The nation’s best collection of QBs reside in the Big 12
The Big 12 is the undisputed best overall collection of quarterbacks in all of college football. While other leagues may feature famous names, top NFL prospects, and Heisman betting favorites, many of those players remain unproven and simply projections of potential. The Big 12 however has proven talent, depth, and extensive experience throughout the league; even the teams projected near the bottom of the conference have signal-callers that could elevate the program to another level.
TIER 5 – The Great Unknowns
While much of the conference enjoys the fruits of returning starters or high-pedigree inbound transfers, these squads are wandering the wilderness hoping to strike gold. Here we find some experience and some high-profile recruits, but this set of gun slingers have yet to prove major success on the big stage.
- McCae Hillstead, BYU Cougars – With the Jake Retzlaff saga closed and the former BYU QB now transferred to Tulane following an honor code violation, the Cougars have now have the league’s largest question mark behind center. While true freshman Bear Bachmeier or WMU transfer Treyson Bourguet could compete for the role, the turmoil at the position likely means Hillstead gets the first snaps given he at least was on the roster last season after transferring over from Utah State. Expect Coach Sitaki to still get the most out of this squad and whomever is behind center, but until we see it, the BYU QB has to start at the bottom of this list.
- Tayven Jackson, UCF Knights – A former four-star prospect in the class of 2022, Jackson started his career at Tennessee before transferring to his home state of Indiana, starting six games over two seasons with the Hoosiers. He’s added weight to his 6-foot-4 frame and was hand-picked by new coach Scott Frost, pointing to him as the leader in the Knights’ QB1 race, battling veterans Cam Fancher and Jacurri Brown. While Jackson has the least experience of the room, if UCF is looking to compete in 2025 he would seem to be the best bet.
- Hauss Hejny, Oklahoma State Cowboys – In a competition with third-year freshman Zane Flores, who did not see the field through his first two seasons in Stillwater, Hejny departed his hometown Horned Frogs for a chance at a Big 12 starting gig with the Pokes. Coach Mike Gundy needs a bounce back campaign, so simply holding steady following a zero-win conference campaign in 2024, Hejny offers OK State’s highest ceiling, if perhaps a more uncertain floor. Used as a rushing threat while at TCU, if his passing game can be unlocked at OSU he could make a huge leap up this list by the end of the year.
- Nicco Marchiol, West Virginia Mountaineers – Not yet officially named the starter by new head coach Rich Rodriguez, battling Texas A&M transfer Jaylen Henderson and Charlotte transfer Max Brown, Marchiol provides some continuity as he found a bit of success in relief of Garrett Greene in 2024, leading road wins over Arizona and Cincinnati. Expect this offense to lean on its run game in 2025 and Rich Rod to go with whichever QB can best protect the ball and manage the game without taking big risks. With an FCS game and a MAC game to open the season, whoever begins the season behind center will have solid runway ahead of the Backyard Brawl vs. Pitt in Week 3.
TIER 3 – Honorable Mention
We have seen these QBs both shine and falter on the big stage; players with a proven track record and unquestioned ability to get the job done when firing on all cylinders, but with enough question marks to temper expectations. In another league, these guys might be among the top tiers, but the depth at quarterback in the Big 12 pushes them below the fold.
- Kaidon Salter, Colorado Buffaloes – Officially still in a competition with elite freshman prospect Julian Lewis, Salter is perhaps the most accomplished and productive QB in the entire league. As the fulltime starter at Liberty the last three seasons, he passed for over 5,800 yards and 55 touchdowns, adding another 2,000 on the ground with 21 rushing TDs, leading the Flames to the Fiesta Bowl in 2023. Jumping up into Big 12 competition and replacing Shedeur Sanders will be no easy task, but Salter has proven capable to handle the heat.
- Noah Fifita, Arizona Wildcats – Here’s the counterpoint that moving up to the Big 12 is not for the faint of heart. After tearing up the Pac 12 as a sophomore, Fifita had a much tougher time finding success in the Big 12 in 2024, dropping his completion percentage by 12 points with a dismal 18-to-12 TD-to-INT ratio. Perhaps he can find a renewed success in the second year under Head Coach Brent Brennan, but now without the best receiver in program history as Tetairoa McMillan moved on to the NFL. He gets some benefit of the doubt as a guy that has made waves in the past, but could be a candidate to fall even further down this list.
- Conner Weigman, Houston Cougars – An elite five-star prospect, rated as the No. 2 QB in the 2022 recruiting class, starting 13 games across three seasons at Texas A&M. A Freshman All American in 2022, Weigman has passed for nearly 2,700 yards in his career with 19 TDs and 7 interceptions, completing 60% of his passes. This would be considered a solid output in most cases, but for a 5-star prospect with irrational Aggie expectations heaped on his shoulders, Weigman was pushed out of College Station and into Willie Fritz’s waiting arms in Houston. With an opportunity for a career resurgence, it’s easy to bet on Weigman’s talent profile and Fritz’s schematic coaching prowess. If it works out, this transfer addition could propel the Cougars to a breakout season.
- Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati Bearcats – Apropos of nothing, Sorsby left Indiana and the Hoosiers immediately had its best season in program history. He put on a solid performance with the Bearcats last season, completing 64% of passes with 18 touchdowns and 7 interceptions, however he failed to exceed 200 yards in half of his games as the Cincinnati offense floundered, especially through a five game losing streak to end the season. However if Sorsby can return to the form he displayed in the first half of the 2024 campaign, it could be a fireworks show for the Bearcats as he put up 12 TDs with only one pick, with seven of those scores coming vs. Pitt & Texas Tech.
TIER 2 – All Conference
While it is true that any QB in this league could end up named to an All Big 12 team by the end of this season, these are the names with a clear path and narrative to drive towards that destination.
- Behren Morton, Texas Tech Red Raiders – While TTU loads up on transfer talent all across its roster, at the QB position the Red Raiders are rolling with a fifth year of the Morton experience. With injury impacting much of his time in Lubbock, Morton finally played a 12 game slate in 2024 and finally flashed the goods, throwing for over 3,300 yards with 27 TDs and 8 interceptions. Whether this is a sign of what’s to come or an outlier is likely to be determined by whether can remain upright and healthy all season as Texas Tech has put all its chips on the table for a CFP run in 2025.
- Jalon Daniels, Kansas Jayhawks – Speaking of health as the biggest red flag for a prospect, now entering his sixth year in Lawrence, 2024 was his first to play double digit contests, though still unable to see the heights he reached in a standout 2022 campaign. When Daniels is healthy and running on all cylinders, he can certainly perform as the best QB in the league and make KU a contender for the conference crown. With star running back Devin Neal now in the NFL, Daniels is likely to be called upon even more to perform in the run game. As he puts his body on the line to deliver for the Jayhawks, every snap could be the one that delivers a fateful blow to end his season and thus his collegiate career.
- Devon Dampier, Utah Utes – The highest ranked of the newcomers to the list, Dampier was a revelation at New Mexico in 2024. A devastating dual threat, he ran for over 1,100 yards with 19 TDs on the ground while also throwing for over 2,700 yards. His 12 interceptions to just 12 touchdowns is concerning, but is surely to be cleaned up behind one of the nation’s best offensive lines in Salt Lake City. Joining the Utes with his former Lobos Offensive Coordinator Jason Beck, bringing a system familiarity that could be a nightmare for the defenses of the Big 12.
- Rocco Becht, Iowa State Cyclones – Entering his third year as the starter in Ames, Becht has been a true superstar and statistical monster for the Cyclones, with a superb 48-17 TD-INT ratio and over 6,600 yards passing. Losing two Day 2 NFL Draft picks at wide receiver is a tough blow to his pass catcher arsenal, but returning TE Ben Brahmer and bringing in transfers Xavier Townsend & Chase Sowell should keep Becht in the upper echelon of passing categories again this season.
TIER 1 – All American
Here are the true program building bedrocks that could serve as a primary force to bring their squad to national prominence. Although someone could breakout from the previous list of signal callers, just as Sam Leavitt did last season, these are the guys being relied upon to deliver at the very highest level.
- Josh Hoover, TCU Horned Frogs – I could entertain arguments for Hoover to be at the very top of this list and I can see a reasonable position to place him in any of the previous two tiers. Two points prevent Hoover from opening the season atop this list: turnover accumulation and lack of a ground game. Finishing with 11 interceptions on the season, tied for 18th-most nationally, is not the worst sin given Hoover attempted 471 passes, 7th most in college football. A stretch in early season Hoover had multiple INTs in four out of five weeks, leading to losses to SMU and Houston. The killer stat for Hoover is his six lost fumbles, the most in all of college football in 2024, despite only carrying the ball 47 times which includes 16 sacks. This leads to the second point: Hoover is a full non-threat in the run game, those 47 attempts produced a total of negative-19 yards, making his game and his offense fully one-dimensional. With those caveats out of the way, Hoover did throw for just under 4,000 yards with 27 touchdowns and completing 67% of his passes. Hoover performed as one of the nation’s best passing QBs, if his growth progresses to convert those flashy stats into points and wins while reducing the volume of turnovers, the Horned Frogs offense will be extremely dangerous.
- Avery Johnson, Kansas State Wildcats – A QB prospect so good you let your long-time starter walk away to Ohio State to win a National Championship. A super dual-threat athlete, running for over 600 yards and 7 TDs to go along with 2,700 yards and 25 TDs through the air. Getting to play behind a superb offensive line and in the dangerous KSU scheme, Johnson will have the opportunity to put up the kind of stats that get Heisman voters’ attention if the Wildcats are in the Playoff hunt. Entering his true Junior season, Johnson still has room to continue to progress and make the leap to fulfill his potential as the prince who was promised to K-State fans.
- Sawyer Robertson, Baylor Bears – The breakout Big 12 superstar of 2024, Robertson was not the Bears starter to open the season, waiting his turn behind fellow transfer Dequan Finn, but once being handed the reins he took off on a rocket ship. With that blast off, Baylor’s offense hit the stratosphere, delivering six straight wins to close the regular season. With his ideal 6-foot-4 frame and powerful arm, NFL scouts are falling in love as Robertson continues to climb draft boards. With the return of star RB Bryson Washington and top target Josh Cameron, the Baylor offense is set to thrive again under Robertson.
- Sam Leavitt, Arizona State Sun Devils – From most underrated to top rated, Leavitt and the Sun Devils captured the attention of the nation and will now have the target on its back as the top dog headed into the 2025 season. Defenses will certainly not be overlooking Leavitt in 2025 has he is the league’s Heisman favorite and was named Big 12 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. The ASU offense returns elite wide receiver Jordyn Tyson on the other end of his passes, but will be without superstar RB Cam Skattebo, now in the NFL. The Sun Devils will look to ride the Leavitt lightning to another Big 12 title and College Football Playoff appearance.