West Virginia

If you want the Big 12's new star, this might be it. West Virginia added the missing piece to their offensive puzzle in Jacksonville State transfer Cam Cook, a 74.0 PPA running back who gives them the ground game anchor they've lacked. The Mountaineers grade out at 67th nationally with a defense that ranks 47th — their foundation remains solid even after losing significant coverage personnel. Quarterback Scotty Fox Jr. returns as starter, now supported by receiver additions John Neider from UConn and DJ Epps from Troy to help replace departed targets Cam Vaughn and Rodney Gallagher III.

JP+ projects 6.1 wins for West Virginia, a meaningful step up from last year's 4-8 finish that reflects both the offensive upgrade and defensive uncertainty. The coverage instability creates above-normal projection uncertainty — they lost key secondary contributors while maintaining most of their offensive core, creating an asymmetric roster profile. Road trips to Texas Tech, Utah, and Iowa State will test their ceiling, while home games against Kansas and Coastal Carolina offer clear opportunities. If Cook transforms their ground attack and the defensive replacements develop quickly, this could be the Big 12 surprise team. If the secondary struggles prove too costly, they'll fall short of bowl eligibility again.