Sports Dave Wilson
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Dave Wilson
ESPN Workers Author
Dave Wilson is a school football reporter. He previously labored at The Dallas Morning News, San Diego Union-Tribune and Las Vegas Solar. Kyle Bonagura
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Kyle Bonagura
ESPN Workers Author
Covers college football. Joined ESPN in 2014. Attended Washington Disclose College. Aug 6, 2024, 10:00 AM ET
The Mountainous 12 looks a little bit of rather a pair of this season with the addition of four fresh colleges and Texas and Oklahoma gone to the SEC. Arizona, Arizona Disclose, Colorado and Utah are desirous to make a if truth be told perfect statement in their first One year within the Mountainous 12 regardless of notable questions surrounding these purposes. Mountainous 12 mainstay Oklahoma Disclose, which fell short within the convention title sport closing season, objectives to prevail within the championship again with a better final outcome, while Kansas Disclose is shoring up its offense with a if truth be told perfect switch.
Can Utah pull off a Mountainous 12 title in its first One year after its starting quarterback has been away from the sport for a season? Will Colorado ticket it is the staunch deal as Shedeur Sanders looks to be in Heisman Trophy conversations? After a if truth be told perfect sport within the Pop-Tarts Bowl closing One year, can Kansas Disclose QB Avery Johnson proceed to assemble because the projected starter this autumn? Can Arizona make a traipse at the convention title below a brand fresh head coach?
ESPN newshounds Dave Wilson and Kyle Bonagura detect at the league’s top novices, greatest early-season video games, coaches on the hot seat and MVP and championship sport picks.
Soar to a part:
CFP outlook | Top transfers | Affect rookies
Our favourite gamers | Need to-ask video games
Numbers to know | On the hot seat
Groups on the rise | Energy rankings
CFB Outlook Need to be in
Steadiness breeds confidence, and handiest Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz has been in build longer than Utah’s Kyle Whittingham and Oklahoma Disclose’s Mike Gundy, each and every of whom are starting their Twentieth seasons as head coach. Each groups enter the season with confirmed quarterbacks, star skill gamers and proficient defenses.
Within the working
Each dangle masses of talent and favorable schedules, but a little bit of little bit of a question designate as a result of educating adjustments. Within the case of Arizona, Jedd Fisch’s departure was once a loss, but the appearance of aged San José Disclose coach Brent Brennan was once in a discipline to protect up valuable of the roster collectively, alongside with quarterback Noah Fifita and all-all the pieces receiver Tetairoa McMillan. Kansas Disclose has received 37 video games and a Mountainous 12 title at some level of the final three years, but will be breaking in Avery Johnson at QB and replacing offensive coordinator Collin Klein, who departed for Texas A&M, with co-coordinators Conor Riley and aged Texas Tech coach Matt Wells.
Prolonged shot
Kansas had a little bit of a leap forward closing One year, a hit its first bowl sport in 15 years and beating Oklahoma for the fundamental time since 1997. The Jayhawks held on to coach Lance Leipold, and a healthy Jalon Daniels will make them a threat in any sport. The other three are no longer easy outs with gamers at quarterback — TCU’s Josh Hoover, Iowa Disclose’s Rocco Becht and West Virginia’s Garrett Greene — who all make admiration from rival coaches. Linked to TCU two years within the past, within the occasion that they can drag the tightrope, they may well possibly maybe make a traipse.
UCF QB KJ Jefferson: At 6-3, 247 pounds, Jefferson has already been labeled because the closest prototype to Cam Newton by Gus Malzahn himself. No stress there. Jefferson started 39 video games at Arkansas, the build he holds college records for occupation passing yards (7,923), passing TDs (67) and completion share (65.1). He has additionally rushed for better than 1,876 yards, and may well possibly maybe mute be a staple in Malzahn’s vitality traipse sport.
Texas Tech WR Josh Kelly: After exhibiting promise at some stage in four years at Fresno Disclose, Kelly had a breakout season for Washington Disclose, catching 61 passes for 923 yards and eight touchdowns. Kelly straight becomes considered one of essentially the most awful deep threats within the Mountainous 12 — a substantial-wanted dynamic for the Red Raiders offense.
Kansas Disclose Wildcats RB Dylan Edwards: Edwards burst onto the scene in Colorado’s opening to find in opposition to TCU closing One year when he caught five passes for 135 yards and three touchdowns to protect company with 24 yards rushing and any other bring collectively. After that, then again, Edwards former into the background as Colorado’s offensive line made working the ball all but inconceivable. Abet home in Kansas, Edwards may well possibly well additionally mute be a key player within the Wildcats’ Mountainous 12 title pursuit.
Affect rookies Colorado OT Jordan Seaton: Yes, this one in all fairness evident, but regardless of Seaton being a freshman, he is an pork up in talent over what Colorado was once fiddling with closing One year and he has already been on campus as a midyear enrollee. We if truth be told feel Seaton will doubtless dangle a identical season to Kadyn Proctor at Alabama in 2023 — highs, lows, flashes of greatness, but additionally a splendid amount of struggles. Offensive sort out is considered one of essentially the most advanced positions to transition in from excessive college to varsity.
UCF DB Chasen Johnson: Gus Malzahn was once in a discipline to flip the aged three-star from Pitt at some stage within the recruiting process and Johnson answered the name within the spring, rotating with the fundamental team showing toughness, competitiveness and the velocity to adapt speedy to the college stage. Whether it be at nook or security, Johnson may well possibly maybe ask notable time for the Knights as they head into One year two within the Mountainous 12.
Houston WR Jayshon Ridgle: Ridgle may well possibly well additionally dangle flown below the radar on the nationwide recruiting scene, but all fresh Houston coach Willie Fritz does is to find and know get gamers. Houston loses its top two targets from closing One year, and Ridgle is available in having posted a 10.83 100 meter time in 2023. He can play plenty of positions alongside with particular groups. You can’t coach traipse.
Kansas DE Deshawn Warner & DE Dakyus Brinkley: Here is a twofer for you. Each Warner and Brinkley are two of the ideally suited-rated prospects Kansas has ever signed and most significantly at a top class discipline. Kansas is gentle on the threshold by methodology of depth and trip, which supplies each and every prospects the chance to play early and ticket their value over the route of the season. Brinkley was once within the starting up an OLB and each and every prospects will deserve to set apart notable weight, but would be feeble as situational pass rushers. — Tom Luginbill
Our favourite gamers Utah QB Cam Rising: From 2021 to 2022, Rising was once considered one of many finest quarterbacks within the country, main the Utes to relief-to-assist Pac-12 titles. After lacking all of closing season, he ushers the Utes into their fresh convention with a rare opportunity to each and every details a team to 3 convention titles and stop that in rather a pair of conferences.
Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan: Expectations were sky-excessive in Tucson when McMillian arrived because the ideally suited-ranked recruit in college history and, in a arrangement, the aged five-star recruit has exceeded them. He’s the finest receiver within the Mountainous 12 by a healthy margin and may well possibly maybe be a first-spherical opt within the 2025 NFL draft.
Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter: Look, who would now not take care of observing a man scramble each and every ways? Gamers take care of Hunter are rare this day, so it be clear-slash to love what he does playing cornerback and receiver for the Buffs.
ASU RB Cam Skattebo: Running assist, quarterback, receiver, tight discontinuance, return man, Skattebo was once compelled to stop it enraged about Arizona Disclose closing season. It wasn’t supreme for ASU since it was once handiest obligatory as a result of injuries, but it surely showcased fabulous versatility and selflessness from the 2022 Mountainous Sky Offensive Player of the Year (at Sacramento Disclose).
TCU QB Josh Hoover: Hoover was the starter midway thru his redshirt freshman season closing One year, starting the final six video games. He averaged 339.5 yards per sport over that stretch, alongside with two 400-yard performances, and threw eight touchdowns to 2 interceptions at some level of the final three video games in opposition to Texas, Baylor and Oklahoma.
Oklahoma Disclose RB Ollie Gordon II: OSU’s season was around when it stopped overthinking the offense and gave the ball to Gordon. After right 19 carries within the fundamental three video games, Gordon reeled off eight 100-yard video games in his past nine, alongside with 837 total yards and seven TDs in a three-week interval in opposition to Kansas, West Virginia and Cincinnati.
UCF RB RJ Harvey: Harvey can fly, and UCF likes to salvage him in apartment, the build he can’t be caught. Harvey closed the season with seven 100-yard video games in his final eight, alongside with 206 yards and three touchdowns in a forty five-3 blowout in opposition to Oklahoma Disclose, who made it to the Mountainous 12 championship sport.
Kansas QB Jalon Daniels: One among essentially the most appealing skills, his assist has betrayed him over his occupation. At the head of 2022, he threw for 544 yards and five TDs in a 55-fifty three Liberty Bowl loss to Arkansas, and was once named the preseason Mountainous 12 Offensive Player of the Year closing season. Nonetheless by the head of September, after right three video games and a 3-0 delivery (705 yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT) he was once on the damage checklist. He stayed at KU in build of looking out for to search out a fresh delivery, setting the desk for a final season if we’re lucky adequate to salvage to detect him.
Need to-ask video games Utah at Oklahoma Disclose, Sept. 21: An early preview of the Mountainous 12 title sport? It right may well possibly well additionally be. The winner of this sport will doubtless emerge because the Mountainous 12 favourite, while the loser will be on the level of exiting the title dialogue with a elaborate sport the following week.
Oklahoma Disclose at Kansas Disclose, Sept. 28: OSU has received four of the past five matchups, but the one loss was once a forty eight-0 rout in The the enormous apple in 2022, the Cowboys’ first shutout loss since 2009. At Ok-Disclose, the Wildcats are 3-2 at some level of the final decade in opposition to OSU, with two losses by a entire of eight functions and three wins by 34, 19 and forty eight.
Arizona at Utah, Sept. 28: Arizona and Utah weren’t exactly rivals within the Pac-12, but there may well be a shared history now as they make the hasten to the Mountainous 12 collectively. Each colleges enter the season with internal playoff expectations and this sport may well possibly maybe play a deciding operate.
Colorado at Nebraska, Sept. 7: Colorado’s to find in opposition to Nebraska closing One year fueled the Coach Top hype machine, but after each and every groups wilted below their respective first-One year coaches, they’re now looking out for to soar assist.
BYU at Utah, Nov. 9: The Holy War no longer frequently ever fails to entertain, and here’s a selected version pondering it is a ways a convention sport again, and, for the fundamental time, in a notable convention.
Kansas at Kansas Disclose, Oct. 26: Kansas misplaced an 11-level third quarter Sunflower Showdown lead closing season in a 31-27 Ok-Disclose to find in Lawrence, but the Jayhawks were the total manner down to third-string freshman quarterback Cole Ballard. This on the entire is a fight of two of the finest QBs within the Mountainous 12 if each and every KU’s Jalon Daniels and Ok-Disclose’s Avery Johnson are healthy.
Numbers to know 7
Fashion of rather a pair of colleges to play within the past four Mountainous 12 championship video games
56
Years since Kansas received a convention title (Jayhawks were co-champs of the Mountainous Eight in 1968)
18
Oklahoma Disclose’s poke of seasons with a a hit record, third finest in FBS (Boise Disclose and Wisconsin)
7.72
Yards per raise by West Virginia’s Jahiem White closing season, finest amongst FBS working backs (minimal 100 carries) — ESPN Stats & Recordsdata
On the hot seat Wilson: Dave Aranda, Baylor
After going 12-2 in 2021 with a Sugar Bowl to find over Ole Omit, Baylor has struggled to search out an id. Aranda hasn’t been disquieted to make adjustments, but after closing One year’s 3-9 season, he changed OC Jeff Grimes and his NFL-style come with Jake Spavital’s Air Raid, hoping to conceal offensive line struggles. Aranda is additionally taking on protect an eye on of the defensive playcalling, his strong level. He is aware of here is his closing shot at proving 2021 was once the norm, no longer the outlier.
Wilson: Scott Satterfield, Cincinnati
Satterfield has handiest been at Cincinnati for one season, but was once 17-19 in his closing three seasons at Louisville, which then went 10-4 below his replacement, Jeff Brohm. Remaining One year, the Bearcats went 1-8 within the Mountainous 12 in its first season within the league and accomplished with right two FBS wins, over Pitt and Houston groups that received handiest three and four video games. Cincinnati has punched above its weight for years, and a coaching alternate amid a step up in conferences was once a no longer easy combination. Nonetheless Satterfield wants to generate some enthusiasm in a brand fresh era within the Queen City.
Groups on the rise Bonagura: Arizona
Had Jedd Fisch remained at Arizona, there may well possibly well be valuable extra hype relating to the Wildcats trustworthy now. They went from 1-11 to 5-7 to 10-3 below Fisch and dangle most of their key gamers returning, alongside with quarterback Noah Fifita, who deserves to be within the Heisman Trophy dialogue. What’s mute unknown is how fresh coach Brent Brennan’s arrival will influence existence within the barren region.
Wilson: Iowa Disclose
Yes, Matt Campbell’s tenure in Ames has in most cases viewed the Cyclones listed amongst essentially the most improved groups. Nonetheless Iowa Disclose would be due for a leap forward, a One year after a gambling scandal threw the season into turmoil earlier than freshman QB Rocco Becht took over, settled in and dangle change into the Mountainous 12 Offensive Player of the Year, setting ISU freshman records for passing yards (3,120) and TDs (23). Jon Heacock’s defenses are amongst the nation’s finest One year in and One year out, and this One year, expectations are sky excessive. That is a combination that affords hope in Ames.
Energy rankings 1. Utah: If Utah stays healthy, it is the finest team within the convention.
2. Oklahoma St.: Mike Gundy on the entire figures it out, and Ollie Gordon’s return affords it considered one of many nation’s top backs to manufacture around.
3. Arizona: With all its returning talent, Arizona has a case to be the favourite.
4. Kansas St.: Avery Johnson is considered one of essentially the most proficient gamers the Wildcats dangle ever landed. Can he lead them amongst the elite?
5. Iowa St.: If Rocco Becht builds on his impressive freshman debut, detect out.
6. WVU: Neal Brown got the contract and balance he wanted to protect building after nine wins and a bowl victory.
7. Kansas: As Jalon Daniels grows, so will the Jayhawks.
8. TCU: Sonny Dykes is making a bet on fresh DC Andy Avalos to abet balance out a proficient offense after a 5-7 disappointment that ended by giving up 69 functions to Oklahoma.
9. Texas Tech: Joey McGuire’s roster makeover is stuffed with his gamers. The offensive line is the fundamental, finding apartment for Tahj Brooks, who ran for 1,541 yards closing One year.
10. UCF: Gus Malzahn has his QB in Jefferson; the Knights accomplished 6-7 closing One year, but three losses were by a entire of four functions, alongside with a 2-level loss in Norman to OU after a regrettable 2-level conversion are attempting to tie.
11. Baylor: Dave Aranda is engaging to the Air Raid on offense, and taking on the protection again. DeQuan Finn arrives from Toledo in hopes of balance at QB.
12. BYU: After a disappointing first One year within the Mountainous 12, the Cougars dangle loads to ticket.
13. Houston: Contemporary coach Willie Fritz has been a winner everywhere the build he has been. At 64, he at closing gets the job he wants in a vitality convention in a metropolis he has recruited for years.
14. Colorado: After a closing-build attain within the Pac-12 closing One year, the Deion Sanders advertising and marketing machine wants to new it ought to know care of alternate on the discipline.
15. Cincinnati: It is laborious to think relating to the Bearcats’ day out to the College Football Playoff was once in 2021.
16. Arizona St: The Solar Devils factor in they’ve addressed their roster wants, but will it be adequate to be competitive after a three-to find 2023?