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USA Today
12 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Top 15 must-see Big 12 conference football games in 2025
Top 15 must-see Big 12 conference football games in 2025 The dog days of summer are here, which can only mean one thing: college football is almost back. With three months left before the opening of the season, the spring transfer portal is all but closed and rosters are finalized. So let's look ahead to the best games the Big 12 Conference has to offer in 2025. A few of the factors used to determine which games are the best were: ESPN's SP+, the venue, historic rivalries and the teams' matchup in 2024. This list will be in chronological order and focus purely on Big 12 conference play, with no out-of-conference games considered. One of the longest-standing rivalries in college football kicks off the season in Dublin, Ireland. Kansas State was the No. 1 team in the Big 12 based on ESPN's SP+ list released after spring practices. It will be tested early with an up-and-coming Iowa State team fresh off a loss in the Big 12 championship game. This duel will feature two of the conference's best quarterbacks, the Wildcats' Avery Johnson and the Cyclones' Rocco Becht. Although not technically a conference game, the two teams should be two of the best in the Big 12 and this game should show that. Week 4: Texas Tech at Utah The Red Raiders head to Rice-Eccles Stadium for the first time in a showdown between two of the Big 12's top contenders. Texas Tech's Behren Morton leads his team, fresh off its best season since 2022, into the intimidating home environment of a rebounding Utes squad. After struggling mightily last season, the Utes ranked No. 6 in the Big 12 by ESPN's SP+ post-spring and feature a rejuvenated core. This matchup will be the first true test for each team, and how they respond will be critical for the rest of their seasons. Week 5: BYU at Colorado While a game most Colorado fans would prefer to forget, the Buffaloes get their chance at revenge early in 2025. BYU looks to be the more promising team on paper, ranked No. 4 in the Big 12 by ESPN's SP+ and featuring talented returners such as linebacker Isaiah Glasker. The current unknowns of Colorado's roster add intrigue to this matchup, which will be played under the lights at Folsom Field and on ESPN. Week 6: Colorado at TCU Colorado's 2023 victory in Fort Worth thrust the Buffaloes into the national spotlight, thanks to Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter's miraculous debut. However, two years later, these two teams look entirely different, and this TCU team has the talent to compete for a Big 12 title. The Buffaloes face two significant tests back-to-back, with TCU slotted at No. 5 in the Big 12 by ESPN's SP+ rankings, there's certainly not a lack of interest here. The No. 10 Buffaloes will be tasked with another upset, but they've proven to like playing spoiler in Texas. Week 7: Arizona State at Utah An old Pac-12 series is renewed, taking us back to Rice-Eccles Stadium for the second time on this list. Utah is forced to run a brutal schedule in 2025. Luckily, it will get the new-look Arizona State team at home. The defending conference champion Sun Devils will have to rebuild their offense without bowling ball and star running back Cam Skattebo, but they have the talent to do it. This will be one of the most hostile environments Arizona State will face all season, revealing whether the Sun Devils have a chance to repeat in the Big 12. Week 8: Baylor at TCU First played in 1899, this showdown carries its weight in history alone and features two potential breakout teams in the Big 12. Baylor surged late last season, led by transfer quarterback Sawyer Robinson, and carries a top-25 offense into 2025, according to ESPN's SP+ rankings. TCU has a chance to reclaim the Bluebonnet Battle title after a heartbreaking three-point defeat in 2024. Two high-powered offenses are sure to deliver a shootout reminiscent of the old Big 12. Week 8: Utah at BYU After dominating the Holy War for nine years, Utah is in the midst of a two-year losing streak to its in-state rivals. A controversial penalty and game-winning 44-yard field goal from last season will weigh heavily on the Utes, bringing more animosity to this one. Two teams dead set on taking a wide-open conference with gasoline sprinkled on the rivalry's fire, this game should be pure cinema for every college football fan to enjoy. Week 9: Kansas State at Kansas The in-state rivalries continue, this time in Kansas for the Sunflower Showdown. The Wildcats have owned this game since 2009 and look to extend their winning streak to 17 over the Jayhawks. Kansas will need an almost perfect game from star quarterback Jalon Daniels if it wants to take down the expected top team in the conference. Ranked at No. 8 in the Big 12 by ESPN's SP+, Daniels and the Jayhawks will have a chance with home-field advantage to put an end to the Wildcats' reign of terror. Week 10: Arizona State at Iowa State The Cyclones play host to the Sun Devils, who decimated them in the conference championship game last season. This game is sure to contain a bundle of Big 12 implications. While Iowa State ranks No. 7 in the Big 12 to Arizona State's No. 2 in ESPN's SP+, Matt Campbell routinely gets his teams to outplay expectations. Another tough environment for the Sun Devils will test them. They play a majority of their games at home this season. Late November weather in the Midwest throws another wrench into a matchup filled with intrigue. Week 12: Utah at Baylor Utah's journey through their Big 12 schedule takes them to Waco, Texas, to face Baylor. The Bears are still in search of their first victory over the Utes in school history, and this game should have massive implications in the Big 12. While these two teams are similarly rated by ESPN's SP, though for completely different reasons. Utah brings a staunch defense, ranked No. 16 in the country, while Baylor will want to air it out with their offense. Week 12: Kansas State at Oklahoma State Oklahoma State is facing a nearly total rebuild of its roster, and it isn't projected to be very good this season. It is No. 12 in the Big 12 by ESPN's SP+ ranking. What makes this matchup interesting is Kansas State, a championship favorite, is facing a rowdy Boone Pickens Stadium crowd in Stillwater. Veteran coach Mike Gundy should be able to get his Cowboys up for what feels like a classic trap game for the Wildcats. Kansas State took care of business last season with a 20-point blowout, but road games late in the season are always tough. Week 14: Texas Tech at West Virginia The first of three Week 14 games to make this list sees the Mountaineers play host to a potential championship contender in the final week of the season. West Virginia might not be ready for a Big 12 title run, ranked No. 11 in the Big 12 by ESPN's SP+, but with a senior day crowd behind them, it's a potential upset. Texas Tech routed the Mountaineers last season, cooking up a 50-burger for their fans to enjoy, so while there's potential for an upset here, this might be the farthest reach on the list. Week 14: Arizona at Arizona State The Sun Devils destroyed the Wildcats in the 2024 Territorial Cup, so this is yet another upset pick in the final week of the season. Arizona isn't projected to do much in 2025 under coach Brent Brennan, falling to No. 14 in the Big 12 by ESPN's SP+, but it has talent on the roster. The Wildcats will need junior quarterback Noah Fifita to take a big jump if they want to capitalize on a Sun Devils team that will be walking into the final week of the season with plenty of battle scars. If Arizona State sleepwalks into this matchup thinking of their Big 12 championship hopes, there's potential for a great game. Week 14: Colorado at Kansas State In a matchup that proved to be a rock fight last season, the Buffaloes get another crack at a Wildcats team that will be near the top of the conference. The Buffaloes' newly revamped defense will have had time to settle in and potentially give Johnson's Wildcats some fits in a cold-weather game. Colorado's offense should have less trouble with the cold, leaning more on its running ability with either Kaidon Salter or Julian Lewis under center. The Buffs kept the Wildcats on the ropes last season without Hunter, and it's possible this game could have a trip to the Big 12 championship game on the line. Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
13-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
On3's post-spring top 25 omits Iowa football among other big snubs
On3's post-spring top 25 omits Iowa football among other big snubs With college football heading into its short summer hibernation before fall training camp gets underway, the spring practices across the country have given fan bases a clearer picture of what may be in store for the 2025-26 season. A team that has been viewed on very different ends of the spectrum is the Iowa Hawkeyes. Some have Iowa firmly within their top 25 rankings, while others are sticking them on the outside looking in as a ranking snub. One outlet snubbing Iowa is On3. They have omitted Iowa from their post-spring top 25 rankings and do not have them as their group just outside, signifying minimal belief in Kirk Ferentz and the Hawkeyes. On3 includes a bevvy of Big Ten programs making the cut. Those in the top 25 rankings include No. 1 Penn State, No. 4 Ohio State, No. 9 Oregon, No. 10 Illinois, and No. 18 Michigan. Last year's darling of the college football world, the Indiana Hoosiers, are the first team on the outside looking in, also joined by fellow Big Ten member, the Washington Huskies. One curious snub is Iowa's in-state rival, the Iowa State Cyclones. After rattling off 11 wins last year in a historic year for the program, the Cyclones find themselves unranked despite returning one of America's top quarterbacks, Rocco Becht. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Riley on X: @rileydonald
Fox News
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Ranking 2026 QB draft class: Is Arch Manning clear-cut No. 1 of a stacked bunch?
If you are wondering why quarterback-needy teams like the Cleveland Browns and Los Angeles Rams decided to acquire multiple first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, it's due to the spectacular collection of quarterbacks in next year's class. Though the draft has been dubbed "the Arch Manning Sweepstakes" due to the anticipated entry of the Texas standout, the 2026 class features a talented collection of passers and playmakers with the potential to emerge as franchise QB at the next level. While the 2025 class did not garner rave reviews from evaluators looking for a QB1, the upcoming crop of quarterbacks could provide teams with plenty of options to address their needs. Whether it is a classic drop-back passer ideally suited to play in a traditional pro-style system or a mobile playmaker with the arm talent and athleticism to produce explosive plays as a dual-threat, the 2026 class will likely feature a smorgasbord of playmakers who appeal to team builders around the league. After taking a few days to conduct an extensive film study on the group, here's an early preview of the quarterback prospects who have scouts salivating over the 2026 class. 8. Rocco Becht, Iowa State (6-1, 210) Scouts looking for a hidden gem could find the Iowa State gunslinger intriguing based on his performance and production with the Cyclones. Becht picks apart defenses with surgical precision, executing a quick-rhythm offense that features a variety of "dink-and-dunk" concepts. While his inconsistencies with his accuracy and ball placement must improve in 2025, Becht's hot streaks provide a glimpse at his potential as a distributor in a rhythm offense that relies on a "catch-and-throw" wizard at the position. 7. Carson Beck, Miami (Fla.) (6-4, 220) After making a surprising transfer to "The U," Beck could erase a disappointing 2024 campaign to re-emerge as a viable QB1 candidate with a strong performance with the Hurricanes. He certainly possesses the tools and talent to warrant consideration as a first-round pick, but he must show the consistency and accuracy that piqued the interest of scouts in 2023. As a classic drop-back passer with quick release and plus arm talent, Beck spins it with the best of them in a throwing competition. Moreover, the fifth-year senior's intangibles and toughness could make him an attractive option for a team looking for an experienced prospect with the potential to flourish as a pro in the right system. 6. Cade Klubnik, Clemson (6-2, 210) The talented playmaker is a dynamic offensive weapon with polished passing skills and explosive running ability. Measuring at good size with plus arm talent and athleticism, Klubnik is a scheme-friendly fit for any system. He has flashed franchise player potential at Clemson in his two-plus years starting, directing an offense that showcases his talents as a dual-threat. Though he needs another year of experience to continue his mastery of situational football, Klubnik's spectacular moments could intrigue a team builder looking for a mobile playmaker with QB1 potential. 5. Nico Iamaleava, UCLA (6-6, 215) Despite entering the college football season viewed as Public Enemy No. 1, Iamaleava possesses the physical tools scouts covet in a franchise quarterback. From his quick release to his limitless range as a deep-ball passer to his crafty running skills, Iamaleava is the mobile playmaker that enables offensive playcallers to utilize a mix of RPOs, bootlegs and traditional dropback passes prominently in the game plan. With the polarizing figure showing pinpoint accuracy and ball placement on vertical throws and in-breaking routes, he could force evaluators to look past his contract squabble with Tennessee to appreciate him as an elite QB prospect. 4. Garrett Nussmeier, LSU (6-2, 200) The slender gunslinger is an efficient dink-and-dunk passer with underrated deep-ball prowess that forces opponents to defend the entire field. Nussmeier is ideally suited to play in a quick-rhythm offense that enables him to pepper the defense with touch and timing throws at intermediate range, but also flashes the arm strength and range to push the ball down the field on various vertical throws that exploit and expose nosy safeties creeping to the line. Given his high IQ, pedigree and processing skills, Nussmeier could skyrocket up the charts as a QB1 candidate in the 2026 class. 3. LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina (6-3, 242) The dynamic dual-threat playmaker fits the NFL's new prototype for the position as an athletic quarterback with A-plus arm talent and athleticism. Sellers' rugged game forces opponents to deal with a relatively big power runner who flashes big-play potential as a downfield passer. As more NFL teams embrace and showcase big-bodied quarterbacks with dual-threat potential, Sellers' ability to move the chains as a runner and thrower could make him the hottest commodity in scouting circles by the end of the 2026 season. 2. Drew Allar, Penn State (6-5, 238) The two-year starter is the prototype for the position as a classic drop-back passer with plus arm talent and nimble feet. Allar is a dart thrower from the pocket, with the touch, timing and anticipation to throw pass-catchers open from short and intermediate ranges. As a high-end game manager with playmaking ability, the Penn State standout can seamlessly transition from a pass-first point guard to scorer in an offense that relies on the quarterback to make good decisions with the ball in his hands. Though his costly miscues in the College Football Playoff have led to some concerns about his performance in the clutch, Allar can silence his critics with a strong 2025 campaign that puts him in a position to emerge as a viable candidate for the No. 1 overall pick. 1. Arch Manning, Texas (6-4, 225) Despite only two career starts, Manning is currently positioned to be the No. 1 overall pick due to his talent, tools and pedigree. The nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning is more talented than his uncles, with more power and pop as a passer. Manning flashes big-play potential as a passer and runner with the ability to produce explosives from inside and outside the pocket. Though his lack of game experience could leave him unprepared for the speed and complexity of the pro game, the presumed QB1 of the class could follow the established Manning blueprint and wait until 2027 to pursue his NFL dreams. Bucky Brooks is an NFL analyst for FOX Sports. He also breaks down the game for NFL Network and as a cohost of the "Moving the Sticks" podcast. Follow him on Twitter @BuckyBrooks.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Iowans celebrate Kentucky Derby as big, bright as the rest
ALTOONA, Iowa — While crowds of Derby enthusiasts headed to Kentucky for the 151st running, some fans enjoyed the races at Prairie Meadows in Altoona. The 151st Kentucky Derby was an exciting event this year, with some unexpected wins and some unfortunate soggy weather. Journalism was the favorite this year, with 3-1 odds, but didn't quite match up against Sovereignty who pulled ahead for the win. While Kentucky may be the center for horse racing, Prairie Meadows and central Iowa boast some pretty enthusiastic fans as well. Rocco Becht hosts football camp at Ankeny High School 'I'm a huge horse racing fan, we actually own a couple racehorses, quarter horses. I've just been a Kentucky Derby fan my entire life and it's a great festivity to come out and get together, we are seeing a lot of people we know, everyone is having a good time,' said Erin Jackson. Metro residents spent their morning dueling it out for best hat and bowtie, participating in the Swipe & Win promotion, and enjoying live music. 'There's energy, excitement, people are wearing their derby hats or bowties, and just having a great time. This is what racing is all about to come out, enjoy some time with friends, make a bet, and cheer for their favorite horse,' said Prairie Meadow General Manager Brian Ohorilko. The 2025 Live Racing season is just getting started at Prairie Meadows with the thoroughbred season kicking off next weekend on May 9th, followed by thoroughbred and quarter horse from June through September. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
