As we continue to look back at the 2024 college football season, in the Big 12 it felt like bizarro land as the team expected to compete (Utah Utes) didn’t, and the one we didn’t expect much of (Arizona State Sun Devils) went on to represent the league in the College Football Playoff.
Teams like the Colorado Buffaloes and head coach Deion Sanders might command all of the headlines, but there are plenty more talking points than just one man. It was a new season with the addition of the Arizona Wildcats, Arizona State Sun Devils, and Utah Utes to go along with Colorado. They also saw the departure of the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns, who had been with the Big 12 since its formation in 1996.
Among the 16 Big 12 teams there were a pair of head coaches also making their debut. Brent Brennan took over the Arizona program following Jedd Fisch’s departure to run the Washington Huskies program. The vacancy was created in Seattle by Nick Saban’s sudden retirement from Alabama. Houston made the change after they dismissed head coach Dana Holgorsen after finishing 31-28 over five seasons.
Here is how the new head coaches graded in their debut season.
Brent Brennan, Arizona Wildcats
Grade: D- | 2024 Record: 4-8
It was difficult to not go with an “F” grade for Brennan, but we will give him the benefit of the doubt given the upheaval of the program following Jedd Fisch’s departure from the program. Still a lot more was expected of the program with both Noah Fifita and Tetairoa McMillan returning last season. The Wildcats season was buried in early November after five consecutive losses, including several blowouts. Brennan has plenty of work to do this upcoming season to get them back on the right track.
Willie Fritz, Houston Cougars
Grade: D+ | 2024 Record: 4-8
It wasn’t great for the Houston Cougars and Willie Fritz in his first season at the helm. His offense finished dead last in the Big 12 and No. 133 in scoring offense at 14 points per game. The only team worse on offense was Kent State, the team that finished 0-12. The bright side is that the Cougars defeated the Utah Utes and Kansas State Wildcats to give them some level of hope and optimism. Next season brings a new year and perhaps Conner Weigman can revitalize a program that hopes to look more like Fritz’s last two seasons at Tulane.
