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Re-ranking all 16 Big 12 football head coaches midway through the season

Oct 12, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders runs onto the field with his team before the game against the Kansas State Wildcats at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images
Oct 12, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders runs onto the field with his team before the game against the Kansas State Wildcats at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

Since the start of the 2024 college football season, our Big 12 team power rankings and conference head coach rankings have each changed dramatically. Multiple coaches in the conference are leading underperforming teams while Cinderellas such as Kalani Sitake's BYU Cougars have risen to the top of the Big 12.

The conference gets muddy in the middle of the pack. Depending on how the second half of the regular season shakes out, quite a few teams could either make a run at the conference championship game or fall behind.

The race to the finish will be entertaining, but for now, below are my midseason Big 12 football head coach rankings along with salary information from the USA TODAY Sports College Football Head Coach Salaries Database:

16. Dave Aranda, Baylor Bears

Sep 21, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Baylor Bears head coach Dave Aranda looks on from the sideline during the first half against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images
Sep 21, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Baylor Bears head coach Dave Aranda looks on from the sideline during the first half against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

Dave Aranda has had some bad luck with injuries, namely to starting quarterback Dequan Finn, and his Bears team hasn't been able to close opponents out. Baylor had second-half leads against Colorado and Iowa State but dropped both games. If Aranda can't start pulling out some wins, he may be leaving Waco.

Salary: $4,540,885

Salary Rating: Overpaid

15. Lance Leipold, Kansas Jayhawks

Dec 26, 2023; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Lance Leipold looks on against the UNLV Rebels during the second half at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 26, 2023; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Lance Leipold looks on against the UNLV Rebels during the second half at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

At the start of the season, Kanas was considered a top-tier Big 12 team, but the Jayhawks have stumbled to a 1-5 record. Lance Leipold's team has found ways to lose close games while making far too many mistakes.

Salary: $7,500,000

Rating: Overpaid

14. Brent Brennan, Arizona Wildcats

Oct 12, 2024; Provo, Utah, USA; Arizona Wildcats head coach Brent Brennan arrives before the game against the Brigham Young Cougars at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
Oct 12, 2024; Provo, Utah, USA; Arizona Wildcats head coach Brent Brennan arrives before the game against the Brigham Young Cougars at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images

After being hired in January of this year, Brent Brennan didn't have much time with his team before the 2024 season began, and this has been shown in the Wildcats' play. What was considered a potent offensive squad has averaged only 25.7 points per game (15th in the Big 12).

Salary: $3,100,000

Rating: On point

13. Sonny Dykes, TCU Horned Frogs

Sep 2, 2023; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; TCU Horned Frogs head coach Sonny Dykes stands on the field before the game against the Colorado Buffaloes at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 2, 2023; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; TCU Horned Frogs head coach Sonny Dykes stands on the field before the game against the Colorado Buffaloes at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Things haven't been good in Fort Worth since TCU lost the College Football Playoff title game in 2022. Sonny Dykes' squad underwhelmed in 2023 and has become a bottom-of-the-barrel conference team in 2024, thanks in part to a 30-19 loss against Houston.

Salary: $5,008,414

Rating: Overpaid

12. Willie Fritz, Houston Cougars

Sep 28, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Cougars head coach Willie Fritz reacts during the third quarter against the Iowa State Cyclones at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
Sep 28, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Cougars head coach Willie Fritz reacts during the third quarter against the Iowa State Cyclones at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images

It's hard to judge Willie Fritz too harshly in his first season rebuilding the Houston Cougars. Fritz had his work cut out for him due to a lack of talent on the roster, but there have been some rough patches, including back-to-back shutout losses against Cincinnati and Iowa State.

Salary: $4,500,000

Rating: On point

11. Gus Malzahn, UCF Knights

Sep 28, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; UCF Knights head coach Gus Malzahn looks on during the first quarter against the Colorado Buffaloes at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images
Sep 28, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; UCF Knights head coach Gus Malzahn looks on during the first quarter against the Colorado Buffaloes at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images

Gus Malzahn's great 3-0 start has soured after an 0-3 stretch in which the Knights have lost by double-digits twice. Now, Malzahn is hoping a change at quarterback can jumpstart UCF's offense.

Salary: $4,000,000

Rating: On point

10. Neal Brown, West Virginia Moutaineers

Oct 12, 2024; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers head coach Neal Brown talks with quarterback Garrett Greene (6) during the third quarter against the Iowa State Cyclones at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images
Oct 12, 2024; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers head coach Neal Brown talks with quarterback Garrett Greene (6) during the third quarter against the Iowa State Cyclones at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images

Neal Brown's West Virginia team has been an enigma in 2024. The Mountaineers dropped nonconference games to Penn State and Pitt before winning their first two Big 12 games, including a 38-14 dusting of Oklahoma State. WVU did hold a lead against Iowa State in Morgantown, only to wither away in the second half of a 28-16 loss.

Salary: $4,000,000

Rating: On point

9. Scott Satterfield, Cincinnati Bearcats

Jul 13, 2023; Arlington, TX, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats head coach Scott Satterfield is interviewed during the Big 12 football media day at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 13, 2023; Arlington, TX, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats head coach Scott Satterfield is interviewed during the Big 12 football media day at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Scott Satterfield has done a great job this season, jumping to a 4-2 record. Those two losses against Pitt and Texas Tech came by four combined points. The second half of the Bearcats' conference schedule is daunting with trips to Boulder, Manhattan and Ames.

Salary: $3,600,000

Rating: On point

8. Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State Sun Devils

Oct 7, 2023; Tempe, Arizona, USA; ASU Sun Devils head coach Kenny Dillingham leads his team on to the field to play against the Colorado Buffaloes at Mountain America Stadium.
Oct 7, 2023; Tempe, Arizona, USA; ASU Sun Devils head coach Kenny Dillingham leads his team on to the field to play against the Colorado Buffaloes at Mountain America Stadium.

Nobody expected this level of play from Kenny Dillingham's Sun Devils. Picked as one of the worst teams in the league before the season, ASU is now flying high at 5-1 and could make a play at the conference championship game.

Salary: $3,950,000

Rating: On point

7. Joey McGuire, Texas Tech Red Raiders

Oct 5, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Joey McGuire yells at team during fourth quarter against Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images
Oct 5, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Joey McGuire yells at team during fourth quarter against Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images

Joey McGuire's Red Raiders are a team of extremes this season. They've won four single-score games, including a wild 52-51 season-opening victory over Abilene Christian in overtime. McGuire possesses the best scoring offense in the Big 12 at 39.3 points per game, but his defense gives up a league-worst 32.3 points per game.

Salary: $4,247,960

Rating: On point

6. Deion Sanders, Colorado Buffaloes

Oct 12, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders yells to his players during the second half against the Kansas State Wildcats at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images
Oct 12, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders yells to his players during the second half against the Kansas State Wildcats at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

Colorado has taken a step forward in Year 2 under Deion Sanders' direction. Coach Prime won his first two Big 12 games and was poised to upset the Kansas State Wildcats at home, but a late KSU score led to the Buffs' first conference loss.

Salary: $5,700,000

Rating: On point

5. Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State Cowboys

Jul 12, 2023; Arlington, TX, USA; Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy is interviewed during Big 12 football media day at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 12, 2023; Arlington, TX, USA; Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy is interviewed during Big 12 football media day at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Once thought to be a Big 12 favorite, Mike Gundy's Oklahoma State Cowboys have been undone by a lack of consistent quarterback play from Alan Bowman. Gundy has tried to inject backup Garret Rangel into the lineup, but he hasn't faired any better.

Salary: $7,750,000

Rating: On point

4. Kyle Whittingham, Utah Utes

Nov 26, 2022; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham during the third quarter against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2022; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham during the third quarter against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Another preseason favorite that has seen its season derailed, Utah has been hurt by the loss of quarterback Cam Rising, who has been replaced by the inconsistent Isaac Wilson. Whittingham and his offensive staff must figure out how to move the ball with Wilson before a brutal three-game stretch against BYU, CU and Iowa State.

Salary: $6,525,000

Rating: Underpaid

3. Chris Klieman, Kansas State Wildcats

Oct 12, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Kansas State Wildcats head coach Chris Klieman looks on from the sideline during the first half against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images
Oct 12, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Kansas State Wildcats head coach Chris Klieman looks on from the sideline during the first half against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

Chris Klieman and his Wildcats have dominated at home and recently secured a great road win against Colorado. All eyes will be on KSU's last regular season game when it travels to Ames to play the Iowa State Cyclones.

Salary: $5,250,000

Rating: Underpaid

2. Matt Campbell, Iowa State Cyclones

Iowa State's head coach Matt Campbell speaks to his players as they walk off the field during the game between the University of Memphis and Iowa State University in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium on Dec. 29, 2023.
Iowa State's head coach Matt Campbell speaks to his players as they walk off the field during the game between the University of Memphis and Iowa State University in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium on Dec. 29, 2023.

Iowa State just keeps on winning. Matt Campbell and his 6-0 Cyclones have dominated their schedule, winning every game but one by double-digits. The Cyclones were ranked No. 12 in the latest US LBM Coaches Poll.

Salary:$4,009,886

Rating: Underpaid

1. Kalani Sitake, BYU Cougars

Sep 29, 2022; Provo, Utah, USA; Brigham Young Cougars head coach Kalani Sitake looks on in the first quarter against the Utah State Aggies at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 29, 2022; Provo, Utah, USA; Brigham Young Cougars head coach Kalani Sitake looks on in the first quarter against the Utah State Aggies at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports

Kalani Sitake's head coaching job this season has been incredible. The Cougars were picked to finish 13th in the preseason Big 12 media poll. However, BYU has ridden great defense and solid quarterback play from Jake Retzlaff to a 6-0 record.

Salary: Undisclosed

This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Re-ranking all 16 Big 12 football head coaches midway through the season