ASU football WR Malik McClain discusses redshirt season, upcoming year
Arizona State football wide receiver Malik McClain explains what it was like to redshirt last year and what he is doing to prepare for 2025.
USA TODAY Sports has unveiled a new Top 25 college football ranking after spring practice, and it provides some very interesting takeaways in regards to the Big 12 Conference.
The biggest one, in our opinion?
Arizona State‘s ranking among Big 12 teams.
The site has the Sun Devils No. 21 in the ranking, behind three other Big 12 schools. Five Big 12 teams made the list. Are the Sun Devils being overlooked after winning the Big 12 last season?
Of ASU football’s ranking, it wrote: “Kenny Dillingham and the Sun Devils look to build on last year’s surprising success. While RB Cam Skattebo departs, QB Sam Leavitt is ready to assume more control on the offense. Getting back WR Jordyn Tyson to full health will be critical after a knee injury ended his season prematurely. The defense has all-conference picks Xavion Alford and C.J. Fife to anchor the unit. The rest of the Big 12 is waiting to see if ASU was a one-year wonder or a program on the verge of something much more substantial.”
Big 12 football game picks: Arizona | Arizona State | Baylor | BYU | Cincinnati | Colorado | Houston | Iowa State | Kansas | Kansas State | Oklahoma State | TCU | Texas Tech | UCF | Utah | West Virginia | Projected Big 12 standings, records
Is Big 12 being slighted in preseason Top 25 ranking?
Another takeaway?
Big 12 fans will probably feel that the league continues to be disrespected and slighted.
Kansas State is the league’s top-ranked team, but it comes in at No. 12 in the ranking, behind three Big Ten teams, five SEC teams, two ACC teams and Notre Dame.
Of Kansas State, it wrote: “We’re going to roll the dice on QB Avery Johnson taking a big step in his second season as the starter after some highs and low last season. More consistency from him should make the offense better with RB Dylan Edwards ready to take a lead role in the ground attack and Jayce Brown one of the top receivers in the Big 12. LB Austin Romaine and DB VJ Payne, the team’s top two tacklers, return for a defense that should get back to a level good enough to compete for and win the conference championship.”
College football championship odds: Big 12 | Big Ten | SEC | ACC | National title | Heisman Trophy odds
Kansas State, BYU best teams in the Big 12 in 2025?
The ranking of the Big 12 teams is interesting as well, with BYU the conference’s second ranked team at No. 17, Iowa State the third-ranked Big 12 team at No. 20 and TCU getting into the ranking at No. 24.
Of BYU, it wrote: “Jake Retzlaff is back for his second full season starting at quarterback and will lead an offense that should be among the best in the Big 12, with quality depth at running back and receiver. The key area to address is the defensive front, which lost several key contributors. But there’s enough strength in the back of the unit to help BYU push for double-digit wins again. The Cougars’ transfer class is heavy on help on both lines.”
Big 12 football schedule: By week | By team | Strength of schedule rankings | Power rankings | Top games
Where is Texas Tech in preseason Top 25 ranking?
A noticeable part of the ranking, as it pertains to the Big 12 Conference as well, is who is not in the Top 25.
Texas Tech is absent from the ranking despite being third in BetMGM Sportsbook‘s odds to win the conference behind Kansas State and Arizona State.
Baylor is tied with BYU for fourth in the odds to win the Big 12, as is Kansas, but they aren’t in the Top 25 ranking.
But Iowa State, which is tied for eighth in Big 12 championship odds, and TCU, which is 10th in those odds, are in the Top 25.
Of TCU, it wrote: “TCU has quietly climbed back into the national picture after winning six of seven games to end last season. QB Josh Hoover is ready to take a big step forward in his second year as the starter. The defense returns linebackers Devean Deal and Kaleb Elarms-Orr and DB Jamel Johnson and looks to carry over last year’s improvement under second-year DC Andy Avalos. The potential is there for another unexpected playoff run.”
Does the Big 12 deserve more teams in college football Top 25?
The SEC and Big Ten dominate the ranking, with the SEC landing nine schools in the Top 25.
The Big Ten has six, with the Big 12 third with five. The ACC has three teams in the ranking. The remaining two teams in the poll are an independent (Notre Dame) and a Mountain West team (UNLV).
Does the SEC really deserve to have nine teams ranked, especially when the ninth, Oklahoma, was 6-7 last season? Does the Big Ten deserve six, with the sixth, Nebraska, coming off a 7-6 record in 2024?
Big 12 football fans are left to ponder those questions and others as they anxiously await the start of the 2025 season.
To see the entire early Top 25 college football ranking from USA TODAY Sports, click here.
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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