The Big 12 Conference is preparing for as dramatic a season as you could probably predict. Onboarding four new members (Houston, UCF, BYU, and Cincinnati), while simultaneously preparing for the departure of Texas and Oklahoma has set quite the stage. TCU and Kansas State provided plenty of fireworks for the conference last year, and we can’t wait to see what’s in store in 2023. As spring ball is under way, here are our burning questions each Big 12 team needs to answer!
Baylor Bears — Can Blake Shapen prove last year was a hiccup?
Blake Shapen did not have the season he had originally hoped for. Faithful Bears fans hoped for much better results as well. When Dave Aranda declared Shapen the starting quarterback after 2022 spring ball wrapped up, Bears fans assumed it meant that they would defend their Big 12 championship and Sugar Bowl victories in style. Instead, a listless 6-6 regular season failed to deliver on lofty preseason expectations.
Shapen’s struggles were a big part of that. He threw for 2,602 yards on 345 attempts (64% completion) and totaled 16 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. It wasn’t a bad season, per se, but a four-game losing streak to close the campaign only heightened the murmurs behind the scenes that Shapen might not be ready for the spotlight. Throw in the facts that his backup, the versatile Kyron Drones, is now in the running for QB1 at Virginia Tech and four-star recruit Austin Novosad left Baylor at the altar right before signing day, and there aren’t many backup plans in Waco.
Shapen will need to be better under pressure in 2023 and find his playmakers in stride on third downs. He struggled with both last season, leading many to wonder if new backup Sawyer Robertson could get the call quickly if Shapen doesn’t answer the bell this spring.
BYU Cougars — Can Kedon Slovis be the best QB in the Big 12?
When Kedon Slovis, formerly at USC and Pitt, announced his transfer to BYU on Christmas Eve of 2022, Cougars fans rejoiced. Along with offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick, the Cougars’ offense could have some serious spark in their inaugural season in the Big 12 Conference. Slovis has been studying the playbook from the moment he walked on campus. After all, his goal of playing for a Big 12 championship isn’t going to be handed to him.
BYU will rely on the four-year starter to guide it through a tricky schedule that includes road tests against Arkansas (Sept. 16), TCU (Oct. 14), and Texas (Oct. 28). The Cougars also finish conference play against Oklahoma and on the road against Oklahoma State in the final two weeks of November. No matter the competitive status of those teams when they line up across from the Cougars, it will not be easy. If Slovis is a difference maker for BYU, the Cougars could absolutely be playing for a conference title in Arlington come the end of the year.
Cincinnati Bearcats — Do the Bearcats have enough skill position talent to compete in year one?
The Scott Satterfield era begins after Luke Fickell left for Wisconsin and the Bearcats are inducted into the Big 12. Satterfield is going to run an up-tempo, dual-threat style of offense that could be a lot of fun to watch. The question, however, is will Scott have enough talent at the skill positions to compete?
Transfer quarterback Emory Jones joins a loaded quarterback room. In fact, Jones is one of five scholarship quarterbacks on the roster. The overflowing of signal callers doesn’t translate to the rest of the roster, however. The Bearcats are feeling the effects of the NFL draft and transfer portal as they transition into the Power Five. In fact, Chris Scott is the only returning wide receiver with a catch for the Bearcats last year (four receptions, 32 yards). Cincinnati will look to several transfers, like Washington State transfer Donovan Ollie, to step up on game days. Satterfield also brought Dee Wiggins with him from Louisville.
Another position to watch is defensive back. The depth at safety and cornerback is certainly more proven, but the sheer number of new faces will make spring ball a fascinating watch for the Bearcats. D.J. Taylor transfers in from Arizona State to compete for the nickel corner spot, while Jordan Young comes from Florida to play outside corner. If, and that is a big unknown, the Bearcats can put together a competitive two-deep, their first season in the Big 12 could be a successful one. If not, Bearcats fans can eagerly anticipate the exit of Texas and Oklahoma, while restocking their own shelves.
Houston Cougars — Can Dana Holgorsen build another contender?
Clayton Tune is gone. So is Nathaniel “Tank” Dell. For most college football fans, that sounds like 99% of what they’ve heard about the Houston Cougars. A sterling 12-2 campaign in 2021 had Cougars fans and CFB experts predicting that Houston might be the next Group of Five team to crack the playoff. Instead, a frustrating 8-5 year in 2022 quieted that buzz from the jump.
This year, you’ll be hard pressed to find anyone expecting an elite ceiling from Dana Holgorsen’s bunch, but that doesn’t mean the season is without meaning. The Cougars return 16 starters from a year ago and plenty of depth behind them. There is zero excuse for Houston to not compete in the Big 12. True, the Cougars could be looking at a 2-2 start after their first four games (vs. UTSA, at Rice, vs. TCU, vs. Sam Houston), but the battle for the upper midfield is alive and well. It’s not even a stretch to say that both spots in the Big 12 title game are entirely open and up for grabs.
Iowa State Cyclones — Will spring ball pull a young Cyclones team together?
“It’s such a young team. Competition and evaluation are going to be very important for us…” Words from Cyclones head man Matt Campbell set the tone for Iowa State’s spring calendar. Many teams are worried about what order the offensive line will take, or which athlete will take the nickel corner slot, Campbell and company are focused on simply getting more physical. “We’re so young and you still want to grow physically during spring practice,” said Campbell.
That’s not to say that there aren’t a plethora of position battles for the ‘Clones. Four-star QB J.J. Kohl will push incumbent starter Hunter Dekkers for the opening day job. New offensive line coach Ryan Clanton will be tasked with creating cohesion amongst a group that struggled mightily to protect their quarterback last year. Clanton will try to build a group that provides consistency for an offense that lacked it entirely in 2022.
Still, the focus is on growing up this young roster. Iowa State went from one of the best stories in 2020, to disappointing in 2021, to falling completely flat in 2022. If the Clones want to improve on a 4-8 season in the new-look Big 12, Campbell is going to need his players to grow up in a hurry.
Kansas Jayhawks — Will the defense match the offense’s intensity?
It was a miracle start for Lance Leipold and the Kansas Jayhawks in 2022. They started 5-1, hosted “College GameDay” for the first time EVER, and eventually would make their first bowl game since 2008. The downside? A 1-7 finish to the season that was marred by injuries all over the field, most notably to quarterback Jalon Daniels who was lost for over a month after their sixth game against TCU.
But 2023 is a new season with plenty to build upon. Daniels and Devin Neal are back to lead the offense, but what will the defense look like? KU ranked dead last in the Big 12 in scoring defense. And total defense. And rushing defense. You get the picture. It wasn’t pretty.
What has Kansas done about that? The Jayhawks have brought in edge rushers Patrick Joyner Jr. (Utah State) and Austin Booker (Minnesota) to compete for starting spots along the defensive line. Defensive coordinator Brian Borland continues to make progress with the group, maintaining that they indeed made strides on that side of the ball in year two under Leipold. It’s worth noting that Kenny Logan Jr. will miss spring ball with a shoulder injury, but this could allow Borland to find out what kind of depth he has at the safety position.
Kansas State Wildcats — Who steps up to fill the void left by Deuce Vaughn?
If you were asked to name the first player that comes to mind when you hear Kansas State, nine out of 10 times you probably named now legendary running back Deuce Vaughn. Vaughn was a highlight reel waiting to happen and will not be easy to replace in the slightest. Chris Klieman has three immediate options at his disposal.
Sophomore DJ Giddens was the backup last year, leading some to believe that he is the frontrunner for the starting job. Giddens totaled 518 yards (5.8 yards per carry) on the ground last season with six touchdowns. At 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds, Giddens is the ideal size for a back who can shoulder the load and get yardage between the tackles.
Senior Treshaun Ward came over from Florida State this past offseason. In four seasons in Tallahassee, Ward compiled over 1,200 yards on the ground and 12 touchdowns. Despite being just 5-foot-10 and 194 pounds, Ward isn’t much of a receiving threat. He’s going to need to be more versatile in his final collegiate season to help replace Vaughn’s do-it-all nature.
Finally, incoming freshman Joe Jackson signed with Kansas State in the 2023 recruiting class. A three-star RB out of Davenport, Fla, Jackson weighs in at 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds. He’s got plenty of growing to do, but the Wildcats’ staff is really excited about Jackson. He committed to K-State over Duke and Rutgers.
Oklahoma Sooners — Will Venables improve the defense in OU’s final Big 12 season?
Could last year have been any more disappointing for the Sooners? Sure, they could have missed a bowl game, but most fans expected Brent Venables and the Sooners to at least compete for a Big 12 title in year one.
Fair or not, Venables will be judged with an extremely critical eye as the Sooners prepare to move into the SEC in 2024. Oklahoma has built an elite legacy in the Big 12, and it would like to close this chapter out on a high note.
So what are the keys for OU to turn things around in 2023? The offense needs a big year from quarterback Dillon Gabriel, no doubt, but the biggest improvements need to come on the defensive side. Venables’ defense gave up 30 points per game, ahead of only West Virginia and Kansas in the conference. Yikes. The Sooners finished ninth in rush defense (187.5 yards per game) and dead last in total passing defense (273.5 yards per game).
Nationally, one of the blackest eyes on the Sooners was a total lack of pass rush. According to Pro Football Focus’s grading system, the Sooners finished 107th in pass rushing and 78th in pressure rating. Giving up 41 to Kansas State, 55 to TCU, 49 to Texas, and 51 to Texas Tech cannot happen next year.
Oklahoma State Cowboys — Is a former rival QB the answer for Gundy and the Pokes?
Mike Gundy and Oklahoma State were as unlucky as a team can possibly be last season. They started 5-0 before losing a double-overtime heartbreaker to TCU 43-40. Still, they bounced back and beat Texas the next week before losing five of their next six. Sure, the Pokes made plenty of mistakes, but a ridiculous amount of injuries were ultimately what derailed Oklahoma State’s season. More than a dozen starters missed at least one game (often multiple), and the Pokes suffered several season-ending injuries throughout the first half of the campaign.
Then the transfer portal nightmare began. Quarterback Spencer Sanders left for Ole Miss, linebacker Mason Cobb is now a USC Trojan, and captain edge rusher Trace Ford crossed the battle line to wear crimson and cream for OU. It hasn’t been a fun offseason for Oklahoma State fans to say the least.
Still, Gundy has always conjured up a bit of magic in Stillwater. His knack for development is proven, and his track record for winning is established. Enter Alan Bowman, Texas Tech and Michigan transfer and presumed QB1. Oklahoma State fans are VERY familiar with Bowman after he led a Red Raiders team to a huge upset of the Cowboys in 2018. Bowman, a true freshman at the time, completed 35 of 46 passes for nearly 400 yards and a pair of scores in a 41-17 blasting of the Pokes.
Bowman’s career was derailed by injuries that included, amongst other things, a punctured lung. He transferred to Michigan for the 2021 and 2022 season and sat behind Cade McNamara and J.J. McCarthy, but he now looks to get one last chance at starting. The talent is there, and if Alan can stay healthy, he could jumpstart the Cowboys’ chances in 2023.
TCU Horned Frogs — Will a star-studded transfer class keep TCU at the top of the Big 12?
TCU and the Hypnotoad stole the college football show in 2022, but no one in the country will let the Horned Frogs rest on their laurels. That’s okay, because TCU didn’t plan on that anyway. After a 65-7 drubbing in the National Championship Game, Sonny Dykes and his staff got to work. Sure, they had to deal with Garrett Riley’s departure to become the offensive coordinator at Clemson. But with Kendal Briles calling plays and Chandler Morris finally getting his shot, the Horned Frogs are hoping to run it back this year.
Along with success comes a boost in recruiting. TCU finished 20th in the composite rankings, according to 247 Sports. More importantly, TCU expects an instant impact from its transfer class, led by three transfers from Alabama; Trey Sanders (RB), JoJo Earle (WR), and Tommy Brockermeyer (OT) are all ready to shine in the Stockyards’ spotlight. Don’t sleep on receiver John Paul Richardson (Oklahoma State) and defensive back Avery Helm (Florida) either. It’s an embarrassment of riches for Dykes and the Frogs, but will they take full advantage?
Texas Longhorns — Is Quinn Ewers a championship-caliber quarterback?
If Texas wins a Big 12 title in its final year of membership, it will likely be because of Quinn Ewers. By the same token, if Texas’s path to a championship ever gets derailed, it’s also likely to ride on the shoulders of Ewers. Quinn has been dealing with immense pressure since he bypassed his senior year at Southlake Carroll High School to enroll early at Ohio State and take advantage of the new NIL legislation.
After transferring to Texas, most Longhorns fans grew frustrated with the up and down nature of Ewers’ performance in 2022. Ewers completed 172 of 296 attempts (58.1%) and threw 15 touchdowns and six interceptions. While many chose to ignore the reality that Ewers was still playing catch-up after two years without live competition, Ewers set the table for a make-or-break season. If Quinn succeeds, Texas is poised to leave the Big 12 with a bang. If he doesn’t, the mantle will likely be handed off to chosen one Arch Manning or former four-star Maalik Murphy. No pressure.
Texas Tech Red Raiders — Does the Big 12 run through Lubbock?
Head coach, and Texas football legend, Joey McGuire made a bold proclamation after Texas Tech’s 37-34 upset win over Texas last September.
“I’m telling y’all right now…the country’s going to find out that everything runs through Lubbock,” McGuire told a fired up locker room. The progress under McGuire is undeniable. An 8-5 season that included wins over Texas, Oklahoma, a ranked Houston team, and Ole Miss in the Texas Bowl was a statement to the rest of the league.
If the Red Raiders are going to back up an impressive start under Joey Mac, they’re going to need to continue progressing as a team. There are numerous questions facing the Red Raiders this offseason, but let’s focus on the offense. Tech will need encouraging signs from its offensive line and wide receiving corps if Red Raiders fans are going to feel like nine wins are in play.
Along the offensive line, Tech brought in three transfers to help fill the void left by multiple departures from the 2022 group. Cole Spencer and Michael Shanahan each reportedly have a great chance at snagging two open spots, per Staking The Plains.
Out wide, Texas Tech’s five leading receivers, including outstanding sophomore Jerand Bradley, return for quarterback Tyler Shough.
UCF Knights — New conference, new coordinators, new systems: How prepared is UCF for the Big 12?
Gus Malzahn has that dog in him. When Gus brought his offense from the plains of Auburn to Central Florida, many wondered how quickly his winning ways would take hold. The Knights went 9-5 last year, but even that record can be misleading. UCF was 9-3 before dropping the AAC Championship Game to Tulane and being blown out by Duke in the Military Bowl.
Now, the Knights are a part of a Power Five conference. With talent on both sides of the ball, UCF seems poised to compete immediately. The problem? It might not end up being a big issue, but UCF is installing two new coordinators and mostly new systems. Darin Hinshaw and Addison Williams were selected to run the offense and defense, respectively.
There’s a lot of excitement on campus, especially about Hinshaw being named the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Hinshaw is a former UCF quarterback himself and has coaching experience at Cincinnati, Kentucky, and Tennessee, amongst other posts. In his career, Hinshaw has directed offenses that helped his players garner All-Conference and All-American honors.
Williams, on the other hand, is a little more inexperienced. He was promoted internally after former coordinator Travis Williams left to take the same post at Arkansas. Williams has had the entire offseason to prepare for the role, allowing Knights fans to feel as confident as they can that UCF will be ready for the primetime when it begins conference play on Sept. 23 against Kansas State.
West Virginia Mountaineers — Will the Mountaineers’ defense step up to save Neal Brown’s job?
West Virginia fans have my sympathy. Such a passionate fan base deserves better than the 22-25 record that Neal Brown has amassed since taking over in Morgantown in 2019. When Dana Holgorsen left for Houston, WVU was coming off of an 8-4 season. Brown has never won more than six games.
Last preseason, we ruffled the feathers of Mountaineers fans when we declared that The Three Tech guys were low on WVU because of its situation along the defensive line and in the secondary.
Unfortunately, we were right. Brown’s crew was one of the worst in the country at defending the pass. The ‘Neers allowed 24 plays of at least 30 yards through the air last year. They also allowed 262.7 passing yards per game, finishing ahead of only Oklahoma in the Big 12. Neal Brown is firmly on the hot seat. If he’s going to keep his job, he’ll need the secondary to improve mightily on a season when it gave up the most passing yards in over a decade.
About the author
I've spent the majority of the last decade cutting my teeth in college sports, covering athletics for three separate universities and spent 2021 as an Assistant Athletic Director. I graduated from Texas A&M in 2019 and got my Masters from Dallas Baptist University two years later. My favorite CFB memory will always be Texas A&M's dramatic 7OT win over LSU in 2018, my final game as a student. My passion is telling stories and helping fans get to know their favorite athletes on a personal level, whether that be through articles or a broadcast.
