ASU football WR Malik McClain discusses redshirt season, upcoming year
Arizona State football wide receiver Malik McClain explains what it was like to redshirt last year and what he is doing to prepare for 2025.
USA TODAY Sports recently released its new Top 25 college football rankings following spring practice, showcasing some intriguing insights about the Big 12 Conference.
Is Arizona State Getting the Short End of the Stick?
One takeaway stands out among the rest: **Arizona State’s controversial ranking within the Big 12.** Despite their impressive performance last season, the Sun Devils find themselves sitting at No. 21, trailing **three other Big 12 teams**. With five teams from the Big 12 on the list, are the Sun Devils being unfairly overlooked?
The rankings state: *”Kenny Dillingham and the Sun Devils look to build on last year’s surprising success. While RB Cam Skattebo departs, QB Sam Leavitt is ready to take charge of the offense. Restoring WR Jordyn Tyson’s health will be vital after a knee injury cut his season short. The defense is anchored by all-conference picks Xavion Alford and C.J. Fife. The question remains: Was ASU a one-year wonder or are they poised for something far greater?”*
The Big 12’s Reputation at Stake
Big 12 fans may feel a sense of **disrespect** as they digest this ranking. The conference’s top team, **Kansas State**, only manages to secure the No. 12 spot, trailing behind **three Big Ten, five SEC, and two ACC teams** along with Notre Dame.
About Kansas State, the ranking synopsis suggested: *“We’re betting on QB Avery Johnson taking a significant leap forward in his second season as a starter. More consistency should enhance the offense, complemented by RB Dylan Edwards stepping up in the running game and Jayce Brown emerging as a prominent receiver in the Big 12. The return of LB Austin Romaine and DB VJ Payne, the team’s top tacklers, solidifies a defense aiming to reclaim its championship-winning level.”*
College Football Championship Odds
For additional insights, check out the **championship odds** for various conferences: Big 12 | Big Ten | SEC.
Who Will Shine in Big 12 Football in 2025?
The intriguing ranking continues with **BYU** as the conference’s second best at No. 17, while **Iowa State** comes in at No. 20 and **TCU** rounds out the ranking at No. 24.
The evaluation for BYU reads: *”Jake Retzlaff returns for his second full season as starting quarterback, leading an offense poised to excel within the Big 12, aided by solid depth at both running back and receiver. However, the defensive front’s loss of several key players remains a concern. Yet, with sufficient strength in the backfield, BYU can aim for another double-digit win season.”*
Missing Teams in the Ranking
One noticeable absence is **Texas Tech**, which fails to enter the Top 25 despite being ranked **third in BetMGM’s odds** to capture the conference, right behind Kansas State and Arizona State.
Baylor is tied with BYU for fourth in these odds, as is Kansas, but neither makes the **Top 25 list**. Conversely, both Iowa State and TCU, which stand at eighth and tenth in championship odds, make the ranking.
With TCU’s potential highlighted: *“TCU has gradually made its way back into the national spotlight after clinching six victories out of seven games to end last season. QB Josh Hoover is primed for notable improvement in his sophomore year as a starter, supported by a defense returning key players that should extend last year’s upward trajectory under second-year DC Andy Avalos. Another playoff run isn’t out of reach.”*
A Broader Perspective: Big 12 vs. the Giants
The **SEC and Big Ten** dominate the Top 25, with the SEC holding a staggering nine spots, the Big Ten claiming six, and the Big 12 managing five teams. The ACC has three representatives in the ranking, while the last two slots feature an independent team (Notre Dame) and a Mountain West team (UNLV).
Does the SEC genuinely deserve **nine teams** in the rankings, particularly when the bottom-ranked Oklahoma finished last season with a disappointing 6-7 record? And should the Big Ten hold six spots when Nebraska, the sixth-ranked team, comes off a 7-6 year?
These questions resonate among **Big 12 football enthusiasts**, adding an extra layer of intrigue as they gear up for the **2025 season**.
For the complete early Top 25 college football rankings conducted by USA TODAY Sports, click here.
