Big 12 Football Winners and Losers for Early Signing Day 2024
On Wednesday, hundreds of kids across the nation will sign letters of intent to play college football for programs in the Big 12 in 2024.
Some schools in the conference signed who they expected to, while others added a commitment or two that puts quite the bow on a recruiting class that is going to change the trajectory of their program. Meanwhile, there were schools that missed out on some key targets and might be left thinking about what could have been.
Here are the Big 12 Conference’s biggest winners, and losers, from Early Signing Day 2024.
*All Rankings Provided by On3
Current Class Rankings for 2024
#22 Texas Tech
#33 UCF
#35 TCU
#41 Kansas
#42 Colorado
#46 Utah
#47 Arizona State
#50 West Virginia
#51 Arizona
#53 Kansas State
#57 Cincinnati
#59 Oklahoma State
#61 Iowa State
#62 BYU
#65 Houston
#68 Baylor
Biggest Winners
Texas Tech
This should come as no surprise here because Joey McGuire and his staff cleaned up on signing day. The Red Raiders finished with a Top 25 class and were the only Big 12 team to do so. They were able to sign four four-star prospects including a top three quarterback in the state of Texas in Will Hammond out of Hutto, Texas. Perhaps their biggest signee was five-star wide receiver Micah Hudson out of Temple, Texas. Micah was the only five-star player on Wednesday to sign with a Big 12 school. I know that Joey McGuire got a lot of heat for saying everything runs through Lubbock but if he keeps recruiting like this then maybe he was right all along.
TCU
While the Frogs didn’t have the most impressive class in the Big 12, I thought Sonny Dykes and company did a nice job after a rough 5-7 season. Unfortunately they didn’t bring in as many four-star players as last season, but they still were able add a few good skill players including one of the best quarterbacks in the lone star state in Hauss Hejny out of Aledo. Plus, they did a great job up front by signing six offensive linemen.
UCF
It didn’t take long for the Knights to take advantage of being in a power five conference as they pulled in one heck of a class for the 2024 cycle. Not only did the finish with a Top 33 class but they were also able to sign a whopping five four-star players on Wednesday. Plus, they were able to land the most blue chips in the entire Big 12. They beat out several SEC schools when it came to signing top talent and what a way to come into the Big 12. There’s a reason why everyone is saying UCF could be the team to beat in the Big 12 over the next several years.
Kansas
Lance Leipold continues to amaze me with the job he is doing in Lawrence. They Kansas Jayhawks were able to sign a few four-star guys and ended up with the best class in program history. Lance is breaking down every wall that has held Kansas back over the last ten plus years and is paving a way for this program to be one of the best in the Big 12.
Houston
Before you complain about this, hear me out. Prior to the arrival of new head coach Willie Fritz, Houston’s 2024 class wasn’t even ranked inside the Top 100. Fritz has been on the job for a very short amount of time and was able to get this class inside the Top 65. Just imagine what he could do if he had even more time to recruit.
The Social Media/Graphics Team
Each signing day, we get the chance to see the creativity of some of these Big 12 schools when it comes to signing day graphics or videos. While everyone did a decent job this season, here were my three favorites from this year.
Biggest Losers
Baylor
After landing a Top 35 class last year, the Bears are heading in the wrong direction much like everything going on with the football program. Baylor had the worst recruiting class in the conference and didn’t sign a single four-star player. Their best high school signee wasn’t even ranked inside the Top 500 nationally which was a bit surprising for the Bears. I don’t know what is going on in Waco, but things need to change, and Dave Aranda may need to hit the portal harder.
Oklahoma State
Here is my yearly rant on why Oklahoma State isn’t recruiting at a higher level. It happens every single year and it shouldn’t shock anyone. Mike Gundy doesn’t like to recruit four-star players. He likes to turn three-star guys into five-star guys over time. Still, I feel like for a program who has been in the Big 12 championship game two out of the last three seasons should be able to sign a Top 50 class. But hey, whatever works I guess.
