Spring ball is getting underway throughout faculty soccer, and hope springs everlasting for groups throughout the Massive 12. The convention is probably the most upwardly cellular of the facility leagues, and everybody can have Arizona State’s magical run from worst-to-first in thoughts as they put together for the season.
After a hyper-competitive race for the Massive 12 title sport in 2024, much more is anticipated in 2025. In line with FanDuel, no staff within the league has higher than even +500 odds to win the convention. Six are between +550 and +800 with extra shut behind.
Nevertheless, groups should do it with out departing superstars like Colorado’s Travis Hunter, Arizona State’s Cameron Skattebo and Iowa State’s Jayden Higgins. A brand new technology now enters throughout this cycle.
Listed here are the most important questions dealing with every of the 16 league members as spring follow begins.
What is going to a Brent Brennan staff appear to be?
The Wildcats made a daring gamble by hiring Brennan to guide an present roster, an try to get probably the most out of star huge receiver Tetairoa McMillan earlier than he declared for the NFL. Merely put, it failed. Brennan did not have the solutions. Now, Arizona is Brennan’s program. Offensive coordinator Seth Doege got here in from Marshall. Danny Gonzalez was promoted to defensive coordinator. Fifty-three new scholarship gamers entered this system, whereas Arizona managed to hold onto quarterback Noah Fifita. The Wildcats will not have a participant of McMillan’s expertise for a really very long time; regardless, can Brennan put his stamp on this system this offseason?
Arizona State
Can the Solar Devils change Cam Skattebo?
Skattebo was the breakout participant in faculty soccer final season after exploding for two,300 all-purpose yards, probably the most by any energy convention participant. Now, he is off to the NFL, leaving a gaping gap. The excellent news? There’s critical expertise within the pipeline. Kyson Brown and Raleek Brown are former blue-chip recruits with critical upside. Alton McCaskill did not play a lot as he recovered from an damage, however he rushed for almost 1,000 yards as a freshman at Houston. Military working again Kanye Udoh additionally transferred in after clearing 1,100 yards and 10 touchdowns with the Black Knights. Can the group change Skattebo within the mixture? We’ll see.
Will the Bears proceed to develop within the secondary?
Baylor ended the 2024 common season on a six-game profitable streak and are poised to enter 2025 among the many preseason favorites. However for all the joy concerning the offense, the passing protection nonetheless stays a problem. LSU uncovered the deficiency within the Texas Bowl behind 313 yards passing from Garrett Nussmeier and a pair of 100-yard receivers. The Bears ranked No. 94 nationally in passing protection. Many of the key secondary contributors are again, and the Bears added defensive again contributors Devin Turner (Northwestern), Tyler Turner (Oregon) and Calvin Simpson-Hunt (Ohio State) within the portal. Together with the addition of defensive passing sport coordinator Paul Gonzalez from TCU, the Bears have excessive expectations for the unit.
Do the Cougars have one other gear?
Regardless of a breakout 11-2 season, BYU nonetheless stays shockingly underneath the radar. If not for a November hiccup, the Cougars could have been within the School Soccer Playoff. Now, the overwhelming majority of contributors are again on each side of the ball, together with quarterback Jake Retzlaff, linebacker Jack Kelly and huge receiver Chase Roberts. Each coordinators are again. This system added a number of key transfers, together with tight finish Carsen Ryan and defensive lineman Keanu Tanuvasa from rival Utah. BYU is positioned for a nationwide run, however it begins in spring camp.
Can Cincinnati cease the run?
The Bearcats boast one of many nation’s greatest defensive linemen in deal with Dontay Corleone, however the unit as a complete has been lackluster in every of Scott Satterfield’s first two seasons. Cincinnati allowed 4.7 yards per carry to rank among the many worst within the Massive 12, which was solely accentuated by a 3-3-5 protection that lacked constant playmakers. Switch Jaylon White-McClain (Previous Dominion) will compete for enjoying time and a number of others are again from damage. The linebacker room stays largely intact. In seven losses, the Bearcats allowed greater than 4.9 yards per carry. Merely put, that is simply not adequate to compete in a serious convention.
Colorado
What does Section 2 appear to be?
A number of groups throughout the Massive 12 are going by roster adjustments. The Buffaloes are going by a wholesale id change. Heisman winner Travis Hunter is off to the NFL. Coach Deion Sanders will coach faculty ball with out his son, Shedeur, at quarterback for the primary time in his profession. Whereas this system added quarterbacks Kaidon Salter (Liberty) and Julian Lewis (freshman), it is extremely unlikely they will simply rely on 300 yards of environment friendly passing per sport heading ahead. There are nonetheless some critical stars round, together with left deal with Jordan Seaton and huge receiver Drelon Miller. The protection, coordinated by up-and-coming Robert Livingstone, might be a strong unit. However replicating the breakout nine-win season of 2024 would require taking over a brand new id.
Colorado coach Deion Sanders’ ‘no journey’ method to recruiting is exclusive, however it’s additionally forward of the curve
Shehan Jeyarajah
Houston
How far alongside is the offense?
After fielding a backside 10 nationwide offense, Willie Fritz went straight again to the drafting board to begin over. Because of a wave of high-profile transfers, the unit will look a lot completely different in 2025. Quarterback Conner Weigman returns to Houston after beginning at Texas A&M and reunites with lineman Matthew Wykoff. Working again Dean Connors (Rice) and receiver Amare Thomas (UAB) additionally sit as potential starters. Fritz led Tulane to the New 12 months’s Six and is the right coach to tie collectively all of the items, particularly if the trenches come alongside.
Iowa State
What is the future at receiver?
The Cyclones quietly had one of the best huge receiver combo in faculty soccer final season — severely. Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins have been the one pairing to cross 1,000 yards within the common season and each will go manner larger than individuals understand within the 2025 NFL Draft. Whereas quarterback Rocco Becht is again, the ‘Clones haven’t got a returning receiver with greater than 150 yards. East Carolina switch Chase Sowell is a big-time participant and UCF switch Xavier Townsend has upside, however each should transition to Ames effectively for the Cyclones to remain within the Massive 12 title dialog.
Can the Jayhawks stand up to hurry at DB?
Kansas boasted All-Massive 12 performers Mello Dotson and Cobee Bryant at defensive again final season, however each are off to the NFL. The Jayhawks rapidly moved to restock with 4 transfers within the defensive backfield alone, together with Alabama’s Jahlil Hurley and Oklahoma State’s Lyrik Rawls. Even with the expertise final season, KU was a bottom-half passing protection unit within the convention. Particularly after the lack of working again Devin Neal, the protection should paper over some holes.
What steps can Avery Johnson take as a passer?
Johnson ranks among the many highest-rated recruits in Ok-State historical past and flashed large potential in a number of video games. He scored 4 touchdowns in a bowl win over Rutgers, accomplished 66% of his passes with three touchdowns on the highway towards West Virginia and rushed for 100 yards towards Arizona. Nevertheless, he didn’t clear 60% completion in his final six video games and hit simply 58.3% of passes on the season. Johnson’s athletic presents are recognized, however Kansas State wants extra from him as a passer. Throughout a two-game shedding streak towards Houston and ASU, he threw one landing to 4 interceptions.
Oklahoma State
Does Mike Gundy have any solutions left?
When occasions are lowest, Gundy has a knack for pulling out a miracle. During the last 15 seasons, Oklahoma State has reached 10 wins on eight events. That stated, the 3-9 season was the primary shedding season underneath Gundy and worst profitable proportion since 1991. Almost all the things will likely be completely different in Stillwater heading into 2025, from new quarterbacks to a brand new offensive line to new coordinators on each side of the ball. The Cowboys did not have a single all-conference participant in 2024, There actually aren’t surefire candidates to succeed in the mark subsequent season.
TCU
Can any run sport be discovered?
The Horned Frogs put collectively one of many quietest nine-win campaigns within the nation final yr and have a number of thrilling items in quarterback Josh Hoover and a senior-heavy protection. Nevertheless, the Frogs speeding offense ranked No. 113 nationally and averaged solely 3.7 yards per carry, a depressing quantity that price them a number of video games. Trent Battle ought to step into an even bigger position after coping with accidents and many of the offensive line is again, however modest enhancements aren’t sufficient. When Hoover has time, he is top-of-the-line within the Massive 12. And not using a complementary working sport, the offense will not work.
Is Behren Morton prepared for the second?
Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire reeled in a sensational switch class to enrich a powerful roster, which ought to rapidly make the Purple Raiders convention contenders. Each coordinators are flipping out, however Mack Leftwich (Texas State) and Shiel Woods (Houston) are fast research. Now, the ultimate piece is Morton, a former blue-chip recruit out of Eastland, Texas. Morton was prolific, throwing for 3,335 yards and 27 touchdowns. Nonetheless, he must be extra constant and keep wholesome for the Purple Raiders to have an opportunity for a particular season. That is the second Texas Tech has been constructing in the direction of since McGuire bought to campus.
UCF
Does Scott Frost nonetheless have it?
As soon as upon a time, Frost was the most popular teaching candidate within the nation after main UCF from 0-12 to a 13-0 report in 2017. Two years after getting fired from a disastrous run at Nebraska, Frost is again in Orlando with an opportunity to make issues proper. The Knights have underwhelmed in two Massive 12 seasons with a mixed 10-15 report, however Frost brings a high-flying, dynamic offense with him. He has expertise to work with, however is he reduce out for this degree? The brand new expectations at UCF are sky excessive.
Scott Frost returns to UCF: Former Knights coach heading again to staff he led to 13-0 report in 2017
Will Backus
Utah
Is the offense prepared for primetime?
After the departure of longtime offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig and quarterback Cameron Rising, coach Kyle Whittingham is popping the web page. As a substitute of seeking to the pro-style world, Whittingham reeled in RPO-friendly coach Jason Beck from New Mexico to run the offense. Beck additionally introduced quarterback Devon Dampier from UNM, some of the thrilling underclassmen within the nation. Nevertheless, the offense ranked bottom-two within the convention every of the previous two seasons. Can Beck save the offense in time?
West Virginia
What can Wealthy Rod accomplish in 12 months 1?
The Mountaineers surprisingly introduced Wealthy Rodriguez again to this system greater than 15 years after he left for Michigan. Rodriguez bounced round for years earlier than main Jacksonville State to wild success as a transitioning program, however WVU is a more durable job the second time round. The Mountaineers solely have one seven-win season since 2018 and misplaced their solely two gamers to succeed in an all-conference staff. Working again Jahiem White ought to match completely inside a Wealthy Rod offense, however nearly each different projected contributor is model new to campus.
