Big 12 quarterback rankings: Experienced signal-callers headline 2025 season
When examining the most important position in football,, there's something all the top arms in the conference have in common: experience, and plenty of it. Of the 16 teams in the league, 12 have quarterbacks that have made at least 10 career starts. Even better? Nine have made those double-digit starts at their current school, proving how valuable it is for head coaches to make sure their quarterbacks are sticking around in a time where massive roster turnover is constant.
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With so much talent returning in 2025, there are bound to be exciting contest in the race for the College Football Playoff. It's fair to say the Big 12 is one of the most unpredictable leagues.
A look at this year's list ranking the Big 12 quarterbacks illustrates this. Sam Levitt of Arizona State wasn't on any radars 365 days ago. He then led the Sun Devils to the conference title and College Football Playoff.
So here's our list of the top arms heading into the upcoming season, but we've learned this list could be turn upside down by the end of November.
1. Sam Leavitt (Arizona State)
The guy with playoff experience happens to be the best quarterback in the Big 12. Once he found his footing after transferring from Michigan State, Leavitt and the Sun Devils took off. He had 21 touchdowns to just four interceptions in the final nine games. He's got running capabilities, and he's shown he can deliver in big games. Leavitt has gone from unnoticed to undeniable, and with a loss of skill players, he'll face bigger pressure to keep the Sun Devils rolling. But he has all the traits that make it possible for Arizona State to make it back in the CFP.
Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) looks to pass the ball against the Texas Longhorns during the first half of the Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
2. Sawyer Robertson, Baylor
Dave Aranda can thank Robertson cooling his hot seat, as few players had as impressive of a second half of the season as the Baylor quarterback. After taking over in the third game, he led the Bears to a 6-0 finish in the regular season, throwing for 1,581 yards with 17 touchdowns during the stretch. His 153.1 efficiency rating is the best among returning Big 12 starters. The test will be if Robertson can continue to be elite against better defenses to lead the Bears to the conference title.
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3. Josh Hoover, TCU
After getting a chance at the end of 2023, Hoover asserted himself as the guy at TCU following a monster 2024. His single-season school record 3,949 passing yards and 66.5% completion percentage are the most among returning conference quarterbacks. He's got an arm destined to make big plays, as noted with 61 completions of at least 20 yards last season. He's got great pocket presence and while he won't scramble often, he can maneuver the backfield and still get the ball through tight windows on the run.
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4. Rocco Becht, Iowa State
It's hard to fly under the radar when you're a Power Four conference title contender, but it's time people outside of Ames learn who Becht is. He guided Iowa State to its first 11-win season in program history. While he won't wow any defenses with his physical tool, he'll certainly make life frustrating for opponents. Becht is consistent with a touchdown thrown in 18 consecutive games and one of the most experienced players in the conference with 27 career starts.
5. Avery Johnson, Kansas State
Kansas State has to love where it's at in the development of Johnson. He was given the keys of the offense in 2024 after Will Howard's departure and played to his strengths, notably with his running ability. There were mistakes most first-year player would make, but Johnson should take a major step forward with a second season in charge. Look for him to rank among the league leaders in 2025, and he could flirt with jumping to the NFL afterward.
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6. Behren Morton, Texas Tech
Another gunslinger could be emerging in Lubbock as Morton enters his final season with the Red Raiders. He fits the mold of the traditional pass-heavy Texas Tech offenses as evidenced with his 3,300-yard season. And for as much as he airs it out, Morton takes care of the ball with only eight interceptions on 466 passing attempts. His play has given the Red Raiders hope for a highly successful season, and he has the ability to stuff the statsheet slinging it around the field.
7. Kansas: Jalon Daniels
If the rankings were about potential, Daniels could top the list. But it's been a matter of 'what if' in Kansas. After an electric 2022 season, Daniels was poised to be among the top players in the country, but injuries derailed most of his 2023 campaign. He then had an extremely slow start last season. Turnovers and accuracy were major concerns and a 14:12 touchdown-interception ratio is a major concern. He did play better later in the season when Kansas rattled off three consecutive wins against ranked opponents. If that version of Daniels can show up out of the gate, the Jayhawks can be a player in the conference title race.
Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels (6) scrambles the ball past a defender during the 4th quarter between the Kansas Jayhawks and the Colorado Buffaloes at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
8. Noah Fifita, Arizona
It's been a tale of two careers for Fifita. He had an electric freshman season and looked to be the key for Arizona's success in its first Big 12 season. But Jedd Fisch departed and Fifita struggled in Brent Brennan's offense. It could all be pointed to his decision making. He went from posting a school record 72.4% completion percentage in 2023 to 60.5% in 2024, and he threw 12 picks after just throwing six interceptions the season prior. He won't have Tetairoa McMillan to rely on, so this season will ultimately test whether Fifita is legit.
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9. Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati
A quarterback that flew under the radar in last season was Sorsby, who was third in the Big 12 in completion percentage (64%) and his nine rushing touchdowns were most among the league's signal callers. Cincinnati ended the season on a five-game losing streak, and while Sorsby's production throwing the ball fell off during the skid, he was still producing with his legs. With 19 career starts dating back to his time at Indiana, Sorsby gives the Bearcats a starting point toward getting back to bowl eligibility.
10. Kaidon Salter, Colorado
Salter looks to be the Deion Sanders' first quarterback at Colorado that isn't his son, with the Liberty transfer appearing to be ahead of freshman Julian Lewis. Salters is capable of manning a high-potent offense. He led Liberty to a perfect 2023 regular season as the Conference USA MVP and finishing among the top five in the nation in passing and rushing touchdowns. His numbers dipped significantly in 2024, but he can turn things around with the weapons at his disposal this year.
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11. Devon Dampier, Utah
Utah may finally have the answer to its quarterback issue more than two years after Cam Rising's injury in the Rose Bowl. In comes New Mexico transfer Devon Dampier, who turned heads with the Lobos. He started all 12 games last season and was a dynamic play maker with 2,768 passing yards and 1,166 yards and 19 touchdowns on the ground. He held his own against Power Four opponents, but the question will be whether he can make better decisions after throwing 12 interceptions. Cleaning up those errors will make him one of the most dangerous players in the league.
12. Conner Weigman, Houston
After having the worst passing offense in the Big 12, Houston turns to Weigman to reignite the offense. Once a five-star prized recruit of Jimbo Fisher, Weigman never lived up to the expectations at Texas A&M. Injuries kept getting in the way and he couldn't find consistency. Now with a fresh start, Weigman has the potential to be the best story in the conference in getting the Cougars some success in the Big 12.
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13. Nicco Marchiol, West Virginia
Marchiol won both of the games he started in 2024, and his performance against Arizona, when he went 18-for-22 for 198 yards and two touchdowns, gave Rich Rodriguez a great sample size to determine who will be his guy in his return to Morgantown. The next step in his development is to take more chances down the field. His job might not be totally secure as he'll have to fend off transfers Jaylen Henderson and Max Brown should he struggle through the first few games of the season.
14. Tayven Jackson/Jacurri Brown/Cam Fancher, Central Florida
There's a three-way battle at Central Florida as Scott Frost returns to lead the program. While Brown is the lone incumbent, he didn't shine much in 2024 and Indiana transfer Jackson has the inside edge. He's played in 11 games, and he was solid when started for the Hoosiers against Washington last season. Fancher arrived from Marshall this winter and could work himself into the discussion.
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15. Brigham Young: McCae Hillstead/Treyson Bourguet/Bear Bachmeier
The fallout from the Jake Retzlaff situation has drastically changed the quarterback room for Brigham Young. The Cougars go from a quarterback that nearly got them to the College Football Playoff to picking an inexperience one among Hillstead, Bourguet or Bachmeier. A dual-threat, Hillstead played eight games for Utah State in 2023 while the strong-armed Bourguet played 10 games for Western Michigan in 2022-23. The two were in a battle for the backup role before Retzlaff's off-field issues. Bachmeier could be a the wild card after enrolling early this spring at Stanford. The freshman likely is the future for the Cougars. Kalani Sitake has a tough situation on his hands as he tries to compete for a conference title.
16. Oklahoma State: Hauss Henjy/Zane Flores
The murkiest quarterback situation resides in Stillwater. After a disastrous 2024, Oklahoma State starts the new campaign with very little experience among the signal-callers. Henjy, a TCU transfer, is the front-runner over Flores, but the former four-star recruit didn't throw a pass in his four games as a freshman last year. Flores has been with the Cowboys for two seasons but redshirted in 2023 and had a medical redshirt in 2024 after appearing in one game.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College football quarterback rankings: Big 12 starts with Sam Leavitt
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