Welcome to Tuesday Takes, where I give you four takes from the Big 12. It was a jam-packed week full of exciting news, but several things caught my attention over the last few days.
Hello, Omaha
What a weekend it was for the West Virginia Mountaineers. They got the opportunity to host a Super Regional and completely dominate their opponent. The Mountaineers put a beatdown on Cal Poly this past weekend as they outscored the Mustangs 29 to 3.
The atmosphere was electric, and I even saw a raccoon in the stands in Morgantown. You can certainly make the case that West Virginia has been the best baseball program in the Big 12 over the last couple of years, given their success.
Now they are heading to Omaha for their first-ever Men’s College World Series appearance. And out of all the matchups they could have had, getting to face Troy in game one feels like a blessing. Don’t be surprised if this team wins a few games and ends up playing for a national championship.
Kansas Will Be Back
There is no doubt that Kansas had a disappointing Super Regional performance against Oklahoma. In their two games, they were outscored 21-3, and neither game was close. For a team that had high expectations coming into the postseason, this past weekend was a total dud.
However, I have faith that this program will bounce back sooner rather than later. Dan Fitzgerald has emerged as one of the best coaches in the sport, having built this program in Lawrence from the ground up.
This team won both the Big 12 regular-season title and the Big 12 tournament championship. That doesn’t happen often at a place like Kansas when it comes to baseball, and with Fitzgerald at the helm, I know this Kansas program is going to make history once again.
Brendan Sorsby Shouldn’t Be Playing
By now, you already have heard the news of a local judge ruling that Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby will be able to play college football in 2026.
Let’s be adults here. Sorsby bet on games at his school (Indiana), played in a game that he bet on, and made many other bets during his time there. It’s one thing to bet on other sports, but to bet on your team is a totally different animal.
There are certain lines you can’t cross, and to me, this is one of them. I understand that he was young and dumb, but there are consequences to your actions, and I stand by the NCAA’s decision to rule him as ineligible.
Changes Have to Be Made
When I think about what is going on with the Sorsby situation, it reminds me that changes have to be made across the board. It’s crazy to me that the NCAA can make a ruling, and a local judge can overrule it.
What power does the NCAA have? If a player can bet on games and get a slap on the wrist, then what else can they get away with? It just goes to show that if you don’t like what the NCAA tells you, go to your local judge and get it fixed.
College football is a complete mess right now. As much as I love it, I also hate what it has turned into. It’s no longer about the schools or traditions; it’s about which players we can buy, how many wins, and, most importantly, the bottom line. It feels like a big business more than a sport I love, and that needs to change. At some point, this system will crumble if we continue on the path that it’s on.
