The Arizona State Sun Devils have taken to the Big 12 in a big way since they joined the conference in 2024.

That first season was a magic carpet ride as the Sun Devils came out of nowhere to win the Big 12 Championship and reach the College Football Playoff for the first time.

Last season the Sun Devils were no slouch. They won eight games and went 6-3 in Big 12 play. As they enter Year 3, the Sun Devils can win a second Big 12 title in three years. To do so, they’ll have to deal with more change than they’ve had to deal with since they joined the league.

Here are three things to watch as they prepare for the 2026 season.

A New-Look Offense

For the first time since he took over, head coach Kenny Dillingham doesn’t have the continuity on offense that he’s used to. His veteran quarterback, Sam Leavitt, chased the big NIL deal and transferred to LSU. Other top-shelf talent, such as wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, left for the NFL.

It’s not that Dillingham doesn’t have talent, it’s just not as cohesive as in past years because there isn’t a single returning starter on that side of the football. The wide receivers could be the group to watch, as he lured Colorado’s Omarion Miller, Boston College’s Reed Harris and Washington’s Raiden Vines-Bright.

Former Kentucky quarterback Cutter Boley is the triggerman. Three of the five potential offensive line starters were backups last year. It will be important to watch how long it takes these Sun Devils to get rolling and whether that bleeds into Big 12 play

The Early Tests

Arizona State has, potentially, the most troublesome start to the season of any Big 12. After hosting Morgan State in a money game on Sept. 5, the Sun Devils head to Texas A&M to face the Aggies (I guess one SEC team isn’t afraid to follow through on scheduling a Big 12 team). The Aggies made the College Football Playoff last year so it should be a big test for Arizona State.

That is followed by the trip to London to face the Kansas Jayhawks on Sept. 19. It’s a big game for many reasons and not just because it’s the first Big 12 game abroad. ASU is taking on the challenge of opening the league slate overseas at a neutral site.

This is a critical stretch to watch. If Arizona State beats Texas A&M, that’s a huge CFP boost. If the Sun Devils lose, how bad is it? How will the trip to England impact the rest of the season, even with the bye week afterward? Plenty of interesting things to watch in those two games.

Don’t Mess with the Front Six

The Sun Devils could have one of the more intriguing front sixes in the country, considering they play a 4-2-5 formation. Defensive tackle C.J. Fite is back after a solid 2025 and could be an all-Big 12 performer in 2026. He was one of the league’s leaders in run tackles last season. Defensive end Jalen Thompson could be in for a big season as well.

The most intriguing player is linebacker Owen Long. The Colorado State transfer led FBS in total tackles and tackles per game last season. Dillingham sees him as a dynamic force in their defense, and he has anything close to the season he had with the Rams last year, the Sun Devils defense will be much better than a year ago.

College sports have always inspired unusually engaged fans. Supporters follow recruiting classes months before the season begins, debate depth charts, study conference standings and pay close attention to rival programs. In the Big 12, where a single weekend can reshape an entire football or basketball race, that appetite for information is particularly strong. 

Sports betting has added another layer to the way some adult fans follow those games. A matchup is no longer viewed only through wins and losses. Point spreads, totals, futures markets and changing odds encourage bettors to consider margin, pace, injuries, weather and individual matchups in greater detail. Heartland College Sports already reflects that shift, regularly publishing current betting odds and analysis alongside its Big 12 football and basketball coverage.  

A Final Score No Longer Tells the Whole Story 

For a traditional fan, the most important question is simple: did the team win? Sports betting introduces several additional questions. Did the favorite cover the spread? Did the game finish above or below the projected total? Did a line move significantly between its opening and kickoff? 

Those questions change what supporters notice during the game. A touchdown late in the fourth quarter may have little impact on which team wins but completely change the result against the spread. A basketball team protecting a comfortable lead may still matter to someone following a total or point spread until the final possession. 

This does not mean betting has replaced traditional fandom. For many people, loyalty to the team remains the strongest emotion in the building. Betting simply creates another framework through which some viewers interpret the same action. 

Fans Are Studying Matchups More Closely 

One of the more interesting effects of sports betting is the increased attention given to the details behind a matchup. Knowing that one team is favored by six points is useful, but understanding why requires considerably more information. 

College football bettors may look at offensive line performance, quarterback efficiency, defensive weaknesses, weather and special teams. Basketball introduces different variables, including pace, three point shooting, rebounding, foul trouble and recent scheduling demands. Heartland College Sports has noted that Big 12 bettors can make poor decisions when team loyalty replaces research, highlighting factors including injuries, weather and kicking conditions as pieces of context that can change quickly.  

That analytical approach can deepen general sports knowledge even when no wager is placed. A fan who studies how two offensive schemes match up against opposing defenses may notice tactical details during the game that would previously have gone unnoticed. 

Betting Content Now Sits Beside Traditional Sports Coverage 

Sports media has responded to changing audience interests by making odds much more visible. Betting lines now appear alongside schedules, previews and statistical analysis, while dedicated betting sections provide predictions and updated markets. ESPN, for example, maintains a sports betting section containing current odds, picks and analysis across major competitions.  

This broader gambling landscape also varies considerably by jurisdiction. A UK reader researching regulated gambling might encounter a phrase such as casino UK and platforms including MrQ, which is licensed and regulated in Great Britain by the Gambling Commission. MrQ itself is an online casino rather than a sportsbook, so it should not be confused with a sports betting operator.  

That distinction matters whenever fans explore betting or gambling services online. Sportsbooks, casinos and other regulated products may operate within the same wider sector, but they provide different forms of gambling and can be subject to different availability depending on location. 

Official Data Has Become More Important to College Sports Coverage 

As betting becomes more visible around college sports, the quality of the underlying information matters more than ever. The NCAA has expanded the role of official statistics and data services across college competitions, helping schools, broadcasters and other partners work from more reliable information rather than unofficial reports or social media speculation. 

For fans, that matters because betting markets can react quickly to injuries, lineup changes and in-game developments. Reliable statistics do not remove uncertainty, but they provide a stronger foundation for understanding what is actually happening on the field or court. In a sports environment where information moves almost instantly, verified data remains more valuable than simply being first. 

Point Spreads Change How Fans Think About Close Games 

Point spreads are particularly influential because they change what counts as a meaningful margin. Suppose a college football favorite enters the game laying 14 points. Winning by three is enough to satisfy the team and its supporters, but it creates a very different outcome for anyone following the spread. Suddenly, the final few minutes remain relevant even when the winner appears decided. 

This can change the way viewers interpret coaching decisions too. A late field goal, fourth down attempt or defensive stop may matter for reasons beyond the standings. Fans familiar with the spread understand why seemingly routine plays can generate strong reactions well after the competitive result appears settled. 

Heartland College Sports has published explanatory betting content around spreads and totals, describing how an over or under allows fans to think about the anticipated flow and scoring level of a game rather than simply choosing a winner.  

Futures Markets Extend Interest Beyond Game Day 

Sports betting has also changed when some fans begin following a season. Futures markets can appear months before the first meaningful game, creating discussion about championship contenders, conference winners and long shots well before traditional previews arrive. 

Heartland College Sports has already covered early 2026 college football futures and Big 12 championship markets, demonstrating how preseason expectations can become part of the conversation long before teams have settled every roster question.  

That can make offseason developments feel more significant. A transfer quarterback, coaching change or important injury may immediately alter perceptions about a team’s chances. Supporters who follow futures markets therefore tend to pay particularly close attention to news that might otherwise seem distant from game day. 

The transfer portal has intensified this effect. College rosters can change significantly from one season to the next, meaning early expectations may require constant revision as personnel decisions become clearer. 

Live Information Has Become More Valuable 

Betting has also increased demand for information that arrives quickly. An injury announced shortly before kickoff can influence both expectations and available lines. Weather changes can matter in football, while late lineup news can reshape basketball analysis. 

This has helped turn sports data into an increasingly important part of the wider fan experience. ESPN reported that sports leagues and their technology partners have developed data driven products designed for sportsbooks and other forms of fan engagement, illustrating how closely live statistics and betting infrastructure have become connected.  

For ordinary supporters, the result is easier access to information that once required considerably more effort to find. Live statistics, injury updates and betting lines can all sit on the same phone used to watch highlights and discuss the game with friends. 

More information does not automatically create better predictions, however. College sports remain highly variable. Turnovers, young players, unusual matchups and momentum swings can make individual games difficult to forecast even when the statistical case appears strong. 

Social Media Has Made Betting Conversation More Visible 

Sports betting used to be something discussed mainly among people who actively participated in it. Social media has made those conversations considerably more public. 

Fans share picks, compare lines and react to dramatic covers while watching games together online. ESPN has documented the rise of sports betting discussion on social media, showing how platforms have helped create communities built around picks and wagering conversation.  

College sports are particularly suited to this because fan identities are already strongly social. Alumni groups, rivalry communities and conference focused audiences generate continuous conversation throughout the season. Betting adds another topic to an ecosystem that was already active. 

The downside is that confident opinions can spread more quickly than reliable analysis. A viral pick remains only a prediction, regardless of how many people repeat it. Separating enthusiasm from evidence therefore matters just as much online as it does when evaluating a matchup independently. 

Team Loyalty Can Complicate Betting Decisions 

College sports fandom is deeply emotional. That passion is one of the reasons the games matter so much, but it can create an obvious challenge when betting is involved. 

A fan may know their team better than almost anyone outside the program, yet that knowledge can coexist with optimism. Supporters naturally remember impressive performances and may find reasons to dismiss weaknesses they would identify immediately in a rival. 

Heartland College Sports has explicitly discussed this problem in its Big 12 betting coverage, warning against decisions driven primarily by loyalty rather than matchup context.  

That is one reason objective information remains valuable. Betting lines, injuries and statistical trends do not eliminate bias, but they can encourage fans to test their assumptions against evidence rather than relying entirely on instinct. 

Betting Has Made the Entire Schedule More Relevant 

One subtle change is that sports betting can give fans reasons to pay attention to games involving teams they would not normally follow. 

A Kansas State supporter may already care deeply about the Wildcats, but betting markets can create interest in an Arizona State game happening later that evening or a nonconference matchup involving a future opponent. Conference races already encourage this kind of scoreboard watching, and betting can extend it further. 

This helps explain why sportsbooks and leagues often describe betting in terms of engagement. A viewer who has an additional reason to care about the result may watch longer or follow more games. Heartland College Sports has previously discussed the potential relationship between sports betting and increased interest in college sports, including television audiences and attendance.  

The strongest college sports fans hardly need another reason to watch, but betting can broaden attention across the schedule rather than concentrating it entirely on one favorite team. 

The Game Still Has to Matter More Than the Line 

Sports betting has undoubtedly changed some of the habits surrounding college football and basketball. Fans have more reasons to examine statistics, understand matchups and follow developments throughout the week. Point spreads and totals can also reveal how markets perceive a game, providing another perspective alongside traditional sports analysis. 

But the appeal of college sports remains rooted in something betting markets cannot reproduce. Rivalries, campus traditions, unexpected breakout players and chaotic conference races matter because supporters have genuine connections to teams and schools. 

The healthiest relationship between the two is therefore one where betting adds context rather than replacing the sport itself. A spread can make the final possession more interesting and futures odds can create another offseason debate, but neither should become more important than the game. 

College sports were compelling long before betting lines became part of mainstream coverage. What has changed is the number of ways fans can now interpret what they are watching. 

The Arizona Wildcats are coming off a nine-win season in 2025, which was a bit of a surprise in head coach Brent Brennan‘s second season. Now, he has an experienced group coming back on offense and has one of the best quarterbacks in the country to lead them.

Meanwhile, Arizona extended its defensive coordinator after he put together one of the best units in the country and the Wildcats have a real chance to be one of the two teams they get to the Big 12 Championship game in December.

Here are three things to watch as they prepare for the 2026 season.

Can Noah Fifita Have a Heisman-Worthy Season?

At Big 12 media days if you ran into a communications person for Arizona, they made sure to hand you a one-sheet touting quarterback Noah Fifita for the Heisman Trophy.

On paper he has the career numbers to be in the running. In four years with the Wildcats, he has thrown for 9,173 yards and 73 touchdowns. He chose to stay when former head coach Jedd Fisch left for Washington and Brent Brennan took over. Brennan mus be grateful every day for that decision. The Wildcats would be far worse off without him.

This is his final season and in July he said he’s only focused on the team and trying to improve on last year’s nine wins.

But Fifita’s numbers and Arizona’s ability to win a Big 12 title are intrinsically linked. If he has a Heisman Trophy-worthy season, there’s a good chance the Wildcats are playing on the first Friday night of December in Arlington, Texas, for the Big 12 title. Watching his numbers week to week and how they feel Arizona’s success is it going to be something to watch.

The Defense Could Have Another Great Season

Fifita’s talent casts a long shadow in Tucson. But a big reason Arizona won nine games last year was because it had one of the best defenses in the country. That’s why the Wildcats locked up defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales into a long-term deal. He crafted the seventh-best defensive unit in the country, one that had more takeaways (31) than touchdowns allowed (28) in 2025.

Can he do it again. Up front he has four returning starters, including defensive end Tre Smith, along with linebackers Chase Kennedy and Taye Brown. The issue is defensive back. Three highly experienced stars are gone in Treydan Stukes, Genesis Smith and Dalton Johnson.

Many of the players expected to replace the trio were on the roster last year, so there is continuity. But are they as good as that trio? Watching how this defense comes together — and whether Gonzales can put new pieces in the right places a second straight year — will be telling of the team’s overall success.

The Big 12 Opener

Arizona drew the first conference game of the season. The Wildcats didn’t get any favors either. The Big 12 handed their television partners a terrific match up on Sept. 12 as Arizona heads to BYU to face the Cougars.

BYU reached the Big 12 championship game last year and looks primed to do it again. Last year these two teams met and played a classic. The Cougars won in overtime, 33-27, in Tucson.

This isn’t just a conference opener for the Wildcats. It’s a tone setter. It’s an opportunity for them to show the country that they will be a player in this race. A loss doesn’t end their opportunity to reach the Big 12 championship game. But what to watch for is the kind of statement the Wildcats make in Provo that Saturday.

We all know that NIL has changed college football forever, but just how much money are teams paying their top players? A new ESPN report dove into the details of the estimated payments for top players at each position, and we all know that the quarterback position is the most valuable in college football. And ESPN noted that Oklahoma State spent a small fortune to land transfer quarterback Drew Mestemaker from North Texas, joining his head coach, Eric Morris, in Stillwater.

According to the ESPN report, “Darian Mensah was once again the extreme outlier, with his unprecedented deal with Miami that was believed to approach $8 million before his settlement with Duke. Now-former Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby and LSU’s Sam Leavitt pushed the top of the market into the $4 million to $5 million range, with Josh Hoover (Indiana) and Drew Mestemaker (Oklahoma State) not far behind them as coveted passers in the portal. South Carolina and Cal had to pony up to retain LaNorris Sellers and Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, respectively.”

So while there have been questions around Stillwater as to whether or not Oklahoma State was ready to play in the deep end of the NIL and transfer portal pool, at least for off-season No. 1 for Eric Morris, this ESPN report would suggest that Mestemaker is one of the highest-paid players in all of college football. And the fact that they brought along weapons like Wyatt Young and Caleb Hawkins suggests the pockets in Stillwater may be deep, even without T. Boone Pickens around any more.

Oklahoma State fans should be thrilled by this news. The Cowboys were expected to be one of the top teams in the Big 12 Conference under its new 16-team iteration following the departure of Oklahoma and Texas. But the last two seasons were absolute disasters under Mike Gundy, who seemingly never adjusted to or embraced the new era of college football. And that’s OK, but it was time for everyone to move on.

But the donors and boosters have also clearly stepped up at a critical time in the program’s history. OU is in the SEC and fresh off a College Football Playoff appearance, and the time is now for the Pokes, under new leadership, to not fall behind in the arms race. And while the spending doesn’t guarantee wins, it certainly puts this team and program in a much better position to compete at the highest levels of the Big 12 Conference.

As I shared in one of our recent YouTube videos, Oklahoma State over 5.5 wins feels like a lock to me. Subscribe to our YouTube channel here! And after this new ESPN report, I only feel even more confident with that assessment.

Welcome to Tuesday Takes, where I give you three 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.

A 20-Team Playoff Would Be Good

Typically, I would say no to a 20-team College Football Playoff. In fact, I wasn’t a huge fan of expansion to begin with, but that was before I realized the bigger the playoff, the better the chance of multiple Big 12 teams getting in.

I understand that the Big Ten and SEC would get a majority of the playoff field, which is what they already do now with 12 teams. So why not bump it to 20 and try to get at least two or three teams from the Big 12 in?

It would also help eliminate conference championship games, and let’s face it, if BYU hadn’t played in the Big 12 championship game last year, they likely would have gotten into the playoff. Even though no decision was made about future expansion this week, I still think it would benefit the Big 12 if the field were expanded to 20.

The Aggies Are Scared

Any chance I get to take a shot at Texas or Texas A&M, I take it. And after Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire and booster Cody Campbell issued an open challenge to Texas, they wanted no part of it.

And now, according to a recent report from On3, Texas A&M has also declined an offer from Texas Tech to play a future non-conference series. “We’re talking to everybody and anybody. So far, everybody’s told us no,” Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire told On3.

Texas A&M is just like Texas, scared to play Texas Tech. Everyone loves to talk about keeping regional rivalries together, and yet nobody is willing to make it work. Yet, Texas Tech is out here trying to get something going and has yet to get someone to say yes.

The Monster Deal is Worse Than I Thought

When the Big 12-Monster deal was announced, I wasn’t a huge fan of it. To me, the payout seemed extremely low for each school for that kind of advertising. What made it worse is that Brett Yormark is a businessman, and it felt like he got the short end of the stick.

While it was cool to see a Big 12 race car this past weekend in Iowa, recent photos from Big 12 basketball courts show what the Monster logo looks like on the court.

As you can see, it is by no means a small logo. It’s a bit of an eyesore, and for that, I just wish the Big 12 could have gotten a whole lot more money for the space Monster was able to get.

For every conference contender, there is always the chance of being upset. Things are no different in the Big 12 Conference.

Here, we determine the most likely upset to watch for each contender in the Big 12.

First order of business — who are the contenders? Fair question. The Big 12 tends to be a wide-open league. There hasn’t been a repeat champion since 2020 (Oklahoma). Aside from Texas’ title in 2023 on their way out of the league, the champions have included Baylor, Kansas State, Arizona State and Texas Tech.

But we must draw a line somewhere. I drew mine at six wins in league play last year. The six teams that had at least six league wins last year were Texas Tech, BYU, Utah, Houston, Arizona and Arizona State. Four of those teams finished with 10 or more wins.

Next, what constitutes an upset? Again, let’s look at the standings. In Big 12 play, it’s a team that was under .500 in both conference play and overall. In non-conference, we’ll look at teams that were under .500 last year. Also, every attempt was made to not repeat teams.

So, let’s do this.

Texas Tech: at Oklahoma State, Nov. 14

While Oregon State’s upset of Texas Tech on Sept. 12 in Corvallis would shake the planet, the Beavers won two games last year and are picked last in the Pac-12. Yep, it’s a thing again.

The Cowboys are a much better choice. They went 1-11 last year and haven’t won a Big 12 game in two years. Mike Gundy is out. Eric Morris is in. Nearly 90 new transfers and some of the trendiest offensive players transferred in from Morris’ old program at North Texas, which went 12-2 last year.

Oh, and Morris played at Texas Tech with Michael Crabtree and for Mike Leach. It has the potential to be a wild game, especially if OSU has turned things around and is in contention for the Big 12 title.

BYU: at UCF, Oct. 24

This one is ripe for an upset. The Cougars must fly cross-country for a game that could be as early as noon Eastern in Orlando. It could be muggy. It could be rainy. It could be a downpour. It’s October in Orlando. Who knows? The Knights were a win away from going to a bowl game last year and went 5-7.

UCF has solved its quarterback problem with Alonza Barrett III, who piloted the James Madison Dukes to the College Football Playoff. He played fearlessly against Oregon in their first-round game. He has the potential to make the Knights a good team in Year 2 of the Scott Frost reboot, good enough to give BYU fits.

Houston: at Colorado, Nov. 14

Boulder in mid-November can be an issue for visiting teams. Expect it to be cold. It could be snowy. It could be rainy. It’s at elevation. Deion Sanders will have the place lit up.  

Houston won 10 games last year, and all the focus will be on the Sept. 18 showdown with Texas Tech in Lubbock. But, even if Houston loses that game, the Cougars could win the next eight and — most likely — get to the Big 12 title game. It’s a game like this, against a Colorado team eager to bounce back after last season‚ that could really trip them up.

Utah: Arkansas, Sept. 12

Wait? What?! An SEC team at home is an upset? What? But I thought the SEC was all that and a bag of …

Well, Arkansas went 2-10 last year and, like Oklahoma State, lost every league game. But I’m sure someone in SEC country could argue that Arkansas was a better team than half the teams in the SEC.

Anyway, new head coach Ryan Silverfield has already made the Razorbacks more talented, and the Hogs are worth taking seriously. Plus, that will be new head coach Morgan Scalley’s third game at the helm. If things get sideways, well, it could get really interesting in Salt Lake City.

Arizona: at West Virginia, Oct. 10

Arizona dodges a variable with the timing. The weather should be OK in Morgantown in mid-October. It’s the final game before Arizona’s bye week, so the Wildcats might get caught looking ahead to a week off before a back half of a schedule that starts with a home game against Iowa State, followed by a trip to Texas Tech. It’s gonna be electric because it’s Mountaineers fans and that’s just how they roll.

It’s an east coast trip and a cross-country flight for a game that could be as early as noon Eastern when the body is telling you it’s 9 a.m. Things could get dicey for the Wildcats.

Arizona State: vs. Baylor, Oct. 3

Think about the last time that the Big 12 sent teams overseas. That was the Iowa State-Kansas State game. Remember who lost that game? Kansas State. Remember what happened next? The Wildcats went 6-6 and skipped a bowl game after Chris Klieman’s retirement.

Arizona State and Kansas are going to London to play at Wembley Stadium on Sept. 19. The Sun Devils get a week off before they host Baylor. The Bears have an improved quarterback situation and an improved defensive coordinator situation. Jet lag doesn’t last two weeks. But losing a game overseas and having to wait two weeks to avenge it does. If ASU loses in London, watch this game.

With this much roster turnover, most of the attention this offseason has gone to who Ohio State lost. It is worth spending just as much time on who is stepping up to replace them.

Eddrick Houston is the name at the top of that list. The sophomore made the unusual move from the edge to the interior during his freshman season and quickly turned it into an advantage, finishing 2025 with 21 tackles, four tackles for loss, and three sacks in 13 games after playing 12 games as a true freshman the year before. With Kayden McDonald now gone to the NFL, Houston is the closest thing Ohio State has to a returning anchor up front, and there is a real case that his best football is still ahead of him.

Jermaine Mathews Jr. deserves a mention here too, even though he is a returning starter rather than a newcomer. He closed 2025 with 26 tackles, two interceptions, one sack, and a forced fumble across 14 games, and former Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah singled him out this summer as one of two Buckeyes he expects to take a real step forward in 2026. That kind of endorsement from a player who knows exactly what it takes to succeed at the position in Columbus carries weight, especially for a cornerback room that now has to replace Davison Igbinosun’s experience without much margin for a slow start.

The Interior’s New Face

Houston was viewed as an edge rusher coming out of high school before Ohio State added weight and moved him inside, a bet that paid off almost immediately. He now projects as more of a disruptive three technique than a true nose tackle, which fits well alongside the transfer additions Larry Johnson brought in this offseason to round out the interior rotation. If Houston takes the step several analysts expect, he gives Matt Patricia a legitimate returning building block at the position that lost the most production from last year’s defense.

Spring Game Flashes

A handful of defenders also made a case for themselves during Ohio State’s spring game in April. Defensive back Atkinson stood out, picking off a tipped pass off a deflection from Will Smith Jr. to go along with a sack, the kind of instinctive, ball-hawking play that Patricia’s system tends to reward even in a limited spring setting. A pass rusher named Jackson also picked up a pair of sacks in the scrimmage, though as always with spring game stat lines, the quarterback touch rule that limits full contact on passers means those numbers come with a real grain of salt.

None of these performances guarantee a starting job in September. Spring games are closer to organized practice than real football, and the players who flash in April don’t always hold up once fall camp intensity and live tackling return. What the spring game does provide is an early signal of who the coaching staff trusted with meaningful reps at a time when the two-deep is still very much unsettled.

A Deeper Bench Than the Headlines Suggest

It is easy to look at a list of seven departed starters and assume Ohio State’s defense is starting from nothing, but that overstates the situation. Players like Kenyatta Jackson Jr. and Jermaine Mathews Jr. already have real starting experience, and the transfer additions Larry Johnson and Tim Walton brought in this offseason mean the two-deep isn’t being filled entirely with unproven true freshmen. Devin Sanchez, a former five-star cornerback signee who has continued developing behind the returning starters, gives the room another proven high school pedigree to lean on if injuries or growing pains hit early. Houston and the spring game standouts are simply the names with the most obvious room to grow into larger roles, not the entirety of the plan.

Why These Names Matter Now

Ohio State’s defense has now lost 15 starters to the NFL Draft across the last two offseasons, an extraordinary amount of proven production to replace in back to back years. That makes players like Houston, who already has a season of quality tape, and the younger names who flashed in the spring game that much more important heading into fall camp. Patricia doesn’t need every one of them to become an All-American. He needs enough of them to be ready by September that the defense doesn’t have to lean entirely on the transfer additions to hold the line.

The margin for error is thinner this year than it was a year ago, if only because opposing coordinators now have a full season of film to study. Houston and the rest of this developing group will have every chance to prove that margin doesn’t matter as much as it looks like it should on paper, especially with Matt Patricia’s staff putting a full offseason of installation behind them before the lights come on against Ball State.

We are just weeks away from the college football season kicking off, and if there was ever a doubt that Joey McGuire was embracing Texas Tech as the “evil empire” of college football, well, think again. McGuire reportedly said recently during a meeting, “We’re the most hated team in college football. And I absolutely love it,” according to On3.

Now, this is exactly the angle McGuire should be taking. Tech fans seem to be embracing it. So their head coach should as well. I do find irony in Texas Tech seemingly finding itself in the same position as the Texas Longhorns for so many years in the Big 12, who, of course, Texas Tech could not stand. But hey, it’s college football. Things come full circle.

Now, from a Big 12 perspective, many other fan bases may already be sick of the Red Raiders, but trust me, this is good for the conference. Having a program hated by SEC and Big Ten fanboys is fantastic for this league. And for Big 12 fans around the country, you should be OK with Texas Tech winning a bunch of games, except for when they play your team. The better Texas Tech is, the better it is for the Big 12, and then when your team, hopefully, beats the Red Raiders, it lifts your favorite program to the next level, too. And that, hopefully, allows resources to continue to pour in to build up your team in future seasons. Donations flow in. Attention comes from around the country. Everybody wins. A rising tide lifts all boats. That’s the goal here. Or it should be, for the Big 12.

Now, it is true that Texas Tech has only won one Big 12 Championship. It would benefit them to stack up at least a couple in a row before embracing the villain status, but everything got expedited this offseason due to the Brendan Sorsby fiasco. And the Big 12 has been looking to find that villain for a while.

Deion Sanders, for all his bluster, never really fit the billing. Utah fans wanted to turn the Utes into that team, but it hasn’t really happened. BYU? Eh, that’s a niche target audience that doesn’t care for the Cougars. Enter: The Red Raiders. Cody Campbell has become the most-talked-about booster in college football. It’s all come together. And while it’s driving Big 12 fans nuts, know that this is actually in your best interests.

But now, let’s buckle the chin straps, get to the games, and sort it all out on the field.

What’s going on in the Big 12 and beyond? I expand and explain every Sunday in Postscripts at Heartland College Sports, your home for independent Big 12 coverage.

Five Stories I Thought About This Week

I went through our site and found five stories that I thought were interesting this week and wanted to redirect readers to those and provide my thoughts.

(I’m done writing about the Protect College Sports Act — for now. I still say we need the Protect Texas-Based Collegiate Sports Teams from Ted Cruz Attending Their Games Act, but that’s just me).

The Big 12 is Not Safe

Our Conner Becker wrote a piece this week titled “Is the Big 12 Truly Safe From Realignment?”

Uh, no. Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.

His piece was written off the amendment to the PCSA (yeah I know what I just wrote, stop looking at me like that) that would allow power conference teams to change conferences within 180 days of the law going into effect.

Frankly, I don’t think it matters. The bill is never going to get passed because these conferences don’t want to be dictated to when it comes to what conference they’re affiliated with. They want autonomy in that department. That’s why the amendment was offered. In fact, don’t be surprised if other amendments are offered when Congress gets back in session in September.

If you really want the bill to pass, take the language about conference expansion out of it. You’ll get a much more receptive audience. You’ll also get more realignment. But you’re going to get it anyway.

Let’s just say this bill passes and Texas Tech wants to go to the SEC and, by some miracle, the SEC says yes. They’re just going to go to court to waive that five-year independent rule to get into the SEC. Considering the NCAA is involved, the Red Raiders will probably win because the NCAA can’t win a meaningful case in court. And I’m not even sure anti-trust exemptions will help the entity that much.

So, no, the Big 12 is not safe. Neither is the ACC. Neither is any conference these days. And it has little to do with that amendment. It’s business. It’s making money. And if the Big Ten and the SEC want to make more money by expanding, they’re going to do it, and you can see them in court.

Matt Entz is Drinking That Pac-12 Punch

North Dakota State is one of the best programs in college football, regardless of division. Each of its last four head coaches has won at least one national championship — Craig Bohl, Chris Klieman, Matt Entz and current coach Tim Polasek. And Alabama is a dynasty? Please. That’s 10 national titles in a 13-year span.

Bohl ended up at Wyoming. Klieman ended up at Kansas State. Entz is at Fresno State, where he is entering his second year. The Bulldogs went 9-4 a year ago and won the Arizona Bowl. Now, they’re migrating over to the Pac-12 Conference.

I guess he got the Pac-12 memo about taking shots at the Big 12. He talked openly about developing his Fresno State players for the next step and dissed the Big 12 in the process.

“With this five-year rule, what we’ve started to do with this five-year eligibility piece is say, ‘Hey, three years at Fresno State can set you up for the next opportunity,’” Entz said. “And then you still have two years to go to Alabama or Texas. But going to the Big 12 isn’t a big enough jump. You have to go to the Big Ten, SEC or NFL.”

Well, Matt — may I call you Matt? — if they “have to” go to the SEC, the Big Ten or the NFL, well that eliminates most of your roster, bud. Also, let me know how that intentional feeder team strategy works out for you long-term?

I was curious. On3 keeps a log of transfers out and transfers in. Fourteen Bulldogs transferred out. One landed at an SEC school, Texas A&M. The majority that signed ended up at Sacramento State. So, maybe build your program up a little more, first?

The Pac-12 is now made up of Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Oregon State, San Diego State, Texas state, Utah State and Washington State for football, with Gonzaga thrown in for basketball. I feel bad for true Pac-12 fans. George Klivakoff did y’all wrong.

The Monster-Big 12 NASCAR Hookup

Many are going to look at the Monster-Big 12 jersey patch deal as lacking value for some time. It takes time to change narratives — or prove them right. Earlier this week, the Big 12 got the first tertiary benefit of their deal with Monster.

This weekend Riley Herbst’s No. 35 car debuted a Big 12-Monster Energy skin on his car during the Hyvee Perks 250, which is part of the NASCAR Xfinity Series, which is a step below the NASCAR Cup Series.

The kicker is that the car is owned by Michael Jordan’s racing team. Yep, the NBA G.O.A.T. has a NASCAR team these days. It’s not a big surprise that Monster and the Big 12 went this direction. Brett Yormark cut his business teeth with NASCAR.

What this does for the league is unclear. At minimum it’s free media. It’s the exposure the league and Monster was touting at Big 12 Media Days last month. I still believe the trip to England for the Arizona State-Kansas game will tell us all something about how the deal can be truly leveraged because it’s an event the Big 12 will control in every aspect.

Tommy McClelland Did WHAT?

It’s hard being a new athletic director. That introductory press conference must strike the right tone. You must make sure you throw your donors and your fan base the right red meat.

Tommy McClelland landed the Purdue job earlier this week. The former Rice athletic director will have the same role with the Boilermakers. I’ve been on campus. I’ve been to Ross-Ade Stadium. I’ve been to West Lafayette. Good folks and a great time.

So, I guess they don’t get college football news in Houston (cheap shot, but I need to set this up — I know y’all get the news) because, well, this comment landed with a thud.

“We are here to win championships. If you don’t want to win championships, go to Indiana,” he said.

Uhh….

There’s bad timing and then there’s that. Yikes.

Realignment is Still Messing with My Head

Texas Tech and USC canceled a potential neutral site football series earlier this week which was billed as a “Big 12-Big Ten football series.” And my head just went fuzzy for a second.

USC is in Year 3 in the Big Ten and I can’t get used to it. I double-checked. That’s right. Third year.

Anyway, I wrote a piece off the cancellation saying we need a new way to schedule non-conference games among power conference teams. We need to eliminate the long-term, way-off deals and go to a model that gets us great games each year — and not by luck. But by planning for it. What a concept, right?

Just when you thought the College Football Playoff couldn’t get any more complicated, another potential format has entered the conversation, and this one could have major implications for the Big 12.

According to Josh Pate, the CFP Management Committee is set to meet Monday to discuss potential playoff expansion, with a 20-team format reportedly among the possibilities being discussed behind the scenes.

While much of the public conversation has centered around either 16 or 24 teams, Pate reports that the 20-team idea has been “privately cooking for a while.”

Here’s where things get particularly interesting for the Big 12.

Under the concept, each Power Four conference would reportedly have play-in games, essentially replacing some of the value and revenue that could be lost by eliminating the traditional conference championship games, including the Big 12 Championship Game.

The exact structure of those play-in games remains unclear, but for the Big 12, such a model could potentially provide the conference with multiple postseason opportunities rather than putting everything on one championship game in Arlington.

And depending on how automatic bids and seeding are structured, that could be significant.

The Big 12 has consistently fought to maintain access and opportunity in a college football landscape increasingly driven by the Big Ten and SEC. Any 20-team proposal would therefore need to be judged by one fundamental question from the conference’s perspective: How many guaranteed paths does the Big 12 receive?

If a play-in structure guarantees the Big 12 multiple teams an opportunity to reach the CFP, there could be plenty to like.

If, however, “play-in games” become another mechanism that provides additional access to the Big Ten and SEC while forcing Big 12 teams to jump through extra hoops, the conference should want no part of it.

There are still far more questions than answers, and Pate’s report describes an idea being discussed rather than an agreed-upon format.

But with CFP decision-makers meeting Monday, the possibility of a 20-team College Football Playoff is suddenly another format Big 12 fans need to keep an eye on.