder Bowl (Dallas) vs AAC, CUSA, or ACC
Indepedence Bowl (Shreveport) vs Pac-12...probably will change
Cotton (Dallas if stadium is not in the CFP that season) and usually against the SEC or highest rated G5 champion.
Alamo (San Antonio) vs Pac-12...probably will change

At first glance, those bowl games appear to be in good recruiting areas.
 
I will be posting conference only stats and both conferences had nine games for each team. The Pac-12 without a doubt was the stronger conference this recent season so you can come to your own conclusions. First will be points per game:

TeamOffensive PPGDefensive PPGPPG Difference
BYU20.434.6-14.2
Baylor22.636.8-14.2
Houston20.934.9-14
Arizona State17.831.8-14
Cincinnati19.132.8-13.7
Colorado28.234.8-6.6
Texas Tech24.227.6-3.4
TCU28.829.6-0.8
UCF29.829.9-0.1
Oklahoma State32.231.60.6
West Virigina32.329.92.4
Utah24.519.84.7
Iowa State29.424.64.8
Kansas32.227.25
Arizona34.320.813.5
Kansas State37.823.414.4

Average PPG on offense: 27.16
Average PPG on defense: 29.38

A good goal for CU's D is to shave off one TD and CU's O to add a few more points next season.
 
PAC MAN said:
Note: Data changes are inevitable due to the transfer portal or players gambling their careers away.

Arizona

New starting QB? Noah Fifita threw for 2,515 yards and 23-5 TD-INT.
Other notable offensive players: Tetairoa McMilan caught 80 passes for 1,242 yards and 10 receiving TDs. UA does lose a WR and TE with significant yards and TDs. Jonah Coleman returns with 851 rushing yards and 5 TDs. Two other Wildcat RBs in the rotation aren't coming back though.
Seniors on 2023 roster: 15
Juniors on 2023 roster: 9
Sophomores: 27
Head Coach On Hot Seat? No.

Arizona State

New starting QB? No. ASU QBs were beat up during the season but four QBs gained playing experience. Could be the hottest QB competition in the Big 12 next spring & summer.
Other notable offensive players: Cameron Skattebo returns and the bruising RB ran for 783 yards and 9 TDs. WR Elijah Badger caught 65 passes for 713 yards and 3 TDs. There is a TE and a few other WRs in addition to Skattebo who return for the passing game.
Seniors on 2023 roster: 21.
Juniors on 2023 roster: 30
Sophomores: 14
Head Coach On Hot Seat? No.

BYU

New starting QB? Yes.
Other notable offensive players: Seems similar to Baylor's returning production.
Seniors on 2023 roster: 17
Juniors on 2023 roster: 27
Sophomores: 27
Head Coach On Hot Seat? Yes. #24 on Hotseat Blog which was surprising.

Baylor

New starting QB? No. Blake Shapen to return as senior. Whoever returns or comes via the transfer portal has quite some returning production to work with.
Other notable offensive players: BU is to return three RBs with a combined 1,100 yards rushing and 8 rushing TDs. The Bears return most of their top WRs & TEs and the only loss is a TE who had 5 TD receptions.
Seniors on 2023 roster: 13
Juniors on 2023 roster: 20
Sophomores: 27
Head Coach on Hot Seat? Yes. #4 on Hotseat Blog. Slow start could mean midseason coaching change.

Cincinnati

New starting QB? Yes.
Other notable offensive players: Several RBs with a combined 1,500 yards and 8 rushing TDs are expected back. Bearcats are losing three of the top four receivers.
Seniors on 2023 roster: 25
Juniors on 2023 roster: 25
Sophomores: 19
Head Coach on Hot Seat? Yes. #10 on Hotseat Blog and finished dead last in the Big 12. Worst season of the four newcomers to the Big 12 for the 2023 season.

Colorado

New starting QB? No. Shedeur Sanders, the presumptive #1 pick of the 2025 NFL Draft returns.
Other notable players: Travis Hunter. You know him.
Seniors on 2023 roster: 21
Juniors on 2023 roster: 24
Sophomores: 28
Head Coach on Hot Seat? No.

Houston

New starting QB? No. Donovan Smith will be starting QB for a third season...if he stays in Houston. If Smith leaves, there is no one on the roster with much playing exprience.
Other notable offensive players: Four sophmore WRs with a combined 190 receptions and 2,000 receiving yards in addition to 18 receiving TDs are due back. They could have used a RB who is currently at CU at this point. But there's always the transfer portal.
Seniors on 2023 roster: 18
Juniors on 2023 roster: 20
Sophomores: 28
Head coach on Hot Seat? No as there will be a new head coach.

Iowa State

New starting QB? No and you can bet that Rocco Becht will be the starting QB after a good freshman season.
Other notable offensive players: Top two WRs are returning and a frosh TE was third on the team in receptions. Four RBs who totaled about 1,400 rushing yards are due back as well.
Seniors on 2023 roster: 12
Juniors on 2023 roster: 22
Sophomores: 23
Head Coach on Hot Seat? No.

Kansas

New starting QB? Sort of with Jason Bean moving on but dynamic talent Jalon Daniels who couldn't stay healthy this season.
Other notable offensive players: RB Devin Neal had a 1,209 yard rushing season with 15 rushing TDs.
Seniors on 2023 roster: 17
Juniors on 2023 roster: 27
Sophomores: 33
Head Coach on Hot Seat? No.

Kansas State

New starting QB? Yes. Will Howard is entering the portal but there's Avery Johnson who threw for three TD passes and ran for 6 TDs.
Other notable offensive players: DJ Giddens who ran for just over 1,000 yards and 9 rushing TDs. Ben Sinnot caught 6 TD passes at TE and it looks like KSU will have to find a WR.
Seniors on 2023 roster: 21
Juniors on 2023 roster: 19
Sophomores: 26
Head Coach on Hot Seat? No.

Oklahoma State

New starting QB? Yes.
Other notable offensive players: Ollie Gordon had a solid sophomore season on the ground with 1,580 rushing yards and 20 rushing TDs.
Seniors on 2023 roster: 26
Juniors on 2023 roster: 19
Sophomores: 23
Head Coach on Hot Seat? No.

TCU

New starting QB? No at this point.
Other notable offensive players: Emani Bailey who had 1,209 rushing yards with 8 rushing TDs. Losing Jared Wiley and his 9 receiving TDs at TE is a big blow.
Seniors on 2023 roster: 20
Juniors on 2023 roster: 27
Sophomores: 31
Head Coach on Hot Seat? Surprisingly no according to the Hot Seat blog.

Texas Tech

New starting QB? No Behren Morton returns but he ended the season on a sour note throwing 3 INTs against Texas in a blowout loss. I think TT might look into the portal for a QB.
Other notable offensive players: No.
Seniors on 2023 roster: 27
Juniors on 2023 roster: 17
Sophomores: 22
Head Coach on Hot Seat? No but his seat should be warming up after a disappointing season.

UCF

New starting QB? Yes. Timmy McClain looks like he could be the guy after throwing for 1,008 passing yards and 9 TD passes with just 2 INTs.
Other notable offensive players: UCF looks like they are losing a lot of production from this season.
Seniors on 2023 roster: 43
Juniors on 2023 roster: 18
Sophomores: 19
Head Coach on Hot Seat? No. UCF was the only one of the four new Big 12 schools to qualify for a bowl game this season.

Utah

New starting QB? No. Cameron Rising is back but can he stay healthy? Utah has one of two backups returning.
Other notable offensive players: The Utes had quite a few sophs and juniors who contributed to the team in this category.
Seniors on 2023 roster: 11 and that is not counting Rising who will return next season.
Juniors on 2023 roster: 28
Sophomores: 21
Head Coach on Hot Seat? No.

West Virigina

New starting QB? No. Garrett Greene threw for 2,178 yards with 15-4 TD-INT.
Other notable offensive players: Two other RBs in CJ Donaldson (798 YR and 11 TDs) and Jahiem White (792 YR and 3 TDs). They do have several WRs and one TE to keep an eye on.
Seniors on 2023 roster: 14
Juniors on 2023 roster: 25
Sophomores: 19
Head Coach on Hot Seat? No.
Click to expand...
TBH I would call none of this information valid until March. Very presumptive given the nature of the game these days.
 
Da Lama said:
TBH I would call none of this information valid until March. Very presumptive given the nature of the game these days.
Click to expand...

In the meantime, it's fun to speculate.

With the changes to college football and the portal, this year was the first year in a very long time that I didn't buy one single preseason preview magazine.
 
PAC MAN said:
In the meantime, it's fun to speculate.

With the changes to college football and the portal, this year was the first year in a very long time that I didn't buy one single preseason preview magazine.
Click to expand...
I remember magazines.

I remember when the various publications would regionalize their covers to drive sales, and young hokiehead would get so excited that a NATIONAL magazine had VT on the front.
 
PAC MAN said:
Unfortunately for CU football.
Click to expand...

See, the only thing we really know about 2024 right now is who the teams are. The transfer portal just opened, recruiting is in full swing and the coaching carousel is also spinning at full speed. Given the fact that we have no true idea about the 2 key variables (coaching and players) I think any kind of preview at this point is pointless.
 
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The sooner we destroy each of these ****hole schools to the point that they all voluntarily give up sports and we can leave to go to a real conference the better.

**** them all.

Door Thank GIF
 
One of the stats that comes to mind for next season is the number of sacks especially since SS2 couldn't finish the season because he got sacked too many times. How does the Big 12 look like in terms of sacks, interceptions, and fumble recoveries?

TeamSacks AgainstSacks ForInterceptionsFumble Recoveries
Arizona213167
Arizona State302654
Baylor341879
BYU1911146
Cincinnati251885
Colorado56271010
Houston272595
Iowa State1221163
Kansas1526124
Kansas State17221210
Oklahoma State1325129
TCU192684
Texas Tech2324103
UCF2226114
Utah203387
West Virigina92694
Average22.6324.069.815.88

CU's defense looks very good in this regard since CU would have been tied with KSU for fumble recoveries, sacks for would be third, and interceptions would be tied for sixth.

But CU's OL gave up 22 more sacks than the Big 12's worst OL which was Baylor.

How did the pass rush defenses fare in the Pac-12 versus the Big 12?

1702328384807.png

Same for interceptions & fumble recoveries.

1702328467403.png


The Pac-12 average sacks for is 28.67.
The Pac-12 average sacks against is 27.5 if you include CU's 56 sacks. Without, it goes down to 24.9.
The Pac-12 average interceptions is 9.67.
The Pac-12 average fumble recoveries is 6.83

The Big 12 pass rush wasn't as fierce as the Pac-12 was since the Big 12 averaged 3 less sacks per team (those stats do not include OU & UT). But the Big 12 did a better job protecting their QBs than the Pac-12 did even if you removed CU's stats by two sacks per team.

The Big 12 got a little more interceptions per team and the Pac-12 averaged at least one more fumble recovery per team.

So what does that mean for CU?

The Buffs MUST cut down on the sacks given up.
The Buffs need to dial up the pass rush.
The Buffs need to keep it up with the interceptions and fumble recoveries.
 
TeamPassesRushesTotal Plays
Arizona426372798
Arizona State440374814
Baylor442413855
BYU396360756
Cincinnati360517877
Colorado474358832
Houston408359767
Iowa State341362703
Kansas283460743
Kansas State395493888
Oklahoma State520420940
TCU503406909
Texas Tech426437863
UCF333495828
Utah314511825
West Virigina308535843
Big 12 Average398.06429.50827.56
Pac-12 Average425.58405.58831.17

Big 12 average does include the 4C schools while the Pac-12 average includes all 12 schools.

The Big 12 ran the ball more than the Pac-12 did. The Pac-12 passed the ball more than the Big 12 did.

The good news is that the top three Big 12 teams with the most plays are visiting Boulder. (OSU, KSU, and UC).

CU must shore up the running D since they play Utah, UCF, KSU, and UC in that regard. Again, three of those four are at home. If you include KU, that's three out of five at home. At least we don't play WVU.

Too bad we don't get BYU, ISU, and Houston since they had the fewest plays on offense this year.
 

OSU's Ollie Gordon II wins the Doak Walker award. 2024 Heisman candidate. He cannot enter the 2024 NFL Draft since he's two years removed from high school. The only way he leaves OSU is if a big name school gives him a NIL deal he can't refuse.

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And here's his game log from this year:

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Shutting down Ollie in Boulder next season would really help CU beat OSU.
 
@PAC MAN - thanks for doing all that work. Great info!

Based on that, someone needs to tell Coach Prime that he needs to bring in a bunch of more talented offensive linemen, hire a different OL Coach, and maybe even install a more balanced offense that utilizes play action and a traditional TE-Y. 👍
 
Just looked at the Big 12 conference wide receiving stats and if you remove OU & UT's players in addition to the teams that CU is not scheduled to play next season, there isn't that many Top 50 Big 12 receivers that CU will be facing and if Travis Hunter wants to win the Heisman next year, he's going to have to do most of the work on the offense but there are some returning WRs with good physical size that could handle Hunter if Hunter doesn't put in the work in the weight room during the offseason. Hunter could really dominate the Big 12 next season on defense.

Again, the current Big 12 schools can always hit up the portal for receivers.

I only had to count a finger or two after one full hand when it comes to the number of WRs from that Top 50 list who CU would face. If CU shores up the rush D, the Buffs could have a nice season in the Big 12.
 
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