While it is still the middle of July, it’s not too early to begin getting ready for NCAA football. Over the next few weeks, here on the Sideline Reporters, we will take a look at the 5 major football conferences. Up first… The Big 12 Conference!
The Big 12 rolled into Frisco, Texas this week for Media Days, and Commissioner Brett Yormark came armed with the kind of optimism usually reserved for pyramid scheme presentations.
“We’re the Deepest!”
Yormark kicked things off by declaring the Big 12 the “deepest football conference in America,” which is either inspiring confidence or the sports equivalent of your friend insisting their garage band is “really tight, you just have to hear us live.”
The commissioner pointed out that the Big 12 led the nation in one-score games last season, which is either a testament to competitive balance or proof that nobody in the conference knows how to put teams away. Nine starting quarterbacks are returning, so expect plenty more nail-biters and stress-eating among fans.
Playoff Dreams and Schemes
Yormark doubled down on the Big 12’s preferred “5+11” College Football Playoff format, because apparently 12 teams wasn’t enough chaos for college football. The Big 12 and ACC are pushing this model harder than a timeshare salesman in Cancun.
Beyond Football: The Full Package
In a touching moment, Yormark admitted he attended more women’s basketball games than men’s games last season, proving that even conference commissioners can have their priorities straight. He’s also announced that every student-athlete will get their own custom app, because what college kids really need is another app to manage.
The NIL Talk
Yormark addressed the NIL landscape with the kind of diplomatic language that translates to “we’re all winging it but trying to sound professional.” His goal is to shift from “pay for play to true third-party NIL,” which sounds like changing from Monopoly money to real money, but with more lawyers involved.
The Bottom Line
Yormark’s message was clear: “There has never been a better time to be part of the Big 12.” Whether that’s true or just really good marketing depends on how you feel about conferences that specialize in heart attack-inducing football games.
The 2025 season promises to be another wild ride in a conference that’s mastered the art of keeping everyone—fans, coaches, and apparently commissioners—on the edge of their seats. So is your school in the Big 12? Let me hear from you – what are your predictions? And speak up now – don’t come back here in October talking smack because you’re team is 6-0 or 5-1.
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