Open For Business: College Football w/ John Kurtz

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Major Realignment Dominoes About to Fall? Big 12 Has Inside Track on ACC Drama Apr 27, 2026

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College football realignment may be ready to heat back up, and the Big 12 could have a new window into the ACC drama. With Miami reportedly searching for a new athletic director and Brett Yormark’s brother Michael Yormark connected to the job, the Big 12 may suddenly have a fascinating new tie to one of the most important brands in the ACC.
We’ll talk about what that could mean for Miami, the Big 12, Brett Yormark, and the next round of realignment. Plus, the Big 12 had a record-setting NFL Draft, Cody Campbell’s push to amend the Sports Broadcasting Act just got some major validation, and we’ll look at whether Kyle Whittingham can actually succeed at Michigan after leaving Utah.
Get ‘Open For Business’ a Big 12 newsletter sending the key headlines, interviews, and my analysis straight to your inbox. No more college football news through an SEC/Big Ten lens. If you're a Big 12 fan (or just curious), sign up below!
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Kirk Herbstreit is STILL Trying to Kill the Big 12; Even After Big 12 Outshines the SEC on Draft Night Apr 24, 2026

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Kirk Herbstreit is still trying to kill the Big 12, and his latest ESPN comments after the NFL Draft are only adding fuel to the fire. In this video, I break down why the Big 12’s first round was a huge statement, how the conference stacked up with the SEC, and why ESPN still seems reluctant to give the league its due.
The Big 12 finished with six first-round NFL Draft picks, including three in the top 10, and had a night that challenged the usual SEC-dominated narrative. I also react to Herbstreit leaving the Big 12 out of a key conversation on ESPN, explain why that matters, and what it says about the way the conference is viewed heading into 2026.
If you’re a Big 12 fan frustrated with ESPN bias, conference disrespect, and the constant SEC-first narrative, this is the video for you.
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#Big12 #KirkHerbstreit #ESPN #NFLDraft #CollegeFootball #SEC

ESPN Back to HATING the Big 12; But Loving BYU? WILD New Rankings Just Dropped Apr 23, 2026

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ESPN dropped its new post-spring college football rankings, and once again the Big 12 feels stuck in the same old spot: respected just enough to stay relevant, but not enough to get the full benefit of the doubt. In tonight’s live show, we break down whether ESPN is really back to hating the Big 12, why Texas Tech may still be getting held back, why BYU might be getting more national respect than expected, and why Arizona State could have the highest upside in the entire league.
We also dive into what ESPN’s rankings could mean for the College Football Playoff race, whether Oklahoma State is quietly becoming the new money power in the Big 12, and who should actually go No. 1 overall in a hypothetical Big 12 player draft.
If you’re tired of college football being covered through an SEC and Big Ten lens, this is the show for you.
Get ‘Open For Business’ a Big 12 newsletter sending the key headlines, interviews, and my analysis straight to your inbox. No more college football news through an SEC/Big Ten lens. If you're a Big 12 fan (or just curious), sign up below!
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#Big12 #CollegeFootball #ESPN #TexasTech #BYU #ArizonaState #OklahomaState #CollegeFootballPlayoff
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Texas Tech Calls Out the Big 12: Is the Big 12 Holding Texas Tech Back? Apr 20, 2026

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Is the Big 12 holding Texas Tech back? Cody Campbell's fight with Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark took the Big 12 by storm this month.

Texas Tech is one of the biggest storylines in the Big 12 right now, and Rob Breaux joined me to explain why Red Raider fans feel like the rest of the conference still does not fully respect what Tech has become. We discuss Texas Tech’s rising power, the frustration over Big 12 TV decisions, whether the league is putting Tech in the best position, and why so many people around the conference seem uncomfortable with Texas Tech’s rise.
We also dive into whether Texas Tech is built to stay on top of the Big 12, how much better the conference could be this season, what Joey McGuire has built in Lubbock, and why Tech may be leaning into more of a villain role as the money and expectations keep rising.
Get ‘Open For Business’ a Big 12 newsletter sending the key headlines, interviews, and my analysis straight to your inbox. No more college football news through an SEC/Big Ten lens. If you're a Big 12 fan (or just curious), sign up below!
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Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:57 Where Texas Tech stands with the Big 12
01:17 Why Texas Tech feels capped by the Big 12
02:26 The “new money” feel around Texas Tech
03:56 Friday night games and Big 12 TV frustrations
05:14 Fan base vs. real-life Texas Tech perspective
06:02 Is the real frustration with the rest of the league?
07:53 Is Brett Yormark helping Big 12 football enough?
08:25 Why Tech fans feel isolated
09:16 Texas Tech vs. everybody else
10:20 Respect, resentment and social media backlash
11:29 Why Tech fans feel overlooked
13:14 Should the Big 12 be thanking Texas Tech?
14:21 Reconciliation with the rest of the league
15:04 SEC talk, villain role and NIL leadership
17:00 Was Friday night actually best for the Big 12?
17:51 What can calm the Texas Tech tension?
19:36 How quickly Joey McGuire changed everything
21:13 Does Texas Tech need to change its tone?
22:26 Can the Big 12 get two playoff teams?
23:09 Will Texas Tech be as good this year?
27:28 Could Texas Tech handle a $100 million roster?
28:44 Where to find Rob Breaux
#Big12 #TexasTech #CollegeFootball #JoeyMcGuire #BrettYormark #RobBreaux #TexasTechFootball #OpenForBusiness

FanDuel’s Big 12 College Football Playoff Odds Are WILD Apr 17, 2026

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FanDuel’s new Big 12 College Football Playoff odds are wild. Texas Tech is getting huge respect from the books, but the biggest story may be how low Arizona State is sitting and which Big 12 team looks like the best value on the entire board. In this video, I break down the latest Big 12 playoff odds, why Texas Tech is so high, why Arizona State feels shockingly undervalued, and why Oklahoma State might be one of the most interesting long-shot bets in college football right now.
I also get into what these odds say about schedule strength, preseason perception, returning quarterbacks, transfer portal momentum, and where Vegas may be getting the Big 12 right or wrong heading into the 2026 college football season. If you care about Big 12 football, College Football Playoff odds, Texas Tech, Arizona State, Oklahoma State, Utah, Colorado, Kansas State, and the biggest value picks in the conference, this is the breakdown for you.
Get “Open For Business” a Big 12 newsletter sending the key headlines, interviews, and my analysis straight to your inbox. No more college football news through an SEC/Big Ten lens. If you're a Big 12 fan (or just curious), sign up below!
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Subscribe to my national college football channel here:
https://www.youtube.com/@OFBcollegefootball
Chapters:
00:00 Big 12 playoff odds are wild
00:58 Why Texas Tech is so high
01:57 Texas Tech’s schedule helps explain it
02:47 The most shocking team on the board
03:39 Why Arizona State feels too low
03:51 The schedule problem hurting Arizona State
04:39 Why the Sun Devils still have huge opportunity
05:34 Is K-State priced fairly?
06:31 Why Oklahoma State looks like major value
07:26 Why Baylor and Utah stand out too
08:21 Colorado’s number is eye-opening
09:16 Where Vegas got it wrong
#Big12 #CollegeFootball #CFP #TexasTech #ArizonaState #OklahomaState #KansasState #UtahFootball #ColoradoFootball #CollegeFootballPlayoff

BYU Steals Rob Wright Back From Kentucky; Is BYU the Better Program Right Now? Apr 17, 2026

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BYU got Rob Wright back, beat out Kentucky in the process, and raised a wild question about college basketball in the NIL era: is BYU actually the better program right now?
In this video, I break down how BYU landed Rob Wright again after his trip to Lexington, what this says about the Cougars’ NIL power, and why BYU vs. Kentucky is a much more legitimate debate than a lot of people want to admit. Between Kevin Young, Mark Pope, transfer portal chaos, and the changing power structure in college basketball, this is a huge statement for BYU basketball.
I also get into what Rob Wright’s return says about player movement in the portal, why BYU’s roster is coming together in a big way, and how schools with money, coaching, and momentum can now go toe-to-toe with blue bloods like Kentucky in recruiting and roster building.
Get “Open For Business” a Big 12 newsletter sending the key headlines, interviews, and my analysis straight to your inbox. No more college football news through an SEC/Big Ten lens. If you're a Big 12 fan (or just curious), sign up below!
https://bit.ly/OFBNewsletter
Subscribe to my national college football channel here:
https://www.youtube.com/@OFBcollegefootball
Chapters:
00:00 BYU vs. Kentucky after Rob Wright
00:58 Why Rob Wright entering the portal was shocking
01:47 How BYU got Rob Wright back
02:38 What Kentucky’s involvement says about the market
03:34 Why BYU fans can still rally around Rob Wright
04:07 Is BYU close to Kentucky as a program?
04:52 Kevin Young, Mark Pope, and the bigger debate
05:44 Why blue blood status means less now
06:37 BYU’s recent wins over Kentucky
06:54 Why BYU may have the better setup right now
07:46 What this means for BYU basketball moving forward
08:28 The new reality of the transfer portal
#BYU #BYUBasketball #RobWright #KentuckyBasketball #MarkPope #KevinYoung #CollegeBasketball #TransferPortal #NIL #Big12

Will Howard's Brutal Truth About K-State NIL Deals: KSU "Took Advantage of Me" Apr 17, 2026

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Will Howard says K-State took advantage of him, didn’t pay him enough, and treated him differently during his final season in Manhattan. In this video, I break down Howard’s comments, why parts of his NIL criticism of Kansas State feel misleading, and what this says about the transfer portal era in college football.
This isn’t just a K-State story. It’s a bigger look at how NIL, roster movement, and player transfers are changing the way fans view loyalty, rivalries, and former stars across the Big 12 and all of college football. From Will Howard and Avery Johnson to Ohio State, K-State football, and the transfer portal, this is the new reality of the sport.
Get “Open For Business” a Big 12 newsletter sending the key headlines, interviews, and my analysis straight to your inbox. No more college football news through an SEC/Big Ten lens. If you're a Big 12 fan (or just curious), sign up below!
https://bit.ly/OFBNewsletter
Subscribe to my national college football channel here:
https://www.youtube.com/@OFBcollegefootball
Chapters:
00:00 Will Howard’s K-State comments
00:54 Why nothing feels sacred anymore
01:45 How the portal changed fan loyalty
02:30 Why this became a K-State flashpoint
03:21 Will Howard, Avery Johnson, and the split
04:14 Ohio State changed everything
04:29 The quote that sparked the debate
05:21 Did K-State underpay Will Howard?
06:18 “They took advantage of me”
07:07 What Will Howard got right
07:57 What felt misleading
08:40 The Oklahoma State and Texas Tech context
09:34 Why K-State fans are frustrated
10:42 The bigger transfer portal problem
#WillHoward #KState #KansasState #KansasStateFootball #Big12 #CollegeFootball #NIL #TransferPortal #AveryJohnson #OhioState

Insider: $100 Million Football Rosters Are Coming; Can the Big 12 Keep Up? Apr 17, 2026

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Is college football heading toward $100 million rosters, and what would that mean for the Big 12? In this live stream, I break down where that number is coming from, whether it’s real or fear mongering, and why it could be a major warning sign for the future of the sport.
We’re also diving into BYU’s huge portal win with Rob Wright, what it says about Kevin Young and the Cougars’ NIL power, whether BYU is closer to Kentucky than people want to admit, which Big 12 programs may be whiffing in the transfer portal, and the wild new FanDuel playoff odds that show Texas Tech getting major respect while teams like Arizona State and Oklahoma State create big debate.
If you care about the Big 12, the transfer portal, NIL, college football spending, BYU basketball, Texas Tech hype, and the future of college sports, this one covers a lot.
Get “Open For Business,” a Big 12 newsletter sending the key headlines, interviews, and my analysis straight to your inbox. No more college football news through an SEC/Big Ten lens. If you're a Big 12 fan (or just curious), sign up below!
https://bit.ly/OFBNewsletter
Also check out my national college football channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@OFBcollegefootball
#Big12 #CollegeFootball #TransferPortal #NIL #BYU #TexasTech #ArizonaState #OklahomaState #KentuckyBasketball
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Does KU Already Have a Big 12 Head Coach in Waiting? Wild Contract Details Apr 13, 2026

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In this video, I break down a major clue that suggests KU may already have its next men’s basketball coach in mind, and it could be a familiar name from right here in the Big 12. Bill Self is back for now, but recent contract details surrounding Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd raise some very interesting questions about Kansas’ long-term plan. I also explain why the Jayhawks may be in a much better spot than North Carolina was when it comes time to make a coaching move.
If you’re a Kansas fan, Big 12 fan, or college basketball fan trying to read between the lines on one of the sport’s biggest future storylines, this is worth watching.
Chapters:
0:00 Does Kansas already know its next coach?
1:04 Bill Self is back, but questions remain
1:48 How good is the Kansas job really?
2:39 Why KU may be better positioned than UNC
3:27 Ben McCollum enters the conversation
5:09 The Tommy Lloyd contract clue
6:10 The Big 12 non-compete disappears
7:05 Why Kansas is the one job that matters
8:45 What this could mean for KU’s future
Get ‘Open For Business’ a Big 12 newsletter sending the key headlines, interviews, and my analysis straight to your inbox. No more college football news through an SEC/Big Ten lens. If you're a Big 12 fan (or just curious), sign up below!
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Also subscribe to my national college football channel here:
https://www.youtube.com/@OFBcollegefootball
#KansasJayhawks #KUbasketball #BillSelf #TommyLloyd #CollegeBasketball #Big12 #KansasBasketball

Brett Yormark Punishes Texas Tech? | Ranking The Top Ten Big 12 Programs Apr 12, 2026

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Did the Big 12 punish Texas Tech by giving the Red Raiders two non-Saturday games? On tonight’s show, I break down the latest Brett Yormark vs. Cody Campbell drama after Texas Tech landed a Friday game against Houston and a Thanksgiving night matchup with TCU. I explain why I actually think the Big 12 got this right, why Tech fans are frustrated, and why the TCU game could be a huge TV win for the league.
Plus, ESPN suddenly seems to love the Big 12 heading into the 2026 college football season. I dive into why Bill Connelly is high on so many Big 12 transfer portal classes, what that says about the league nationally, and whether this kind of respect is actually built to last.
And to wrap it up, I rank the top 10 football programs in the Big 12 right now based on NIL support, coaching, consistency, and institutional backing, including Texas Tech, BYU, Utah, Arizona State, TCU, K-State, Iowa State and more.
Get “Open For Business” a Big 12 newsletter sending the key headlines, interviews, and my analysis straight to your inbox. No more college football news through an SEC/Big Ten lens. If you're a Big 12 fan (or just curious), sign up below!
https://bit.ly/OFBNewsletter
Watch my national college football channel here:
https://www.youtube.com/@OFBcollegefootball
#Big12 #TexasTech #BrettYormark #CodyCampbell #TCUFootball #CollegeFootball #TransferPortal #BYUFootball #KStateFootball #IowaStateFootball

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