Following the completion of the 2024 season for teams in the Big 12 Conference, 247Sports’ Brad Crawford took a stab at which teams may be facing regression in 2025.
Two Big 12 teams cracked Crawford’s list, including Arizona State and Colorado, who both had incredible 2024 seasons.
“Cam Skattebo is simply irreplaceable,” Crawford said on ASU. “The Sun Devils’ do-everything playmaker should have a nice career at the next level, but that’s not helping Kenny Dillingham’s team in 2025 and beyond. Retaining quarterback Sam Leavitt is vital, along with making a few more roster additions in the portal to bank off this season’s success as the Big 12 champions. Given the unpredictability within that conference, all bets are off in terms of Arizona State’s projected win total.”
While the loss of Cam Skattebo is seismic for Arizona State, Kenny Dillingham is riding on a high on transfer portal recruiting. Paired with a talented young gunslinger in Sam Leavitt, the Sun Devils have a chance to make their claim as the league’s best yet again in 2025.
“How do you replicate the production of two projected top 5 selections, including the Heisman winner, when you’re a team lacking overall depth? Hint: You don’t,” Crawford said on Colorado. “Deion Sanders deserves his flowers for what this program accomplished in 2024 with nine wins, but the Buffaloes will struggle without Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter in the lineup, at least for a season. Those two were able to bail Colorado out in several games this fall as a security blanket of sorts.”
Colorado’s issues stem from a bit of a different branch, as the group has had to focus on the transfer portal more than high school recruiting. With Heisman winner Travis Hunter and star quarterback Shedeur Sanders heading to the next level, Deion Sanders and company will have to hit on some key talent headed to Boulder in the near future.
Regardless, Colorado and Arizona State will likely check in near the top of the league this fall in the Big 12 Preseason Media Poll.
