Questions for each Big 12 football team in spring: How Colorado, Deion Sanders take the next step in Year 2

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The revamped Big 12 debuts in 2024 featuring 16 teams for the first time in history. Texas and Oklahoma are gone, but national contenders Utah and Arizona headline another crop of newcomers for the second straight season, this time from the Pac-12. 

After a tumultuous final season before realignment, many of the 16 Big 12 teams are going through a rebuilding phase in 2024. Every returning program in the league lost at least four games last season, including Big 12 finalist Oklahoma State. The lone exception, Arizona, underwent a coaching change after a stellar 10-3 campaign. The four newcomers who transitioned to the power conferences all finished with losing records. 

Ultimately, all the turnover means the Big 12 is wide open in 2024. And even more important, the winner of the ultra competitive league is all but guaranteed a trip to the College Football Playoff, making this a debut season for the ages.

The tone for the Big 12 race will start in spring ball. Here’s one question each Big 12 team has to answer in spring ball to make some noise in 2024. 

Arizona

Is Brent Brennan up to speed? The Wildcats were a potential Big 12 championship favorite heading into the offseason after a breakout 10-win campaign, but losing coach Jedd Fisch threw a bucket of cold water on everything. The Wildcats lost 22 transfers after the coaching change, with nine following Fisch to Washington. 

However, first-year coach Brennan earned a huge win as quarterback Noah Fifita and wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan opted to return in 2024. Fifita hit McMillan for 90 catches, 1,402 yards and 10 touchdowns as one of the best QB-WR duos in college football. The return gives Arizona something special to build upon. 

Now, Brennan’s primary job is quickly adjusting…

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Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/questions-for-each-big-12-football-team-in-spring-how-colorado-deion-sanders-take-the-next-step-in-year-2/

Author : Shehan Jeyarajah

Publish date : 2024-03-25 17:44:47

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