The Big 12 has decided to discontinue the conference’s preseason media poll after Arizona State (who was picked to finish last in last year’s preseason poll) won the league in 2024.
However, the Big 12 will continue its preseason all-conference team voted on by the media. The conference’s preseason honors will be announced ahead of Big 12 media days in Frisco, Texas on July 8-9.
Here’s a look at my Big 12 football preseason all-conference ballot for the 2025 campaign:
Preseason All-Big 12 football team
Offense
QB: Josh Hoover, TCU
Hoover had a career year in 2024 when he completed 66.5% of his passes (2nd in Big 12) for 3,949 yards (2nd in Big 12) and 27 touchdowns (3rd in Big 12). The TCU gunslinger is a good bet to be the conference’s most productive QB and lead the Horned Frogs to nine-plus wins this season.
RB: Bryson Washington, Baylor
Washington was named a Freshman All-American last season after rushing for 1,028 yards and 12 TDs. He set a school record for rushing yards as a redshirt freshman and is the Big 12’s only returning RB who ran for 1,000 yards last season.
RB: Jaheim White, West Virginia
White rushed for 845 yards and seven TDs in 2024 (5.7 yards per carry). He is the second-leading returning rusher in the Big 12 and is a big play waiting to happen.
FB: Will Swanson, Kansas State
Swanson was named an All-Big 12 honorable mention fullback last season and three of his nine catches in 2024 went for a TD.
WR: Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
Tyson is the leading returning receiver in the Big 12 after he caught 75 passes for 1,101 and 10 TDs last season. The former Colorado Buff underwent surgery for an undisclosed injury this offseason but is expected to be healthy for the start of the 2025 campaign.
WR: Eric McAlister, TCU
McAlister was on a team last season with two WRs who got drafted in April and still found a way to be productive. With Jack Bech and Savion Williams now in the NFL, McAlister has a good chance to build upon his 762-yard, five-touchdown (19.5 yards per catch) season this fall.
WR: Omarion Miller, Colorado
Miller doesn’t have the production of the aforementioned names (just 10 catches for 216 yards and a TD in 2024) due to a season-ending injury, but he’s undoubtedly one of the most talented WRs in the Big 12. The departure of Travis Hunter, LaJohntay Wester, Jimmy Horn Jr. and Will Sheppard will give Miller ample opportunities.
TE: Tanner Koziol, Houston
Koziol is a walking mismatch at 6-foot-7 who caught 94 passes for 839 yards and eight TDs last season at Ball State. After transferring to Wisconsin this offseason, Koziol ended up at Houston in the spring and will be a top target of new QB Connor Weigman
OL: Spencer Fano, Utah
Fano is one of the top tackles in college football after earning first-team All-Big 12 honors in 2024. He could very well be a top-10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
OL: Bryce Foster, Kansas
Foster was named second-team All-Big 12 last season and flirted with the NFL draft. The former Texas A&M center decided to return to Kansas instead as one of the best interior offensive lineman in the conference.
OL: Omar Aigbedion, Baylor
Aigbedion was the highest-graded guard in the FCS a couple of seasons ago at Montana State and in 2024, he allowed just one sack on 838 total snaps for Baylor.
OL: Joe Cotton, Cincinnati
Cotton transferred to Cincinnati this offseason after earning all-conference honors in 2024 and FCS Freshman All-American honors in 2023. The 6-foot-7, 315-pound left tackle is a future pro.
OL: Jordan Seaton, Colorado
Speaking of future pros, Seaton is already one of the best offensive lineman in college football as a true sophomore. The Freshman All-American played the most offensive snaps on the team last season and was the highest-graded true freshman offensive tackle in pass protection (75.3).
PK: Will Ferrin, BYU
Ferrin was a first-team All-Big 12 kicker last season who went perfect on extra points (38-38) and missed just three field goals all year (21-24). He drilled a pair of FGs from 54 yards out and hit two game-winning kicks (vs. SMU, Utah).
KR/PR: Josh Cameron, Baylor
Cameron is electric with the ball in his hands and led the Big 12 in punt return yards last season (290) as a result.
Defense
DL: David Bailey, Texas Tech
Bailey was one of the top players in the portal this offseason and for good reason. The Stanford transfer notched seven sacks in 2024 and joins a loaded Texas Tech defense. He led all FBS defenders with a 93.3 pass-rush grade last season.
DL: Lee Hunter, Texas Tech
Hunter was another transfer Texas Tech bolstered its defense with. The former UCF standout earned second-team All-Big 12 honors last season and has the most run stops in college football since 2023 (58).
DL: CJ Fite, Arizona State
Fite also earned second-team All-Big 12 honors in 2024 for his run-stuffing prowess. He’s a big reason why Arizona State’s defense will be strong again this fall.
DL: Dontay Corleone, Cincinnati
The first-team All-Big 12 selection is back for another season at Cincinnati after dealing with blood clots in his lungs. “The Godfather” will be one of the top defensive tackles in the 2026 NFL Draft.
DL: Arden Walker, Colorado
Walker was the second-highest graded edge player in the Big 12 last season and he’s in for an even bigger senior year. The former Missouri transfer notched 4.5 sacks and 6.5 TFLs for the Buffs in 2024.
LB: Austin Romaine, Kansas State
Romaine was the highest-graded linebacker in the Power Four last season as a true sophomore. He led Kansas State with 96 tackles (54 solo) and forced three fumbles.
LB: Keaton Thomas, Baylor
Thomas was the second-leading tackler in the Big 12 last season (106) and earned first-team all-conference honors as a result.
LB: Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
Rodriguez led the Big 12 in tackles last season (127) and he very well may do it again this fall. He also notched five sacks, four PBUs and three forced fumbles.
DB: Jontez Williams, Iowa State
Williams was a ballhawk last season and had an INT in four straight games (including two game-sealing INTs). The second-team All-Big 12 honoree should soon be getting 2026 NFL Draft buzz.
DB: Jeremiah Cooper, Iowa State
Cooper is one of the best safeties in the Big 12 and he’s earned All-Big 12 honors in back to back years (first-team in 2023, honorable mention in 2024). He has seven INTs and 18 PBUs during that span.
DB: Xavion Alford, Arizona State
Alford earned first-team All-Big 12 honors last season thanks to his 85 tackles (40 solo), five PBUs and pair of INTs. The former Texas transfer has the talent to be one of the nation’s best defensive backs.
DB: DJ McKinney, Colorado
McKinney’s first season at Colorado playing opposite of Travis Hunter flew under the radar. The former Oklahoma State transfer led the Buffs in defensive snaps (840), led all Big 12 cornerbacks in tackles (62) and had the third-most INTs (3) in the conference.
DB: Preston Hodge, Colorado
Hodge, like McKinney, was a All-Big 12 honorable mention last season and should have a bigger year in 2025. The former Liberty transfer missed the final few games of the season with an injury but had two INTs to go along with six PBUs.
P: Palmer Williams, Baylor
The first-team All-Big 12 punter is back for Baylor after he averaged a league-high 49.3 yards per punt last season.
Offensive Player of the Year
QB Josh Hoover, TCU
Baylor’s Sawyer Robertson got some serious consideration for this honor but Hoover gets the edge due to his situation. TCU will have to rely on Hoover’s arm even more than it did last year when he threw the ball 471 times (Shedeur Sanders was the only Big 12 QB with more pass attempts).
The high volume of opportunities in the passing game will allow Hoover to flirt with 4,000-plus passing yards and 30-plus passing TDs. That, coupled with 9-10 wins with one of the hardest schedules in all of college football, will earn Hoover Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year honors.
Defensive Player of the Year
DL David Bailey, Texas Tech
Bailey had 2.5 sacks as a freshman, five as a sophomore and 7.5 last year at Stanford as a junior. It’s fair to project that Bailey will notch double-digit sacks in 2025 (something no one in the Big 12 did last season) and if he does, he’ll be on a shortlist of Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year candidates.
Newcomer of the Year
QB Devon Dampier, Utah
Dampier has the raw talent to take the Big 12 by storm this season. The former New Mexico transfer racked up 3,934 total yards (1,166 rushing) and 31 total TDs (19 rushing) in 2024. Dampier’s offensive coordinator at New Mexico joins him at Utah and he’ll be protected by two of the best offensive lineman in the conference (Fano, Caleb Lomu). If the jump up to Power Four football isn’t too much for Dampier, he’ll be one of the most exciting QBs in college football.
Honorable mentions
QB Sawyer Robertson, Baylor
Robertson burst onto the scene last year by throwing for 3,071 yards and 28 TDs. If he has a similar season, Baylor could be competing for a Big 12 Championship.
RB LJ Martin, BYU
Martin will likely be counted on even more in 2025 with Jake Retzlaff no longer under center. He led the Cougars in rushing last season with 718 yards and seven TDs.
RB Carson Hansen, Iowa State
Hansen broke out as a sophomore in 2024 by leading Iowa State with 752 rushing yards and 13 TDs. He could very well crack 1,000 yards this fall.
WR Jayce Brown, Kansas State
Brown finished 12th in the Big 12 in receiving yards last season (823) but finished with a higher yards per reception (17.5) than everyone above him. He will build upon his 47 catches and five TDs from a year ago thanks to a growing rapport with QB Avery Johnson.
WR Drelon Miller, Colorado
Miller had a solid freshman campaign (277 receiving yards and three TDs on 32 catches) and should be a focal point of the Buffs’ offense in 2025. His performance during Colorado’s Pro Day in April proved he belongs on a field full of NFL talent.
TE Joe Royer, Cincinnati
Royer was the most productive tight end in the Big 12 last season (522 receiving yards and three TDs on 50 catches) and he could be that again in 2025 with his QB (Brennan Sorsby) returning.
OL Caleb Lomu, Utah
Lomu forms one of the best tackles duos in college football with Spencer Fano and both of them could hear their names called early on during the 2026 NFL Draft.
OL Xavier Hill, Colorado
Hill is the Big 12’s second-highest graded returning offensive tackle (84.7, only behind Fano), according to PFF. He will play left guard for the Buffs after transferring in from Memphis where he started 26 straight games and was named first-team All-AAC in 2024.
OL Zy Crisler, Colorado
Crisler started 30 games at Illinois before transferring to Colorado this offseason. The two-time All-Big Ten honorable mention will start at right guard for the Buffs in 2025.
DL Domonique Orange, Iowa State
Orange was named All-Big 12 honorable mention last season and is one of the top interior defensive lineman in the 2026 NFL Draft class.
DL Nyjalik Kelly, UCF
Kelly also earned All-Big 12 honorable mention in 2024 after being one of the conference’s top sack leaders (5.5 sacks, fifth in Big 12).
DL Amari McNeill, Colorado
McNeill was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week for his nine-tackle, 1.5-sack performance vs. Texas Tech. The senior should be in for a big 2025 campaign.
LB Isaiah Glasker, BYU
Glasker led BYU in tackles last season (70) to go along with 3.5 sacks and three INTs (including a pick-six).
LB Namdi Obiazor, TCU
Obiazor is a former safety who racked up 81 tackles, 2.5 sacks and an INT in 2024.
DB Michael Coats, West Virginia
Coats transferred in from Nevada this offseason where he was named first-team All-Mountain West and led the nation with 17 PBUs in 2024.
DB Tawfiq Byard, Colorado
Byard (the younger brother of All-Pro safety Kevin Byard) was USF’s highest-graded safety (78.3) in 2024, according to PFF, and impressed during April’s spring game. Tawfiq totaled 54 tackles (34 solo), eight TFLs, two sacks and an INT last season as a redshirt freshman.
DB Bud Clark, TCU
Clark was named second-team All-Big 12 last season after racking up 68 total tackles and three INTs. He’s a top-five rated safety in the College Football 26 video game.
DB Cole Wisniewski, Texas Tech
Wisniewski was an All-American safety at North Dakota State where he totaled 194 career tackles and eight INTs.
Follow Colorado Buffaloes beat reporter Scott Procter on X.
