FRISCO, Texas — No conference in the country returns more quarterback production than the Big 12.
Nine teams, over half the conference, have a returning signal caller that threw for over 2,400 yards last season. The rest of the Power 4 — 52 programs total between the ACC, Big Ten and SEC — has 11 combined.
Scan the lists of the top quarterbacks in college football and you’re guaranteed to see a handful from the Big 12 — almost all of whom will be present at the league’s annual media days this week at the Dallas Cowboys’ headquarters.
Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht (3) throws a pass during the first half of the Pop Tarts Bowl NCAA college football game against Miami, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
John Raoux
“I think that’s what always made this conference really special,” Iowa State coach Matt Campbell said. “Going into my 10th year, boy, there’s been some incredible runs of quarterbacks in this league. I think it makes it really challenging. I think it’s why there’s so much parity because there’s so many talented coaches and quarterbacks that reside in the Big 12.”
During Campbell’s tenure in Ames, he’s had to face future No. 1 NFL draft picks Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray at Oklahoma and three-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes at Texas Tech. He’s also coached a player in Brock Purdy who just signed a record-setting contract with the 49ers this offseason.
But 2025 might be the best year for quarterbacks in quite some time.
Whether it’s Rocco Becht for Campbell and the Cyclones, Avery Johnson at Kansas State, Sawyer Robertson at Baylor, Josh Hoover at TCU, Behren Morton at Texas Tech, Brendan Sorsby at Cincinnati or preseason Offensive Player of the Year Sam Leavitt at Arizona State, most Big 12 games will see a returning quarterback that gives opposing coaches headaches.
Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson, right, answers a question with teammate wide receiver Josh Cameron during the Big 12 NCAA college football media days in Frisco, Texas, Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
LM Otero
That doesn’t even include newcomers capable of making a big impact like Colorado’s Kaidon Salter (Liberty transfer), Utah’s Devon Dampier (New Mexico) and Houston’s Conner Weigman (Texas A&M).
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Ask Kenny Dillingham and he’ll tell you it reminds him of his first season in charge of the Sun Devils and the last year of the old Pac-12. That year, he had to go up against a player he previously coached in current Broncos QB Bo Nix (then at Oregon), as well as the likes of Caleb Williams at USC, Michael Penix Jr. at Washington, Cam Ward at Washington State and Shedeur Sanders with the Buffs — all of whom now are in the NFL.
“The quarterbacks in this league are phenomenal,” Dillingham said. “You look at your schedule and it’s like every week you’re facing a really good quarterback. Anytime you face a good quarterback, you can lose the game. That’s the scary part.
“When you go into a game and you’re like, ‘Oh, that quarterback isn’t very good,’ you feel really confident as a coach. When you go into a game and you’re like, ‘This dude can play on Sundays,’ all the players (don’t) matter because if that dude catches fire… he can be an ‘X’ factor.’”
There’s a healthy competition going on between them, too. A handful spent time with each other recently at the Manning Passing Academy and talked about their collective decisions to spurn bigger offers to potentially transfer to the Big Ten or SEC and return to the Big 12.
“Whenever you’re studying defenses going week after week and watching the film of the other teams, it really does stick out how (good) the quarterbacks are in the Big 12,” Sorsby said. “I would put us up against any conference top-to-bottom (in terms of) quarterback talent. We’ve got a really talented conference and I tip my cap to all these guys out here. A bunch of good dudes as well, so good to get to know these guys.”
Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby answers a question during the Big 12 NCAA college football media days in Frisco, Texas, Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
LM Otero
Collectively, they combine to form a group that makes commissioner Brett Yormark boldly label the Big 12 “the deepest conference in America.”
“No league offers the competitive balance that we do,” Yormark said.
The quarterbacks are eager to prove his point.