Patrick Kinahan: Which football program will emerge to dominate the Big 12?

SALT LAKE CITY — Every college football conference has at least one, if not another two or three, teams that consistently rise above the competition.

In the Big Ten, it's almost always Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State leading the way. In the Southeastern Conference, Alabama, Georgia and LSU seem to dominate the attention.

Then there's the reconfigured Big 12, which begins its second season with 16 teams stretching from Florida all the way to Utah and Arizona. Who is the top dog, the team the others are usually chasing?

Will it come from the newbies like Arizona State, Utah, BYU or Colorado? How about old mainstays Kansas State and Iowa State?

Check back in a few years, after there is sufficient evidence to make more definite assertions. But until then, assuming the conference still exists in its current form, it's fun to speculate which team(s) will grab a stronghold.

If last season is any indication, it's anybody's guess. Four teams (BYU, Colorado, Iowa State, Arizona State) finished atop the conference at 7-2. Tiebreakers put Iowa State and Arizona State in the championship game, with the Sun Devils winning easily to earn the bid into the new 12-team playoff.

Arizona State was picked last in the preseason media poll, trailing BYU by three spots and five behind Colorado. Iowa State got some measure of respect, coming in at No. 6.

Anticipating the healthy return of quarterback Cam Rising, who led his team to consecutive Rose Bowl appearances, Utah was tabbed as the favorite by a slim margin over Kansas State. Beguiled again by the injury-prone Rising, the Utes stumbled through their worst season in a decade.

But compared to Oklahoma State, Utah was dominant. The Cowboys, who were picked third, started the season 3-0 and never won again the last two months.

Four weeks away from Big 12 media days, the guess here is the favorite will come from Arizona State, Iowa State or Texas Tech. The cash-rich Red Raiders spent millions of dollars to land a host of transfers to fortify an already quality roster.

Coming off a surprising 11-2 season, BYU enters this year as a mystery. The bombshell news regarding the lawsuit alleging sexual assault against returning quarterback Jake Retzlaff has his status in serious doubt.

Don't expect a repeat also for Colorado, which lost Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Bowl eligibility might be the realistic goal for the Buffs.

With likely future first-round NFL draft pick Sam Leavitt at quarterback, Arizona State may finally work toward shedding the "sleeping giant" label that has dogged the program for 40 years. Dillingham points to new programs that have emerged as bluebloods over the last 20 years.

Speaking to On3sports, he said: "You have Clemson this last cycle from 2010 to 2020; they just showed up. People think they've been around forever. You have Oregon from 2000 to 2010. ... There hasn't been a team in this era, in the 2020s. The lifestyle you have in Arizona, if we can create some staff consistency, and then we're in a league where we can continually compete to win."

Hold on a minute there, coach. Arizona State has a long way to go to match a team like Utah, which made four appearances in the Pac-12 championship game before Rising's injuries took hostage of the program the last wo years. Doubt the Utes at your own peril.

Social media savvy at age 35, Dillingham clarified his quote shortly after On3sports posted his comments. The statement on his handle said: "Of course I should believe we can build something, so should every coach of a program. We are a LONG way away from this and the contest was about why I want to be at ASU for the long haul. 1 season proves nothing. It's a marathon not a race."

He's right, one season doesn't prove anything either way. The team picked last was first one year ago, and maybe this season will see a repeat.

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