“[7:45] I feel like when we talk about the Big 12, everybody wants to get cute there and find the team that they think can win it that's not named Utah. [7:52] The more and more I look at it, why isn't it just Utah? [7:55] Who do you like in the Big 12 this year? [7:58] Yeah, well, that's definitely my pick. [8:00] It's Utah. [8:01] it was interesting researching this league because for whatever reason, [8:04] it just times up that they're all very veteran rosters this year. [8:07] A lot of returning starters, returning production, head coaches are back. [8:11] So a lot of continuity, and usually that trends to year-over-year success. [8:16] So when you talk to fans or media from eight, nine, ten of these schools, [8:19] they all feel like they can win the conference, which is an interesting dynamic. [8:23] But I have Utah all the way up there at eighth nationally, [8:26] and then a big gap down to Kansas State at 18th. [8:29] So a sizable gap. [8:31] I love what Utah has coming back. [8:32] Now, this is a team where you need to dig in a little bit and research [8:35] because if you look at just their stat sheet, [8:38] it does not look like a Power 5 champion last year, [8:41] but that's because they took on 150 injured starts, [8:44] lost to injury last year from their 2D, [8:47] the most injured team I've ever covered. [8:49] And so now they get what I'm calling the boomerang effect [8:51] where they get all those injured starters back healthy, you know, [8:54] a Cam Rising quarterback, Brankethy tight end, Lander Barton, [8:57] the linebacker, all American candidates. [9:00] So you get these starters back that were injured, plus all those young guys last year that were [9:04] thrown into action ahead of schedule, they're now back as veterans. [9:08] So it's like a double whammy. [9:09] I love their roster. [9:10] I love their coaching staff. [9:12] I love their physicality. [9:13] I think they're the pick in the Big 12 and finally gets Whittingham into the playoff.”
45-19 — Arizona State beat Iowa State 45-19 to win the 2024 Big 12 Championship; Utah did not win the Big 12 (official Big 12 recap).