Arizona Football’s Big 12 Debut: Surprising 5th Place Projections Raise Eyebrows

In its final six seasons as a member of the Pac-12 conference, Arizona found itself predicted to finish in the upper echelon of the league just once by the media. However, with its impending move to the Big 12, even before stepping onto the field for its first game in the new conference, Arizona’s prospects appear notably brighter.

According to a poll conducted among media members of the Big 12 conference, the University of Arizona has been forecasted to finish 5th in the 2024 season among the 16 teams that make up the conference. Impressively, the Wildcats garnered three first-place votes out of a total of 61, accumulating a total of 762 vote points, positioning them closely behind 4th-place Kansas, which secured 772 points.

Joining Arizona as a newcomer from the Pac-12, Utah has emerged as the preseason favorite to claim the conference title, narrowly edging out Kansas State. Utah secured 20 first-place votes and amassed 906 points, while Kansas State closely followed with 19 first-place votes and 899 points. Oklahoma State, with 14 first-place votes and 829 points, is projected to finish third.

In contrast, the other former Pac-12 teams that now reside in the Big 12 find themselves at the opposite end of the preseason predictions. Colorado has been pegged to finish 11th, while Arizona State, in last place among the projections, is slated for 16th.

Looking ahead to the season schedule, Arizona’s matchups reveal a mix of challenges and opportunities. The Wildcats are set to face two of the top six projected teams, both away from home. A game against Utah is part of the regular conference schedule, while the matchup with Kansas State stands as a nonconference encounter. Additionally, Arizona will compete against teams anticipated to finish 7th through 11th, as well as those projected to finish 13th, 15th, and 16th in the conference standings.

The media’s optimism surrounding Arizona’s debut in the Big 12 reflects a promising outlook for the Wildcats’ football program. With higher preseason rankings and favorable matchups on the horizon, Arizona appears poised to make a competitive entrance into its new conference home.