According to Pro Football Focus, six Big 12 players were named among the nation’s highest-graded performers ahead of Week 0 action: Austin Romaine (Kansas State LB), Domonique Orange (Iowa State DL), Avery Johnson (Kansas State QB), Jontez Williams (Iowa State DB), Jalon Daniels (Kansas QB), and Rocco Becht (Iowa State QB).
In a college football world reshaped by expansion and conference realignment, all three programs competing this weekend will be in the mix for the Big 12 title.
Kansas State has established itself as one of the league’s most consistent programs, posting at least nine wins in each of the past three years.
Iowa State enters 2025 riding the momentum of an 11–3 campaign, one of the best seasons in program history, while Kansas continues its rise under Lance Leipold, which includes a 9–4 finish in 2023.
Romaine topped the group with a 90.8 grade, followed closely by Orange (82.7) and Johnson (81.7). Williams (81.1), Daniels (78.2), and Becht (77.1) rounded out the list, which was all represented by Big 12 programs.
Kansas State will face off against conference rival Iowa State on Saturday in Ireland, while the Jayhawks will take on Fresno State.
Romaine comes back as a focal point in the KSU defense after posting 54 solo tackles, two sacks, and three forced fumbles in 2024. For Iowa State, Orange tallied 24 tackles and one sack, as the Cyclone defense ranked fifth in the Big 12.
Johnson returns for another season as the KSU starting quarterback after an impressive showing last year. He threw for 2,712 yards and 25 touchdowns.
At the defensive back position, Williams hauled in four interceptions last season for ISU and five pass deflections.
Kansas brings back Daniels for his sixth season with the program. The dual-threat quarterback ran for a career-best 447 yards last season, despite battling injuries throughout his career.
Rounding out the group is Becht, who led the Cyclones to national prominence last season. Becht threw for 3,505 yards and 25 touchdowns, while keeping mistakes to a minimum with just nine interceptions.
