The latest Big 12 newcomers are adding some heft to the conference
AP Sports Writer
The Big 12 Conference added four schools last season with mixed results.
Central Florida, BYU, Houston and Cincinnati all finished with losing records in their first year in the league, though the Knights did manage to qualify for a bowl game.
This year’s four-team addition seems to have added some heft to the conference.
No. 12 Utah, Arizona, Arizona State and Colorado all have winning records through the first three weeks of the season, with two of the teams earning spots in the AP Top 25 at least once.
Here’s a look at how this year’s crop of Big 12 newcomers is faring so far this season:
Utah
The Utes won two of the final three Pac-12 championship games before the league collapsed, and they have proven to be one of the best teams in their new league.
Utah (3-0) opened the season with wins over Southern Utah, Baylor (nonconference) and Utah State to remain firmly in the top 15 of the AP poll.
Quarterback Cameron Rising returned after sitting out all of last season with a knee injury and looked sharp in the opener, throwing for 254 yards and five touchdowns against Southern Utah.
Injuries caught up with Rising again by the season’s second game. The seventh-year senior hurt his right hand in the first half against Baylor and didn’t play against Utah State last week. The Utes are hoping Rising can return for Saturday’s showdown at No. 14 Oklahoma State.
Even if Rising is limited, Utah still has one of the nation’s best defenses, which can keep it in games. The Utes are ranked 22nd nationally in yards allowed per game at 252.7 and tied for 21st in scoring, giving up 11 points per game.
Arizona
The Wildcats have a new coach in Brent Brennan after Jedd Fisch left for Washington. Brennan was able to persuade several players to stay in Tucson — namely quarterback Noah Fifita and receiver Tetairoa McMillan — and had a stacked roster heading into the season.
The Wildcats (2-1) got off to a strong start by beating New Mexico 61-39, but they had a hard time shaking FCS Northern Arizona in a 22-10 home win. Arizona climbed to 20 in the AP Top 25 but dropped out after getting manhandled at then-No. 14 Kansas State 31-7 in a previously scheduled nonconference game last week.
Arizona still has some kinks to work out defensively, but it has an explosive offense, led by Fifita and McMillan.
A preseason All-American, McMillan was the first AP national player of the week after catching 10 passes for 304 yards and four touchdowns against New Mexico in the opener. He has 23 catches for 453 yards and four touchdowns, and is second nationally with 151 yards receiving per game.
Arizona State
The Sun Devils were wracked with injuries in coach Kenny Dillingham’s first season to finish 3-9.
Arizona State (3-0) appears to be on the road to turning things around quickly, opening with wins at home over Wyoming and Mississippi State and on the road against Texas State.
After a revolving door at quarterback last season, the Sun Devils have a steady presence under center this season in Sam Leavitt. The Michigan State transfer has made good decisions through the first three games, throwing 573 yards and three touchdowns with one interception.
Arizona State also has one of the nation’s most versatile and bruising running backs in Cameron Skattebo. The senior was forced to play multiple positions last season — everything from quarterback to punter — but has thrived as the Sun Devils’ go-to back this year.
Skattebo was named national player of the week after running for 262 yards against Mississippi State.
Colorado
The Buffaloes have made some improvements under coach Deion Sanders after finishing 4-8 in his first season.
Colorado (2-1) opened the season with a hard-fought home win over North Dakota State and struggled in a loss at Nebraska, but it bounced back for a convincing win over rival Colorado State last week.
The Buffaloes have two of the Big 12’s most dynamic players in quarterback Shedeur Sanders and two-way star Travis Hunter.
Sanders, Deion’s son, already has thrown for 999 yards and nine touchdowns through three games. Hunter has become a Heisman Trophy front-runner while making big plays at receiver and defensive back.
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