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New York Times
18-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Is the Big 12 back as the league of QBs? With 9 returning starters, expect ‘high-scoring games'
FRISCO, Texas — Rocco Becht remembers how it was back in the day. He was only 12 years old when he watched Baker Mayfield and Patrick Mahomes duel in Lubbock, Texas, combining for 125 points, 1,279 passing yards and 12 touchdown passes in a 66-59 Oklahoma victory over Texas Tech in 2016. To hear Becht, Iowa State's starting quarterback, tell it, you would think the halcyon days of black and white television broadcast the contest. Advertisement 'One of the craziest things I've ever seen,' he said. The Big 12 built its reputation in its proudest eras on the strength of its quarterbacks. Before Mayfield and Mahomes, Texas' Colt McCoy and Oklahoma's Sam Bradford dueled for national titles, Texas Tech's Graham Harrell took Mike Leach's offense to new heights and Heisman contention, and Missouri's Chase Daniel and Kansas' Todd Reesing redefined what was possible at their programs. Baylor's Robert Griffin III won a Heisman Trophy and Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden led his program to its first Big 12 title, both setting passing records along the way. Now, in a rebuilt version of the league, the Big 12 looks poised in 2025 to call back to the conference's heyday. Nine of the league's 16 teams bring back a productive, experienced starting quarterback, headlined by Sam Leavitt, who helped lead Arizona State to the College Football Playoff as a freshman last season. In The Athletic's quarterback tiers, a ranking of all 136 FBS quarterbacks released this week, four Big 12 quarterbacks ranked in the top 14: Leavitt, TCU's Josh Hoover, Baylor's Sawyer Robertson and Becht. Eight are in the top 27. 'It's gonna go back to how it was, those high-powered offenses back in the day,' Becht said. 'That's what we're going to be able to start seeing in the Big 12: High-scoring games.' Mahomes, a respected, wildly talented but relatively unheralded Big 12 quarterback in his day, has blossomed into arguably the NFL's best player. He's also an icon and a through line for the deepest class of Big 12 quarterbacks since even before Mahomes' time. Mahomes is mentoring current Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton. Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson bought (on sale, he noted) a Sleep Number bed because Mahomes uses it and represents the brand. Advertisement Hoover can see Mahomes occasionally work out at TCU's facility, which is located near his private coach Jeff Christensen's home. 'I give him tips and stuff,' Hoover said with a laugh. Baylor coach Dave Aranda, who watched Robertson break out midseason in 2024, spent a decade as a defensive coordinator at four programs before being hired by the Bears. When he was preparing for opposing offenses, he knew if they had inexperience at quarterback, he could spend less time game-planning for certain plays because he knew an offensive coach would be hesitant to call them if they asked a lot from the player under center. He sees the opposite in this year's Big 12. 'Right out of the gate, you're gonna get the shots to the heart,' he said. 'You have all these explosive offenses run by quarterbacks with a lot of savvy. Some of these guys are sawed-off dudes, but are smart, can see everything, get in the right play, and they have this innovative scheme. And then it's like you're playing Army or Navy because they're gonna go for it on all these fourth downs. … It becomes a difficult proposition.' It all adds up to a nightmare for defensive coaches across the league. Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby is in the group of established returners, throwing for more than 2,800 yards and accounting for 27 total touchdowns in 2024. Sorsby ranked 20th in The Athletic's recent QB tiers and fifth in the Big 12. 'I saw someone put out their top quarterbacks (in the Big 12), and Sorsby was like ninth. What? But I started looking, and I'm thinking, Well, OK, that guy is pretty good. He's pretty good. He's pretty good,' Cincinnati coach Scott Satterfield said. 'I can see why. I think Sorsby could be right up there at the top. I think he's got that kind of talent. But there are a lot of great quarterbacks in this league.' Outside of the top eight QBs in the conference, there are even more intriguing talents. Colorado added Kaidon Salter, a two-year starter who led Liberty to an undefeated regular season in 2023, to help replace Shedeur Sanders. Salter threw for 32 touchdowns and six interceptions in 2023, along with 12 rushing touchdowns. Advertisement Jalon Daniels at Kansas threw for 18 touchdowns and four picks in 2022. Injuries shortened his 2023 season, and he struggled for much of 2024 before helping the Jayhawks rally to beat three ranked teams in consecutive games late in the season. Arizona's Noah Fifita threw for 25 touchdowns and six interceptions under Jedd Fisch in 2023 before taking a slight step back under new coach Brent Brennan in 2024. All three are hopeful for rebound seasons in 2025 and give their programs proven, experienced options at the team's most important position. The most unsettled quarterback situations in the league are at BYU, which saw Jake Retzlaff withdraw from the university following reports he could face a suspension for violating the school's honor code, and Oklahoma State, where none of the quarterbacks have started a game. 'My guess is whoever is gonna win the league is going to keep their quarterback healthy,' TCU head coach Sonny Dykes said. Dykes lived it in 2022. At one point, TCU's top six skill players were injured, but quarterback Max Duggan stayed healthy. TCU won its way into the College Football Playoff and played for a national title after beating Michigan. Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham, meanwhile, lived what he called a 'nightmare' the past two seasons, juggling quarterback Cam Rising's health on a near-weekly basis. 'When he was healthy, we won two Pac-12 championships back to back. Had he been healthy the last couple years, woulda, coulda, shoulda, but I'm telling you we would have been a whole different football team entirely,' Whittingham said. Utah will now put Devon Dampier, who threw for 2,768 yards and ran for 1,166 yards and 19 touchdowns at New Mexico last season, behind one of the nation's best offensive lines. The vibrant crop should make for must-see TV. Advertisement The one prerequisite for any team hoping to hoist the Big 12 title trophy and book a ticket into the Playoff is simple: Score. 'It's a deadly conference to be in,' said BYU coach Kalani Sitake, another former defensive coordinator. 'And it's gonna be a lot of fun this year.' (Top photos of ASU's Sam Leavitt and ISU's Rocco Becht: Butch Dill, Sam Hodde / Getty Images)
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sam Leavitt says 'it's a blessing' to be in the new game EA Sports College Football 26
Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt shares his feelings on being a part of the EA Sports College Football 26 video game.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Arizona State Gridiron Standouts Named Preseason All-Big 12 by National Media Outlet
Arizona State Gridiron Standouts Named Preseason All-Big 12 by National Media Outlet originally appeared on Athlon Sports. It's preseason list time in college football, and the USA Today Sports Network has issued its version of the 2025 preseason All-Big 12 football team. And the Arizona State Sun Devils are well-represented. Advertisement In a story by Eugene Rapay of the Des Moines Register, the Sun Devils placed four talented players on the all-conference team. Quarterback Sam Leavitt was named the conference Player of the Year and first-team All-Big 12. In 2024, Leavitt threw for over 2,800 yards and accounted for 29 TDs on the way to the Big 12 crown and a playoff berth. Leavitt is a legitimate Heisman Trophy contender. Joining Leavitt on the team is his favorite wide receiver, Jordyn Tyson. Tyson is the top returning receiver in the conference this season after posting 75 receptions and scoring 10 TDs a season ago. Also on the offensive unit is Sun Devils offensive lineman Ben Coleman. An honorable mention All-Big 12 a season ago, Coleman is one of the more experienced linemen for the Sun Devils. He has played over 2,400 snaps at multiple positions along the offensive line and is Leavitt's bodyguard in the pocket. Advertisement DB Xavion Alford represents the Sun Devils' defense on the all-conference team for 2025. Alford earned first-team All-Big 12 honors last season after racking up 85 tackles, two INTs and five pass breakups. One Sun Devil missing from this preseason list is head coach Kenny Dillingham. 2025 Preseason Coach of the Year honors in the conference went to Joey McGuire of Texas Tech. Dillingham was the king of the Big 12 coaches in 2024. The Sun Devils welcome back 17 starters from last year's squad that posted 11 wins. Coaching continuity also returns as Dillingham welcomes back both offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo and defensive coordinator Brian Ward. The 'Desert Fox' Dillingham has built a juggernaut in the Valley of the Sun and the Big 12 and the college football world are on notice in 2025. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
10-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former MSU QB receives notable preseason award
A former Spartan has received a notable preseason honor at his new school. Former Michigan State quarterback Sam Leavitt has been named the preseason Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. Leavitt, who is entering his second season as the starter at Arizona State, played one season for the Spartans in 2023 before transferring to the Sun Devils. Leavitt starred for Arizona State in his first year under center, leading the Sun Devils to the Big 12 championship and a berth in the College Football Playoff. He finished the season throwing for 2,885 yards, 24 touchdowns and six interceptions, and also ran for 443 yards and five touchdowns. Leavitt and the Sun Devils are projected to again contend for the Big 12 title this fall so its no surprise he received this honor. It will be interesting, though, to see how he handles the pressure and also maintains his strong play with the loss of running back Cam Skattebo, who ran for nearly 2,000 yards and 21 touchdowns last year. If Leavitt is able to experience similar success again this fall, he'll go down as one of the biggest "what ifs" in Michigan State football history. Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Big 12 quarterback rankings: Experienced signal-callers headline 2025 season
In the Big 12, continuity is the name of the game at the quarterback position. 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement QUARTERBACK RANKINGS: Big Ten | SEC | ACC | Big 12 UNDER RADAR: Five sleeper candidates for Heisman Trophy 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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
