YIKES: Brett Yormark, Big 12 Are NOT HAPPY With Texas Tech, While ESPN, FOX Punish Football Teams

The Locked On Big 12 podcast dives into growing frustration within the conference over scheduling decisions, particularly targeting Texas Tech’s recent matchups. The team is upset over having two high-profile games moved to Friday nights—once to Arlington and another to Thanksgiving—seen as a devaluation of their brand and a blow to fan experience. Hosts debate whether this is a punishment by the Big 12 or a strategic TV move by ESPN and FOX to maximize national exposure, with concerns that premium games are being buried in non-Saturday windows. The conversation shifts to the college basketball transfer portal, where the timing of NBA draft decisions and NIL opportunities are creating chaos for programs. There’s growing speculation that top prospects like AJ and Christian Anderson might return to college for financial and developmental reasons, especially if they can earn more through NIL and sponsorships than immediate NBA deals. However, the lack of alignment between college and pro timelines creates roster instability. The episode also explores the financial imbalance in college sports, with baseball and other non-revenue sports struggling to attract investment, especially when football and basketball dominate NIL and funding. BYU’s surprising baseball success is highlighted as a rare exception, but the hosts agree that most schools prioritize revenue-generating sports. The overarching theme is that the college sports ecosystem is increasingly shaped by money, media, and calendar misalignment, with little room for tradition or fairness.