Big 12 Expands Football Facilities, Arizona Trails in Upgrades

The Arizona State Sun Devils enter the 2025 college football season with high expectations following their Big 12 championship and College Football Playoff appearance last year. They are ranked No. 11 in USA Today's preseason coaches poll and hold a 16.2% chance of making the CFP again, according to ESPN analytics, which some analysts believe undervalue the team given their returning talent and strong defense. Quarterback Sam Leavitt and wide receiver Jordyn Tyson are seen as potential first-round NFL draft picks, and the team returns 79% of last season's production, including a defense ranked top three in scoring defense. Meanwhile, other Big 12 teams like Kansas, Texas Tech, Houston, and Cincinnati are investing heavily in new football facilities, surpassing Arizona's previously competitive infrastructure. Iowa State is ranked No. 21 in the preseason poll and opens the season against Kansas State in Dublin, Ireland. Florida, under coach Billy Napier, aims to reach the College Football Playoff for the first time since the format expanded to 12 teams, despite facing a tough schedule and concerns over the health of quarterback DJ Lagway.