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The Big 12 announced on Monday the list of student-athletes that will speak at the annual media session. This year the event will take place in Las Vegas at the home of the Las Vegas Raiders, Allegiant Stadium on Jul. 9 and Jul. 10. The usual spot at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, was unavailable this year.
This year sparks a new era of Big 12 football with the additions of the Arizona Wildcats, Arizona State Sun Devils, Colorado Buffaloes, and Utah Utes. Two of the premier members since the conference’s formation in 1996, the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns left for the SEC giving the conference a total of 16 teams.
Check out the list of athletes scheduled to represent each team over the two-day event. Arizona State, Cincinnati, Iowa State, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas Tech, and Utah will take the stage on Tuesday, Jul. 9. The remaining eight teams will take the stage on Wednesday, Jul. 10.
Arizona Wildcats
Christian Petersen/Getty Images
- Quarterback Noah Fifita
- Defensive Back Gunner Maldonado
- Linebacker Jacob Manu
- Wide Receiver Tetairoa McMillan
Biggest Question:
Will there be any offensive drop-off after Jedd Fisch left for the University of Washington following Kalen DeBoer’s hiring at the University of Alabama?
Arizona State Sun Devils
Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
- Defensive Back Xavion Alford
- Offensive Lineman Leif Fautanu
- Running Back Cameron Skattebo
- Defensive Lineman Clayton Smith
Biggest Question:
What does Arizona State do in year 2 under head coach Kenny Dillingham? They finished 3-9 in the Pac-12 last season, the goal should be to improve the record to 5-7.
Baylor Bears
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
- Wide Receiver Ketron Jackson
- Linebacker Matt Jones
- Running Back Richard Reese
- Linebacker Keaton Thomas
- Defensive Back Carl Williams IV
Biggest Question:
Can head coach Dave Aranda stay off the hot seat? The team finished 3-9 and 6-7 the year prior, which was a far cry from the 12-2 season in 2021. Can he return Baylor to the upper echelon of the Big 12 or was 2021 just a blip on the radar?
Brigham Young Cougars
Gabriel Mayberry-USA TODAY Sports
- Defensive End Tyler Batty
- Offensive Lineman Connor Pay
- Defensive Back Jakob Robinson
- Wide Receiver Darius Lassiter
- Wide Receiver Chase Roberts
Biggest Question:
BYU was a program that many believed could make some noise in the Big 12 last season. However, five straight losses to end the year put a damper on the mood in Provo. The Cougars will be tested in 2024 but can they win with former Baylor QB Gerry Bohanon under center and bring some consistency to the position after two lackluster years?
Central Florida Knights
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
- Quarterback KJ Jefferson
- Running Back RJ Harvey
- Wide Receiver Kob Hudson
- Defensive Tackle Lee Hunter
- Linebacker Deshawn Pace
Biggest Question:
A long losing streak in the middle of the 2023 campaign ruined UCF’s debut at the Power Five level. However, wins in three of the last four regular season games earned them a bowl bid. With K.J. Jefferson taking over at quarterback, how high is the ceiling for Gus Malzahn and company?
Cincinnati Bearcats
Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports
- Defensive Back Derrick Canteen
- Punter Mason Fletcher
- Running Back Corey Kiner
- Offensive Lineman Luke Kandra
Biggest Question:
Before Scott Satterfield left for Cincinnati, he was viewed as a head coach on the hot seat. After a poor 3-9 showing in 2023, he needs a big season in 2024. The Bearcats have to do better than 1-8 in Big 12 play and have big road tests at Texas Tech, UCF, Colorado, Iowa State, and Kansas State. Can Satterfield win two of the five?
Colorado Buffaloes
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
- Athlete Travis Huner
- Quarterback Shedeur Sanders
- Safety Shilo Sanders
- Punter Mark Vassett
Biggest Question:
Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes command most of the headlines, and for good reason. How does the offensive line and this team perform in year 2 under Coach Prime? Plenty of eyes will be on Boulder as Colorado looks to prove you can rebuild an entire offensive line in one offseason.
Houston Cougars
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
- Offensive Lineman Tank Jenkins
- Defensive Back Latrell McCutchin
- Linebacker Jamal Morris
- Quarterback Donovan Smith
Biggest Question:
The Houston Cougars made a change at head coach after going 31-28 over five seasons under Dana Holgorsen. Willie Fritz takes over the program after leading Tulane to a record of 54-47 over eight seasons and 23-4 over the last two, including a Cotton Bowl win against USC. For Fritz, can he get them to bowl eligibility in year one?
Iowa State Cyclones
Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
- Defensive Back Beau Freyler
- Wide Receiver Jayden Higgins
- Wide Receiver Jaylin Noel
- Defensive Lineman J.R. Singleton
Biggest Question:
Last season might have been the best coaching job by Matt Campbell during his tenure at Iowa State. After finishing 7-6 during a season when a gambling probe rocked the program, redshirt freshman quarterback Rocco Becht had a monster year. Can they contend in the new-look Big 12 this season?
Kansas Jayhawks
Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
- Quarterback Jalon Daniels
- Defensive Back Mello Dotson
- Running Back Devin Neal
- Defensive End Jereme Robinson
Biggest Question:
Last year the Kansas Jayhawks had a big year finishing 9-4. The team returns quarterback Jalon Daniels and standout running back Devin Neal. Can Lance Leipold and the Jayhawks win 10+ games for the fourth time in school history?
Kansas State Wildcats
Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports
- Quarterback Avery Johnson
- Offensive Lineman Hadley Panzer
- Linebacker Austin Moore
- Defensive End Brendan Mott
- Defensive Back Marques Sigle
Biggest Question:
For the Kansas State Wildcats, the question is simple. Can they win the Big 12 for the second time in three seasons? The team lost quarterback Will Howard to the transfer portal but sophomore dual-threat Avery Johnson looks to prove he is ready to carry the program.
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Bryan Terry-USA TODAY Sports
- Quarterback Alan Bowman
- Running Back Ollie Gordon II
- Linebacker Nick Martin
- Linebacker Collin Oliver
Biggest Question:
Alan Bowman and Doak Walker Award winner Ollie Gordon II are back for another season in Stillwater. Can they lead the Cowboys and finish what they started in 2023, by winning the Big 12 title after it eluded them last year? Texas moved on but the Utah Utes are ready to prove they are the class of the new-look conference.
Texas Christian Horned Frogs
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
- Wide Receiver Jack Bech
- Defensive Lineman Caleb Fox
- Quarterback Josh Hoover
- Offensive Lineman Mike Nichols
- Linebacker Namdi Obiazor
Biggest Question:
One year after playing for a national championship, the TCU Horned Frogs were humbled in 2023 after finishing 5-7. Can Josh Hoover and Jack Bech return them to the level they played at in 2022? Or was last season closer to their annual ceiling in the Big 12? They kick it off with Stanford out in Palo Alto.
Texas Tech Red Raiders
Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
- Running Back Tahj Brooks
- Quarterback Behren Morton
- Linebacker Bryce Ramirez
- Linebacker Jacob Rodriguez
- Offensive Lineman Caleb Rogers
Biggest Question:
Texas Tech is looking to be one of the original Big 12 teams that looks to take hold of the conference in 2024 and beyond. Head coach Joey McGuire has the locals excited about football after back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since the transition season under Kliff Kingsbury after Tommy Tuberville left for Cincinnati. Can McGuire get Tech over the top and above nine wins for the first time since Mike Leach roamed the sidelines?
Utah Utes
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
- Tight End Brant Kuithe
- Linebacker Karene Reid
- Quarterback Cam Rising
- Defensive Tackle Junior Tafuna
Biggest Question:
The Utah Utes are the favorites in the Big 12 after winning two of the last three titles in the Pac-12. While there are huge expectations, will quarterback Cam Rising return to the level Utes fans enjoyed in 2021 and 2022? There might be some rust in the early going after Rising sat the entire 2023 season due to his knee injury suffered in the 2022-23 Rose Bowl against Penn State.
West Virginia Mountaineers
Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
- Defensive Back Aubrey Burks
- Quarterback Garrett Greene
- Defensive Lineman Sean Martin
- Offensive Lineman Wyatt Milum
Biggest Question:
There was no question that West Virginia head coach Neal Brown had the hottest seat in college football ahead of the 2023 season. He answered the call leading the Mountaineers to a 9-4 record capped off by the 30-10 victory over North Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.
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Courtesy : https://collegesportswire.usatoday.com/lists/big-12-football-media-day-speakers-2024/