Big 12 Conference football flexed its collective muscles last season.

Seven of the 11 league members made the Illinois High School Association state playoffs in 2023. Peoria Notre Dame and Peoria High were among those squads who made the postseason.

In Big 12 play, Normal Community went undefeated with Normal West and Peoria High each winning seven games. Bloomington, Danville, Champaign Centennial and Peoria Notre Dame all captured at least five victories.

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Nonconference matchups range from Manual visiting Normal U-High, Peoria High heading to Morris, PND welcoming St. Louis Christian Brothers and Mahomet-Seymour heading to Richwoods.

Here is an outlook on the Peoria schools' chances in the Big 12 Conference.

Manual

• Coach: Dennis Bailey, third season

• Last year: 2-7 overall, 2-6 in Big 12 play

• Players to watch: Amare Breedlove, QB/FS, Sr.; Kyren Campbell, CB, Sr.; Tyree Porter, ATH, Jr.; Darren McClendon, OL/DL, Sr.

• Key conference game: Week 2 vs. Richwoods

• Manual can compete in the Big 12 if ... the Rams can navigate a loaded league schedule, featuring five playoff teams from last season including all of them in the first seven weeks.

Peoria High

• Coach: Aaron Montgomery, first season

• Last year: 0-10 overall, 0-8 in Big 12 play (Peoria High forfeited its seven 2023 victories due to an ineligible player.)

• Players to watch: Breon Green, QB, Sr.; Spencer Russell, WR, Sr.; TQ Webb, WR, Sr.; Jaquarius Green, OL/DL, Jr.

• Key conference game: Week 1 vs. Champaign Centennial

• Peoria High can compete in the Big 12 if ... the Lions remain consistent on both sides of the ball amidst a new coaching regime.

Peoria Notre Dame

• Coach: Pat Armstrong, seventh season

• Last year: 7-4 overall, 5-3 in Big 12 play

• Players to watch: Jack Hanley, RB, Sr.; Ben Mullens, LB, Jr.; Lawson Alwan, FB/LB, Sr.; Brady Mullens, OL/DL, Jr.

• Key conference game: Week 1 at Normal West

• PND can compete in the Big 12 if ... the Irish can use their experience on defense to create points for a polished offense that returns multiple starters.

Richwoods

• Coach: Jim Ulrich, fourth season

• Last year: 4-5 overall, 3-5 in Big 12 play

• Players to watch: Sean Glover, LB, Sr.; Amari Johnson, WR, Sr.; Jasmine Bisping, K, Jr.; Cam Clark, OL, Sr.

• Key conference game: Week 1 vs. Normal Community

• Richwoods can compete in the Big 12 if ... the Knights can win close games like they did in last season's Week 9 three-point win over Champaign Central.

Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.

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Big 12 Conference predictions 2024

Here is the predicted finish for the conference in 2024.

• T1. Peoria Notre Dame (8-1, 8-0)

• T1. Normal Community (8-1, 8-0)

• 3. Peoria High (6-3, 6-2)

• 4. Normal West (6-3, 5-3)

• 5. Richwoods (5-4, 4-4)

• 6. Manual (4-5, 4-4)

• T7. Danville (3-6, 3-5)

• T7, Champaign Centennial (3-6, 3-5)

• 9. Bloomington (3-6, 2-6)

• 10. Champaign Central (1-8, 1-7)

• 11. Urbana (0-9, 0-8)

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Big 12 Conference predictions, outlook, preview: Peoria HS football 2024