I’ve owned Heartland College Sports for over 10 years. And I’ve written thousands and thousands of stories for the website. However, I’ve never had a dedicated Monday column for you. It only seems appropriate to start now and play off of Monday, Mundo and Musings. So here we go with another weekly edition of, Mundo’s Monday Big 12 Musings.
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Done With Ireland
I’m done. Never again should the Big 12 agree to play a conference game, heck any game, overseas. I don’t care that ESPN was able to showcase Farmageddon. If they only want to showcase great Big 12 rivalries when it’s convenient for them, it might be time to find a new TV partner.
The game was sloppy, the weather was even worse, and while it was great to have college football back, I didn’t think the payoff was worth it. Now Iowa State got out of Dublin with a win, they’re 1-0 in the Big 12, and deserve to be feeling great about themselves. But the travel alone is brutal for these young men, and the Big 12 should not subject itself to this any more.
I know next year, TCU will play North Carolina in this game. A non-conference game bothers me less, but I’m still not a fan. College football is meant to be played on campus, with the pageantry, and giving these local college towns the economic boost many of them rely on to survive.
Four Nights of Big 12 Football
What other league has FOUR nights of great football coming up in Week 1? It’s only the Big 12.
There are four days where you get great games in this league. Thursday night is Cincinnati vs. Nebraska in Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium. On Friday, Baylor plays Auburn, while Georgia Tech takes on Colorado in Boulder. And then on Saturday, it’s a full slate, highlighted by Utah at UCLA. And then, after a breather on Sunday, it’s a Labor Day showdown with TCU taking on North Carolina as Bill Belichick makes his college coaching debut with his barely-above-college-aged girlfriend. What a scene that will be in Chapel Hill.
After Week 0 action, and now four game days out of five, the Big 12 is off to the races, and the Week 1 match ups are more compelling than what we usually get in Week 1 in this conference. Typically, the Big 12 non-con is highlighted by Week 2 match ups, but this year, we have quality in Week 0, Week 1, Week 2 and then Week 3. There’s no rest for the most compelling conference in college football.
Jalon Daniels’ Play
I’m trying not to overreact to one game against Fresno State, but man was it nice to see Jalon Daniels letting it fly through the air and on the ground on Saturday night in Lawrence. It felt like over two years in the making after Daniels took weeks to get comfortable last year, and it cost KU in a season that didn’t come close to living up to expectations.
However, Daniels was electric on Saturday. Jalon’s first half was as good as it gets: 13/15 for 145 yards and two touchdowns, while leading the team in rushing with 47 yards on eight carries. And with KU taking a 24-7 lead into the second half, Daniels took his foot off the pedal and finished 18/20 for 176 yards and three touchdowns, while rushing for 47 yards.
If he can stay healthy, and I understand that’s a big IF, the Jayhawks, especially with improved line play, will be a team that plays a role in the Big 12 Championship race come November.
