By Mike Huesmann
This article is part two of five where I go through each Power Four conference and the Group of 5 looking at coaches who have something to prove in 2025 and what exactly they have to prove. I started with the SEC and here we look at the Big 12.
Dave Aranda, Baylor
Can he have two good seasons in a row?
Aranda was firmly on the hot seat in 2024, and his Baylor team put together an impressive 8-5 season. He has never, and I repeat never, had two consecutive winning seasons as a head coach. For his sake, he will probably need to do that to keep his job in 2025. I like the look of his team; Sawyer Robertson has shown potential in the system. His winning season provided temporary safety but not long-term stability. He’ll probably need to match last year’s eight wins to do that.
https://twitter.com/CravenMike/status/1907529591494746236
Chris Klieman, Kansas State
Can he get the Wildcats to the playoff?
Klieman gets the same treatment that Lane Kiffin did in my SEC article, and that’s the highest compliment. Only a College Football Playoff appearance will determine if the season is successful or not for the Wildcats. Klieman is entering year seventh as head coach and only once—the 2020 COVID season—has he won fewer than eight games. K-State has won either nine or 10 games the last three seasons. The Wildcats are a team we expect to be in the hunt for a conference title, which now means a place in the playoff. They’ve been on the doorstep and their projected win total of 8.5 is tied for the highest in the conference, along with Arizona State. With Avery Johnson returning, a berth in the CFP looks reasonable.
https://twitter.com/4thandsaturday/status/1909696323328033111
Scott Satterfield, Cincinnati
What year three Satterfield do we see?
Satterfield has had two previous jobs, and his third year couldn’t have been different at those respective jobs. He won 11 games and a bowl game for Appalachian State. At Louisville he had a losing record. I believe he took the Cincinnati job, leaving Louisville, to restart the clock. In year three, if he has a losing record, I’m not sure he sees 2026. This could be a make-or-break year for the Bearcats. Brendan Sorsby looks to be a solid QB, but it’ll be interesting how much progress they make as a team. The schedule is not awful, relative to the conference. They avoid two contenders in Arizona State and Kansas State.
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https://twitter.com/BearcatsTalk/status/1909729863864373591
Deion Sanders, Colorado
Can he win without Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders?
Colorado has come very far, very fast thanks to Coach Prime. Winning nine games just two seasons removed from a single win is extremely impressive. He mentored his son, Shedeur, who was one of the most statistically accurate passers we’ve seen in years and Travis Hunter, the Heisman Trophy winner and one of the best all-around players we’ve ever seen in the modern college game. This season will be his biggest challenge. Can he succeed without those two bell cows? I think so but it’s a valid question. Kaidon Salter comes in at QB. He was electric at Liberty and I’m a big fan, though the system they have run the last two years does not seem to be a fit. How will the Buffs fare without the two stars and other standout WRs? I’m not betting against Prime to succeed.
https://twitter.com/coachajkings/status/1907236035852902530
Joey McGuire, Texas Tech
Can Texas Tech take the next step?
Will the Red Raiders be able to go from consistent to a contender in 2025? McGuire is entering year four as boss. He has never won more than eight games. He’s also never won less than seven. That’s very stable and consistent. It’s also not elite or going to turn heads. The schedule looks pretty favorable and if there was a chance to win nine or 10 games, it might be 2025. Behren Morton returns for year three as the full-time starter and Tech made some massive moves in the transfer portal getting Cole Wisniewski from North Dakota State, Quentin Joyner from USC, Reggie Virgil from Miami (Ohio) and a host of other immediate starters. If ever was a year they could be a conference contender, it might be 2025.
