What’s going on in the Big 12 and beyond? I expand and explain every Sunday in Postscripts at Heartland College Sports, your home for independent Big 12 coverage.
Five Things I’m Wondering About This Football Season
I don’t know about you, but I am so over writing about gambling, congressional legislation and the like. I’d rather write about football. So, let’s start writing about football again. I’m starting my prep for Big 12 media days next month and here are the five things I’m wondering about.
Is Oklahoma State Truly a Sleeper?
One team I really have my eye on is the Cowboys. It’s the first time in two decades Mike Gundy hasn’t been the head coach. Barely any of the players from last year are around and that might not be the worst thing for new head coach Eric Morris. He leaned heavy into the transfer portal and, in a Curt Cignetti touch, lured nearly 20 players from his former school., North Texas. The Mean Green went 12-2 last year. Not a bad strategy.
Offensively, this team has the potential to be a real problem. With former North Texas stars Drew Mestemaker at quarterback, Caleb Hawkins at running back and Wyatt Young at wide receiver, the Cowboys have a core of playmakers. The question is how good the defense will be? Oklahoma State’s defense was awful last year. With this kind of firepower, it only needs to be good for the Cowboys to win enough games to reach a bowl game, a reasonable goal in Morris’ first year.
How Pissed Will Texas Tech Play?
The Big 12 did what it needed to do. A player with that gambling record can’t play. It’s bad for the entire conference.
Now, Texas Tech is still a really good team with Will Hammond at quarterback. Coach Joey McGuire has 11 returning starters. There aren’t as many new transfer portal players because many of the ones the Red Raiders grabbed last year are still there and ready to produce. Tech did a great job of planning ahead and not leaning too heavy into one-year players. Ben Roberts (Big 12 Championship Game MOP) and All-Big 12 linebacker Austin Romaine (Kansas State) is an insane pairing.
If the pass rush is as good as last year — which is possible — and Hammond plays efficiently, there’s no reason the Red Raiders can’t repeat. The Big 12 may have done the right thing, but the league also gave all the extra motivation the defending conference champions needed.
Can Arizona Really Get it Done?
Last year the Arizona Wildcats were a trendy team to flip the script and have a good season. Turns out that was right. The Wildcats went from 4-8 to 9-4 and got coach Brent Brennan off the hot seat. Now, the Wildcats are a really trendy team — from winner to Big 12 contender.
If you have a quarterback in this conference, then you have a contender. Arizona has perhaps the most experienced quarterback in the conference in Noah Fifita. He’s seen everything and he has been starting for three seasons. Brennan has managed to keep him at U of A in a portal era where the NIL price for quarterbacks of his caliber hits new heights every year.
With Fifita, a top receiver back in Trey Spivey and a solid defense, along with retaining both coordinators, I think the Wildcats have a real chance to make the race for Arlington interesting.
What Will Collin Klein Do for Avery Johnson?
I think this is the most intriguing offensive question around the conference. Johnson has had insane potential but hasn’t quite fulfilled it. Kansas State hired Klein in part because they believe he can unlock it in Johnson’s senior year.
Klein helped recruit Johnson and helped him get his feet on the ground as a freshman when Klein was the offensive coordinator. As much as people believe Johnson has fallen below expectations, he leads Kansas State for single-season passing touchdowns and the career co-leader in passing touchdowns. If Klein can super-charge that, then Kansas State could shed its 6-6 record last season real fast.
How Done is Dave Aranda?
He’s everyone’s favorite hot seat Big 12 coach. Will this be the year?
Aranda has dodged getting fired before. Last season he managed it going 5-7 and losing his final three games. Since the Bears won the Big 12 Championship game in 2021, the Bears are 22-28. He’s taken back playcalling on defense. He’s hired Jake Spavital to be his offensive coordinator. Nothing has quite come together since that 2021 teams.
Now, he has quarterback D.J. Lagway. The former five-star quarterback transferred in from Florida to play for his dad’s alma mater. He may be the key to saving Aranda’s job — or losing it. No one player may be more important to a coach’s future than him.
