INSIDER: Big 12 Will Steal PITT from ACC, FINALLY Give West Virginia a League Rival in Realignment

This episode of Locked On Big 12 explores the future of conference realignment, focusing on the Big 12's potential expansion as the ACC faces dissolution. Hosts Drake Toll and Cameron Stewart analyze three potential additions—Pitt, NC State, and UConn—weighing their football viability, rivalry value, and basketball market appeal. Pitt emerges as the top choice due to its historic rivalry with West Virginia and strong football tradition, despite geographic and cultural mismatches. NC State is praised for academic strength, consistent football performance, and athletic depth, while UConn is dismissed for its lack of sustainable football success despite basketball prominence. The hosts also debate the delayed NBA draft decisions of AJ DeBonsa and Darren Peterson, questioning why elite players would stay in college despite massive financial incentives. Later, the conversation turns to the emotional toll on Baylor football, which has been unranked since 2022 under head coach Dave Aranda, drawing comparisons to a fish dying from water shock. The hosts argue that Baylor’s decline is especially painful due to its past success, but note that West Virginia’s longer period of irrelevance makes it a close second in the 'saddest team' category.