Locked On Jayhawks - Daily Podcast On Kansas Jayhawks Football & Basketball - BIG 12 SQUAD - How ACC Re-Alignment Impacts Kansas Jayhawks

Episode Date: March 6, 2025

ACC's potential shake-up could redefine college football's landscape. Could Florida State and Clemson's departure from the ACC trigger a domino effect across the Big 12 and SEC? This episode explores the intricate dynamics of conference realignment, featuring insights from Drake, Chris Level, and other experts. Discover how TV viewership and NIL deals are reshaping the future of college sports. The discussion highlights key players like Miami and NC State, and the strategic moves of Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark. With private equity's potential entry into the sports arena, the stakes have never been higher.Join us for an insider's look at the evolving world of college football and the forces driving these monumental changes.

Florida State and Clemson are leaving the ACC. That means the Big 12 gets Miami and NC State and really whoever else we want. This is the Big 12 Squad. You're talking ball with the Big 12 Squad. From Oklahoma State to Utah, from Kansas State to BYU, from Houston to Texas Tech, it's the local experts of the Locked On Podcast Network

bringing you scoops, breakdowns and the most comprehensive preview of the upcoming Big 12 weekend. Buckle up, it's the Big 12 Squad, and we have a seat for you. Know her feelings and thin skin allowed. Squad up, you're part of the Big 12 Squad. Abby Thursday, everybody, welcome to the Big 12 Squad.

Today we're gonna talk about things that probably aren't sports. Duke was in the opening, and this is where we give you all of our thoughts on pretty much life and how to live it. Chris Level talks things about Texas tech and whatever. Cody Stovall locked on Oklahoma State camp, Stuart locked on Baylor. Cam, unmute yourself.

His girlfriend is in the kitchen cooking right now. It's very loud. That's not a political statement. Locked on West Virginia Mountain, Paul. Christian, loud. The sink was running when you said that, by the way. So I had to wait a second. the basketball only school in the Houston Cougars. News this week, don't worry. So the platform only allows 10 people at once. So next gonna rotate in and out. I'm sure you guys very insightful stuff. From Ross Dellinger's report this week, the ACC is going to change its grant of rights. They're going to pay schools that have more viewers more money. So now Clemson and Florida State get more money for being the biggest schools in the conference. The Big 12 can do the same thing. Say, Hey, the last five years, you guys made us the most dough, we're going to give you more a cut of this revenue. That's where the ACC

is going. The biggest piece of this to me is now to exit that league, the price tag gets a lot cheaper, especially in 2030. Those two schools, the original estimates like $700 million to leave. Now there are $200 million. If Florida State wants to call the Saudis and say hey we need some money we want to leave the ACC they're already on the phone with them that can happen. Yeah I want to give credit to the producers here though because when the ACC blows up when we get Duke they were ready for it in the intro show they were on top of it. Way ahead of that one.

We've already absorbed the ACC squad show in a way. They've got their own, they've got their own mayo. Wait, Drake. All I already tried to deal with the Saudis. It didn't work out. Well, Texas A&M, it's going great. At least one, one stray coach tried, but I think 2030, you said, is a long time from now. I feel like a lot of people will want to dip their hands into the ACC and rip it apart. I think that's a great thing that the Stray Coach tried but

I think twenty thirty you said is a long time from now- I feel like a lot of people will want to dip their hands into the ACC and rip it apart so. As long as the big twelve can not end up like the pack twelve I feel like we'll be fine. It was

a microwave just be. I heard I heard you can get SMU for cheap. Yeah. I think the I think the Saudis will buy the University of Minnesota at some point. I think they see that as a very the the the the the

the the the the Maryland. Oh, yeah. Great. That's a stretch. Yeah. Michigan. If they continue on this little, this little downward spiral. They love golf, it seems to the oil tycoons have really really did a number of the whole golf thing. And then Florida State saw that it's enticing got on the phone and said, Kit, what can you do for us? This this is to me, the first major dominant now that we have like pen to paper, the settlement's gonna take place, that we now understand the ACC cannot support those two schools because they can't pay them what the SEC and the Big Ten could. And if you're Florida State, you don't want to make 20 million dollars less than Florida, even when you're better on a year-to-year basis. It's a tough time for Florida State to put their their you know what on the

table. They're two and ten. They were two and ten and I feel like all of their you know what. What are they putting on the table? Come on Kevin. Explain it to us straight. A burrito. It's a burrito. I know what it is because my dad told me but just in case anyone here doesn't you should explain. Nick what's on the table? Why am I, what, why am I the correspondent for that? You know why Nick, you know why. You know that's your problem. You probably got one. Hi buddy mom.

Oh boy. Thank you, Mountain Year Paul. I have lots of kids, that's gotta count for something. My dad said you gotta be good at something. It counts for a lot of child support. Yeah. Cody, are you by chance a Mormon? That's why I'm, I'm. And how many people are you married to? Yeah. Cody as the face of the LDS church would really make sense Jake would really make sense.

It'd be perfect. It'd be perfect. I'm here for you. Cameron's haircut reminds me a lot of that guy from Oakland that shot all those threes last year had like the vampire receding airline. I was there in person watching that right now. Yes. Yes. Is this after a haircut? That's what this is. Yeah.

This is way better than the comparisons I usually get. Look down. Hey, coach Drake put me in. So I want to add something insightful or risk. I will be taken out. Is there any chance that the big, is there any chance that Florida state or Clemson I saw it does get a little reduced even earlier? Is there a chance they try to get out even sooner to maybe go somewhere else? I think so Why wouldn't you I mean if you can make it a one-time investment to make a lot of money down the road Like depends on what's in the lawsuit come as you want man

I'm surprised it's even gotten this far and I would be surprised if this whole thing even lasts until 2030 Does anyone want them though is the question. I don't think I could last till 2030. Drake, Drake didn't know. No, Barbara's got a point. I don't think it's no one wanted them. It was just the price tag of $700 million being the estimate was, okay, no one's going to fork up the money to be it to do that. Like if you're, the sec we'll just wait two years

and then something like this happens. They put their cojones on the table, their phallus on the table. Or burritos on the table. Burrito on the table. And now the SEC, if they want to pitch in, can get a big discount. Or if they want to say, hey look, Florida State Clemson,

we'll give you some extra incentive to join our league for the first two years because you just took this $200 million hit. But look, I have watched college football long enough to know that if people want to coach fire, they'll raise a hundred million dollars. If they want their team to go to the SEC and make 20 million more a year, they're going to find a way to raise that money. True. I don't know. One of those teams. Why is that Chris? Why is that? I don't know if the SEC wants either one of those teams. Why is that Chris? Why is that? I don't think the SEC wants it. They don't need them.

What do they bring to the table? They've already got, I mean, more money than everybody. They don't want the in-state competition with some of that. I don't think they have any interest. That's the other point there, Chris, is there are teams in their conference that don't want them. Yeah. South Carolina would do anything to not have Clemson in.

Okay, how does that work for Texas A&M? Yeah, great point. A&M's little brother though. Like, I mean, I hate to give UT enough credit here. And I guess South Carolina is too, but you can't really play that card with Florida State Florida anymore. South Carolina and Clemson, you can.

Yeah, no one wanted them because they were being annoying. But now if they're cheaper and less annoying about it, maybe they're like, okay, we'll let you in this time. I mean, you can win with Clemson and Florida State, right? Both teams that can win a national championship that has a lot of value. Two pristine academic institutions. This isn't about, not about academics, man. So notice levels saying that for sure. I want to hear Kansas state pipe up there. I'm just saying, there's not, there's not an academic, academic point of view, but I'm just saying, I'm just saying, I'm just saying, I'm just saying, I'm just saying, I'm just saying, I'm just saying, I'm just the I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm the I don't live in a dirty tea. That's all I know. What? What does that even mean? Please do elaborate, Richie.

Who has low tea? Tucson. That's what they call themselves, the dirty tea. Oh, people that cover that team don't earn allowed on this show. So. TCU and Arizona fans. That's the rumor. Are in the comments section every week wondering where their representation is. Cincinnati is just wishful thinking. At least we've got Iowa State here represented the newest host in the bunch. Go, Nick. Coming up, if you're the Big 12, who do you want? If the ACC does implode and you have a wish list, what does that wish list include? This is Locked on Big 12 Squad.

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it in the SEC? Can they get it in the Big Ten? I don't know if the answer to that is yes, but I do think Florida State and Clemson have the best case. From there, Virginia Tech, Louisville, Duke, Boston College, Cameron Stewart, all seem like viable options the Big 12 could go after. I don't think that BC or Wake Forest should be in this conversation. They're ultimately going to lose us money. They'll be dead weight. It's like adding a school that's going to take away from them.

And to be honest with some of you, the Big 12 kind of did that two years ago. We added a couple of institutions. It'd be like adding Baylor. Yes. What a waste. We added a couple of institutions that currently aren't able to carry their weight financially

at Lake Houston. Sorry, Parker. Great at basketball! But until football is there... How's that $17 million hole y'all are in up there at Utah? When one year in football you win. One year in football you win. But if you lose for five years in football, turning lights on at the baseball stadium for the entire day seems a little pricier. the the- the- reverse card. How

about that how about the fact that we become the AC squad. People it's what you get some from the SEC because they add Clemson in Florida State what about bringing like Arkansas and Missouri bringing those back into the fold. We need

bigger brands let's be real. The Big 12 is starving for brands. Reverse card. I like it. The best brand we could get would be Miami. I'm never playing Uno with Christian again. I'm down for Arkansas, but I don't want any part of Mizzou. Those sons of biscuit eating champions, they don't deserve to be back in this conference. No, I'm out. I'm out. I like where Christian's head's at. Hey, we're the biggest brand now. It's fine. Whoa. You're the biggest individual in the conference.

No doubt. Yeah, he wears a lot of merch. For now. For now. Count it. You're talking about the next head coach of the Auburn Tigers, Deion Sanders? Is that who you're referencing right now?

Is that a lateral move? I didn't say that. I didn't say that. I need the Deon views. I need the Deon views. Get them Drake. I think the Detroit Tigers is just as likely. Colorado's trying to start a baseball team. Maybe we'll coach baseball too. Do we think some time?

You need Miami, right? You want a big brand like Miami. You can't just let all these AC schools flow out. I think North Carolina and Duke would want to go to the big 10 because their academic ties or academic prestige. So you got to look at Miami. Maybe if you could-

And I don't think Miami would ever be in a league with UCF. You don't think so? I think that's beneath them. Yeah. I'm with Kevin though. I mean, Miami has always been my most coveted individual out of that particular conference Primarily because of the the notoriety now they haven't been what they used to be but when the big Primarily because they won't win the conference championship. That's just one

Eyeballs as possible what they used to be Hey, what do you what are you eating there? Mountain Dew and Carmelo Bar. Mountain Dew and Carmelo Bar together. Do the two. Mountain Dew Paul, did you, it was your birthday last week? Two weeks ago? Yeah, I turned 40.

Oh my god. Could you guess that? I thought Mountain Dew Paul was like 28. Well, how old are you? Wow. I'm 40. Oh, you're a man. Congratulations.

I grew up. Honestly, because of this video quality, I don't even really know what he looks like. Right, I could see him on the screen. He's like 24, Paul. I didn't even know he was eating. His middle name is pixelated, yes. Hey, going back to something you guys brought up

that would be really interesting. Like, do we actually think sometime in the next five years, the Big Ten and SEC will drop some of their, like the Arkansas, like some of those other schools? Mississippi State. Yeah. Why do they have Mississippi State? It would be smart. That would be crazy though.

That's another level. We haven't seen that yet. Do we really, do we think a conference would be that aggressive? Relegation. Relegation. I think that is a valid... I think they're gonna pull a big E, kick Temple out. Come on now. would be that that I'm also taking the rivalries back of Mizzou in Nebraska. Just saying. Yeah, give me. Yes. I mean, how would it not be one of the biggest rivalries in the conference, boys? It would be. Backyard, bro.

That's a very good backyard, bro. Target, Target Pitt. I bet as I was like, Sweet Caroline, I'll tell you that. As I was listening off Virginia, bring Iowa. Oh, Virginia tech as well. That's our second biggest rivalry for sure. Wow. Do you care to play in the big 12?

Do you hate anyone? I guess Cincinnati, you know, because we had a little bit of a, went for two against us in 2008. Night forgot Virginia tech is kind of a big 12 school. He was like it. I'm going to go to the Virginia Tech. I'm going to go to the Virginia Tech. I'm going to go to the Virginia Tech. I'm going to go to the Virginia Tech. I'm going to go to the Virginia Tech. I'm going to go to the

Virginia Tech. I'm going to go to the Virginia Tech. I'm going to go to the Virginia Tech. I'm going to go to the Virginia Tech. I'm going to go to the Virginia Tech. I'm going to go to the Virginia Tech. I'm going to go the the so if Mississippi states on the table do you want them you know for Mississippi still you

know like why not. There is such a thing. No why not I do think if the big twelve went for more eastern time zone schools that could help get eyes on it but outside of that I mean. Give me Louisville over this no. I agree but I do think

a movement towards eastern coast is probably I mean Georgia Tech Georgia Tech makes a good story but I do think it movement towards eastern coast is probably I mean Georgia Tech Georgia Tech makes a ton of sense if you're talking market and eyeballs but yeah that's a good school Chris that is academic. Georgia

Tech's the one that doesn't fit in everything we've rising time grades all boats I'm trying to is trying to is adding the West Coast times good for the ACC with Stanford and Cal like is that honestly something that is worth doing though, Nick? Like is that a good reason?

I don't think that West Coast provides a whole lot of value as far as TV viewership, cause who's staying up till one in the morning? I mean, true fans for sure, but it's just gonna be more, it's more visible earlier. The Big 12 party has, it's Wednesday, I'm up till 1 a.m. watching BYU.

Exactly, yeah. It's not, I love it. It's just on the point here. Cam Baylor started a basketball game at nine o'clock in Waco, Texas on a weeknight recently. Yes. Houston starts at nine o'clock on Saturday. Saturday with Houston. Two Texas schools.

Nine o'clock. Welcome to the Mountain Time Zone, everybody. Let's get going. Yeah o'clock at the tip-off. Nine o'clock. Welcome to the Mountain Time Zone, everybody. Let's get going. Yeah, it's in the contract. They can start any game anywhere at nine o'clock local time. I mean, it's like insane to me. Oddly enough, I don't know why. I hate it.

I hate everything about it. But I think SMU is a viable option for this conference. So I've stood up for Houston playing SMU as a non-conference game every year, because I think you could alternate with TCU and getting into DFW from a market and like just being in that like every year, like every year, I think would be a big deal for you. They looked at that and it wasn't going to bring anything

to the table. I think no SMU that you get is like they willing to come for free. So I think it's anything. I think it's all like football, exo recruiting stuff. I don't think it's actually any dollars and cents to it. I think that's why the conference, exo, recruiting stuff. I don't think it's actually any dollars and cents to it. I think that's why the conference won't do it. Yeah. I think about 30 alumni that live outside of Highland Park it feels like.

Can I add something to this real quick? I think you guys are crazy to admit, shut up, Jake. I'd really rather you not. Mississippi State, Cam, I don't care. You don't have to have all that. Have you ever been to Start Vegas? Yeah, have you been to Start Vegas? No, I haven't. Yeah, don't. I wanna go back you ever been to start Vegas? Yeah. Have you been to start Vegas? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I want to go back to Mississippi

state. But I've also been to Ames and I Ames is a thriving matron. Ames over start Vegas. I went to Ames like, where's the town? Where's the town? Hey, Ames makes start Vegas look small. Are we going to overlook the fact of I genuinely think how good it would be for the big 12 or just any conference to add a team that gets knocked out of the SEC for the story?

I think people would tune in to see a Mississippi State try and rebound and build their way back. I think there's actually something there. They would be a spectacle like, wow, the SEC actually booted a team out. I think that's actually something. I do think people would tune in to see that. And I think it would absolutely be a better like wow the SEC actually booted a team out. I think that's actually something I do think people would tune in to see that and I think it would absolutely be a better ad than Cincinnati.

You realize really funny in this ever kick a team out to be Vanderbilt and no one will give a good institution. Yeah they would they need. How much South Carolina would that make the big 12 look worse for taking the SEC is like sloppy seconds or like. the He actually owns Mississippi State, so let's do it. It was his son running his Twitter account, Nick. It was his son. You'd be mad at him. He doesn't even think. Yeah, coming up. Basically, based on the report last week that there's going to be a super conference, is this part of where we're going with the whole super conference deal?

And if that is the case, does the super conference include Mississippi State? Of course, that is next on the big 12 squad. So we've established that some people, no one wants Mississippi state, except for JT. He seems really, no, I'm in on it. I like it. I like it. I like it. I like it. I'll get them with JT. I agree. I got the state champion on my side. Let's go. Yep. And we heard Nick wax poetic about it as well. We were very excited about Nick's take on this, on this statement. And that was during the commercial break, Nick was going off.

That's when he shouts. That's when he's there. Well, there will be a, I mean, there's going to be super conferences. I mean, I just don't, I mean, there's going to be another shift. All this is aligned with the TV deals coming up and it's a matter of is it 30? Is it 48? Is it 40? I mean, you know, that's, that's coming. Do we get to play in that though? Like, do we get to, because sorry, but Cincinnati is not in that. Who's we in the same way Mississippi stays planted in that, you know? Well, if you go off of what former NCAA president Mark Emmert said, right, cause he talked about this after he left the NCAA and he discussed how it was going to be predicated upon financial compensation. And there was only like five Big 12 schools that profited over $100 million a year. So the Big 12 largely would get left out of that conversation if it's boiled down to monetary values.

And two or three of those, by the way, that fluctuates year to year. Like they're just over 100 because they had a good year and they had a good bowl game revenue. Like TCU's revenue of 22 is not equal. Like TCU, Baylor, Oklahoma State too. Tech is probably in a better spot now financially, but those schools, they're hopping over the border back and forth.

No, you're 100% right. Colorado's selling Coach Pride merch left and right. They're profiting a ton. And so he's a detroit tiger he's managing the tigers yeah speaking of colorado I have a follow-up question for Drake and Chris and all the all the older people in the chat has anyone ever been kicked out of conference Mississippi State we're talking about Mississippi State or Vanico temple back in the day I mean rice rice got kicked out of all the leagues that I remember. Houston didn't get kicked out when the Big 12 came. We almost replaced Kansas State with Arkansas in 1978.

There's a big political deal when Houston got left out. Yeah, I mean, essentially that's getting kicked out. That was the deal with they took Baylor because Ann Richards wanted it. Ann Richards, and that's also what nobody's talking about, is what politically, what will be allowed to go on and what won't be. And there's a real argument to that, say, Houston back like 25, 30 years, if not more.

Well, electoral college get a vote. Yeah. Well, you know, like Baylor has, who's the computer guy? Microsoft. Jobs, Steve Jobs? Bill Gates? Bill Gates, Bill Gates. How are we thinking of Bill Gates?

Apple is alive, sure. Steve Jobs, RIP, man. Have seen him on campus. All that all the Gates girlfriend has to do is say, hey, could you maybe cough up, you know, a bill for Baylor to keep them in the super conference? You know, I mean, legitimately, it's gonna be an arms race.

Whose burrito is bigger amongst your donors to keep the schools afloat? Tillman Fertitta is now the ambassador to Italy or something, so I think we'll be okay. And you know why? You know why he's an ambassador to Italy? I don't wanna know why. For tax purposes.

I've got a tech donor that may in fact be an ambassador to Argentina and it's all tax purposes. Get him got a tech donor that may in fact be an ambassador to Argentina and it's all tax purposes. Get them out of the country. Yeah, I'm sure Fertina's going to go. Argentina, yeah, the good people go there. Fertina better start convincing people to spend more money on NIL and Houston is my only concern with the Cougars. And I'm not throwing shade. If those numbers are true and Houston's only spending $2 million. How are they going to be competitive? T.B. Pickens, any living relatives? That's for you, Cody. I don't think anybody else is going to know about T.B. Pickens'

living relatives. Oh, I didn't hear anything about that. No, no. That ship has sailed. Okay. We're looking for a new boat. Now what? Right. So now what? BYU, I'm not worried about. The owner of the Utah hockey team that plays hockey. That's their official title. And the Utah Jazz and Rayal Salt Lake and the Utah Royals. Brian Smith has got a bunch of money in the reserve. Now, Drake...

The Utah team that plays hockey. He's not the only booster who has said, we will not be outbid. BYU will bring their boosters to bear if they need to. They will pony up to make sure they're part of this, if at all possible. I don't like that conversation. Yeah, Jake made a great point last week, as much as it loathes me to say that,

when you said, Jake, that the mountain time zone just completely leaving them out of a super conference, like BYU, Colorado, Utah, like in Arizona, Autistic Plays into that as well sometimes, that, like, leaving them completely out, that would just be weird. Like, I don't see them being completely left out. Like, I mean, if we're being honest, guys, the central time zone is the best time zone in this country but the eastern time zone is where the like that is where the bread is buttered that's all but you just like completely take out all the mountain time zone view potential like just completely I mean I don't think if a tree falls in on time zone no one's there to see it doesn't matter I mean like there's nothing like

come on there's no one lives there. You know, time. Right? No, I I've enjoyed Salt Lake City many a time. It's not a big city. And it's the biggest city out there. Like, it's great. Factors. It's no crime. And I love it. They have a Chili's. And the chili will serve your. And the Chili's will serve you a second here with a side of peanuts because that's the only way you can get, like that's just the way that goes.

But it's not just Utah, it's Colorado too. We just were talking about Coach Prime and the brand power he has. Yeah, until it goes to Detroit Tigers. I've been to Boulder. There's not a lot going on at John Bida Ramsey. Other than that, there's not a lot going for Boulder. Denver's a major city.

We're just gonna take them out completely? Yeah, because this is Boulder. And the biggest thing that had ever happened to Boulder prior to Deion Sanders was literally John Bada Ramsey. Morgan Mendy. Morgan Mendy was filmed there. Yeah. I'm still going to go John Bada on this one. And like, all due respect to see you, Denver's not like a huge college sports town. I get that I'm coming from the Houston perspective

because it is the big city, right? Like I get that's like how I'm angling this, but like the metropolitan area does also matter some, right? Like trying to get in, there's a reason that your Mark wants Vegas, right? That's part of the deal. Houston's give you underwater in 20 years. So watch out.

Yeah, bro. You know, I'm gonna add Miami earlier. What are you like? Joseph Smith's made the desert, bro. You know, I remember adding Miami earlier. What are you like? Joseph Smith's made the desert, man. I've always thought it was such a stupid conversation to talk about markets. Cause think about like the biggest schools in America, Columbus, Ohio, Tuscaloosa, Alabama,

or Baton Rouge, Louisiana. But then Boston College is in Boston. Surely the Boston market makes them valuable. It doesn't, it does nothing. No one cares. You're the eighth biggest show in town. Yeah, that's the big thing about Rutgers, man. Yeah, like who's ever heard of USC or Miami or like, yeah, you're right. Nothing there.

Like there's nothing to do with Northwestern. Crazy. No one ever wants Northwestern. There are no crowds at USC in Miami. You know, you talk about like, oh, the market's gonna be great and they just don't show up for anything. Parker's Arena is 6,000 deep. market's gonna be great. And they just don't show up for any Parkers arenas 6000 deep. Hey, raucous right on par with Baylor. I was on par with the Baylor Bears who downsized downsized for the better and better small town way to enjoy it. Or you drink. You just come to Provo or you pack 18,000 in every single game. You know, I told you I love Provo. And there's it's it's a great place to be. And I've been to Salt Lake up in

Ames, but a lot of the big 12 cities, and I just don't think the city size is going to matter as much as people make it out to me. If it did, then NYU, who's in the division three, football playoff right now, basketball playoff right now, would be a juggernaut if market size was a direct correlation to how successful your athletic department is CCNY. I was trying to say it's a direct correlation. I just think within super conference to completely leave out like the Mountain Time Zone, that would be, I think that'd be crazy. I think it took the Big 12. Listen, we petitioned the Big 12 11 years just to get them

to add the Eastern Time Zone. Is somebody talking because I can't see them. You don't need to see him. His words are impactful. Yeah. time zone. Somebody talking Paul's got a candle off to the side, you know, like, he says it looks like he's recording in a closet, like someone up in Provo. Like I'm watching the French connection. It is his closet, by the way. It is. And he has a market size in the, I just don't even get on this.

Does market size matter, ladies? Yeah, who did this? Only if you're a fun packer. It's about what you do with the market that counts. I was gonna say, it's what you do with the market. You can get the England in a rowboat, fellas. Ooh. Sometimes you just like a market with good personality.

It's all about the sex and the ego you've got in it. But, Drake, to your point, it really is, it's about TV viewership. This is the whole point of the lawsuit with the ACC and all that. I don't like that. They're gonna be paid based on TV viewers. So it really doesn't matter where you're located. If people care and you bring the relevancy

and all those things, hence Dion, and then that goes away, then what is Colorado's TV viewership if Dion's not there? I don't know, but that's what it's gonna come down to is TV viewers. No doubt. It was a good one. In just a five- viewers. No doubt. It was a five year span. Yeah. That five year span, you're going from what was the power five to potentially what? The power

two? Where does the big 12 fall into this? And if Florida State and I mean, I don't know, we haven't really talked the doomsday side of this. If Florida State and Clemson go to the SEC or the big 10, like now that creates such separation, even wider gap between the Big 12 and those two leagues. From there, you're looking at those two leagues deserve four automatic qualifiers, a five-hour, whatever they decide. And they're going to dictate more of college athletics until one day they get in this arms race that becomes those two

assimilating and becoming one another. That's going to, at some point happen. And then it's the NFL, and I guess the rest of us are playing in the G League. Well, and you guys, like I was saying earlier, I see there being a ton of validity in the conversation of who do we trim out of the conferences, right? Everyone's talking about, well, what conferences are adding people, but, you know, Parker and JT have mentioned it already in this episode. There's gonna be a point in time where each conference is gonna have to trim some fat.

Are we sure about that? I disagree. What's the right number? Is it 40 teams? Is it 80 teams? No, 80, 70 something? That was at one point flowed out, 70 something teams. What's the right number that they want to control the sport?

That's what this also will come down to. Whatever ESPN says and is willing to pay for. Great point. Is there any possibility or chance that like- At some point Congress has to get involved with all that happens, man. Good luck with that. The tradition was get involved where it's just like we don't want the sport to go this way. So like some rich college football fan just like petitions and gets a bunch of people to sort of like side with them and be like, hey, we don't want our sport to die because isn't that makes college football specials.

It's not the NFL and now we're already calling it seven seven seven seven seven seven seven. But it would already happen if that were the case. I do feel like I think all of this craziness and all of the different conference realignments that would have already been a proposition. Yeah, there was a Bill Gates out there that was like, I want to save college football. Let's stop with the realignment. I stopped with manipulation of the playoffs. Yada, yada, yada. This is helping the brands those guys already liked because they were already giving money

to the Alabama was just all under the table. Now it's not. I think that that like that those people are already happy with it being. I mean, their schools are doing fine. I don't I don't think that that's actually anything that would work. The thing I will say is that like, I was off the screen when it happened, but someone asked like what number is,

they're definitely doing the math on what that number is like already. Like the calculus on that's being figured out. It might be above all of our pay grades because we have the schools we have represented here, but like that's being figured out by somebody. To your point, Cody Cody about it being stopped. Like I don't think anybody hates this vision

because who's bigger than college football, the NFL. So how do you take the NFL over? Do what they do, but do a better one. I mean, can you ever, can you ever keep that rope? Nobody's taking down the NFL. They're not taking down it. We play our championship game on a Monday night.

Replicating the model at the very least. Like if you start to, we talk about in the company, play the hand. And if that's the case, then you're going to have a draft. You're going to be going to allow everybody to draft. And Juco. Where does it go? Yeah, you have four years at Juco,

then we draft you to Alabama, where you get four more, genuinely four more drafts. Y'all talking about a draft, I think you're more likely to have NFL doing a signing day than a draft. I think that's the inverse. They'll take the good parts that we've got going and do it their way.

And I think you're not competing with taking NFL dollars as much as you're like, OK, we're going to soak up everything else and leech off the fact that everyone loves football because of the NFL. Like you don't even have a signing day anymore. That's what you're going to leech off. There's not even a signing day anymore. I don't know when it is.

There's like since was like the original signing day just happened like a month ago and I was like oh yeah that is a thing. There was like 13 people that signed. I was like oh like it almost was special. It was the table and like only the big three kids were televised and they had the three hats

and it was the coolest thing ever when they would commit to your team. Now you know like I like Mitch Mustaine was my the first one I was a child. I was like the biggest thing that happened What it meant to have a kid like that signed to you 10 years ago, 15 years ago, was game changing, world beating. This kid is going to be a day one star athlete. And now it's, yeah, in two years, he's probably going to be in the portal. We probably won't. So it's hard to get excited about signing day because most of these kids won't play for you in two years. They should all be under contract. And they will be transferring.

Does that matter though? And they will be dropping Drop in and go into my, I mean. Like under contract in terms of restricting the transfer? You're about to see what you're about to see is you're about to see players under contracts and you can sign them to one year, two year, three year, whatever. You can do this with recruits and there's going to be buyouts. There's going to be buyouts attached to these contracts. Yeah, I could see buyouts. I think it's hard to.

That is going to happen like this fall. That is going to happen. The Wisconsin Miami kid, I don't remember what order he went. But like that was the culprit. That was sort of the catalyst for that because obviously he was just like, yeah, I'm going to leave. And they're like, no, you can't transfer. And he's like, okay, I'm a student here at Miami. And we lost Paul, but that was like when Paul was saying someone's going to step up

and the money's got to step up. That's when the money's like, hey, I can't pay this kid to not play here. Right? Like that's where the money will do something. And that's where we'll figure things out. Right? Is the money's going to be like, okay, I can't pay a kid to then leave in six months. I'm paying a kid to be a cougar or a whatever. He's going to be here.

I think that partially hurt Oklahoma State this previous season. I felt like the coach, some individuals on the staff felt compelled to push guys out on the field because of their NIL dollars as opposed to them performing in practice. It's no different than pros, man. Like, yeah, we've invested all this money, you gotta send him out there. And then we've got two veteran BYU players complaining about the fact that freshmen are being paid tens of thousands of dollars more than they are. Guess what? Welcome to the world of NIL. You want those kids on your campus, you're paying them a hundred plus grand. And the guys who are already in the program, yeah, they're getting screwed as a

result because they're not getting near that amount of money. When do people stop donating NIL money to these programs? Because they know like Sam X recruit, that's a five star this year. These people are donating for an emotion. They've got more money than they know what to do with and it's they don't want anything in return Other than that emotion that you can't get anywhere else Master they want to feel like a puppet master real-life fantasy football Those half-ass Instagram videos aren't like giving me any like motivation to like donate money where it's like oh This video is sponsored by blah blah blah. Thank you for what like all of their NIL advertisements suck So like when are these people gonna be like outside of like Archman and DJ lagway or whoever the top guy is like

Why are they paying some of these guys so much money like that forever? Kevin people like winning. Yeah, they like winning but No, but no, but they're to keep trying if they have the money. We're going to see these, we're going to see these, uh, collectors brought in house. You'll have full-size marketing teams. Maybe, maybe I can say for sure. If I was a billionaire, West Virginia would have a shot at the national championship every single year.

I would give almost, I would give at least over half my net worth probably. I think every one of us would do the exact same thing for our respective universities if we were given the opportunity. How fun would it be though to sit in a blue? Oprah, Oprah, you get a car, you get a car. I'm in my suite at McLean Stadium in Waco, Texas watching the Baylor Bears play and there are 20 players on the field who I am paying

200 grand apiece. You know that's where you're at. I'm about to walk around the city of Houston like I want every one of the great football player the five stars come out and say Houston hey here's all this money to stay in town right like like I would absolutely all this money stay in town you already live here you already live there and go nuts. And they go six and six and it's like great I just spent a million dollars on six bucks on the pop up. And maybe that's what what it is. At what point do you stop giving so much money because, and here's where the conversation evolves into fire the coach. I'm paying for 20 of your best athletes to be out there, fire the coach, or I'm going to stop paying.

Or you have to fire the general manager because it's his job now. Well, that's what we just saw with West Virginia. We saw Neil Brown leaving. Rich Rod come in. Yeah, where does the power really lie now? It's going to lie saw with West Virginia. We saw the little brown lady, Rich Rod, come in. Yeah, where does the power really lie now? It's gonna lie with the boosters. That's the people paying those massive, massive NIL checks. They are gonna want their say.

And that's gonna be- They own the program. Yeah, it's the owner's program. Well, and it's kind of ironic that you say that, Jake, because how many coaches have we heard in the past fight donors, and that'd be one of the reasons they left that prospective university. Mark Stoops. Because they couldn't perspective university marks they couldn't get it along with the donors or they couldn't fall in line with the donors don't get rid of coaches well before nil that would not be crazy like that's just going to happen faster.

Just lost their basketball coach because of this like just lost their basketball coach to booster relations. Yeah, Craig Smith. I mean, they just were there was no money And as I understand it, JT, like people that were going to donate, want to donate to the next guy. They don't want to donate anymore to Craig. And it's fair. Is that right? When I'm paying 20 grand per player and Houston goes six and six, I want someone to be held responsible. I paid a million dollars, we'll say in one year and watch the product go six and six. Why am I giving a million dollars to watch that?

I don't want to anymore. Fire the coach. It's now, you're the GM. You're the armchair GM. But there are 17 of those in those suites. There are 17 people who are, because you think every building at a university is named after someone.

Those 10 someones are in the room directly affecting the quarterback, the running back, the wide receivers. And when all 10 of those get together and they say, hey, we need to change, it's the coach's fault. Then there's the, what is left of being a college coach. Now add in the fact of they have no ties to the college as well with private equity and private capital. And then they have a hand in it as well. Wait for that to happen. That sounds like a next segment kind of thing because that's actually I think taking things

a different direction if private equity jumps in. And I don't believe that's actually going to happen. You don't think private equity can happen in the Big 12? No. It seems like Brett Yolmark really wants to go down. He kind of needs it to happen. Let's clarify one thing. There's equity and there's capital.

There's two different delineations of what this could be ingested. If it's capital, it's a completely different conversation because capital has no say. Equity absolutely has say. Yeah, the private equity will not happen. That's why I said capital. That's the way I would go. Yeah, private capital. Christian, I'm talking about this. If you're bringing in a venture capitalist or a firm, you know, at what level, when have, this is the same quote that I used, at what point in history has bringing a venture capitalist to the table done favors in the long term for an organization? What favors would it do for the Big 12? I can't see where that's going

to benefit this conference in 15 years. It might be something that you need, but it sounds like a really stupid idea. Well, yeah, because if you don't do it, do we still exist in 15 years? And Drake, the thing is, is I don't know, your Mark is worried about 15 years from now. Correct. And that's the scary part. I mean, he may only be worried about the next two years. My bullsby was, my bullsby was worried about it.

You can bet your door. But I think it's admitting that either way you're done in 15 years, it's just how much money you make in the interim. And that's all you're trying to do, is because it's admitting we're gone in 15 years anyways. Is there how much money you make in the interim. And that's all, it's all you're trying to do is because it's admitting we're gone in 15 years anyways. Is there a timeline for what he's worried about?

Is 2030 that timeline now? It should be before that because I think the next media deal, which is when that timeframe, that sweet spot comes up. I think that's what they're all worried about. Yes. It should be before that. Cause honestly, if you're waiting until 2030, like you may as well slap on the pack 12 hat and be like, Hey, we're here, we waited our turn,

let's get a media rights deal, let's look into this expansion thing because that's exactly what we're talking about. I'll never wear a Pac-12 hat. I'll never wear a Pac-12 hat. That was my former employer, Chris. I feel like Tech was like actually on the verge of that one time, weren't they?

I'm making that up. I was 16, they were in the mix. I, what was it, Larry? What was it Larry Scott Larry? He flew into Lubbock, Texas and I was in the football stadium parking lot and he was right there meeting with all the leadership at Texas Tech and I might have been the most work he ever did He take up residence in the nicest hotel in

Afterwards, yeah Will forever be remembered for turning down I'm going to let USC convince us to not like you can't let that happen if you're the guy who's going to be the guy who's going to be the guy who's going to be the guy who's going to be the guy who's going to be the guy who's going to be the guy who's going to be the guy who's going to be the guy who's going to be the guy who's going to be the guy who's going to be the guy who's going to be the guy who's going to be the, that's what was going to turn into the PAX. Some of us are forever thankful. George Cleoboth was like, you know what? I'm going to let USC convince us to not, like, you can't let that happen. If you're Brett Moore, you're Mark.

You need to just sort of be aggressive and like try to kill another conference. Right. You either kill or be killed and don't get killed. That's right. For you A22, that's why Gonzaga and- The Mountain West- And Yukon have not been added. That's why every six weeks,

somebody says, oh, Brett Ilmer, called Gonzaga. And you just aren't going to, because the second Mark Few has three straight losing seasons, the second Yukon has three straight losing seasons, they're dead weight. Yeah. They're Vanderbilt times 50.

They're non-football players in this whole concept, and it's all about football. I mean, that's justbilt times 50. They're non football players in this whole concept and it's all about football. I mean, that's just the reality of it. UConn, the interesting thing with UConn is they've navigated the coaching change in basketball a lot. It's not a Sheshevsky situation where like it's a single coach that runs them. Until football becomes, and man, to be honest with you,

Parker, again, I think it's the fact Houston was in the Southwest Conference helped them a lot. Hey, we've seen them be in a power conference in college football before. And Heisenwinner, a very good, like a good team in that conference. Right. But then you ask the question of Cincinnati and say, are we going to get to the point where we find it tough to distinguish between UConn and Cincinnati? If they're not winning in football and if they're not winning in basketball, then Cincinnati

is, they are legitimately, as of this athletic year, dead weight to the big 12 conference. The first two years have been such duds at both revenue sports that having them in this league is hurting you. And their chili sucks. I mean, that I, when I went up there and they put cinnamon in that crap and what is this? I mean, unbelievable. The Skyline Chili crap. It pissed me off. What did we all find out that Brett Yarmark just loves Skyline Chili and that's the only reason that's the only thing I was excited about their city. I mean, but that chili is God awful, man. Not the reds. What about the big red machine, man?

The whole reason we're down in the hall of fame, please. The whole reason we're down. Let me rose in the hall of fame, please. The whole reason we're down. Yeah, absolutely. Cincinnati is exactly what Drake was talking about, right? Of like a couple years ago, it was like, oh, they're awesome. They made the college football playoff all these things and now they're dead weight. It's amazing. They're on power five.

And Luke Fickle is absolutely smart. They're trying to get their head on too. Mid-tier, mid-tier, big 10 job. That's when you know like maybe Cincinnati wasn't the best. And like also should the big 12 go to like the relegation system that the pack 12 was kind of flirting with like this past year where it's like Okay, like you have to do something out of the ordinary, right? You either try to run this model that we're doing expand or you do something crazy, right? You can't be in the middle So what's the craziest thing the big 12 can do to be entertaining?

To the point where someone gives them a TV contract because that's where we're 16 teams for that. Referee death matches. Coach fight midfield. Yeah. And it's pretty clear he is pretty clear. You know, Kevin, he's trying, the commissioner is trying to get basketball and like split it and think outside the box in that way. Cause that's never been done before, but that's where the, what Drake said about Gonzaga and Yukon I just don't think that the TV folks that are going to pay this bill feel like that it's worth much unfortunately that's just the

reality of it yeah I agree with and you got Sheshevsky talking about that ECC should do the same thing so like they're the ECC the Big East should merge yes yeah right so they're ACC the Big East should merge. Yeah, right there. So they're exploring it, too I think great your mark for there for a bit was said hey, we're gonna focus on basketball We're gonna see what basketball could get us to be the best conference and it's not going to get you there It's never going to get you There's a reason the Big East has flipped around a million times the last 40 years Because you cannot stay alive that way and I mean they're about to go back to 18 conference games permanently.

And I was under the understanding that the 20 game schedule was going to be kind of a main because that's what TV wanted. But they're even saying, yeah, those two extra games and all that inventory, we really don't even need it or want it. Because Fox realized Georgetown Seton Hall on Sunday at 3 is not doing them anything.

They're really not getting more. Well, if it was 1970, it would go. It was 1970. the We're staggering. I mean, this is back in the Big 12. We talk about staggering games. We're playing basketball. Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday in this conference. And next year, it's going to be on Thursday and Friday too. Next year, it's all seven days. It's free game on Wednesday. That won't change. Because every day, I'm sure all of you too will log on your TV and be like, okay, where is live sports?

Like where can we find it? So I don't think that's ever going to go away. And that, that inventory, the word Chris uses exactly the deal. It's like, what can we put on television? Cause it's just, there's just hours of the day, dude, you need something on TV during those hours of the day. But it needs to make money and the big East didn't make money. This is not a viable. A lot of sports get clicked on big 12 has programs and basketball people click on. And we're talking about a time of year where there isn't football on TV. You could really buck the trend and say,

hey, if you wanna make a super conference, we'll just go play in the spring. I mean, take a different TV time. You really wanted to move things around. Should every Big 12 team get an Amazon show like Colorado? I'm just saying. Should we be called by North Carolina, Netflix, or HBO? Hard Knocks.

Hard Knocks, that's right. We all know why they're going there, right? Cause no NFL team wanted to be the giants. Everybody in the NFL team turned them down. They're going to have an NFL. The 13 year old GM, that kid should be drafted in Kansas here. With all the dad, Joe Shane should look it to his son

and go, who should we draft? He was spot on last year. I'm sure him and his buddies have cooked it up at the eighth grade lunch table. With all the changes we're seeing in college sports, that would really be something if let's say the big 10, the SEC separate, they take certain teams with them. Would some of the remaining teams decide, Hey, let's play in the spring like that. If we're talking about all these other crazy changes, I think there's, that's at least something that could happen. I'd rather play on the surface of the sun than have a March football game. I agree.

I think that's the biggest thing. I think that's the biggest thing. I think that's the biggest changes, I think that's at least something that could happen. I'd rather play on the surface of the sun than have a March football game in the Big 12. I agree. Shout out to the UFO. Like you're not. The Big 12 needs to go in half.

Do we get to switch uniforms too and like play, you know? On that note, Chris, you bring up something that made me think of if Allstate state called tomorrow and said we'll give You a billion dollars for a ten-year contract You're the all-state 12 put the patches on the helmets the patches on the jersey. Great. I'll wear the all-state socks 12 I don't hate it. I want that billion dollars just If we stay alive. The New York Yankees have logos on their uniforms now.

We thought that would never happen. And beards, they got beards now. Facial hair, yep, facial hair. It has to be well maintained, Parker. Well, and that's being shopped. I mean, there is no doubt. There's conversations that have been had. It was well, you know, widely reported,

but they will take that deal. I mean, if I think the conference leadership is in agreement that if there's something there financially that makes sense, they will absolutely sell the name to the league. Yeah. And a patch on the jersey, whatever it takes. Yes. I'm going to drink. What's the argument against pimping it out? What's the, what's the, what's the thought? Like why I'm not a NASCAR fan. The traditionalist. Yeah. That's, that's, that's the people that are, but I mean, again, you

don't have any say so. Adapt. It's gone. Are there sponsors or it's rather not have the leak, right? Exactly. Yeah. This is off base, but really quick, like, why would we not make it the all state 16, why would we just keep 12?

Well, it's not 12. Why wouldn't you go all state 16? That's up to some third party marketing firm that's going 12? Well, it's not 12. Why wouldn't you go? That's up to some third party. Don't be crazy. It's going to tell you what it's worth. Don't limit yourself to a number. Just go to the all state conference. That's that's just do that. Loved by loved by Dr. Pepper and then as many people as want to be involved. Look at that. In reality, you also need the SEC or big what you need one of them. All three bring a different kind of doctor. But how do we pull that off?

Let's go look at Jake being healthy. Zero sugar. Of course. Of course. You're up in Utah. Zero sugar. Chris, that's the only one they can buy. Look at this. I'm a man. I'm 40. Look at this. I'm a man. I'm 40. Look at this. I'm a man. I'm 40. Look at this. I'm a man. I'm 40. Look at this. I'm a man. I'm 40. Look at this. I'm a man. I'm 40. Look at this. I'm a man. I'm 40. Look at this. I'm a man. I'm 40. Look at this. I'm a man. I'm 40. Look at this. I'm a man. I'm

40. Look at this. I'm a man. I'm 40. Look at this. I'm a man. I'm 40. Look at this. I'm a man. I'm 40. Look at this. I'm a man. I'm 40. Look at this. I'm a man. I'm 40. Look at this. I'm a man. I'm 40. Look at this. I'm a man. I'm 40. Look at this. I'm a man. I'm

40. Look at this. I'm a man. I'm 40. Look at this. I'm a man. I'm 40. Look at this. I'm a man. I'm 40. Look at this. I'm a man. I'm 40. Look at this. I'm a man. I'm 40. Look at this. I'm a man. I'm 40. Look at this. I'm a man. I'm 40. Look at this. I'm a man. I'm 40. Look at this. I'm a man. I'm 40. Look at this. I'm a man. I'm 40. Look at this. I'm a man. I'm a man. I'm 40. Look at this. Chris, next time you're in Utah, we got to introduce you to fry sauce. You got to get out here and try it, man. I was there. I had it.

We had steak and shake and all that. I mean, it's good. You know, pro-hater. Chris hates Utah. I actually like Utah. You're still begging for that story, Aiden. So what? To what end of that story? To what end of that story? the explain that one. We'll have that guy give you the old pro vote push. That feels like it's against the honor code. That is I don't like the way you phrase that. Very much against the honor code or is it like a slab on the

wrist? Like what are the violence? Very firmly in violation of the honor code. Okay, fair enough. Richie, your best friend is the urban dictionary. Just look it up, buddy. We have devolved in 53 minutes into this. Wait, let's rewind to the questions. They wanted this.

So this is- They wanted more honor code. I don't think they wanted this much education. I think they wanted stories about- We've been on for 54 minutes. How much is getting cut? How much is credit? We are Mountaineer Paul Dad's Big 12 Squad.

We're gonna rebrand it to. We'll all put you some money to change the branding. That is Chris Level of Lockdown, Texas Tech, Jake Hatch, Talkin' All Things, BYU Cougars, Cody Stovall of Lockdown, Oklahoma State, Christian Rauw, his last name is like the way that Owen Wilson says wow. Nick Maravetz, Lockdown Cyclones,

who said so many beautiful things in this show today. We also have Mountaineer Paul of Lockdown, West Virginia, Richard Bradshaw with The Sun Devils, JT Worcester, Shelby Utes, on the show.