The Big 12 prepares to enter its final form (for now) as the Four Corners schools join from the Pac-12 to push the league to 16 teams in the 2024 season. Now, the league stretches from Arizona to Florida and from Ohio to Texas, creating a varied league filled with aspirational programs hoping to make runs.
When it comes to making a run, it can truly feel like anyone’s game during spring practices. Who would have expected Arizona to win 10 games and an Alamo Bowl last season? Could someone be the next 2022 TCU, jumping from missing a bowl to the College Football Playoff National Championship? And by the way, could a guaranteed CFP berth only make the competition in America’s most balanced conference even rowdier?
Spring ball is time for a massive serving of hope for each of the 16 fanbases in the Big 12. For this moment, every new addition is great. Every loss wasn’t a big deal. The world is in front of them. At other schools, everything is reversed.
For the record, these spring overreactions have been a mixed bag over the years. Last season, I bragged that Oklahoma State was about to fall off a cliff (the Cowboys made the conference title game), Baylor’s defense was fixed (yikes) and the TCU passing game would improve without Max Duggan (it didn’t). But, at the same time, I called Kansas State tight end Ben Sinnott’s ascendance and read the tea leaves on Houston’s offensive collapse.
Which overreactions will go most wrong in 2024? Here’s one for every Big 12 team as spring practices have now concluded.
Arizona
Tetairoa McMillan is the Big 12’s best player: McMillan was a huge get for Arizona when he committed, and the Hawaii native has already exceeded expectations. In his second season, McMillan exploded for 90 catches for 1,402 yards and 10 touchdowns to pace a Wildcats team that won 10 games for the first time in nearly a decade. Despite the coaching change, McMillan opted to stick around and keep building with quarterback Noah Fifita. Statistically, McMillan is the top returning receiver in the Power Four. Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon provides a strong foil, but McMillan will have to take on an even bigger role to keep Arizona in conference championship contention. A Biletnikoff Award is on the table.
QB will doom ASU again: Kenny Dillingham has had a strange first year in Tempe, Arizona, and things didn’t settle down much over the spring. Quarterback…
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