Big 12 Conference releases 2025 football schedule
The 30th year of Big 12 football kicks off Week 0 in Dublin, Ireland, with Kansas State taking on Iowa State in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. The season will conclude with the annual Big 12 Championship Game in the first week of December at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The schedule will see all 16 Big 12 programs play nine league games. There will be 14 games against opponents from other Power 4 conferences throughout non-conference play.
Here is a look at the 2025 Big 12 college football schedule:
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New York Post
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Fox News
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Who Wore It Best? Greatest College Football Players by Jersey Number, 26-50
You're at a sports bar with a group of friends when someone asks: who is the greatest college football player to ever wear No. 34? How do you decide between six Hall of Fame running backs — all of whom topped 3,500 yards and 40 touchdowns during their college careers? That's the debate we faced when picking the greatest college football players by jersey number, from No. 1 to No. 99 (CFB players were first allowed to wear No. 0 starting in 2020). This list is based on how players performed during their college careers. Factors taken into consideration include prestigious accolades, like the Heisman Trophy and All-American selections, as well as statistics and winning percentage. That said, we've already done Nos. 1-25, so here's a look at the greatest players in college football history to wear Nos. 26-50. One of the most feared defenders in college football history, Taylor was an icon during his time at Miami. He had elite-level speed and was known for his hard-hitting style of play in the Hurricanes' secondary. He played a pivotal role for the Hurricanes during the program's run to the 2001 BCS National Championship Game and finished his three-year career at Miami by being named a unanimous All-American during his junior season after recording 77 tackles and leading the nation with 10 interceptions, which tied a school record at the time. Honorable mentions: Rod Woodson (Purdue), Saquon Barkley (Penn State) George is one of the top running backs in college football history, starring for the Buckeyes during the mid-1990s. In four years, two of which were spent as a starter, the former Buckeyes running back totaled 3,768 rushing yards and 44 rushing touchdowns. His senior season is considered one of the greatest for a running back in college football history, finishing with 1,927 rushing yards and 24 rushing touchdowns while winning the 1995 Heisman Trophy. 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Honorable mentions: Johnny Lujack (Notre Dame), Jack Tatum (Ohio State) When you beat out the likes of Ron Dayne, Marcus Allen and Jack Ham for the best college football player to wear No. 33, you must be a special talent. Dorsett was just that, starring for Pitt from 1973-76. The former Heisman Trophy winner set numerous NCAA rushing records during his collegiate career, totaling more than 6,000 rushing yards and 55 rushing touchdowns during his time at Pitt. As a senior, Dorsett ran for 1,948 yards and 22 touchdowns while helping lead the Panthers to a 27-3 victory over Georgia in the 1976 national championship. Honorable mentions: Marcus Allen (USC), Ron Dayne (Wisconsin), Jack Ham (Penn State) An argument can be made for No. 34 being the most well-respected number in college football history. 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In addition to his outstanding versatility and skill set, Walker was a flat-out winner, leading the Mustangs to back-to-back Southwest Conference championships in 1947 and 1948. The Doak Walker Award, the annual award given to the nation's top running back, is named after him. Honorable mentions: Tommy Casanova (LSU), Shaun Alexander (Alabama), Creighton Miller (Notre Dame) You probably think of Jadeveon Clowney or Alshon Jeffrey when it comes to the conversation surrounding the greatest players in South Carolina football history. But make no mistake, that title belongs to Rogers, who set the standard for greatness at South Carolina during his playing days from 1977-80. He still holds the program record for career rushing yards (5,204) and was the winner of the 1980 Heisman Trophy — the only Gamecock to win the award. Honorable mentions: Roy Williams (Oklahoma), Sam Francis (Nebraska) Kimbrough, who was nicknamed "The Haskell Hurricane," was a bruising fullback for the Aggies. Standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing 210 pounds, Kimbrough was an imposing figure who featured an elite combination of size, speed and toughness. He was a three-time All-Southwest Conference selection and a two-time All-American. Kimbrough helped lead the Aggies to the 1939 national championship, which was the last time the program won a national title. Honorable mentions: Sam Cunningham (USC) Howard "Hopalong" Cassady was an elite two-way player for the Buckeyes in the 1950s, starring at halfback on offense and defensive back on defense. He was named the winner of the 1955 Heisman Trophy after rushing for 958 yards and scoring 15 touchdowns while helping lead Ohio State to a national title. Cassidy was so good on the defensive side of the ball that in four seasons, no opposing receiver caught a touchdown pass against him. He was a three-time All-Big Ten performer, a two-time unanimous All-American and the 1955 AP Male Athlete of the Year. Honorable mentions: Luke Kuechly (Boston College), Mike Alstott (Purdue), Elroy Hirsch (Wisconsin and Michigan) A three-time All-American who helped lead his team to a combined 27-0-1 record during his playing career, Davis deserves a spot on this list. Starring at Army from 1943-46, Davis was one of the most dominant running backs of his generation. He averaged an astounding 8.3 yards per carry during his career and 11.5 yards per carry during the 1945 season. After finishing as the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy in both 1944 and 1945, Davis finally won it in 1946. Honorable mentions: Keith Byars (Ohio State) Lott starred in the Trojans' secondary from 1977-80, but what made him such a dominant force on the defensive side of the ball was his unmatched physicality. Lott played the game like a linebacker but possessed the athleticism and speed of a defensive back, striking fear into opposing receivers. During his tenure, USC finished with a combined record of 39-8-1, while consistently having one of the top-ranked defenses in the nation. Lott was a unanimous All-American in 1980 after recording an NCAA-best eight interceptions. He was also a member of USC's 1978 national title team. Honorable mentions: Marshall Goldberg (Pitt) Another dominant USC safety, Polamalu was a two-time All-American and one of the most dominant defensive backs in college football during the 2000s, displaying elite versatility and instincts from his safety position. Polamalu's ability to diagnose plays was uncanny, while his closing speed and tackling skills made him one of the most respected defensive players in program history. He helped lay the foundation for USC's return to prominence under Pete Carroll. Honorable mentions: Terry Kinard (Clemson), Darren Sproles (Kansas State), Joe Routt (Texas A&M) One of the greatest running backs of all time, Brown starred at Syracuse from 1954-56, totaling more than 2,000 yards in 24 games. In addition to his outstanding play on the football field, Brown also excelled in basketball, track and field and lacrosse during his time at Syracuse. He was a unanimous All-American in football during the 1956 season after leading the nation with 13 rushing touchdowns. Honorable mentions: Ernie Davis (Syracuse), Brian Bosworth (Oklahoma), Dan Morgan (Miami) To this day, Archie Griffin remains the only two-time Heisman Trophy winner. The former Buckeye great rushed for 1,400-plus yards in three straight seasons and finished his career with 5,589 rushing yards, which was an NCAA record at the time. Not only did Griffin put up jaw-dropping numbers during his time at Ohio State, but he was a winner as well, as Ohio State went 40-5-1 with Griffin as its starting tailback. He led Ohio State to four Big Ten titles and is the only player in NCAA history to start in four Rose Bowls. Honorable mentions: Sammy Baugh (TCU) The third fullback to appear on this list, Ferguson was a two-time unanimous All-American during his time at Ohio State. He rushed for more than 2,000 yards during his collegiate career, ranking No. 2 all-time in rushing at OSU when his career ended. Ferguson won the Maxwell Award and was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy in 1961 while helping lead the Buckeyes to a national championship. Honorable mentions: Khalil Mack (Buffalo) Irvin helped establish The U as a dominant football program in the late 1980s. His combination of size, speed and swagger made him a prototype of wide receivers in this day and age. The former Hurricane standout set program records with 2,423 receiving yards and 26 receiving touchdowns in three seasons at Miami. He was a three-time All-American and was a key player on the 1987 Miami team that won the national championship. Honorable mentions: Bennie Oosterbaan (Michigan), A.J. Hawk (Ohio State) Sayers was nicknamed the "Kansas Comet" for his rare blend of speed, elusiveness and playmaking ability. He totaled more than 4,000 all-purpose yards in three seasons at Kansas, a program that was not considered a national powerhouse. A two-time consensus All-American, Sayers is considered the greatest player in Kansas football history. Honorable mentions: Terrell Suggs (Arizona State), Angelo Bertelli (Notre Dame) Imagine a 6-7, 295-pound defensive end running full speed at you. That was life for opposing quarterbacks in the ACC during the early 2000s when Peppers starred at North Carolina. Peppers finished his three-year career at UNC with 30.5 sacks, including 15 during his sophomore season, which led the nation. He was a two-time All-American and the winner of the Bednarik Award, the Lombardi Award and the Bill Willis Trophy during his junior campaign. Honorable mentions: Patrick Willis (Ole Miss), Bob Chappuis (Michigan) Butkus was known for his hard-hitting style of play on the defensive side of the ball, but he was equally dominant on the offensive line, starring at center for the Fighting Illini in the 1960s. Butkus was the heart and soul of Illinois during his playing days. He was a two-time All-American and helped lead the Illini to a Big Ten title and Rose Bowl victory in 1963. Instituted in 1985, The Butkus Award, the award for college football's top linebacker, is named in his honor. Honorable mentions: Dave Rimington (Nebraska) * Our four-part series continues on Wednesday, July 23, with the greatest players in college football history to wear Nos. 51-75. 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New York Times
10 hours ago
- New York Times
College Football Playoff hopefuls: Should we buy what these teams are selling?
We're exactly a month away from Kansas State and Iowa State kicking off the 2026 college football season in Ireland. Before we get there, we'll have to spend the next several weeks in training camp mode. Jobs will be won. Surprises will emerge. Injuries will occur. And since everyone is still undefeated, hope will be sold. Advertisement A few weeks ago, 'The Athletic Football Show' took a look at the stories teams are telling themselves as a new NFL season approaches. We liked the concept so much that we're trying out a variation of it here on the college football side of things. Today, we're highlighting the narratives that College Football Playoff hopefuls are selling this preseason. Some of these are worth buying into. Some are not. Note: This list is looking at programs that did not reach the 12-team CFP last season. The Crimson Tide scored 17 points or fewer in losses to Tennessee, Oklahoma and Michigan last season as they finished 9-4 and failed to reach the Playoff in coach Kalen DeBoer's first season. But the offense is going to take a considerable step forward this season with the arrival of coordinator Ryan Grubb, who has coached with DeBoer at Sioux Falls, Eastern Michigan, Fresno State and Washington, where they reached the CFP championship game in 2023. Grubb was the Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator in 2024 — after he spent a month at Alabama following DeBoer's hire — but was fired after just one season. The 2024 season demonstrated that DeBoer and Grubb are better together than they are apart, and that familiarity will boost the Crimson Tide's offense this fall. And while Jalen Milroe is a unique talent at quarterback, he wasn't an ideal fit for DeBoer's offense. Now Alabama is likely to have a steadier passer in place (presumably Ty Simpson), which will unlock the passing attack and allow the offense to take advantage of a talented group of receivers, led by star sophomore Ryan Williams. The Grubb hire and better fit at quarterback will provide the offensive consistency that was missing in 2024 and will help Alabama, which brings back a strong core from a top-10 scoring defense, return to the Playoff and compete for the national championship again. Advertisement It's Year 2 for DJ Lagway, and he and the program are ready to take a major leap. Look at how the Gators finished last season, winning their last four games, which included victories over good LSU and Ole Miss squads. Lagway sat out the spring because of shoulder soreness but said last week at SEC media day that he's fully recovered. Florida coach Billy Napier preached a slow build when he took the job more than three years ago, and this is when the program will start to see the fruits of the labor. Florida will be strong in the trenches, particularly along the defensive line with Tyreak Sapp. And the Gators have added two talented receivers in true freshman Dallas Wilson and UCLA transfer J. Michael Sturdivant. Lagway possesses the ability to elevate those around him, so expect Florida to become a real threat now that the former five-star recruit is surrounded with strong talent across the roster. And, no, don't look at Florida's schedule. The Fighting Illini return 16 starters from the program's first 10-win team since 2001. Illinois' optimism for 2025 is less about selling the dream and is rooted more in reality. Coach Bret Bielema knows what it takes to be successful in the Big Ten and enters Year 5 with the Illini and Year 3 with Luke Altmyer, who is one of the best quarterbacks in the league, under center. That sort of continuity is difficult to find in college football these days. And while the schedule isn't easy — there are road games at Duke, Indiana and Washington and a home game against Ohio State — it's definitely manageable for a team with CFP aspirations. The Illini check a lot of boxes. Good head coach. Solid quarterback. An experienced, veteran team. A schedule that doesn't feature too many heavyweights. And there's the built-in confidence from last year to set the table for a potential breakthrough season. Advertisement Quarterback Avery Johnson went through the natural growing pains you would expect from a first-year starter, but those are behind him now, and his development and consistency will help the Wildcats contend in the Big 12 after going 5-4 in league play in 2024. Kansas State returns dynamic receiver Jayce Brown, who will be Johnson's top target. And Matt Wells' ascension to offensive coordinator and play caller will also help Johnson's development. With Johnson, Brown and running back Dylan Edwards, Wells will have explosive players at his disposal. The line will be the strength of the Kansas State defense and should help take some pressure off a new-look secondary. In a wide-open Big 12, the ingredients are there for a conference title run. The Tigers recognize that they have one of the best quarterbacks in the country in Garrett Nussmeier, so they went all-in this offseason — landing the best transfer portal class in the country — which will put them in contention for their first CFP trip since winning the 2019 national championship. LSU will be better at the skill spots, led by transfer receivers Nic Anderson (Oklahoma) and Barion Brown (LSU). The Tigers also addressed their most pressing need — the defensive line — with the additions of Florida State's Patrick Payton, Florida's Jack Pyburn and USF's Bernard Gooden. They should help a defense that gave up 5.9 yards per play last season (89th nationally). There are also some high-impact freshmen at positions of need in corner DJ Pickett and running back Harlem Berry. This is the most talented roster Brian Kelly has had at LSU, and he's finally got the Tigers to the point where they can compete for a national championship. The Hurricanes placed a major emphasis on fixing the defensive issues that sabotaged their 2024 season, and now they have what it takes to finally reach the Playoff with coach Mario Cristobal. Miami hired Corey Hetherman as defensive coordinator after he led Minnesota to a top-15 finish in scoring defense and yards per play allowed. The Canes also brought in six transfers in the secondary to fix a unit that was a weakness last year. Advertisement The offense lost a lot of production, too, but brought in some experienced talent, headlined by Carson Beck, one of the top transfer quarterbacks available in the offseason. Cristobal has recruited well during his tenure. So the talent is there, especially compared to ACC foes. The schedule — at SMU on Nov. 1 is the toughest road game — sets up well, too. With that combination, Miami should be in the Playoff this fall — if it can avoid the typical pitfalls that have plagued Cristobal's teams over the years. The Gamecocks lost some really important pieces on both sides of the ball, but quarterback LaNorris Sellers and edge rusher Dylan Stewart are foundational building blocks and two of the best players in the SEC. So there's top-end talent and a solid transfer class that helped address some needs in key spots. It took a while for South Carolina to find its footing last season. The Gamecocks started 3-3 before winning six consecutive games to end the regular season as one of the hottest teams in the country. Sellers' ankle injury contributed to that slow start, and we saw what he's truly capable of later in the season. In theory, South Carolina wasn't far off from a Playoff appearance last year — probably one win away. If the Gamecocks can avoid a similar slow start this season, they should be in contention for a CFP bid late in the year. Despite major defensive issues and deficiencies at receiver, Texas A&M was still in the mix for the SEC Championship Game late in the season. Quarterback Marcel Reed displayed some promising flashes, and the Aggies upgraded his receiving options through the portal with Kevin Concepcion (NC State) and Mario Craver (Mississippi State). Cornerback transfers Julian Humphrey (Georgia) and Jordan Shaw (Washington) have solid experience and could help a pass defense that struggled last season. Tyler Onyedim (Iowa State), Dayon Hayes (Colorado) and T.J. Searcy (Florida) were brought in to boost a defensive front that needs to be better against the run and rushing the passer. Advertisement Head coach Mike Elko accomplished some good things in his first season, and the Aggies could be a CFP darkhorse candidate after addressing some of their issues in the offseason. The Big 12 is wide open and there for the taking, which is why the Red Raiders spent so much money to upgrade their roster this offseason. Will other programs be jealous of that spending? Sure. Does it raise expectations in a manner Texas Tech has never really faced before? Absolutely. But any program would love to have transfer additions such as edge rusher David Bailey (Stanford), offensive tackle Howard Sampson (North Carolina) and running back Quinten Joyner (USC) — especially in a league that isn't loaded with future NFL talent like the SEC or Big Ten. The Red Raiders were close to conference title contention last season, one win away from being involved in a convoluted multi-team tie for first place. So they weren't that far off. Now with full buy-in from the donors, the administration and coaching staff, Texas Tech is on the verge of ascending to heights it's never reached. (Top photo of Marcel Reed: Alex Slitz / Getty Images)
