Less than one day after the new Big 12 went into effect, the 2024 Big 12 Football Preseason Media Poll was released and to no surprise, it came with a different look at the top.
Fresh off of winning leaving the Pac-12, Utah was tabbed as the preseason favorite to win the Big 12 Conference in its first season by the media. The Utes finished 8-5 last season with notable wins against now-Big 12 foe Baylor, then-No. 22 UCLA and then-No. 18 USC.
Kansas State (19), Oklahoma State (14), Kansas (5) and Arizona (3) rounded out the top five in the preseason poll, with each receiving first-place votes.
Led by first-year starter sophomore Avery Johnson, the Wildcats were picked to finish second in the Big 12 by the media for the second consecutive season. As Will Howard’s back-up last year, Johnson was a considerable amount of playing time as K-State utilized the then-freshman quarterback’s running ability and game as he finished with 296 rushing yards on 52 carries with seven rushing touchdowns on top of completing 37-of-66 pass attempts for 429 yards and five touchdowns.
Deion Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes came in No. 10 in the preseason poll. Led under center by Coach Prime’s son, Shedeur Sanders, Colorado lost eight of its final nine games last season after starting the season 3-0 with wins coming against TCU, Nebraska and Colorado State.
Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon was named the Big 12 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Gordon ran for 1,732 yards on 285 carries last season for the Cowboys while finishing with 21 rushing touchdowns. Colorado’s Travis Hunter was named the Big 12 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year while UCF’ freshman quarterback KJ Jefferson was named the Big 12 Preseason Newcomer of the Year.
