Big 12 newcomers struggled in debuts. Now they're getting ready for the league to change again
Big 12 Conference newcomers struggled in their league debuts, even after all brought winning programs into the league.
BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF all had losing records and were in the bottom half of the Big 12 standings last season. They won only eight conference games combined, and half of those came in games they played against each other.
Now after a second spring for the Big 12, that quartet is getting ready for another significant transition in the league, while all have changes of their own. There will be four more new teams this fall and the departure of two championship-winning programs.
There will be new starting quarterbacks at BYU, Cincinnati and UCF. Houston returns QB Donovan Smith, but is the only of the league’s returning schools with a new coach after Willie Fritz replaced the fired Dana Holgorsen.
Smith, a former Texas Tech starter, had surgery in the offseason to repair a labrum tear in his throwing shoulder after completing 64.5% of his passes for 2,801 yards and 22 touchdowns in his Cougars debut. While limited on the field during spring drills, he spent a lot of time learning Fritz’s offense and is expected to be ready for fall camp.
Related articles
Kevin Pillar gets 1,000th career hit in Angels' win at Texas
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Kevin Pillar tucked a keepsake ball into his bag from his 1,000th career hit2024-05-21US and UK launch fresh strikes on Houthis in Yemen
By Ruth Comerford & Frank Gardner, security correspondent for BBC NewsUS Central Command forces2024-05-21Four Astronauts From Four Countries Return to Earth After Six Months in Orbit
Cape Canaveral, Florida —Four astronauts from four countries caught a lift back to Earth with SpaceX2024-05-21Second murder charge laid after death of Ōpōtiki Mongrel Mob Barbarians president Steven Taiatini
A 38-year-old woman is expected to appear in court on the murder charge. Photo: 123RF2024-05-21Supreme Court declines to hear challenge to Maryland ban on rifles known as assault weapons
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday declined, for now, to hear a challenge to a Maryland l2024-05-21Chinese company says coronavirus vaccine ready by early 2021
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here2024-05-21
atest comment