BIG 12 Membership Council Named

Arizona Richard Jefferson and Jennie Finch

Arizona State Lawrence Guy and Briann January

Baylor Whitney Canion and Robert Griffin III

BYU Steve Young and Ashley Hatch

UCF Tacko Fall and Shaquem Griffin

Cincinnati Jordan Thompson and Kevin Youkilis

Colorado Joel Klatt and Shelley Sheetz

Houston Andre Ware and Natara Holloway Branch

Iowa State Ashley Joens and Georges Niang

Kansas Wayne Simien and Lynette Woodard

Kansas State Kindred Wesemann Orpin and Tyler Lockett

Oklahoma State Tiffany Bias Patmon and Brandon Weeden

TCU Marshall Newhouse and Zahna Medley Kindred

Texas Tech Cody Campbell and Carolyn Thompson

Utah Stevenson Sylvester and Charmelle Green

West Virginia Georgeann Wells and Mike Gansey

"I'm thrilled to serve on the first-ever Big 12 Alumni Council," said former BYU QB and Pro Football Hall of Fame member Steve Young. "This is an incredibly exciting time for the Big 12, and I look forward to being a resource for Commissioner Yormark and his team as the Conference continues to thrive."

"The Big 12 Conference is home to thousands of student-athlete alumni who have had great success on and off the field following their time on campus," said Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark. "As we enter into a new chapter as a 16-team league, the insights and perspectives of the Big 12 Alumni Council will be an incredible resource."

The Big 12 Alumni Council is comprised of 32 former student-athletes from men's and women's programs across each Big 12 institution. The Council was created to leverage the experience and expertise of some of the Big 12's most notable student-athlete alumni as the Conference enters a new era. These alumni will provide guidance and insights surrounding a variety of topics, including brand building, athlete relations, storytelling, digital content and much more.

In turn, each Council member will receive a variety of resources and amenities, including networking access to the Big 12's Business Advisory Board for professional networking, league support of council member's community initiatives, media opportunities on behalf of the league and VIP access to all Big 12 Championships and Conference events.

The Council will be overseen by Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark and VP of Communications & Strategy Clark Williams. The Council will kick off in August 2024, as the Big 12 officially becomes a 16-team league.

The Big 12 Conference has announced its 2024 Spring Scholar-Athletes of the Year. The following student-athletes have been selected as award winners for their respective sports based on the votes of each sport's respective head coaches.

Big 12 Women's Golf Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Haley Vargas, Kansas State, Sr., Lubbock, Texas

• Posted a 4.00 GPA while majoring in Conflict Resolution.

• Averaged 73.50 strokes per round, including an individual victory at the White Sands Invitational.

• Named to Academic All-Big 12 teams four times.

Big 12 Rowing Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Laura Teska, Kansas, Jr., Lawrence, Kan.

• Majoring in Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology with a 3.99 GPA.

• Helped KU to a head-to-head win over K-State at the Dillons Sunflower Showdown.

• Three-time Academic All-Big 12 selection and two-time CRCA Scholar-Athlete honoree.

Big 12 Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Chloe Temples, BYU, Sr., Mariana, Fla.

• Holds a 3.99 GPA in microbiology.

• Had an 11-6 record, posting a 4.61 ERA, striking out 119 batters in 115.1 innings in the circle.

• Made the Academic All-Big 12 team in her first year in the Conference and is a two-time Academic All-District selection.

Big 12 Women's Tennis Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Charlotte Chavatipon, Texas, Sr., Fullerton, Calif.

• Maintained a 3.92 GPA in applied movement science.

• Second Team All-Big 12 in singles, posting a 24-12 singles record and a 17-7 doubles record.

• Three-time Academic All-Big 12 selection.

Big 12 Women's Track and Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Rayniah Jones, UCF, Sr., Miami, Fla.

• Holds a 3.96 GPA while pursuing a master's degree in political science.

• Won the Big 12 Championship and finished third at the NCAA Championship in the 100 m hurdles.

• CSC Academic All-District and Academic All-Big 12 selection.

The Big 12 Conference established its Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award in 2012-13. A recipient is named in each conference-sponsored sport. Every Big 12 institution nominates one individual per sport with the winners selected by a vote of the league head coaches for that sport, who are not allowed to vote for their own student-athletes. Scholar-Athlete of the Year nominees must be a junior or senior (athletic and academic standing), have a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or higher, participate in at least 20 percent of the team's scheduled contests and have a minimum of one year in residence at the institution

Big 12 Announces 2024-25 Women's Basketball Conference Opponents

The Big 12 announced the Conference scheduling format for the 2024-25 women's basketball season. The 2024-25 season marks the Big 12's first with 16 member institutions.

Opponents were selected based on a combination of geography, historical results and a poll of the coaches to best balance the schedule in terms of travel and competitiveness. A full Big 12 schedule will be released at a later date.

Women's Basketball Opponents
Arizona
Home-and-away: Arizona State, BYU, Utah
Home-only: Baylor, Cincinnati, Iowa State, TCU, Texas Tech, West Virginia
Away-only: UCF, Colorado, Houston, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State

Arizona State
Home-and-away: Arizona, BYU, Utah
Home-only: Baylor, Cincinnati, Iowa State, TCU, Texas Tech, West Virginia
Away-only: UCF, Colorado, Houston, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State

Baylor
Home-and-away: Colorado, Houston, TCU
Home-only: BYU, Cincinnati, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Utah, West Virginia
Away-only: Arizona, Arizona State, UCF, Kansas, Kansas State, Texas Tech

BYU
Home-and-away: Arizona, Arizona State, Utah
Home-only: UCF, Colorado, Houston, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State
Away-only: Baylor, Cincinnati, Iowa State, TCU, Texas Tech, West Virginia

UCF
Home-and-away: Houston, Iowa State, TCU
Home-only: Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, Cincinnati, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech
Away-only: BYU, Colorado, Kansas, Kansas State, Utah, West Virginia

Cincinnati
Home-and-away: Kansas State, Oklahoma State, West Virginia
Home-only: BYU, Colorado, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, Utah
Away-only: Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, UCF, TCU, Texas Tech

Colorado
Home-and-away: Baylor, Texas Tech, West Virginia
Home-only: Arizona, Arizona State, UCF, Houston, Kansas, Kansas State
Away-only: BYU, Cincinnati, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, TCU, Utah

Houston
Home-and-away: Baylor, UCF, Texas Tech
Home-only: Arizona, Arizona State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, West Virginia
Away-only: BYU, Cincinnati, Colorado, Iowa State, TCU, Utah

Iowa State
Home-and-away: UCF, Kansas, Kansas State
Home-only: BYU, Colorado, Houston, TCU, Texas Tech, Utah
Away-only: Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, Cincinnati, Oklahoma State, West Virginia

Kansas
Home-and-away: Iowa State, Kansas State, Oklahoma State
Home-only: Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, UCF, TCU, Texas Tech
Away-only: BYU, Cincinnati, Colorado, Houston, Utah, West Virginia

Kansas State
Home-and-away: Cincinnati, Iowa State, Kansas
Home-only: Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, UCF, TCU, Texas Tech
Away-only: BYU, Colorado, Houston, Oklahoma State, Utah, West Virginia

Oklahoma State
Home-and-away: Cincinnati, Kansas, West Virginia
Home-only: Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas State, TCU
Away-only: Baylor, BYU, UCF, Houston, Texas Tech, Utah

TCU
Home-and-away: Baylor, UCF, Texas Tech
Home-only: BYU, Cincinnati, Colorado, Houston, Utah, West Virginia
Away-only: Arizona, Arizona State, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State

Texas Tech
Home-and-away: Colorado, Houston, TCU
Home-only: Baylor, BYU, Cincinnati, Oklahoma State, Utah, West Virginia
Away-only: Arizona, Arizona State, UCF, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State

Utah
Home-and-away: Arizona, Arizona State, BYU
Home-only: UCF, Colorado, Houston, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State
Away-only: Baylor, Cincinnati, Iowa State, TCU, Texas Tech, West Virginia

West Virginia
Home-and-away: Cincinnati, Colorado, Oklahoma State
Home-only: BYU, UCF, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Utah
Away-only: Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, Houston, TCU, Texas Tech

The Big 12 Conference has announced its 2024 Winter Scholar-Athletes of the Year.

Big 12 Women's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Emily Ryan, Iowa State, Senior, Claflin, Kansas

• Kinesiology and health major with a 3.53 grade point average.

• Averaged 11.6 points, 6.9 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game while leading the Cyclones to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

• Named to the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team averaging 10.3 points and 9.3 assists in three games.

• Three-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team selection.

Big 12 Equestrian Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Maddie Vorhies, Baylor, 5th Year, Canton, Georgia

• Electrical and computer engineering major with a 3.87 GPA.

• Posted Baylor's top score over fences (90) and two of BU's five top scores on the flat (90, 93).

• Earned one MOP selection on the season.

• Four-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team selection.

Big 12 Gymnastics Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Eliza Millar-Crossman, BYU, Junior, Cincinnati, Ohio

• Holds a 3.98 GPA while majoring in neuroscience.

• Helped the Cougars advance to the second round of NCAA Regionals by defeating Boise State.

• Posted high marks of 9.9000 on both the floor excerise and balance beam.

• Academic All-Big 12 First Team selection.

Big 12 Women's Swimming & Diving Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Jessica Davis, Cincinnati, Senior, Plainfield, Illinois

• A communication major with a 3.87 GPA.

• Earned five medals at the Big 12 Championships, including being on relays that set the school record in the 200 and 400 freestyle.

• Finished second in the 100 freestyle at the Big 12 Championships with a time of 48.72.

• First Team Academic All-Big 12 selection.

Big 12 Women's Swimming & Diving Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Hedda Grelz, Houston, Senior, Lund, Sweden

• Boasts a 4.00 GPA in mechanical engineering.

• Helped Houston to a second-place finish at the Big 12 Championship, scoring 45 points.

• Qualified for NCAA Diving Zone meets in all three events.

• First Team Academic All-Big 12 selection and two-time CSC Academic All-District selection.

photo from BIG 12 website Texas Athletics

Madisen Skinner Wins BIG 12 2023-24 Female Athlete Of The Year

Skinner who helped Texas to its second-straight NCAA Championship, her third of her career (Kentucky, 2020). Skinner was named the 2023 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player and is the first volleyball player to be named the Conference's Athlete of the Year since 2009.

The outside hitter from Katy, Texas earned the CWSA Honda Sport Award for Volleyball and claimed VolleyballMag.com National Player of the Year honors along with being named the 2023 Big 12 Player of the Year.

Skinner was awarded American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) First Team All-America honors and was named the 2023 AVCA Southwest Region Player of the Year.

She garnered First Team Academic All-Big 12 honors as well as being selected to the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll in the fall.

The 2023-24 Big 12 Athlete of the Year nominees.

Each institution nominated one male and one female athlete of any classification that competed for their institution during the 2023-24 school year. Student-athletes were required to be in good academic standing and had to be from a league-sponsored sport.

The 14 schools that competed during the 2023-24 academic year are eligible, with the winners being announced on June 26th.

Here is the list of candidates from each school.

Baylor Female Athlete of the Year Candidate
Alexis Brown, Track and Field
Sr., Kennedale, Texas

• Named the Outdoor Big 12 Performer of the Year and earned one Athlete of the Week honor during the season.

• Broke the Baylor record in the long jump twice as the only student-athlete in program history to cross the 21-foot mark in indoor competition.

• At the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field National Championship, she was named a First Team All-American in the long jump (fifth place) and the 4x100-meter relay (sixth place)

• Graduated with a Health, Kinesiology and Leisure Studies degree with a 3.66 GPA and was accepted to the MBA program.

BYU Female Athlete of the Year Candidate
Brecken Mozingo, Soccer
Sr., Sandy, Utah

• Led the Cougars in goals (14), assists (15), points (43) and shots (89) during the 2023 season.

• Earned All-Big 12 First Team and Big 12 All-Tournament Team honors. With her five goals and five assists during the NCAA Tournament, Mozingo was also selected for the NCAA College Cup All-Tournament Team.

• With her MAC Hermann Trophy Finalist selection, she became only the third BYU player in program history to earn the honor.

• One of four finalists for the 2024 Honda Sports Award for Women’s Soccer, which has been presented annually by the CWSA for the past 48 years to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports and signifies “the best of the best in collegiate athletics”.

UCF Female Athlete of the Year Candidate
Rayniah Jones, Track & Field
Sr., Miami, Florida

• Became the first athlete in UCF history to win a Big 12 Championship, as she claimed the individual title in the 100m hurdles at the outdoor league championship with a 12.78.

• Garnered her 10th career All-America honor at the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship with her third-place finish in the 100m hurdles.

• Her finish at the NCAA Championship in hurdles is a program record with her time of 12.59.

• Earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Science and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Political Science with a 3.92 graduate GPA.

Cincinnati Female Athlete of the Year Candidate
Juliette Laracuente-Huebner, Track & Field
Fr., Marengo, Ohio

• A Second Team All-American in the Indoor Pentathlon and Outdoor Heptathlon.

• The only freshman or sophomore to qualify for the pentathlon at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championship and the only freshman to qualify for the heptathlon at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship.

• Earned All-Big 12 honors for both Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field.

• She was the only Bearcat to qualify for the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championship and was UC’s highest finisher in any event at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship (14th).

Houston Female Athlete of the Year Candidate
Kelly-Ann Beckford, Cross Country and Track & Field
Gr., Trelawny, Jamaica

• Named the Big 12 Women’s Indoor Performer of the Year and was a Big 12 Indoor Champion in the 800m (meet record holder as well) and the 4x400 meter relay.

• Big 12 Outdoor Champion in the 4x400-meter relay.

• Had a third-place finish at the NCAA Indoor National Championship in the 4x400-meter relay and was a First Team All-American in the 4x400-meter relay at both the Indoor and Outdoor NCAA Championships.

• A Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team selection along with being named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team.

Iowa State Female Athlete of the Year Candidate
Sydney Willits, Track and Field
Jr., Glenview, Illinois

• The long jump NCAA Indoor National Champion after improving her record by a full foot and the school record by six inches (22-1 ½, 6.74m).

• She was named the USTFCCCA Midwest Region Field Athlete of the Year.

• Earned Honorable Mention All-America honors after finishing 18th in the long jump at the NCAA Outdoor National Championship.

• Holds a leadership position in the SAAC Event Subcommittee at Iowa State while working towards her degree in kinesiology and health.

Kansas Female Athlete of the Year Candidate
Camryn Turner, Volleyball
Jr., Topeka, Kansas

• AVCA All-America Honorable Mention while guiding KU to an NCAA Tournament appearance.

• Big 12 Setter of the Year after leading the Big 12 in assists per set (10.7, 14th nationally).

• All-Big 12 First Team Selection and won one Big 12 Player of the Week award during the season (Sept. 5).

• Serves as President of SAAC at Kansas and is a two-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team Selection.

K-State Female Athlete of the Year Candidate
Ayoka Lee, Basketball
Sr., Byron, Minnesota

• Averaged 19.7 points per game on a .619 field goal percentage with 8.6 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game after missing the entire 2022-23 season due to injury.

• Was named a 2024 Second Team All-America selection by the Athletic and a Third Team All-America honoree by the Sporting News along with being named a 2024 John R. Wooden Award National Ballot top-15 candidate.

• Named a unanimous 2024 All-Big 12 First Team, All-Big 12 Defensive Team and Big 12 All-Tournament Team selection.

• A 2024 College Sports Communicators Academic All-American First Team selection along with being chosen to the 2024 Academic All-Big 12 First Team.

Oklahoma Female Athlete of the Year Candidate
Jordan Bowers, Gymnastics
Jr., Lincoln, Nebraska

• Named the 2024 Big 12 Gymnast of the Year and the 2024 South Central Region Gymnast of the Year.

• She is the only Sooner in program history to earn four titles (all-around, vault, bars and floor) at one Big 12 Championship. Led OU to victory at the meet with an NCAA record score of 198.950.

• The NCAA Regional all-around, bars and floor champion.

• One of four finalists for the 2024 Honda Sport Award for Gymnastics (OU’s first finalist since 2021). The Honda Sport Award has been presented annually by the CWSA for the past 48 years to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports and signifies “the best of the best in collegiate athletics”.

Oklahoma State Female Athlete of the Year Candidate
Lexi Kilfoyl, Softball
Gr., Land O’ Lakes, Florida

• One of three finalists for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award and was a First Team All-America selection by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, Softball America and D1Softball.

• Earned the 2024 Big 12 Pitcher of the Year award unanimously.

• Had a league-leading and ranked fourth nationally with a 1.20 earned run average while having a Big 12 best 26 wins, which were the sixth highest in the country.

• A two-time NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete and was chosen to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-America Softball First Team.

TCU Female Athlete of the Year Candidate
Mattie Dukes, Equestrian
Gr., Weatherford, Texas

• Named the Big 12 Rider of the Year (Horsemanship), an All-Big 12 Conference Rider (Horsemanship) and an NCEA First Team All-American (Horsemanship).

• Helped lead TCU to the No. 1 overall seed at the NCEA Championship and a national runner-up finish.

• Owned a 12-meet winning streak in horsemanship.

• Selected to the NCEA All-Academic First Team, her fourth-straight season earning NCEA All-Academic honors.

Texas Female Athlete of the Year Candidate
Madisen Skinner, Volleyball
Sr., Katy, Texas

• Led Texas to its second consecutive NCAA Championship and Skinner’s third overall (2020 at Kentucky).

• Claimed VolleyballMag.com National Player of the Year honors.

• Named the 2023 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player of the Year, an American Volleyball Coaches Association First Team All-American and the 2023 Big 12 Player of the Year.

• Earned the CWSA Honda Sport Award for Volleyball, which has been presented annually by the CWSA for the past 48 years to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA- sanctioned sports and signifies "the best of the best in collegiate athletics".

Texas Tech Female Athlete of the Year Candidate
Hannah Anderson, Soccer
Sr., Plano, Texas

• A 2023 MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist (National Player of the Year).

• Selected as the 2023 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and a First Team All-Big 12 member while leading Texas Tech to the regular season Big 12 title.

• Earned 2023 United Soccer Coaches Association First Team All-American honors.

• One of four finalists for the 2024 Honda Sports Award for Women’s Soccer. The Honda Sport Award has been presented annually by the CWSA for the past 48 years to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports and signifies “the best of the best in collegiate athletics”. Was also named the Big 12 Scholar Athlete of the Year for Women’s Soccer for the second time in her career. Also secured a First Team CSC Academic All-American selection.

West Virginia Female Athlete of the Year Candidate
JJ Quinerly, Basketball
Jr., Norfolk, Virginia

• An AP Honorable Mention All-American and a semifinalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year.

• Selected as the 2024 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and a member of the All-Big 12 First Team and Defensive Team.

• Named the WVU Blue & Golden Globes Female Athlete of the Year.

• Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll member for Spring 2024 (3.4 GPA).