Adam Loewy is one of the top personal injury lawyers in Austin. Adam is a proud graduate of the University of Texas School of Law and started his law firm in 2005. Adam helps people who have been injured in car crashes, slip and falls, dog bites, and other assorted ways. He is actively involved in every case he handles and is always available to talk or text. If you or a loved one has been injured, call the Loewy Law Firm today at (512) 280-0800.
For once, the biggest story during Big 12 Media Days will not be Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy’s mullet.
Big 12 Media Days are typically the opening act of conference media events. College football fans are typically more interested in ACC and Big Ten media days than the Big 12. Our conference is like the local band that plays around 5 p.m. at a musical festival. Friends and family show up early for Big 12 Media Days but the conference is just killing time until the headliner, SEC Media Days, hit the stage at midnight.
This will be the first time in several years the average college football observer shows an interest in Big 12 Media Days, which begins on Wednesday in Arlington. The conference will add four new teams in 2024. In addition, the Big 12 is attempting to poach multiple teams from the Pac 12 (I am old enough to remember former Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby clutching his pearls after learning the SEC had conversations behind his back with Texas and Oklahoma). Conference realignment will be the biggest topic this week.
However, one question is circulating in my mind.
Why not Texas in 2022?
Again, we know the hot topic entering Big 12 Media Days. The story will center around the future of this conference. The upcoming season will be a footnote. We understand why.
Texas and Oklahoma are leaving the Big 12 and are slated to join the SEC in 2025. Some college football reporters believe the move could potentially occur in 2024. Regardless, I think @Chappie07 gave the best analogy when discussing Texas and the Big 12 this past week.
“It feels like Texas and OU are in a shitty marriage with the Big XII and are staying together until the kids turn 18.”
The divorce will occur.
Until the paperwork is finalized, the Big 12 and Texas/Oklahoma will continue to sleep in the same bed with pillows separating them from head to toe.
The Big 12 has braced itself for its breakup with Texas and Oklahoma by adding Cincinnati, Houston, Central Florida, and BYU. Those programs will join this conference in 2023.
The countdown to UCF at Texas Tech is on.
All jokes aside, the Big 12 made a move to save its conference, and those are solid additions. Cincinnati has the opportunity to tap into the Texas and Florida recruiting markets. UCF has a strong program. BYU is solid. Houston has a lot of talent within its city. The Big 12 cannot replace the national appeal of Texas and Oklahoma. Nevertheless, the conference will have competitive games in the future.
In addition, the Big 12 is trying to add more teams. USC and UCLA announced they intend to join the Big Ten in 2024. That has left the remaining Pac-12 teams scrambling since the conference may struggle to survive without those teams.
According to CBSSports.com writer Dennis Dodd, the Big 12 is entertaining the possibility of adding six Pac-12 teams.
“The Big 12 is involved in deep discussions to add multiple Pac-12 programs as a way to shore up its membership in the wake of the USC and UCLA defection to the Big Ten, sources tell CBS Sports. At least four teams are being considered with the potential for the Big 12 to add more as realignment continues to shake out.
“Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah were mentioned specifically as the teams being targeted by the Big 12, sources tell CBS Sports. There is also consideration of adding Oregon and Washington to make the Big 12 an 18-team league, the largest in the FBS.
“A merger of the Big 12 and Pac-12, in some form, is also a possibility.
"Everything is on the table," said one Big 12 source.”
Kansas State at Utah?
Get your tickets now.
Again, the Big 12 is trying to stay relevant and this is a proactive move by the new commissioner (Brett Yormark).
Of course, the Big 12 could have expanded a few years ago but decided it would be better to live off the revenue generated by Texas and Oklahoma. The conference added teams it initially rejected. Regardless, the Big 12 is trying to remain relevant.
Most college football reporters will focus on those topics this week.
However, the question marks surrounding each Big 12 program are intriguing.
Look, we know Texas is entering this season with several concerns. I am not suggesting a team that finished 5-7 has earned the right to point out the weaknesses of any opponent on its schedule. That would be the equivalent of a person who can only make hamburgers critiquing the cooking skills of a master chef.
Texas has a first-year starter at quarterback. The offensive line is a huge question mark entering this season. This defensive line struggled to generate a pass rush last season. Texas football coach Steve Sarkisian expressed his concern about the linebacker room throughout this offseason. It is hard to stand on the table for Texas right now.
This is what we need to consider.
Can you stand on the table for any team in the Big 12?
Oklahoma no longer has Lincoln “Deebo” Riley causing havoc in the Big 12. This serial chain snatcher quit the Sooners and intends to steal bikes in Los Angeles. Several standout players transferred after Riley’s announcement. Oklahoma is traditionally a dangerous program. Yet, will anybody say Brent Venables is the next Riley?
Baylor football coach Dave Aranda looks like the next big thing. After a two-win season in year one, Aranda led his team to a 12-2 record and a Big 12 championship last season, including a Sugar Bowl victory against Ole Miss.
However, six Baylor players were selected in the year’s NFL draft. The Bears must develop a new wide receiver group, running backs, and secondary. And how does Baylor quarterback Blake Shapen perform when teams have more film on him this year?
Oklahoma State finished 12-2 and was a Big 12 runner-up last season. Cowboys coach Mike Gundy is one of the best coaches in the country. But does anyone know what Oklahoma State’s defense will look like without defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, who was hired by Ohio State after the 2021 regular season?
Kansas State is the sexy sleeper pick entering this season, but are you willing to bet on Adrian Martinez, a quarterback who threw for 2,863 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions for Nebraska last season?
Texas has question marks.
The same can be said about every other Big 12 team.
Then again, every other Big 12 team does not have a quarterback who was the No.1 prospect in his recruiting class (Quinn Ewers).
Every other Big 12 team does not have Bijan Robinson.
Every other Big 12 team does not have Xavier Worthy.
Every other Big 12 team does not have Isaiah Neyor.
Every other Big 12 team does not have a stacked tight end room.
Every other Big 12 team does not have Gary Patterson to fix its defense.
There will be plenty of questions at Big 12 Media Days this week.
I only have one.
Why not Texas in 2022?
Funniest Things You Will See This Week
It’s just an above-ground pool … relax
Maybe the dog was trying to save the owners?
This made me smile
Kids know how to keep it simple
Enjoy this trip down memory lane
Sports On A Dime
1. One aspect about preseason predictions that irks me is the lack of accountability by sports prognosticators. Reporters across the country are publishing preseason predictions and will only reference those forecasts after the season if they were correct. Other than that, most reporters do not want anyone to know how inaccurate their predictions were. My rant is over.
Let me remind you of the 2021 Big 12 Football Media Preseason Poll:
This was the actual regular season finish:
1. Oklahoma State
2. Baylor
3. Oklahoma
4. Iowa State
5. Kansas State
6. West Virginia
7. Texas
8. TCU
9. Texas Tech
10. Kansas
Big 12 Champion: Baylor
Preseason polls are fun, but I would not overreact to any Big 12 prediction you saw this past week – or in the future.
2. However, this year’s Big 12 Football Preseason Poll marked the first time in six seasons that Oklahoma was not predicted to finish first. You’re welcome.
3. For those who are interested, here is the Big 12 Media Days schedule
4. Staying with the theme of preseason lists, Texas football coach Steve Sarkisian is ranked sixth in CBS Sports’ Big 12 coach rankings.
1. Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State
2. Dave Aranda, Baylor
3. Matt Campbell, Iowa State
4 .Chris Klieman, Kansas State
5. Sonny Dykes, TCU
6. Steve Sarkisian, Texas
“Steve Sarkisian (39 overall): This is easily the most head-scratching ranking on the board, not even counting that Sark was overrated heading into last year. Sark had a dreadful debut in Austin, as he finished with the worst record for a first-year Longhorns coach since 1937 and the worst losing streak for the program since 1956. Sure, getting back-to-back No. 1 quarterback recruits should help, but I'm in no rush to elevate Sarkisian before the Longhorns win anything. In seven full seasons as a head coach at Washington, USC and Texas, Sarkisian has never lost fewer than four games. Last year: 8 in the Big 12”
7. Lance Leipold, Kansas
8. Brent Venables, Oklahoma
9. Neal Brown, West Virginia
10. Joey McGuire, Texas Tech
5. Yahoo’s Sam Murphy does not expect Texas or Texas A&M to have much success against Alabama this year in his preseason predictions:
Prediction: Alabama 45, Texas 28
Texas has some unbelievable players at the skill positions. It will be Quinn Ewers first big game debut and the Texas offensive line is going to struggle with the constant pressure of Will Anderson and Dallas Turner, but Texas will still score some points too.
Prediction: Alabama 52, Texas A&M 24
Talk about the ultimate revenge game. From losing to his first assistant to the NIL disputes, Coach Saban and the Tide have had this date circled for a long time and I believe it won’t be a repeat of 2021.
6. It is hard to discuss Alabama and not have concerns about Will Anderson against the Texas offensive line.
7. ICYMI
8. Shannon Sharpe on Baker Mayfield becoming a franchise quarterback: “What kind of franchise is he starting? In-And-Out? McDonald’s?
9. It will be interesting if Ferrari has its drivers work together against Max Verstappen or let every driver fight for itself
10. Thank goodness for the halo device in F1 cars. It saved Zhou Guanyu’s life last week.
Attachments
Last edited by a moderator:
