With kickoff right around the corner, what better way to get into the football mood than a little preseason series? For the next few days, I will tell you which three teams are the best, worst, underrated, and overrated heading into the season. Today, I will share my top three Big 12 teams in 2024.
Utah Utes
While Utah may be new to the Big 12, they are also arguably the best team in the Big 12. It all starts with their outstanding defense. Last season in the Pac-12, the Utes surrendered just 19.3 points per game and were second in both passing yards and rushing yards per game. They return eight starters on defense and have added some key transfers to fill out their secondary.
Offensively, Utah will get back two of its best players back. Both quarterback Cam Rising and tight end Brant Kuithe missed last season with injuries but return to give the Utes two of the best players in the Big 12 in 2024. Utah was also able to add transfer wideout Dorian Singer, who was a menace at Arizona before having a down year with USC a season ago. The offensive line returns just a couple of starters, but Utah is fairly deep at the running back position, which helps. Not only is the team the best in the Big 12 but they are one of the best teams in the entire country.
Kansas State Wildcats
One of the main reasons why everyone is all in on Kansas State is because of quarterback Avery Johnson. Last season Johnson posted five rushing touchdowns as a backup against Texas Tech and got his first career start in the Pop-Tarts Bowl against NC State in a win. Avery was one of the best prospects in Kansas State history, and his talent is through the roof. He showed flashes last season, and now the starting quarterback job is fully his.
He will have some help, too, with running back DJ Giddens returning after rushing for 1,226 yards a year ago. The Wildcats also return three solid targets between Jadon Jackson, Jayce Brown, and Keagan Johnson. Up front, Kansas State will have to replace several starters, but they have done an excellent job over the years finding new guys to step up.
Defensively, it should be business as usual for this team. They are loaded up front and at linebacker with Austin Moore and Desmond Purnell. Their secondary is very deep and cornerbacks Keenan Garber and Jacob Parrish are two of their most experienced in the back end.
Oklahoma State Cowboys
I know their schedule is tough, and their win total is set at 7.5, but make no mistake about it: Oklahoma State is one of the three best teams in the Big 12. Quarterback Alan Bowman returns for his seventh season and should be more comfortable in his second year in Stillwater. The focal point of this offense will, of course, be running back Ollie Gordon II. Last season, Gordon rushed for over 1,700 yards and 21 touchdowns, and with a veteran offensive line returning, he should be due for another big year. Plus, the Cowboys bring back their top two receivers from a year ago with Brennan Presley and Rashod Owens both returning out wide.
While the defense had some up-and-down moments, they do return ten starters from the 2023 team. If Oklahoma State is to get back to Arlington, then this is where they need to improve.
