Big 12 preview: Can anyone catch up to surging Tex...
Key takeaways
- If some team could craft a recruiting boost from both solid spending and sustained success, perhaps they could ride that to a series of conference titles and, perhaps, even playoff runs?
- I admittedly didn't have a specific team in mind for this, and with so many programs seemingly equal in terms of spending potential and history, it wasn't clear if something dynastic was possible.
- For years, my joke about the Big 12 was that every game is decided by three points and anyone can make a run at any time.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
If some team could craft a recruiting boost from both solid spending and sustained success, perhaps they could ride that to a series of conference titles and, perhaps, even playoff runs?
I admittedly didn't have a specific team in mind for this, and with so many programs seemingly equal in terms of spending potential and history, it wasn't clear if something dynastic was possible. But damned if Texas Tech didn't look like a team ready to rip off a major run of success last season. Even with an upset loss to Arizona State (suffered without their starting quarterback), the Red Raiders, with their roster upgraded by big spending and big-name transfers, outscored 10 Big 12 opponents by an average margin of 27.1 points -- 32.0 from November onward -- and rolled to their first Big 12 title. And even with BYU, Utah and others putting together excellent levels of talent and experience, Tech again appears to have the most talented and experienced roster by far.
For years, my joke about the Big 12 was that every game is decided by three points and anyone can make a run at any time. But while one year does not a dynasty make, the conference's 2026 season will be defined by whether anyone can make a serious run at the champs.