While it’s no secret that the Big 12 Conference will feature some of the best quarterback play in the country this season, sometimes it’s easy to forget just how special the league is.
In a recent list from 247Sports’ Brad Crawford, 11 of the league’s 16 signal callers were highlighted among the nation’s Top 50 heading into the 2025 season.
NO. 46 – KAIDON SALTER, COLORADO
Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter kicks off the list for the Big 12, earning No. 46 for Colorado. Depite head coach Deion Sanders openly mentioning five-star freshman Julian Lewis will not redshirt, the general consensus is that Salter will win the job.
NO. 35 – DEVON DAMPIER, UTAH
A player that many view as a bit of a wildcard in the Big 12, Utah’s Devon Dampier is an interesting quarterback to watch. At New Mexico, Dampier was dominant, throwing for more than 2700 yards and rushing for 1,100+.
NO. 32 – JAKE RETZLAFF, BYU
One of the more interesting selections on the list, Retzlaff, is a bit tough to place. He’s been mentioned as high as the second-best quarterback in the conference at times, and on other occasions, far outside the Top Five. He’ll need to take a step forward next fall for the Cougars to make another impressive run.
NO. 30 – NOAH FIFITA, ARIZONA
Entering the Big 12 Conference in 2023, Fifita was one of the best quarterbacks in the country under Jedd Fisch. Under Brent Brennan, it was a completely different story with the sophomore signal caller regressing significantly. 2024 will be a big test for Fifita without the help of star wideout Tetairoa McMillan.
NO. 26 – JALON DANIELS, KANSAS
A star player who cannot stay healthy, Kansas’ Jalon Daniels has been through the ringer. In 2024, Daniels showed flashes of big-play talent mixed with some brutal mistakes. The California native enters the year under a new offensive coordinator, which most around the program believe to be a good thing.
NO. 25 – BEHREN MORTON, TEXAS TECH
Sticking with the injury-bug theme, Texas Tech’s Behren Morton has yet to stay healthy for a full season. He’ll need to if the Red Raiders hope to live up to preseason expectations placed on them due to an incredible offseason portal haul.
NO. 23 – AVERY JOHNSON, KANSAS STATE
While Kansas State’s Avery Johnson has one of the highest ceilings of any quarterback in the country, his development still needs some work. Still, in his first year as a starter, he broke K-State’s single-season passing touchdowns record and led the Wildcats to a 9-4 finish.
NO. 22 – JOSH HOOVER, TCU
TCU’s Josh Hoover took a major step forward last fall, cutting down on turnovers and becoming more lethal through the air. His next task will be to continue that production against the best teams in the league, as Hoover’s only recorded two wins against bowl-eligible teams in his time as the starter.
NO. 11 – ROCCO BECHT, IOWA STATE
One of the Big 12’s elite young signal callers, Rocco Becht, did it all for Iowa State last season. The team fell short of a Big 12 Championship in a battle with Arizona State, but Becht enters the year in a great spot in Ames.
NO. 9 – SAWYER ROBERTSON, BAYLOR
The top two quarterbacks on the list, Sawyer Robertson and Sam Leavitt, have each received serious buzz as potential first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. Robertson’s red-hot finish to the year took Dave Aranda off the hot seat, as the Bears got things back on track in 2024.
NO. 4 – SAM LEAVITT, ARIZONA STATE
One of the most confident players in the nation, Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt, is not afraid to take his stuff. His confidence showed up on gameday and carried on throughout the Sun Devils’ playoff run last fall. He enters the year as the unquestioned top player at the quarterback position in the Big 12 Conference.
