Tag: big12blast

ESPN reveals post-spring SP+ rankings

Which teams ranked highly in the post-spring SP+ rankings from Bill Connelly?

Determining which teams are among the best isn’t an exact science but there are key factors that go into the through process. ESPN pulls back the current a bit with their rankings. At least you get some idea as to what are the top factors.

Bill Connelly revealed his SP+ rankings on Thursday. His rankings take returning production, recent recruiting, and recent history into account for these rankings.

Teams just outside the top 10

Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Oregon Ducks:

Dan Lanning and the Ducks missed out on the top 10 by 0.1 points in the SP+ rankings. They have the No. 4 offense but the No. 42 defense for the upcoming season. Bo Nix is looking for another huge year as he opted to return to college for a fifth season over going to the NFL.

Get more Oregon news, analysis, and opinions on Ducks Wire

Clemson Tigers:

Clemson is a team that has owned the ACC over the years but the rise of Florida State and North Carolina could challenge their supremacy in 2023. Clemson returns the No. 21 offense and the No. 11 defense. The defense features a linebacker duo that just might be the best in the nation.

Get more Clemson news, analysis, and opinions on Clemson Wire

Oklahoma Sooners:

The Sooners are coming off a down year after finishing 6-7 with a loss to Florida State in the Cheez-It Bowl. However, they do return the No. 6 offense led by quarterback Dillon Gabriel. The defense ranks No. 37 in the country and they need to get that side of the ball rolling. Of the seven losses, five game by one possession. Win a couple of those games, and their season looks a lot better.

Get more Oklahoma news, analysis, and opinions on Sooners Wire

Notre Dame Fighting Irish:

The Fighting Irish had plenty of ups and downs in year one of the Marcus Freeman era. They got a big win in the offseason when Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman committed to play for the Golden Domers. Avoiding losses to teams the caliber of Stanford and Marshall are key for the Irish’s return to the CFP discussion.

Get more Notre Dame news, analysis, and opinions on Fighting Irish Wire

Texas A&M Aggies:

The Aggies are a team that have the talent, they just need to get results on the field. According to SP+, Texas A&M has the No. 2 returning defense in the country. Second-year quarterback Conner Weigman needs to bring the offense up a bit.

Get more Texas A&M news, analysis, and opinions on Aggies Wire

Wisconsin Badgers:

A new era is set to begin in Madison with former Ohio State linebacker and head coach Luke Fickell now running the show. He brought in an “Air Raid” offense with Phil Longo and SMU quarterback Tanner Mordecai. They will join forces with one of the top Big Ten running backs, Braelon Allen.

Get more Wisconsin news, analysis, and opinions on Badgers Wire

You can view the full list from ESPN (subscription required). As far as the top 10 teams, we broke each one down.

Post spring Big 12 quarterback rankings for 2023

Where each of the 14 QBs rank for the Big 12 following spring ball.

We’re moving onto the Big 12 in our post-spring rankings series. There are plenty of gunslingers to highlight as we march toward the 2023 college football season.

Dillion Gabriel of Oklahoma and Quinn Ewers of Texas look to lead their team to the Big 12 Championship game before the Sooners and Longhorns head to the SEC. Both have five-star backups ready to get an opportunity if either has injury concerns in 2023. Texas has the Manning family scion, Arch. While the Sooners took top Texas quarterback Jackson Arnold.

Oklahoma and Texas will command plenty of the headlines while the remaining 12 teams look to send them out of the conference on a sour note. Kansas State returns Will Howard, who led them to the conference title a year ago. TCU will start Chandler Morris again, hoping he can stay healthy this time.

Check out our initial power rankings for the Big 12 quarterbacks with spring football all wrapped up.

Big 12 to hold conference wide pro day in 2024

The Big 12 is changing things up for the 2024 NFL draft.

Pro days could look a bit different for the Big 12 Conference’s 14 teams in 2024.

According to a report from Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports, the conference will have all 14 teams represented at a pro day event in Frisco, Texas, at the Dallas Cowboys practice facilities.

What Dodd Says…

The Big 12 will be partnering with the NFL to hold its own conference-wide pro day next year ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft, CBS Sports has learned. The event will be held at the Dallas Cowboys training facility in Frisco, Texas.

The Big 12 pro day is believed to be the first of its kind: a comprehensive event where NFL evaluators can observe the top players from a major-college conference in a single location. That is the Ford Center, a 510,000 square foot indoor athletic facility within the Cowboys’ complex known as The Star in Frisco.

This will likely have a similar feel to the NFL combine but not every draft-eligible player gets an invite. This will give other players the opportunity to impress NFL scouts and front office personnel.

“The Big 12 unified approach will provide world-class maximum exposure, mentorship and development opportunities for potential future prospects,” Troy Vincent, NFL executive vice president of football operations said.

“From state-of-the-art medical and talent evaluations to maximized media exposure and classroom professional development, these future leaders will experience a dignified, respectful and comprehensive assessment.”

This event will be closed to the public but as Dodd reports, there will be a Big 12 Fan Fest held outside the event. While the day remains to be determined, it will be aired on the NFL Network.

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Who could replace Mark Adams at Texas Tech? 10 names to consider

With the news that Mark Adams is out at Texas Tech, we put together a list of 10 names to consider as the next Red Raiders head coach.

On Wednesday night the Texas Tech Red Raiders men’s basketball head coaching job became vacant following the announcement that Mark Adams would resign.

This came off the heels of Adams’ suspension for racially insensitive comments to the team. Now with Adams stepping aside, this will put Tech back in the head coaching search. Adams was named head coach after Chris Beard left for the Texas Longhorns. Less than two years later, both teams could make huge changes.

Rodney Terry has done an outstanding job since being named interim head coach but John Calipari has been linked to the job. It remains to be seen how that will all play out. As far as Tech is concerned they can begin their search for the next head coach.

College Sports Wire has a list of potential candidates.

Mark Adams steps down at Texas Tech, Fardaws Aimaq to enter the transfer portal

Following his suspension, Texas Tech’s Mark Adams resigned.

On Wednesday, Hall of Fame head coach Jim Boeheim wasn’t the only head coach in the Power Five to step down from his post. Later that day, it was announced by Texas Tech that men’s head basketball coach Mark Adams would resign from his position.

The school announced the news on its team website. Adams was placed on suspension following an investigation into a racially insensitive comment made to the team. Corey Williams was named interim for their Big 12 tournament game against West Virginia.

“My lifelong goal was to help and be a positive influence on my players, and to be a part of the Texas Tech men’s basketball team,” Adams said. “However, both the University and I believe this incident has become a distraction for the Texas Tech men’s basketball team and the University, which I care about so deeply.”

The Red Raiders named Adams the head coach of the program prior to the 2021-22 season after Chris Beard left for the opening with the Texas Longhorns. That season, the Red Raiders made it all the way to the Sweet 16 before being eliminated. This past season, the team was a shell of their former selves. They lost four consecutive games to close the season to end the regular season at 16-16.

At one time it looked as though Texas Tech would make a run at the NCAA Tournament, but that appeared to be fool’s gold. The next head coach will need to rally the troops for next season. While the administration will now begin a search for the next head coach, the team is also expected to lose big man Fardaws Aimaq to the transfer portal. This was reported by Red Raider Sports on Wednesday night.

A lot is about to change as the team will welcome a new era of basketball at the United Supermarkets Arena by the time the 2023-24 season tips off.

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10 teams that could make moves in college expansion

These 10 teams could be the top candidates for more expansion/realignment in college athletics.

Who doesn’t love the idea of college expansion?

In 2023 and 2024, the collegiate game will look different. After the moves of the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns to the SEC, the USC Trojans and UCLA Bruins to the Big Ten in 2024.

The Big 12 countered with the additions of the BYU Cougars, Central Florida Knights, Cincinnati Bearcats, and Houston Cougars for the 2023 season. We are still waiting to see what moves the Pac-12 will make.

The conference was raided of both Los Angeles-area schools and at one point it seemed like the Oregon Ducks and Washington Huskies could be next. The SEC and Big Ten will be at 16 teams each by the time 2024 kicks off with ACC at 14, Big 12 at 12, and the Pac-12 at 10.

We look at 10 schools that could be on the move next if expansion and realignment continue.