While the Big 12 quarterback list may have taken a hit with transfers out of Norman, the conference may boast some of the top college football QBs nationally when it’s all said and done. Dillon Gabriel enters the Oklahoma program after much-documented success at UCF, but where do the top quarterbacks rank in the Big 12, both nationally and in the conference?
Top Big 12 QBs in 2022 | 1-10
Hailing from our preseason top quarterback rankings at the FBS level, the starting quarterbacks from the Big 12 landed as follows:
1) Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma
2) Spencer Sanders, Oklahoma State
3) JT Daniels, West Virginia
4) Adrian Martinez, Kansas State
5) Tyler Shough, Texas Tech
6) Max Duggan, TCU
7) Blake Shapen, Baylor
8) Quinn Ewers, Texas
9) Jalon Daniels & Jason Bean, Kansas
10) Hunter Dekkers, Iowa State
And here’s how they ranked nationally among all their peers:
15) Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma
27) Spencer Sanders, Oklahoma State
34) JT Daniels, West Virginia
42) Adrian Martinez, Kansas State
55) Tyler Shough, Texas Tech
70) Max Duggan, TCU
83) Blake Shapen, Baylor
86) Quinn Ewers, Texas
97) Jalon Daniels & Jason Bean, Kansas
115) Hunter Dekkers, Iowa State
Which games should we be most excited for on the Big 12 schedule, and why should you be sure to tune in this fall? Let’s take it week by week.
Week 1: West Virginia vs. Pittsburgh
In a battle of former USC quarterbacks, JT Daniels and the West Virginia Mountaineers head to Pittsburgh to take on Kedon Slovis and Pittsburgh. Both former USC quarterbacks have entered life after Los Angeles and are hoping to cement their NFL draft stock once and for all. Daniels is reunited with both quarterbacks’ former offensive coordinator at West Virginia, as Graham Harrell certainly knows a thing or two about these standout QBs. This is a top matchup for all of college football, let alone the Big 12.
Week 2: Alabama vs. Texas
Program stature and recruiting pedigree don’t get much bigger than this one. Is Quinn Ewers really what we all think he could be? Or does Bryce Young keep the Ewers truthers at bay? It’s a tremendous battle of two blueblood programs and incredibly-gifted quarterbacks — one who is entering his final season before being drafted high and the other hoping to kick off his lofty college aspirations that may culminate the same way.
Week 3: Kansas vs. Houston
Fans of the Big 12 need to know who Clayton Tune is. As the No. 3 ranked quarterback on our top quarterback rankings, Tune is the top quarterback outside of Young and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud. Can Kansas’ defense come even remotely close to slowing down this fast-paced offense? Does Jalon Daniels or Jason Bean offer up much in the way of doing so?
Week 4: West Virginia vs. Virginia Tech & TCU vs. SMU
A double dose of interesting action as Daniels takes on fellow transfer Grant Wells at Virginia Tech and TCU gets a dose of new head coach Sonny Dykes’ team he built at SMU. It’s an exciting quarterback battle in each game, as well as some personal connections in the TCU vs. SMU contest. Will the reception of Dykes back in Dallas bring good vibes? Or does he get the last laugh?
Week 5: Texas Tech vs. Kansas State
Adrian Martinez sets out to prove he’s more than just a middling Big Ten quarterback in his first season away from the conference. The Texas Tech defense provides an intriguing challenge, and Tyler Shough is nothing to scoff at. What does Kansas State look like at this point under Martinez, and just how healthy can this Texas Tech team stay?
Week 6: Texas vs. Oklahoma
Need we really say more about this one? It’s the game of the weekend, not just in the Big 12 but across the country. Texas’ Quinn Ewers and Oklahoma’s Dillon Gabriel each get their first taste of the rivalry. Which one will have what it takes to knock off their bitter rivals?
Week 7: Kansas vs. Oklahoma
It was Kansas who shocked the world by beating Texas a season ago. Can they do something similar to Oklahoma this year? Likely not, but the Sooners better not have a hangover after the Texas game the week prior.
Week 8: Texas vs. Oklahoma State
Will Ewers really be the guy to bring Texas back? Is longtime Cowboys QB Spencer Sanders really the second-best quarterback in the conference? This one gives us a ton of answers midway through the season, as one of these programs has a legitimate shot at the Big 12 title.
Week 9: TCU vs. West Virginia
Max Duggan vs. JT Daniels in a regular season matchup. This one is fun on paper. And it may get better in Week 9 when we get to it as each quarterback has some ridiculous talent in their right arms. Duggan can be incredibly accurate, and Daniels can elevate the team around him. This one could be a show.
Week 10: Baylor vs. Oklahoma
Is Blake Shapen for real? This game tells us whether or not he is, as he’ll have to replicate his performance down the stretch of last year to pull out a victory against OU. Lest we forget, Gabriel is on the other end of this picture as the Sooners could have one of the most dominant downfield passing attacks in the country.
Week 11: Oklahoma vs. West Virginia
Again with the Sooners, but that’s just the way the conference schedule unfolds. Gabriel heads to Morgantown to take on Daniels and the Mountaineers. Each new transfer quarterback should be entrenched in their university’s folklore by now if all goes to plan. Who comes out on top could have conference championship implications as well.
Week 12: Texas vs. Kansas
Those that were on the Longhorns roster a season ago certainly understand the importance of this game. And those that were on the Jayhawks roster in 2021 know the feeling of upsetting Texas. Will history repeat itself? Or does Ewers act the part and dismantle this Kansas team like he “should” this fall?
Week 13: Baylor vs. Texas
If Texas is back, this will be the time it announces itself. Baylor has a dramatically improved roster overall and could be the cream of the Big 12 after Texas and Oklahoma bolt for the SEC in a few years. Is this the last time we see them square off with something on the line in the regular season?