How do the Colorado quarterbacks stack up in the Big 12?
If last season is anything to go by, the Big 12 remains the most wide-open Power Four conference, with almost any team having a chance at winning the title.
Much of the pressure to win the competitive Big 12 will fall on the shoulders of the team’s quarterbacks. The conference’s unique makeup brings a host of quarterback situations from position battles to solidified starters, ensuring it’ll be another chaotic year for the Big 12.
ESPN writer David Hale ranked every FBS quarterback room into 20 different tiers. Here’s where every Big 12 team fell in comparison to the rest of the nation, from worst to best quarterback room.
Tier 15: UCF
The Knights brought in Tayven Jackson from Indiana to potentially be their answer at quarterback, but none of his starts for the Hoosiers were all that exciting. The former 4-star’s best game came against Washington last season, where he posted 124 passing yards and two total touchdowns.
Jackson is still young, just a redshirt junior, and brings mobility, but his production has yet to be realized. Outside of Jackson, the rest of the Knights’ quarterback depth doesn’t inspire much hope either. For Hale’s money, UCF’s quarterback situation is the worst in the Big 12.
Tier 12: Oklahoma State
While UCF struggles with experienced quarterbacks, Oklahoma State has the exact opposite problem. Their projected starter, Hauss Hejny, hasn’t thrown a pass at the collegiate level, being used as a gadget player during his redshirt season at TCU in 2024.
Hejny has elite speed; the former 4-star ran for 65 yards on 15 touches last season, but his ability as a passer remains to be seen. The Cowboys’ other option is Zane Flores, who has been with the team since 2023 but hasn’t seen any in-game action and missed all of 2024 with injury.
