As we put a bow on the week, it’s time to look at some of the winners and losers from across the Big 12 Conference this week. I believe this will be a fun way to cap off the week during the off-season. Please let us know what you think by joining our Heartland College Sports free forums. And before you read on, if you would consider subscribing to our free newsletter, drop your e-mail below. I give you one take each week I don’t share on any other platform.
Winner: Judge Phillip Hays
The judge in West Texas did the right thing when he recused himself from the case. I know it wasn’t popular with some Red Raiders fans, but this was absolutely the right and responsible move, considering he has two degrees from Texas Tech. Total respect for Hays, who respects his position, and the profession, enough, to sit this one out.
Loser: Steve Sarkisian
Texas football coach Steve Sarkisian said this week, “There’s a team in our state that plays in another conference that has a schedule that I would argue if I played with our twos and our threes, we could go undefeated, and they’ll probably make the CFP this year.”
Sark was clearly taking a shot at Texas Tech. But does Steve Sarkisian forget that had he not received a GIFT of a no-call for targeting with one minute left vs. the Big 12 Champion (Arizona State) 18 months ago, he likely loses that CFP game to a league he claims he can win with his twos and threes?
Sark is already crying about how hard the SEC is, to give himself multiple excuses heading into the 2026 season. “If only we were still in the Big 12!” Wow. Texas Tech is really in Sark’s head.
And Tech megabooster Cody Campbell had a good idea!
Winner: Iowa State AD Jamie Pollard
Pollard threated the SEC and Big Ten this week when he told reporters, “Let them break away. We should break away from them. Let them go, but they have to go in all their sports & see how fun it is to play baseball, softball & track when it’s just the 20 of you. That’s what I think we should do, but I’m one person & that’s probably a little more draconian. That’s how I feel about it. Like, let’s quit talking about it. Quit threatening. Go do it. But if you’re going to do it, you don’t get to just do it in football & then keep all your other sports with us. No, take them all. See how fun it is.”
The reality is the Big 12, specifically Iowa State, doesn’t hold a lot of cards here, but I like the approach from Pollard. What the heck do we have to lose at this point? It’s ballsy from Pollard, but that’s always been his style, and I’ve always respected it.
Loser: Tom Brady
Tom Brady gave the commencement speech this week at Georgetown, and for some reason elected to take a shot at Texas Tech. Are the Red Raiders on everyone’s mind?
Brady said, “Understanding this served me well on every step of my journey, including that step into the huddle on that fourth down with the outcome of the Super Bowl, 99.7% guaranteed that we lose. We called the play. It was a little square out to Danny Amendola.
Danny went undrafted out of Texas Tech. He was cut by three NFL teams. He wasn’t the tallest. He wasn’t the fastest, but he had a huge heart, and he played his ass off in the biggest moments. I hope you guys find colleagues like Danny. Having business school friends are great. Don’t get me wrong, but sometimes you need a kid from a glorified community college who can bail your ass out of any jam. If you want to achieve great things, surround yourself with people like him.”
Really, Tom? I can’t say I am shocked, but a totally unnecessary shot.
Winner: Utah Alum Dave Checketts
At least one mega-booster at Utah has zero interest in his alma mater’s historic private-equity deal with Otro Capital. Businessman and NBA executive Dave Checketts explained the deal to Front Office Sports as the Utes selling off “their future” during a recent episode of Portfolio Players.
The comments came during a conversation regarding what types of deals Checketts might be interested in striking with his sports investment fund Cynosure Checketts Sports Capital. He started by saying basketball and golf, and quickly added college sports, before adding, “College sports has got to settle its way a little bit before you invest.”
Loser: Matt Campbell
Matt Campbell called Ames, Iowa a “food desert” this week, claiming State College has more places to go eat and that they even have a Trader Joe’s. Acting like State College is the Las Vegas strip is something else from Campbell. I mean, you took the job, dude, it’s OK, we get it. But please don’t act like the reason you left was for a Trader Joe’s. There is one in Des Moines and Campbell could have easily had it delivered to his house at will during his time at Iowa State.
