Big 12 Commissioner Brian Yormark came out swinging at the conference’s media day on Tuesday.

During his introductory press conference at The Star in Frisco, Texas, Yormark shared some strong opinions about the Big 12 heading into the 2025 football season.

“I believe the Big 12 will be the deepest football conference in America,” Yormark said. “No league offers the competitive balance that we do. Last season the Big 12 led the nation in fourth quarter lead changes and go-ahead scores in the final minute of conference games.”

Yormark also highlighted the Big 12’s star power entering the 2025 season, especially at the quarterback position.

“The Big 12 returns nine starting quarterbacks who threw for over 2,400 yards last season,” Yormark said. “The rest of the power-four combined have just 11.”

Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt, Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht and TCU quarterback Josh Hoover headline the Big 12 as key returners to their respective teams.

Leavitt — who led Arizona State to a Big 12 title and College Football Playoff appearance last year — totaled 3,328 offensive yards and 29 touchdowns. Leavitt was already named the conference’s preseason Offensive Player of the Year on Monday.

In addition, Becht is coming off a junior season in which he eclipsed 3,823 yards and 33 touchdowns for the Cyclones, followed by Hoover, who garnered 3,930 yards of offense and 31 touchdowns for the Horned Frogs.

In Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah’s debut season in the conference — and the Big 12’s first season with 16 teams — Arizona State, Colorado, Iowa State and BYU each finished with a 7–2 conference record.

Even with the overall success, the Big 12’s only team in the College Football Playoff was Arizona State, which had an automatic bid from its conference championship win.

Despite the Sun Devils’ double overtime loss to Texas in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Yormark is confident this season’s playoffs will feature more teams from the Big 12.

“I expect the Big 12 to earn multiple College Football Playoff bids this year,” Yormark asserted.

On top of the returning talent and star power, Yormark pointed to the conference’s coaches who will help push the Big 12 to new heights.

“We also boast one of the nation’s top coaching lineups, from Hall of Famers to rising stars,” he said.

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With Big 12 media day Tuesday and Wednesday, Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt and Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez were honored with preseason awards by the conference on Monday.

Leavitt — a redshirt sophomore — was named the Big 12 2025 preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while Rodriguez — a senior — was dubbed the conference’s preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

Leavitt transferred to Arizona State after redshirting in his freshman season at Michigan State. In his first full season with the Sun Devils, Leavitt led Arizona State to a Big 12 title in the program’s first season in the conference.

Leavitt finished his first season in Tempe, Arizona, as the school’s new record holder for most total yards by a freshman with 3,328. He threw for 2,885 yards, 24 touchdowns and six interceptions in 13 games.

Jacob Rodriguez, on the other hand, led Texas Tech’s defense in 2024 with a team-high 127 total tackles, five sacks and 10.5 tackles for a loss. At season’s end, Rodriguez was named to the All-Big 12 first team by conference coaches and the Associated Press.

After losing an overtime heartbreaker to Texas in the first round of the College Football Playoff last year, Leavitt seeks to lead Arizona State to the playoffs for a second consecutive season.

Meanwhile, Rodriguez serves as a vital piece of consistent leadership on the Red Raiders, who are bringing in the No. 2 transfer portal class in the country.

In addition to Leavitt and Rodriguez, Utah junior quarterback Devon Dampier was chosen as the Big 12’s preseason Newcomer of the Year. 

The full All-Big 12 team is below. Texas Tech and Iowa State each lead the conference with three selections each.

Preseason All-Conference Team (Offense)

Quarterback: Sam Leavitt, Arizona State, Redshirt Sophomore

Running Back: Bryson Washington, Baylor, Redshirt Sophomore

Running Back: Jahiem White, West Virginia, Junior

Fullback/Halfback: Will Swanson, Kansas State, Senior

Wide Receiver: Eric McAlister, TCU, Senior

Wide Receiver: Chase Roberts, BYU, Redshirt Senior

Wide Receiver: Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State, Redshirt Junior

Tight End: Joe Royer, Cincinnati, Redshirt Senior

Offensive Lineman: Ben Coleman, Arizona State, Graduate

Offensive Lineman: Spencer Fano, Utah, Junior

Offensive Lineman: Bryce Foster, Kansas, Redshirt Junior

Offensive Lineman: Caleb Lomu, Utah, Redshirt Sophomore

Offensive Lineman: Jordan Seaton, Colorado, Sophomore

Place Kicker: Will Ferrin, BYU, Redshirt Senior

Punt Returner/Kick Returner: Josh Cameron, Baylor, Redshirt Senior

Preseason All-Conference Team (Defense)

Defensive Lineman: David Bailey, Texas Tech, Senior

Defensive Lineman: Dontay Corleone, Cincinnati, Redshirt Senior

Defensive Lineman: C.J. Fite, Arizona State, Junior

Defensive Lineman: Lee Hunter, Texas Tech, Senior

Defensive Lineman: Domonique Orange, Iowa State, Senior

Linebacker: Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech, Senior

Linebacker: Austin Romaine, Kansas State, Junior

Linebacker: Keaton Thomas, Baylor, Redshirt Junior

Defensive Back: Xavion Alford, Arizona State, Redshirt Senior

Defensive Back: Bud Clark, TCU, Senior

Defensive Back: Jeremiah Cooper, Iowa State, Senior

Defensive Back: DJ McKinney, Colorado, Junior

Defensive Back: Jontez Williams, Iowa State, Redshirt Junior

Punter: Palmer Williams, Baylor, Junior

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