On August 2, 2024, the Big 12 Conference officially added Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah to its membership, marking the beginning of the 16-team era in “America’s Football Conference.”
Despite attempts from other conferences over the years, the Big 12 has managed to hold strong and even expand its footprint while keeping its core centered in the country’s heartland.
This latest expansion moves the Big 12 further west, but it also adds several contenders to a conference already chock-full of parity. From Kyle Whittingham’s Utes to Deion Sanders’ Buffaloes, there’s plenty to like about these four teams joining the league. Which addition is the most intriguing, though?
The Heartland College Sports staff shares their thoughts in this week’s roundtable.
Pete Mundo: Utah Utes
Six months ago I would’ve said Colorado because it’s an old Big 12 program coming back and, well, Deion Sanders. Love him or hate him; he’s good for the conference.
But the more I learn about Utah, the more I respect the quality of the program that has been built over two decades under Kyle Whittingham. Plus, I think a lot of their fans get a bad rap based on social media dopes. The Utah fans who have joined our Heartland College Sports forums enjoy the Big 12 and are happy to be in this league.
Also, while Colorado is a great story, if Deion leaves, it’s unclear what Colorado football means or does for this league, sad to say. Utah comes in to immediately compete atop the league and already has the post-Whitt succession plan in place.
Bryan Clinton: Colorado Buffaloes
Make no mistake, the team that adds the most value to the Big 12 is Colorado. Now, that’s not to say that they’re the best team among the incoming teams — in fact, I’d rank them third. However, in a digital age when views equal dollars, there’s not a program in the country that’s drawing the same level of attention that the Buffs are with Deion Sanders at the helm.
Sure, his methods are unorthodox, and he’s made his career out of being more cocky than confident, but it’s that persona that makes him so incredibly polarizing. As Pete mentioned, you either love him or hate him, but regardless of where you stand on that scale, Sanders is a godsend for the Big 12.
Colorado went 4-8 last season, yet the Buffs finished with six of the 50 most-watched games in the country and two of the top 10. Colorado vs. Oregon (10.03 million viewers) was the third-most watched game of the 2023 season. The most-watched Big 12 football game in 2023 that didn’t include Oklahoma or Texas (Now in the SEC)? K-State vs. NC State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl (4.31 million). The highest-rated Big 12 regular season game between two current Big 12 opponents was K-State vs. Iowa State (3.29 million), which ranked 92nd among all games.
If you’re a Big 12 fan, you want Colorado football to be good. Because if people are watching Coach Prime, that television contract coming in 2031 will keep getting more and more valuable.
Joe Tillery: Arizona Wildcats
Arizona’s additions to the conference in basketball and football are the most intriguing of the four new schools. The Wildcats boast impressive national headliners in both sports, which provides the league with two more opportunities to turn heads.
While Utah and Colorado provide national headlines in football, they both leave a lot to be desired on the basketball court. Arizona State, while up-and-coming in both sports, still has a long way to go. Adding a perennial national title contender in basketball to the best conference in America is an outstanding feat for Brett Yormark and company, and if Brent Brennan can weather the storm on the gridiron, the U of A is the most intriguing addition.
Matthew Postins: Arizona Wildcats
I think the Wildcats are the most intriguing of the four new programs because they’re good at all five of the “major” sports — football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, baseball, and softball. That makes them a good fit for the conference and gives them the potential to be competitive in all sports right away.
Throw in solid programs in other Olympic sports like golf and swimming, and Arizona has the potential to be in the mix in just about every sport the Big 12 sponsors. It’s a well-rounded athletic department, and that plays well in any conference.
Derek Duke: Utah Utes
I know that everyone across the college football world has their eyes glued to Deion Sanders and Colorado, but I am going with Utah. Why? Because the Big 12 is getting one of the most consistent football programs in college football. Over the last twenty years, Utah has had eight 10-win seasons and four conference championships. Since joining a power conference back in 2011, Utah has played in four Pac-12 championship games.
It also helps that Kyle Whittingham is there as the head coach, and the team that they are bringing into the Big 12 is going to be very good. In fact, they were picked to win the conference, and I believe that they will. They have an outstanding defense and an offense that will improve from a year ago with a healthy Cam Rising. There’s a lot to be excited about, and it goes beyond this 2024 team. The Big 12 is lucky to have a program like Utah in their conference.
