The Big 12 came into the 2024 season with a handful of proven starters and several unknown commodities under center. At the halfway point of conference play, quarterback performance has completely shaken up the state of the conference.
At this point, only one of the five quarterbacks rated as Tier I in the preseason remains in the group. Because of both poor play and injuries, four starting quarterbacks from the preseason have been permanently benched.
As a result, the Big 12 Championship Game race is similarly shaken up around the rising quarterbacks. The three Tier I quarterbacks lead three of the top four teams in the conference. The teams that landed in Tier III or IV have almost all disappointed, including winless Oklahoma State and struggling Utah, Kansas and Arizona.
Without further ado, here’s how we tier Big 12 quarterbacks at the midseason point of conference play.
Tier I: All-Big 12 contenders
Colorado — Shedeur Sanders: Sanders has taken his rightful place atop the Big 12 quarterback world after an outstanding second season at Colorado. The senior has completed 73.3% of his passes for 2,591 yards, 21 touchdowns and six interceptions to help lead the Buffaloes to a bowl game with four matchups remaining. At this pace, he should run away with all-conference honors and at least be a factor in All-America conversations, though quarterback is always a loaded position for those honors. (Preseason: Tier I)
Iowa State — Rocco Becht: Outside of a recent tough performance against UCF, Becht has lived up to every expectation. The sophomore has quietly developed into a dynamic quarterback and has hit 200 yards and two touchdowns five times, even rushing for two scores against the Knights. Now, he’s only a few wins away from leading ISU to its first 10-win season in school history. (Tier III)
BYU — Jake Retzlaff: It’s easy to poke holes in Retzlaff’s game. He completes fewer than 60% of his passes. He’s thrown multiple interceptions in three games this year. Retzlaff has not thrown for 300 yards against an FBS opponent. At the same time, the guy just keeps making winning plays for the biggest surprise team in college football. The junior is a threat with both his arm and legs and averages 7.5 yards per play, the third-best mark in the Big 12. BYU would not be undefeated if not for Retzlaff. (Tier IV)
Tier II: Rising stars
Kansas State — Avery Johnson: The Wildcats took a risk by handing the keys to a true sophomore, and Johnson has certainly worked through some growing pains. But since a miserable performance against BYU, he has taken a leap. The Kansas native has hit 1,034 yards passing, 112 yards rushing and 14 total touchdowns during a four-game winning streak.
Baylor — Sawyer Robertson: Since Robertson took over the starting job in Big 12 play, he has quietly become one of the most effective quarterbacks in the conference. Robertson leads the league in five conference games with 16 pass touchdowns and has become a rushing threat with 224 yards and four scores. He has a very realistic chance to reach the top tier over the final four games of the season — and maybe save Dave Aranda’s job. (Tier II)
Cincinnati — Brendan Sorsby: The Lake Dallas (Texas) product has been one of the most encouraging surprises in college football this season. Sorsby is completing 66% of his passes for 2,108 yards and has scored 21 total touchdowns. His playmaking has been a massive infusion to a Cincinnati offense that desperately needed it. (Tier IV)
TCU — Josh Hoover: Hoover is one of the toughest quarterbacks to evaluate in the Big 12. No one has thrown for more yards than his 2,614 and his 19 touchdowns trails only Sanders. That said, Hoover’s mistakes have cost the Frogs multiple games. Hoover has four games with at least two interceptions, including two of TCU’s three losses. There’s a great deal of talent there, but Hoover has to tighten things up. (Tier III)
Texas Tech — Behren Morton: Morton has taken another step forward in 2024, but the inconsistent play remains a killer. The junior completed fewer than 60% of his passes in four games and the Red Raiders are 2-2 in those performances. Perhaps most encouraging, though, Morton has only three interceptions after throwing 14 over the past two seasons. (Tier III)
Arizona State — Sam Leavitt: The Michigan State transfer has dealt with some injuries and growing pains in his first season as a starting quarterback, but his steadiness has changed the equation for the Sun Devils. Arizona State is 5-1 with Leavitt in the starting lineup. Against Kansas, he flashed his potential with four touchdown throws. He still needs to keep improving, but Kenny Dillingham has a building block. (Tier IV)
Tier III: Disappointing years
Arizona — Noah Fifita: The Wildcats have put the weight of their roster on the partnership of Fifita and receiver Tetairoa McMillan. Unfortunately, teams are getting wise to it. Fifita’s completion percentage dropped from 72% to 59.9% and he has 10 interceptions to only 11 touchdowns. McMillan has 57 catches for 982 yards and five touchdowns. Every other wide receiver combined has 49 catches for 515 yards and four touchdowns. Think that’s predictable? (Tier I)
West Virginia — Garrett Greene: The Mountaineers have tried to make Greene a more complete player — it hasn’t worked. Greene’s completion percentage has seen a slight bump, but he has already doubled his interception numbers and lost a full yard per attempt on his average. Greene missed last week with an injury and backup Nicco Marchiol helped WVU snap a two-game losing streak. Needless to say, this was not what West Virginia had in mind when Greene returned. (Tier I)
Kansas — Jalon Daniels: Outside of Utah’s Cameron Rising, Daniels has been perhaps the most frustrating story in the Big 12 this year. The junior missed most of last year with an injury and returned to the lineup to disastrous results, throwing eight interceptions in his first five games. Daniels is starting to get back to his old self over the last three games, but Kansas is 2-6 and its season is essentially over. (Tier I)
Tier IV: Bad situations
Houston — Zeon Chriss: Chriss has shown signs of life since stepping in to replace Donovan Smith. The sophomore finished with 238 total yards and two touchdowns in a 30-19 upset against TCU. He gives the Cougars a little extra with his legs. Still, Houston’s offense is very early in the process. (Tier III)
Oklahoma State — Alan Bowman: The Cowboys built a roster to lean on the ground game and get just enough from the passing game and defense. Since the running game is struggling, the Cowboys have nothing. Bowman is completing a career low 60.4% of his passes, including 56% in Big 12 play. He has thrown six touchdowns to eight interceptions against conference opponents and has been benched. There’s no plan or long term answer in Stillwater. (Tier III)
Utah — Isaac Wilson: The Utes were forced to play Wilson earlier than expected after Cameron Rising suffered yet another injury. The brother of Zach Wilson is incredibly talented, but it’s fair to say he was not ready to play as a true freshman. Wilson is completing only 53% of his passes with four touchdowns to five interceptions as the Utah offense has ground to a halt. With three ranked opponents in their final four contests, the Utes probably aren’t making a bowl game. For a team picked first in the Big 12, quarterback has been a disaster. (Tier I)
UCF — Jacurri Brown: It’s unclear which quarterback UCF will even lean on heading forward, but all of the answers seem bad. Arkansas transfer KJ Jefferson was underwhelming, leading to the Knights trying out quarterbacks from Jefferson to Brown to true freshman EJ Colson. UCF is averaging only 134 passing yards per game in October. (Tier II)
