Big 12 Conference newcomers struggled in their league debuts, even after all brought winning programs into the league.
BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF all had losing records and were in the bottom half of the Big 12 standings last season. They won only eight conference games combined, and half of those came in games they played against each other.
Now after a second spring for the Big 12, that quartet is getting ready for another significant transition in the league, while all have changes of their own. There will be four more new teams this fall and the departure of two championship-winning programs.
There will be new starting quarterbacks at BYU, Cincinnati and UCF. Houston returns QB Donovan Smith, but is the only of the league’s returning schools with a new coach after Willie Fritz replaced the fired Dana Holgorsen.
Smith, a former Texas Tech starter, had surgery in the offseason to repair a labrum tear in his throwing shoulder after completing 64.5% of his passes for 2,801 yards and 22 touchdowns in his Cougars debut. While limited on the field during spring drills, he spent a lot of time learning Fritz’s offense and is expected to be ready for fall camp.
Vladimir Putin is sworn in for his fifth term as president at glittering ceremony in front of hand
EDITORIAL: Shinkansen extension raises concerns about costs, impact
Hope new research will help get answers for those with rare disorders
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon looks for Estonian inspiration
Shanghai Shenhua soars as Changchun Yatai struggles in Chinese Super League
UK dog with six legs has operation to remove extra limbs
Icon of the Seas: World's largest cruise ship to set sail from Miami
Türkiye's Istanbul welcomes 1st Chinese tourist group after pandemic
Community housing developments stall as government funding not guaranteed
Marquette athletic director Bill Scholl plans to retire as he ends a decade
Israel hits Gaza's Rafah; Hamas chief's trip raises truce hopes