Very similar to the ACC, the Massive 12 has been surrounded by questions of its long-term viability within the shifting panorama of collegiate sports activities. Commissioner Brett Yormark has been an out-of-the-box thinker is his three years with the Massive 12 and the league seems to be robust.
Final season, Arizona State almost pulled off a significant upset of Texas within the Faculty Soccer Playoff quarterfinals, placing the nation on discover that head coach Kenny Dillingham has awoken a sleeping large.
Because the 2025 season approaches, listed below are 5 Massive 12 video games that may form the CFP.
Iowa State vs. Kansas State | Aug. 23
Farmageddon goes worldwide. These two groups will hyperlink up in Dublin, Eire, in Week 0. Do not let the early season matchup idiot you — this one positively means one thing.
Okay-State quarterback Avery Johnson is a twin menace, however he was inconsistent final season. In three of the Wildcats’ losses he threw six interceptions mixed to only one landing. The one loss he performed effectively in was towards Iowa State (three touchdowns, 0 INT).
In a world the place three losses almost definitely eliminates a group from the CFP, shedding the opener would make for a tough path ahead.
Texas Tech at Utah | Sept. 20
There are many query marks on this one. Texas Tech has change into the poster youngster of game-changing NIL offers. The Crimson Raiders boast a revamped roster with seven of the highest 75 gamers in ESPN’s switch portal rankings.
On the opposite aspect, Utah flopped final season (5-7, 2-7 Massive 12) due to a myriad of accidents and the shortcoming to win shut video games. Head coach Kyle Whittingham is among the finest within the recreation and its anticipated the Utes will flip issues round in 2025.
Which one in all these groups is for actual? We’ll discover out when the Crimson Raiders journey to Salt Lake.
Kansas State at Baylor | Oct. 4
This will probably be a tricky street recreation for Kansas State. Dave Aranda’s Baylor Bears rebounded in 2024, ending 8-5 with a six-game profitable streak to finish the yr. Quarterback Sawyer Robertson returns, giving Baylor a possibility to compete for the Massive 12 title.
This recreation begins a tough stretch for the Wildcats to finish the season that options further street matchups at Kansas and Utah and residential video games towards TCU, Texas Tech and Colorado.
Baylor can safe a giant win and show it belongs within the dialog for the Massive 12 championship.
Arizona State at Utah | Oct. 11
By this time, we should always know whether or not or not Utah is popping issues round or headed for one more clunker of a season. Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt was held to a season-low in Massive 12 play for go completions and passing yards in final season’s 27-19 win over Utah.
Utah’s protection returns 10 of twenty-two gamers who began a recreation final season. Regardless of every thing that went fallacious for the Utes final season, their protection nonetheless ranked within the high 30 nationally.
Irrespective of the place Utah is at come Oct. 11, this must be a tough one for Arizona State.
October 18
This may be dishonest, however Oct. 18 is a scintillating week within the Massive 12. Fashionable favourite Texas Tech travels to defending champion Arizona State, Utah and BYU face off in Provo and TCU hosts Baylor.
Translation: there will probably be motion. All six groups determine to be within the high half of the standings. This might be per week that separates some groups from the remainder of the pack.
