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Our hotel:
Big 12 Media Days kicks off tomorrow. For day 1, it starts with Commissioner Bob Bowlsby giving the opening address. The Big 12 has a title game now, but still doesn’t have a network. The title game should provide an additional two or three million to each team. Bowlsby may talk about a streaming service for third tier rights. There’s a possibility that several services would be interested. Twitter, Netflix, and several other companies that specialize in online content might make a play, and cable subscriptions are dropping, so the Big 12 may be left out or the icebreaker for the new way of watching sports.
As a conference, the Big 12 has two priorities: (1) Get some kind of network that doesn’t have “Longhorn” in the title, and (2) Get back in the title game. Notice that expansion isn’t on that list.
One thing that isn’t going to be on the agenda is the fact that since A&M went to the SEC, Texas talent has been leaving the state in greater numbers. Last year, the AAC had more players drafted into the NFL than the Big 12. That’s not good.
The first day teams are Oklahoma, TCU, Kansas, Texas Tech and Iowa State.
Oklahoma
The Sooners have won the Big 12 and have sixteen starters returning, so guess who everyone is picking to win the conference? The guy that isn’t returning is Bob Stoops. The Sooners are also the conference’s best hope to get into the playoffs. Last year, the Sooners stumbled early, losing to the Houston Cougars and getting curbstomped by Ohio State. After that, they went on a tear all the way to the Sugar Bowl, beating Auburn. Both Sooner thousand yard rushers are gone, but they have a deep stable and are returning just about their entire offensive line.
TCU
After two good years, the Horned Frogs fell to 6-7 last year. They lost three of their last four, including their bowl game. Patterson has had four losing seasons at TCU, and in the previous three, he bounced back big time. Kenny Hill returns at QB. He’s regressed, though, and has to bounce back. Doug Meachum, the co-coordinator who installed the spread offense has moved on. The Frogs only lost a few starters to graduation, though, so they’re an experienced team, and return four offensive line starters.
On defense, the Frogs have been average the last couple of years. Dick Bumpas, the defensive coordinator, retired at the end of the 2014 season, and quite a few people point to his retiring as a turning point.
Texas Tech
Texas Tech’s defense last year was bad, like breaking bad bad. They gave up over sixty points three times, and only held four teams under forty. Tech was last in the nation in scoring defense and total defense. On the flip side, the Tech offense was usually potent. Unfortunately, Patrick Mahones graduated, and the offensive line isn’t great. Nic Shimonek transferred from Iowa, and is the only Raider quarterback to have taken a college level snap in a real game. Kliff Kingsbury could be in real trouble if the Raiders don’t show something this season. On the plus side, the Raiders have now gone two full years without firing the defensive coordinator.
Kansas and Iowa State to follow.
Our hotel:
Big 12 Media Days kicks off tomorrow. For day 1, it starts with Commissioner Bob Bowlsby giving the opening address. The Big 12 has a title game now, but still doesn’t have a network. The title game should provide an additional two or three million to each team. Bowlsby may talk about a streaming service for third tier rights. There’s a possibility that several services would be interested. Twitter, Netflix, and several other companies that specialize in online content might make a play, and cable subscriptions are dropping, so the Big 12 may be left out or the icebreaker for the new way of watching sports.
As a conference, the Big 12 has two priorities: (1) Get some kind of network that doesn’t have “Longhorn” in the title, and (2) Get back in the title game. Notice that expansion isn’t on that list.
One thing that isn’t going to be on the agenda is the fact that since A&M went to the SEC, Texas talent has been leaving the state in greater numbers. Last year, the AAC had more players drafted into the NFL than the Big 12. That’s not good.
The first day teams are Oklahoma, TCU, Kansas, Texas Tech and Iowa State.
Oklahoma
The Sooners have won the Big 12 and have sixteen starters returning, so guess who everyone is picking to win the conference? The guy that isn’t returning is Bob Stoops. The Sooners are also the conference’s best hope to get into the playoffs. Last year, the Sooners stumbled early, losing to the Houston Cougars and getting curbstomped by Ohio State. After that, they went on a tear all the way to the Sugar Bowl, beating Auburn. Both Sooner thousand yard rushers are gone, but they have a deep stable and are returning just about their entire offensive line.
TCU
After two good years, the Horned Frogs fell to 6-7 last year. They lost three of their last four, including their bowl game. Patterson has had four losing seasons at TCU, and in the previous three, he bounced back big time. Kenny Hill returns at QB. He’s regressed, though, and has to bounce back. Doug Meachum, the co-coordinator who installed the spread offense has moved on. The Frogs only lost a few starters to graduation, though, so they’re an experienced team, and return four offensive line starters.
On defense, the Frogs have been average the last couple of years. Dick Bumpas, the defensive coordinator, retired at the end of the 2014 season, and quite a few people point to his retiring as a turning point.
Texas Tech
Texas Tech’s defense last year was bad, like breaking bad bad. They gave up over sixty points three times, and only held four teams under forty. Tech was last in the nation in scoring defense and total defense. On the flip side, the Tech offense was usually potent. Unfortunately, Patrick Mahones graduated, and the offensive line isn’t great. Nic Shimonek transferred from Iowa, and is the only Raider quarterback to have taken a college level snap in a real game. Kliff Kingsbury could be in real trouble if the Raiders don’t show something this season. On the plus side, the Raiders have now gone two full years without firing the defensive coordinator.
Kansas and Iowa State to follow.
