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Big 12 Media Days 2024 are coming up on July 9 and 10 at theAllegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The league shifts into a near gear with the loss of long-time powers Texas and Oklahoma.
The Big 12 still added four members to arrive at a whopping 16 teams. That means plenty of big stories, and here are 10 to watch in Vegas.
Ten stories to watch for Big 12 Media Days 2024
#10 Betting on new members
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Big 12 Media Days 2024 is an immediate geographical statement. Media Days not only moved west, as the league has a a whole, it moved to Vegas, the American gambling center.
Clearly, in a post Texas and Oklahoma world, the Big 12 is betting on its new members, a message that's implicit even in the location of the event. Utah, Colorado, Arizona and Arizona State will be keys to the league.
#9 Prime Media Days?
Big 12 Media Days 2024 just might be the next episode of Prime Time. In welcoming the Colorado Buffaloes and their never-boring head coach Deion Sanders back to the Big 12. Colorado was a league member from 1996 to 2010, claiming a league title in 2001.
Sanders runs the most exciting 4-8 team on earth and promises to bring plenty of excitement and chaos back to the league.
#8 National title dark horse Rising?
Yes, the Big 12's inaugural season could well be championed by one of the league's other new squads. Utah has certainly the nation's oldest QB but also one of the best in Cam Rising.
Rising has had awful injury luck, but the 25 year old QB is one of the league's top passers and a potential Heisman candidate. If Utah can win the league, the Utes could throw a major wrench into the national title hunt.
#7 The nation's best running back?
Big 12 Media Days 2024 should be the launch of the Ollie for Heisman campaign. Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon is the nation's top running back.
Last season, Gordon rushed for 1,732 yards and 21 scores. The only Oklahoma State player to win the Heisman was Barry Sanders, and Gordon is built in that mold. How sweet would it be for OSU to overshadow Oklahoma in 2024?
#6 Arizona changes
The WIldcats had a wild offseason, and Big 12 Media Days will introduce new coach Brent Brennan to the league.
Jedd Fisch took over a team on a 12-game losing streak in 2021, went 1-11, then 5-7 and then 10-3 in 2023. Now he has gone to Washington, but a Noah Fifita to Tetairoa McMillan attack will be promising in Brennan's first season as a major conference coach.
#5 Two SEC transplants key UCF
UCF has been impressive in recent seasons and looks to bounce back off a 6-7 campaign with two SEC veterans.
Fourth-year coach Gus Malzahn is now a familiar face, but Arkansas transfer KJ Jefferson at QB could re-ignite the Gus Bus. Don't sleep on the Knights, and check their attitude at Big 12 Media Days 2024.
#4 Dave Aranda's Hot Seat
Big 12 Media Days 2024 might be Dave Aranda's last tour around the league, if the Baylor coach can't get things going.
Hired before the 2020 season, Aranada was 12-2 in 2021 but has nosedived to 6-7 in 2022 and 3-9 last year. Offensive coordinator Jake Spavital's up-tempo attack needs to help in a hurry.
#3 All eyes on Travis Hunter
Colorado has more going than just the Prime Time show. The Buffaloes boast the nation's top two-way star in receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter.
Hunter was one of the nation's top recruits and followed Sanders to FCS Jackson State and then to Colorado. Last year, he caught 57 passes for 721 yards and give scores and then had 30 tackles and three picks. His encore could be unforgettable.
#2 Has Neal Brown turned West Virginia around?
After starting his career at WVU just 22-25, coach Neal Brown was on the hot seat. Last year, he got the Mountaineers to 9-4.
This year, do-everything QB Garrett Greene could boost them higher. Greene rushed for 772 yards and 13 scores last year while throwing 16 touchdowns and just four interceptions. Can he stay healthy? That's probably West Virginia's key.
#1 Could it come down to Kansas?
The league's pair of Kansas teams could be the key players this season. Kansas State will be one of the top preseason squads, with dual-threat QB Avery Johnson and RB DJ Giddens a potentially game-changing duo.
Meanwhile, Lance Leipold will see what he can do after winning nine games at Kansas last year. QB Jalon Daniels has the Jayhawks dreaming of even more this season.
Which stories will you be watching at Big 12 Media Days 2024? Weigh in below with your thoughts:
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