TERRIBLE Big 12 Quarterback Rankings: BYU, Utah Last? Avery Johnson Bust? Josh Hoover High? UCF?

If Cincinnati.com were to release its “way-too-early” Big 12 quarterback rankings for the 2025 season, the discussion would undoubtedly center on the Bearcats’ own Brendan Sorsby and how he stacks up against a surprisingly deep and talented conference.

Brendan Sorsby: Under the Radar, High Upside

For Cincinnati.com, the focus would naturally be on Sorsby. Nationally, he often lands in the middle or latter half of Big 12 QB rankings (e.g., USA Today recently placed him at No. 9 among 16 starters). However, local coverage would likely emphasize his potential for a significant leap.

Key Strengths: Sorsby demonstrated his dual-threat ability in 2024, leading Big 12 quarterbacks in rushing touchdowns. He also showed improved passing accuracy (64% completion rate) and a knack for extending plays. Having a full second year in Scott Satterfield’s system, coupled with new offensive coordinator Mike Brown, is expected to foster growth.

Areas for Improvement: Consistency in the passing game, especially on deep balls, and reducing turnovers will be crucial for him to climb the rankings. The Bearcats’ offensive line play will also be key to his success.

The Big 12 QB Landscape: Competitive and Diverse

Cincinnati.com’s rankings would then weigh Sorsby against the rest of the league, which features a compelling mix of returning experience and high-ceiling talent:

Top Tier Contenders:

Avery Johnson (Kansas State): Often considered the favorite due to his electric athleticism and a full offseason as the starter.

Sam Leavitt (Arizona State): A rising star who impressed as a freshman, blending mistake-free passing with mobility. Some project him as a potential 2026 NFL Draft pick.

Sawyer Robertson (Baylor): Finished 2024 strong and led Baylor’s late-season surge. Phil Steele notably has him as a First-Team All-Big 12 QB.

Josh Hoover (TCU): Led the Big 12 in passing yards in 2024 and returns as a productive veteran.

Veterans with Upside:

Rocco Becht (Iowa State): A steady, experienced hand who leads a disciplined Iowa State offense.

Jalon Daniels (Kansas): His talent is undeniable, but his ability to stay healthy will dictate Kansas’s ceiling.

New Faces/Wildcards:

Devon Dampier (Utah): A transfer who brings explosiveness but must adapt to Big 12 defenses.

Hauss Hejny (Oklahoma State): A true freshman taking over for a team looking to rebuild after a tough 2024.

Bear Bachmeier (BYU): The highly-touted true freshman who could compete for the starting job after Jake Retzlaff’s departure.

In summary, Cincinnati.com would likely view Brendan Sorsby as a key piece for the Bearcats’ Big 12 hopes, emphasizing his dual-threat capabilities and potential for growth. However, they would acknowledge that he’s part of a crowded and highly competitive Big 12 quarterback class, where many teams possess the talent to make a strong run for the conference title.

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This was fun. This is Cincinnati.com. They are the Inquirer. Cincinnati Inquirer effectively,
wrote out their Big 12 quarterback power rankings. Number one, Sam Levit. Number two, Sawya Robertson.
Too low.
Way too low. Way too low.
Maybe. Yeah.
Yeah. One’s College Ball Playoff. The other was a guy who made zero dollars last year for Baylor cuz Dcoan Finn was making two and a half million or whatever the oops, somebody made a very large mistake there. Then we then we get to the point where I’m like, “Okay, let’s really analyze.” Um I I want to mention the craziest part is that the further you get to the bottom, like Nico Mariel, who has played a lot of Big 12 football, is at 13. Uh then at 14, 15, and 16, like I don’t even know who’s going to be the quarterback. They they have UCF, BYU, who’s still a conference contender at Oklahoma State, and just a list of random names next to each of them is like, I don’t know,
the fact that BYU is not in last is pretty funny, though. Um, yeah. Well, what what do you mean?
Like you just you don’t even know really. Yeah.
Yeah. But do we know that? Do we know that Hos Haney is going to be the the starter at Oklahoma State?
He’s I You’re right. But he has played he’s played in this conference before
or Zayn Flores. Uh
I’m a big Hosaney guy, so maybe that’s the problem here.
Tav Jackson, Jakuri Brown, and Cam Fanter. First time on this show the name Cam Fanter has been has been declared into existence. I mean, we definitely we know all about Cam Fer naturally.
If I said Taven Jackson, Jakuri Brown, Cam Fans, who do they play for? I would be just as ready to say Atletico Madrid than the team they actually play for.
All three of those guys will probably be at media days as well for the University of Central Florida and Scott Frost. Um, then there is McKay Hilstead, um, Tayson Borg Borg and Bear Bachmeire at BYU. Those guys are listed at 15. And I think all three of those just kind of a wash for the Inquirer who’s just like, I don’t know, put him at the bottom.
Don’t care.
Robertson at two, three, Josh Hoover, four, Rockco Beck, and then New York Post Heisman Trophy winner Avery Johnson at five.
Yeah. I is this just like a fall from grace to have Avery Johnson at five? Does he deserve this or is he like the still top three quarterback in this conference? I I still think he is a top three, but we t we kind of talked about Hoover a bit last week.
Yeah, he’s like like I understand the reasoning as to this ranking. Like I think Avery Johnson is a bit better, but like I also understand when you look at the pure stats, you’re like, well, it’s really tough tough to argue. And the other thing I give Josh Hoover a ton of credit for is the fact that he had zero running game. Um, and he was able to keep this team in game. So, I do get that. And I think, by the way, I think they nail like six through 12 on this list. I think this is the most faithful I’ve seen to the middle of the pack
Big 12 quarterback.
I I kind of disagree. We can we we’ll get into it. Let’s talk. Obviously,
Roco backed at four above Avery Johnson doesn’t make a ton of sense of my brain. That’s where I’m I’m thinking. No, I I still think Avery Johnson’s a Heisman contender. Um
and I like Rocco, too. I just like when you look at the the intangibles of things like Avery Johnson.
So and look I do I think Roco Beck last year emerged as a guy after the Iowa game where people thought oh I now know the name Roco Beck who’s been at Iowa State for a bit. Um and and they write Cincinnati.com they write he has got Iowa State.
They’re right. They write though, you know, they they write here that he led them to their first uh their first 11 win season and that it’s time people outside of Ames learn who Rock Beck is. Like what what every I pretty well-known guy now in college football. People know Roco Beck is a quarterback at Iowa State. I It’s I think it’s you Cincinnati.com who just Googled Big 12 stats and like who’s this Roco Beck they speak of? It’s really good.
Yeah. At some point they’re like they’ve probably done like eight of them and they’re like wait a minute who’s the Iowa State quarterback. They were good. They went they went to the conference championship last year. We got to have this guy in here somewhere. I um Robertson at two. He which he’s
and then he was texting the group chat being like chat is Rockco better than Avery Johnson. He sends the the Charles Barkley thing like we need to start dialogue
and it’s a twoerson department. It was just the intern who was like I don’t even know who that is. I I don’t follow sports. Avery Johnson, the the basketball coach, PR major. I think he’s got he’s got to be better than the basketball coach. Levit is the undisputed number one champion of the world. Saw Robertson is he’s the quarterback. He’s the 6’4 just this. He’s got the biceps. He’s he’s got he’s got the build. He’s got he’s got he’s he’s it. Josh Hoover to Roco Back to Avery Johnson does feel like the next tier. Then Baron Morton at six. Jaylen Daniels at seven, Noah Fafita at eight. The streets, remember? Yeah.
Noah Fafita.
Yeah, people. We were talking Heisman Noah Fafita and Jaylen Daniels last year.
Yep. And that has not gone as planned. But I
That’s crazy, man. To think that they come back the next year and they’re just mid-tier quarterbacks in their conference. It’s It’s kind of wild. It’s crazy. They’re still playing college football in my in my brain.
And I still think they might be above Baron Morton in my power rankings. I I mean and and possibly it’s cuz I went to Baylor and every time I really do closely watch Baron Morton play against Baylor, he throws seven interceptions. He sucks. Yeah.
Um but I’m I’m not I’m not sure if he jumps off the page as a guy that I have seen I have seen Jaylen Daniels and Noah Fafita jump off the page. I have not seen Baron Morton give me something to go, oh shoot, he’s like a national championship caliber quarterback. Well, yeah. the the thing that we use for Josh Hoover can be used in reverse for Baron Morton. Like Baron Morton’s had great running backs or running attack the last couple years with with Taj Brooks. Um I would take Jaylen Daniels over Baron Morton. But when you look at like again the way I’m trying to get in their heads here and looking at the stats, the ESPN stats, you know, the little thing in the corner that just shows you yards, touchdowns, picks, um like Baron Morton’s right there with his numbers with Sam Levit and um Suare Robertson. I don’t think he elevated his team the way that those two guys did and I think Jaywin Daniels does and certainly did at the end of the year in that Jeff Grimes offense. Like for sure. Um I I would I would be taking him over Baron Morton. But Morton has gotten better as his career has gone on. You know, he’s got he’s one of those like high floor low ceiling kind of guys. He takes care of the football a lot better than he used to. Um so I still I understand the reasoning. This is where I’m like splitting hairs cuz with a lot of these lists I’m like this guy should be five spots higher or this guy should be five spots slower. I think Jaylen Daniels is better. I’d rather have him on my team than Baron Morton. But one spot difference that the next the next tier is is where I think they’re really getting I know I said 6 through 12, but I I think definitely that next tier of like 9 through 12 is yeah pretty I think pretty good. Yeah,
that’s the A Texas Tech fan will hear that and point at all of Jaylen Daniel’s stats from last year and say, “Seriously,
and they’re and they’re right.” And they’re right. And they’re right because he was bad. He was just really bad. But I remember him for what he used to be. I remember Noah Fida for what he used to be.
And in the last couple games of the season for Jaylen Daniels, let’s be fair.
Yeah. Yeah. They’re going to go nine. I mean, jeez, Vita fell off a cliff last year, man. Like
Yeah. You’d be I I’d forgive you if you didn’t remember that he’s playing college football this year. That guy was like a legit dark horse Heisman like
and he had T McMillan, one of the best out there. And he kind of
he’s had two pretty good NFL wide receivers his his uh last two years there. And when it got to just T, his completion percentage dropped like like 13 points or something. Crazy. Yeah. Brennan Sorsby at nine, Kaden Salter at 10, Deon Dampier 11,
Wegman 12.
They’re the They’re the first one that is that is properly rated Devon Dampier.
Nico Mariel West. Yeah, Utah fans are going nuts over this.
I mean, come on, man.
They I honestly I would put Dampier maybe below Wegman and Nico Mar. I like Nico Mariel 13th on their list, but I like he won both of the games he started last season against Arizona 18 for 22, couple hundred yards, two touchdowns. I mean,
some call him the lefty Roco Beck.
I’ve heard that. Mel texted me like three times a day he text me that.
Yeah.
Yes. So that’s that’s what I but you agree with that portion of the list.
I I do. Um obviously, you know, we talked about Fafita’s numbers dropping. Salter’s numbers dropped quite a bit at Liberty, too. Um I I like Sorsby actually. I think if you’re going to do more of a Rocobeck comparison, Sorsby fits better than Nico Mariel. And I do I do have to I’m like catching myself the last few days, Drake, of like am I buying too much into Conor Wegman?
Like I think Conor Wegman’s good. I actually I mean saw him play at high school. So like I do think he’s good and I think&m is just elite at getting the least out of good players and that I think there needs to be something to be said about that. But like the dude did he can’t win a starting job. So yeah,
like I do I do think he’s a huge improvement to what Houston had. And I think that’s where the conversation comes back to with Conor Wegman. But sure,
I I wouldn’t be surprised if you put Nico over him. That’s Yeah,
I would. I would probably I probably would. I
I’d maybe put him ahead of Dampier, though. But I would I don’t think damn cuz it’s the Danuan.
I’m okay with being one spot ahead of him
to Dcoan Finn being so bad that I I will never trust a great mid- major quarterback. Um because I mean that he doesn’t have the chops that that that Quinn that Duan Finn had
like Duan Finn John Matier. So
true.
Technically I mean that’s basically a mid- major quarterback. TV rights money is going away. ESPN’s losing control. Luck on Big 12 luck on Baylor.