Predicting who will win the new Big 12 Conference in 2024

College football’s latest bouts with conference realignment have been heavily criticized and for good reason, but that doesn’t mean they can’t make things wildly entertaining. There is perhaps no league better at exhibiting this fact than the Big 12.

Of the Power 5 conferences that will be surviving to the 2024-25 CFB season, the Big 12 is the one going through the most change. Along with adding four members from the Pac-12 (just a year after adding four programs that had shined at the Group of 5 level), it’s also losing Oklahoma and Texas, both of which are far from replaceable.

In regards to both their financial and competitive footprints, the Sooners and Longhorns were the absolute last two names you’d ever want to see leaving your league if you were a commissioner…but you’re not. You’re a fan.

As a fan, you have to admit it’s pretty cool that, especially with all the newcomers in the pot, the bluebloods taking a hike unleashes quite a few possibilities for who can step up to replace them at the top of the Big 12 pyramid. But, with such a large pool of potential that lacks any concrete signs of CFP contention, it’s rather difficult to narrow down who has the strongest chances of doing so—unless you’re me, that is.

Upon the recent release of the Big 12’s schedules for next season, I was able to slash my way through the conference’s roster and come to a conclusion that I think the average fan will be more than happy to agree with. But first, let’s take a look at two teams that didn't make the cut for my final verdict: Kansas State and Oklahoma State.