Devy Conference Review: Big 12
The new look Big 12 proved to be an incredibly competitive conference in 2024. Four teams tied atop the league with 7-2 conference records, while three others went 6-3. Top to bottom, there was a good deal of balance, even despite the fact annual power Oklahoma State went winless at 0-9.
Arizona State ultimately prevailed in the conference title game over Iowa State, earning a trip to the College Football Playoff where they gave heavily favored Texas everything they could handle. Running back Cameron Skattebo went from an unknown Sacramento State talent to Heisman finalist, establishing himself as a legitimate NFL prospect along the way. He is one of the league’s most notable prospects, but this league is far from bereft of talent despite its diminished reputation. We outline some of the big names and stories below.
What Went Right
Kenny Dillingham’s Homecoming
Dillingham’s hiring was not without raised eyebrows. Dillingham is a Sun Devil through and through; both a childhood fan and alum, he is an Arizona State lifer.
But Dillingham was also 32 years old at the time he was hired, becoming the youngest coach in Division I. He had no prior head coaching experience, having only been an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at three separate stops. It was risky, and while one season does not make a career, the early returns are incredibly positive.
Dillingham has raised the ceiling in Tempe. The challenge now will be building upon 2024’s success and not becoming a classic one-hit wonder.
Travis Hunter’s Heisman Run
Even in a year of strong Heisman contenders, Travis Hunter stood out above the rest. His ability to be both a high-end cornerback and high-end receiver is rare – to say the least – and led to him lifting college football’s most coveted trophy in December.
In addition to taking on the opposition’s top wideout on defense, Hunter added 96 receptions for 1,258 yards and 15 scores on offense. He will enter the draft process as the consensus top player available, though whether or not goes first overall remains to be seen.
As a devy prospect, he has always been a fascinating evaluation. If you tell me teams view him as a receiver first, he flies into the Top 5 of rookie rankings; he has the tools to develop into a team’s top receiver and could be a fantasy impact player early. If teams view him as a corner first and a wide receiver who mixes in for snaps here and there, his rookie draft value plummets; it is hard to fathom him maintaining the absurd snap counts he had at Colorado. Unfortunately, we likely need to wait until after the draft to determine teams’ plans for Hunter. He is a risky investment, yet an enticing one given the profit potential.
What Went Wrong
Ollie Gordon’s Draft Year
A player some saw as the RB1 for 2025 heading into the fall, Gordon slumped as the Oklahoma State Cowboys collapsed around him. His production cratered; his 2023 Doak Walker winning season included 1,732 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns. His 2024 totals were at 880 rushing yards and 13 scores, with his yards per carry dipping from 6.1 to 4.6.
Of course, raw numbers seldom tell the whole story, but Gordon looked like a different player this fall. Without the same space he had in 2023, Gordon struggled to create; open-field explosiveness and lateral agility have never been his calling cards.
Still, the talent did not just disappear. While his stock has cooled, he can be a scheme fit for many teams and operate as a key part of a committee. He is no longer one of the top rookie prospects in this class but can still go in the Top 15-20 of rookie drafts when the dust settles.
What Was Unexpected
Utah’s Bumpy Road
Despite never garnering press clippings nor dominating on the recruiting trail, the Utah Utes always found a way to be a top Pac-12 team. Their transition to the Big 12 was supposed to be as smooth as one could expect, yet it turned into a nightmare from start to finish. Utah struggled with injury – specifically to quarterback Cameron Rising – as they went 2-7 in the conference despite being the preseason favorites.
Kyle Whittingham has long been one of the nation’s better coaches, and better days should lie ahead, especially given the unexpected experience true freshman Isaac Wilson (younger brother of Zach Wilson) received in 2024. Still, the Utes fell flat in what was anticipated to be a College Football Playoff appearance, and head into 2025 with more questions than they had expected.
Looking Ahead
While the league may have lacked a truly elite team, the balanced nature of the Big 12 should portend good times for the league ahead. Deion Sanders has reinvigorated the Colorado program and Matt Campbell at Iowa State and Lance Leipold at Kansas give the league two of the nation’s most unheralded head coaches. While it may never catch up to the Big 10 or SEC as far as resources and television exposure are concerned, the Big 12 could well emerge as the nation’s third-best league in the long term.
Devy Players To Watch in 2025
- Avery Johnson, QB Kansas State
- Sam Leavitt, QB Arizona State
- Julian Lewis, QB Colorado
- Conner Weigman, Houston
- Jahiem White, RB West Virginia
- Bryson Washington, RB Baylor
- Abu Sama III, RB Iowa State
- LJ Martin, RB BYU
- Terry Shelton, WR TCU
- Caleb Douglas, WR Texas Tech
- Jordyn Tyson, WR Arizona State
- Eric McAlister, WR TCU
- Past/Present/Future Rookie Pick Value: 2025 Early 4th - February 12, 2025
- 1QB Dynasty Rankings Explained: Rob Willette - February 7, 2025
- Dynasty Fantasy Football: Top 100 Rookies in 2025 NFL Draft - February 3, 2025
The new look Big 12 proved to be an incredibly competitive conference in 2024. Four teams tied atop the league with 7-2 conference records, while three others went 6-3. Top to bottom, there was a good deal of balance, even despite the fact annual power Oklahoma State went winless at 0-9.
Arizona State ultimately prevailed in the conference title game over Iowa State, earning a trip to the College Football Playoff where they gave heavily favored Texas everything they could handle. Running back Cameron Skattebo went from an unknown Sacramento State talent to Heisman finalist, establishing himself as a legitimate NFL prospect along the way. He is one of the league’s most notable prospects, but this league is far from bereft of talent despite its diminished reputation. We outline some of the big names and stories below.
What Went Right
Kenny Dillingham’s Homecoming
Dillingham’s hiring was not without raised eyebrows. Dillingham is a Sun Devil through and through; both a childhood fan and alum, he is an Arizona State lifer.
But Dillingham was also 32 years old at the time he was hired, becoming the youngest coach in Division I. He had no prior head coaching experience, having only been an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at three separate stops. It was risky, and while one season does not make a career, the early returns are incredibly positive.
Dillingham has raised the ceiling in Tempe. The challenge now will be building upon 2024’s success and not becoming a classic one-hit wonder.
Travis Hunter’s Heisman Run
Even in a year of strong Heisman contenders, Travis Hunter stood out above the rest. His ability to be both a high-end cornerback and high-end receiver is rare – to say the least – and led to him lifting college football’s most coveted trophy in December.
In addition to taking on the opposition’s top wideout on defense, Hunter added 96 receptions for 1,258 yards and 15 scores on offense. He will enter the draft process as the consensus top player available, though whether or not goes first overall remains to be seen.
As a devy prospect, he has always been a fascinating evaluation. If you tell me teams view him as a receiver first, he flies into the Top 5 of rookie rankings; he has the tools to develop into a team’s top receiver and could be a fantasy impact player early. If teams view him as a corner first and a wide receiver who mixes in for snaps here and there, his rookie draft value plummets; it is hard to fathom him maintaining the absurd snap counts he had at Colorado. Unfortunately, we likely need to wait until after the draft to determine teams’ plans for Hunter. He is a risky investment, yet an enticing one given the profit potential.
What Went Wrong
Ollie Gordon’s Draft Year
A player some saw as the RB1 for 2025 heading into the fall, Gordon slumped as the Oklahoma State Cowboys collapsed around him. His production cratered; his 2023 Doak Walker winning season included 1,732 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns. His 2024 totals were at 880 rushing yards and 13 scores, with his yards per carry dipping from 6.1 to 4.6.
Of course, raw numbers seldom tell the whole story, but Gordon looked like a different player this fall. Without the same space he had in 2023, Gordon struggled to create; open-field explosiveness and lateral agility have never been his calling cards.
Still, the talent did not just disappear. While his stock has cooled, he can be a scheme fit for many teams and operate as a key part of a committee. He is no longer one of the top rookie prospects in this class but can still go in the Top 15-20 of rookie drafts when the dust settles.
What Was Unexpected
Utah’s Bumpy Road
Despite never garnering press clippings nor dominating on the recruiting trail, the Utah Utes always found a way to be a top Pac-12 team. Their transition to the Big 12 was supposed to be as smooth as one could expect, yet it turned into a nightmare from start to finish. Utah struggled with injury – specifically to quarterback Cameron Rising – as they went 2-7 in the conference despite being the preseason favorites.
Kyle Whittingham has long been one of the nation’s better coaches, and better days should lie ahead, especially given the unexpected experience true freshman Isaac Wilson (younger brother of Zach Wilson) received in 2024. Still, the Utes fell flat in what was anticipated to be a College Football Playoff appearance, and head into 2025 with more questions than they had expected.
Looking Ahead
While the league may have lacked a truly elite team, the balanced nature of the Big 12 should portend good times for the league ahead. Deion Sanders has reinvigorated the Colorado program and Matt Campbell at Iowa State and Lance Leipold at Kansas give the league two of the nation’s most unheralded head coaches. While it may never catch up to the Big 10 or SEC as far as resources and television exposure are concerned, the Big 12 could well emerge as the nation’s third-best league in the long term.
Devy Players To Watch in 2025
- Avery Johnson, QB Kansas State
- Sam Leavitt, QB Arizona State
- Julian Lewis, QB Colorado
- Conner Weigman, Houston
- Jahiem White, RB West Virginia
- Bryson Washington, RB Baylor
- Abu Sama III, RB Iowa State
- LJ Martin, RB BYU
- Terry Shelton, WR TCU
- Caleb Douglas, WR Texas Tech
- Jordyn Tyson, WR Arizona State
- Eric McAlister, WR TCU
- Past/Present/Future Rookie Pick Value: 2025 Early 4th - February 12, 2025
- 1QB Dynasty Rankings Explained: Rob Willette - February 7, 2025
- Dynasty Fantasy Football: Top 100 Rookies in 2025 NFL Draft - February 3, 2025