Tag: Big 12 Conference

Colorado reportedly in serious discussions regarding move to Big 12

BREAKING: Colorado is reportedly in serious discussions regarding a move back to the Big 12

The Pac-12 Conference has still yet to land a new media rights deal. Furthermore, the Colorado Buffaloes could very well be headed back to the Big 12.

On Wednesday, reports surfaced that CU has been in discussions about potentially rejoining the Big 12. Plus, there is a scheduled Big 12 meeting coming in which expansion is expected to be the topic, per Pete Thamel of ESPN.

Nothing is official yet, but the latest reports surely make it seem like the Buffs are going to leave the Pac-12 and join the Big 12 after months and months of rumors.

There’s plenty to take away from this, and here’s a quick look at the reports that surfaced on Wednesday:

LOOK: Steve Sarkisian, Texas players at Big 12 media days

Quinn Ewers, Jaylan Ford, Jahdae Barron, Jordan Whittington, and Xavier Worthy represented Texas on Wednesday.

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian and five players were present at Big 12 media days on Wednesday. Continue reading “LOOK: Steve Sarkisian, Texas players at Big 12 media days”

On3 Sports discusses Texas’ most important conference game in 2023

“The winner of this game projects to sit in the cat-bird seat to make the Big 12 Championship.”

Texas is the favorite to win the Big 12 title this season. However, there’s several tough matchups on the 2023 schedule that could give the Longhorns fits. Continue reading “On3 Sports discusses Texas’ most important conference game in 2023”

BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, UCF officially join the Big 12 Conference

June 30, 2022: USC, UCLA plan to leave #Pac12. July 1, 2023: 4 schools join #Big12. July 1, 2024: #USC officially joins #B1G.

The world of college sports has officially changed today, July 1, 2023.

BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF are now official Big 12 Conference members. This sets the scene for USC joining the Big Ten on July 1, 2024.

Schools will soon find out how much a change of conference reshapes their outlook. USC fans are certainly ready, and 2024 USC football recruits really seem to value the Big Ten as part of the USC experience:

We wrote:

“The fact that USC will be in the Big Ten Conference in 2024 is part of the equation for 2024 recruits who are considering their college choice. These recruits won’t play a down in the Pac-12. They know that when they come to USC, they are signing up for a conference schedule in which they will play either Michigan (2024) or Ohio State (2025) in a given season. They will play Wisconsin and Penn State in the next two seasons.

“USC recruits have been given a taste (on their official visits) of the beach lifestyle in Los Angeles, and the great weather offered by Southern California. Yet, they get to play Ohio State or Michigan plus Penn State and Wisconsin in their conference schedules. They will receive a level of television visibility they wouldn’t have received in the Pac-12 Conference.”

It will be fascinating to see how the new Big 12 works out. Next year, USC and the Big Ten will officially tie the knot.

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Where did Big 12 teams land in Athlon Sports 1-133 rankings for the 2023 season?

How does the Big 12 stack up nationally in Athlon Sports 1-133 power rankings for the 2023 college football season?

The 2023 Big 12 season is going to be one like none other. With a strong amount of parity in the league, the race to Arlington will go on until the final weekend of the regular season this fall.

If CBS Sports Big 12 win projections are any indication, eight teams will finish within two wins of each other by the end of the year. Now, how that plays out in the conference is anyone’s guess, but there’s a group of five or six teams that could reasonably contend for the Big 12 title in 2023.

Over at Athlon Sports, Steve Lassan released his updated 1-133 rankings for the Football Bowl Subdivision. Where did the Big 12 members land? Let’s take a look.

Pair of Oklahoma DT among PFF’s top returning interior defensive linemen in the Big 12

Davon Sears and Jordan Kelley are among Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded defensive tackles retuning for the 2023 season in the Big 12.

If there’s a lingering question remaining from spring ball, it’s how good are the Oklahoma Sooners along the defensive interior. As a team, the Sooners weren’t very good against the run in 2022 and that starts with their defensive tackles.

As the Sooners look to improve their defense heading into 2023, they have building blocks to work with up front. According to Pro Football Focus, Davon Sears and Jordan Kelley are among the top 10 highest-graded returning defensive tackles in the Big 12.

Sears spent last year with Texas State and was sought by Tennessee and Penn State before deciding on the Sooners. A solid rotation player with the Bobcats, Sears recorded eight tackles and seven stops while playing 355 snaps.

Kelley was really good for the Oklahoma Sooners. He earned the second-highest pass rush grade behind only DaShaun White and the second highest run defense grade behind Jeffery Johnson in 399 snaps. With Johnson and fellow defensive tackle Jalen Redmond off to the NFL, Kelley has an opportunity to start and be a significant part of the Oklahoma Sooners defense in 2023.

Defensive tackle has a great deal to prove for the Sooners. However, it’s a group with significant experience and potential. The Oklahoma Sooners have depth with Sears, Kelley, Isaiah Coe, Gracen Halton, Jonah Laulu and recent additions Da’Jon Terry and Phillip Paea.

Of all the position groups that will play the biggest key in Oklahoma’s defensive success in 2023, defensive tackle stands at the top. With highly graded Kelly and Sears lining up for the Sooners this season, the defense has a good opportunity to be better.

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Oklahoma Sooners ‘on verge of breakout season’ in 2023 per 247Sports

After an impressive recruiting class and transfer portal additions, 247Sports believes Oklahoma is a team to watch out for this season.

It’s no secret that by the standards at the University of Oklahoma, last season was not acceptable.

The Sooners began the 2022 season strong starting 3-0, but it soon turned downhill as they finished 6-7, including 3-6 in Big 12 play. This was the first time the Sooners finished below .500 since 1998.

It felt like the season hit rock bottom with back-to-back blowouts against TCU and Texas. The Red River Blowout was especially a gut punch as the Oklahoma offense had little answer without Dillon Gabriel.

That’s left many wondering nationally if the Sooners have their guy in Brent Venables.

Venables and staff tried to help silence the critics this offseason. After an impressive recruiting class and filling some key needs in the transfer portal, 247Sports believes they are a team to watch out for in the 2023 season.

Things were looking rough in Norman to start the season. The Sooners began the season 3-0 but quickly hit the .500 mark after a losing streak that saw their defense get torched repeatedly. It felt like things hit rock bottom when Oklahoma fell, 49-0, to Texas. But the Sooners won their next two games. And while it wasn’t an ideal season, Oklahoma salvaged things with a beatdown of Oklahoma State in Bedlam and reached a bowl game. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel will be back with the Sooners in 2023 and a top-10 transfer portal class joins him. – Raymond Lucas, Jr., Inside MD Sports

Oklahoma was joined on that list by Texas, Texas A&M, Wisconsin, Ole Miss, Notre Dame, Iowa, and Maryland.

There’s no question this needs to be the year fans see progress before the Sooners head into the toughest conference in America in 2024.

With the additions and with a fairly easy schedule, on paper, the Sooners should win at least nine games, barring injuries.

If they don’t, the heat on Venables’ seat will start to increase, as well as the chatter nationally on if he’s the future of the program.

In the end, Sooners fans hope those at 247Sports are right and they will see the Oklahoma team they’ve grown accustomed to seeing. They would love nothing more than to leave a conference they’ve dominated for nearly 30 years as champions.

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Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on Twitter @JaronSpor.

College football fans, media react to buzz around Colorado potentially rejoining the Big 12

College football fans and media outlets spoke up about Colorado potentially rejoining the Big 12

The heat regarding Colorado potentially rejoining the Big 12 increased considerably on Tuesday with Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports reporting that the two entities have held “substantive” talks.

This new development comes just days after Berry Thramel of The Oklahoman reported that Colorado could make a reunion official with its former conference in the near future. CU athletic director Rick George, meanwhile, said that the Buffaloes remain “proud” Pac-12 members and will further evaluate things when the conference finalizes its critical media rights deal.

All caught up?

Here’s how college football fans and media outlets have reacted to the latest buzz around Colorado’s potential Big 12 reunion:

REPORT: Colorado, Big 12 have had ‘substantive’ talks regarding potential reunion

Per CBS Sports, Colorado has had close talks with the Big 12 about potentially rejoining the conference

As Colorado remains patient waiting for the Pac-12 to finalize a media rights deal, the university is also proactively forming its backup plan, according to Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports.

Dodd reported on Tuesday that Colorado has been in “substantive” in-person talks with the Big 12 regarding a potential reunion. However, Dodd still described the talks as no more than due diligence with athletic director Rick George repeating that Colorado’s ideal scenario is to stay in the Pac-12.

The report also stated that Colorado’s potential move to the Big 12 would need the green light from head football coach Deion Sanders.

Colorado and the Big 12 have met face-to-face while involved in consistent talks over a period several months, according to multiple sources. It was made clear that a move to the Big 12 would not be made without the support of football coach Deion Sanders.

CU’s rumored Big 12 interest was the talk of the Fiesta Summit earlier this month in Scottsdale, Arizona, with several sources speculating in the hallways. It became more public last week when the Oklahoman’s Berry Tramel reported, “Colorado is ready to commit joining the Big 12 ‘soon.'”

If the Buffs were to join the Big 12, the expectation is that “Colorado would receive an equal media rights share ($31.7 million, beginning in 2025),” per Dodd.

Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.

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