Open For Business: College Football w/ John Kurtz

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BYU’s Season Ends…Was it a Failure?; TCU CAN Shock Duke Mar 19, 2026

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Texas controls BYU wire-to-wire as the Cougars season ends in disappointment in the first round. TCU channels March Madness to hold off Ohio State. Can they stun Duke?
BYU’s season came to a painful end after getting pushed around by Texas, which raises the big question: was this season a failure or just a disappointment? In this video, I break down why BYU had too much on AJ Dybantsa’s shoulders, how injuries to Richie Saunders, Dawson Baker, Nate Pickens and others changed the ceiling of this team, and why the Cougars still gained something huge from this season despite the ugly ending.
Plus, TCU may have a much better shot against Duke than most people realize. I explain what the Horned Frogs showed in their win over Ohio State, why Duke looked vulnerable, and the one key factor that could make this a real NCAA Tournament shocker.
If you care about BYU basketball, TCU basketball, Duke basketball, AJ Dybantsa, March Madness, and Big 12 basketball, this is the place to be.
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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#BYU #BYUBasketball #TCU #TCUBasketball #DukeBasketball #MarchMadness #NCAATournament #Big12 #AJDybantsa #CollegeBasketball

Big 12 DOMINATES NCAA Tournament Field; One Big 12 Team Got Screwed Mar 16, 2026

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The Big 12 sent a loud message on Selection Sunday.

In this video, I break down why the NCAA Tournament committee made it clear the Big 12 is the best basketball league in the country right now, from Houston, Arizona, Iowa State, BYU, and Texas Tech earning major respect to Kansas getting the toughest draw of any Big 12 team in the bracket. I also get into why the conference is about to make serious money off its basketball product, why Brett Yormark may have played this week exactly right, and why the Big 12 Tournament belongs in Kansas City, not Las Vegas.

If you care about the Big 12, March Madness, Kansas basketball, Houston basketball, Arizona basketball, Iowa State basketball, BYU basketball, Texas Tech basketball, Brett Yormark, and the future of college sports, this is 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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Also check out my national college football channel here:
https://www.youtube.com/@OFBcollegefootball

Subscribe for more Big 12 football and basketball coverage, NCAA Tournament analysis, college sports business talk, conference realignment, and the stories the national media gets wrong.

#Big12 #MarchMadness #CollegeBasketball #KansasJayhawks #HoustonCougars #ArizonaWildcats #IowaState #BYU #TexasTech #BrettYormark #NCAATournament

Big 12 Scores a Major Win in D.C.; SEC Bias Screwing Big 12 Basketball Mar 08, 2026

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The Big 12 may have finally scored a real win in Washington, D.C. after the White House college sports meeting featuring Brett Yormark, Cody Campbell, Greg Sankey, and President Donald Trump. In this episode, John Kurtz breaks down what the Saving College Sports roundtable actually accomplished, why Greg Sankey got mocked for one of the worst comments of the event, and why new momentum in Congress could matter for the Big 12 and ACC as they try to close the gap on the SEC and Big Ten.

Plus, SEC bias may have officially invaded college basketball. John explains why ESPN bracketology and bubble talk have been giving the SEC far too much benefit of the doubt while the Big 12 keeps getting punished, even though the Big 12 has been the best league in the country by RPI. From Cincinnati’s bubble case to Alabama, Auburn, Kansas, BYU, Texas Tech, and the rest of the chaotic Big 12 race, this episode dives into why the league is being undervalued and why it can still prove itself in March Madness.

Also in the show: the latest on the Kansas State coaching search, including Jerrod Calhoun, Josh Schertz, Alan Huss, Casey Alexander, and the mystery-candidate rumors surrounding the K-State basketball opening. John breaks down who has interviewed, when a decision could come, and how the Wildcats job stacks up nationally.

And finally, John reacts to wild Big 12 quarterback rankings from CBS Sports’ Shehan Jeyarajah, including debates over Bear Bachmeier, Brendan Sorsby, Noah Fifita, Drew Mestemaker, Devon Dampier, Avery Johnson, and Conner Weigman. Who is being overrated? Who is being disrespected? And which Big 12 QB could rise all the way to No. 1 by the end of the season?

If you love Big 12 football, Big 12 basketball, college football realignment, playoff politics, coaching search drama, bracketology, and strong takes on SEC and Big Ten favoritism, this is the show for you.

Topics in this video include:
Big 12 news
Big 12 basketball
Big 12 football
Brett Yormark
Greg Sankey
Cody Campbell
Saving College Sports
White House college sports meeting
Donald Trump college sports
SEC bias
ESPN bracketology
NCAA Tournament bubble
Kansas State coaching search
Jerrod Calhoun
Alan Huss
Josh Schertz
Bear Bachmeier
Brendan Sorsby
Noah Fifita
Conner Weigman
Shehan Jeyarajah
Kansas basketball
BYU basketball
Texas Tech basketball
Cincinnati basketball
College football playoff politics

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

For national college football coverage, subscribe here:
https://www.youtube.com/@OFBcollegefootball

#Big12 #CollegeFootball #CollegeBasketball #KansasState #KansasJayhawks #BYU #TexasTech #Cincinnati #BrettYormark #GregSankey #MarchMadness #CFB

Cody Campbell Has the SEC & Big Ten Shook; Big 12 Invited to the White House Mar 01, 2026

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Cody Campbell has the SEC and Big Ten worried, and now we have proof.
In this video, I break down the backlash to Campbell’s Saving College Sports initiative after the SEC and Big Ten commissioned a white paper from FTI Consulting to counter his ideas. Campbell’s proposal includes major changes to college athletics, including a new voluntary governing organization with enforcement power, a single national NIL standard, spending and cost controls, and changes to the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 that would allow schools to pool college football media rights and sell them together.
I explain what Campbell is pushing, why SEC and Big Ten leaders are fighting it, and why the arguments in the commissioned paper are misleading—especially when it comes to the history of TV rights, the College Football Association model from the 1980s, and how the modern streaming landscape (Amazon, Netflix, and more) could change the value of packaged college football inventory. We also get into the central issue behind this battle: whether the current fragmented system is protecting SEC and Big Ten revenue at the expense of everyone else, including the future of Olympic sports and women’s sports at smaller schools.
Topics covered:
Cody Campbell and Saving College Sports explained
Why the SEC and Big Ten are responding with a commissioned white paper
FTI Consulting’s arguments against pooling media rights
Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 and proposed changes in Congress
Supreme Court TV rights ruling and the College Football Association example
NIL reform, national standards, and enforcement debates
Why this fight could end up in Washington and at the White House
What this means for the Big 12 and the future of college football
Do you think Campbell’s plan would help college sports, or is it federal overreach? Should the SEC and Big Ten keep control of the current system? Drop your take in the comments.
Keywords: Cody Campbell, Saving College Sports, SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, college football media rights, Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961, NIL reform, national NIL standard, college sports commission, FTI Consulting, college football playoff power, NCAA governance, conference realignment, Olympic sports funding, women’s sports funding, Trump roundtable college sports

Cincy Suing Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby for $1 Million; Sorsby Fires Back on Twitter Feb 25, 2026

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Cincinnati is suing Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby for $1 million in liquidated damages tied to an alleged two-year NIL agreement, and the timing could not be spicier. The lawsuit hits one day after Sorsby took a shot at Cincinnati on social media, turning an already tense in-conference transfer into a full-blown Big 12 feud.
In this live stream, I break down what Cincinnati’s lawsuit says, why the school believes it’s entitled to $1 million within 30 days of Sorsby transferring, and how this kind of “NIL buyout” fight could change the way players move inside the Big 12. I’ll also show the post that set Bearcat fans off, explain why this feels different when the player lands at a conference rival, and tell you who I think is actually in the right here.
Then we pivot to BYU: what the Cougars look like without Richie Saunders, why their floor is lower without his leadership and production, and what it means for BYU’s depth and week-to-week consistency.
Finally, we get into one of the wildest early-season Big 12 takes you’ll see: On3 projecting huge things for Utah and, by extension, first-year head coach Morgan Scalley. I react to Brett McMurphy’s early College Football Playoff/bowl projections, why the Utah pick is a massive vote of confidence, and the one scenario where it actually makes sense (spoiler: it probably requires a star quarterback and an immediate defensive carry-over).
Topics include: Cincinnati Bearcats vs Brendan Sorsby lawsuit, Texas Tech football NIL, Big 12 NIL contracts and buyouts, in-conference transfers, Big 12 football 2026 storylines, BYU football outlook without Richie Saunders, Kalani Sitake respect, Morgan Scalley Utah head coach era, Kyle Whittingham exit fallout, Holy War implications, and early College Football Playoff projections.
Drop your take in the comments: is Cincinnati right to enforce the $1M clause, or is this crossing a line for the NIL era?
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!
www.ofbnews.com
https://www.youtube.com/@OFBcollegefootball
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Kansas Should Cut Ties w/ Darryn Peterson ESPN Star Says; Big 12 Cashing in BIG Feb 22, 2026

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Kansas basketball just took a gut-punch at Allen Fieldhouse, and now Dick Vitale is publicly saying KU should cut ties with Darryn Peterson. In this live show, I break down why Vitale is going there, what it could mean for Bill Self and Kansas’ ceiling in March, and why we still haven’t heard Peterson’s side of the story.
Then we pivot to the exact opposite storyline in Provo: AJ Dybantsa goes nuclear in BYU’s huge win over Iowa State, plays all 40 minutes, and delivers the most perfect quote possible in the postgame. If you’re wondering why BYU suddenly feels dangerous again, we’ll connect the dots.
Finally, the selection committee’s Top 16 reveal quietly confirmed what Big 12 fans already know: this league is loaded at the top AND has real depth. Two Big 12 No. 1 seeds is a statement, and it’s another example of Big 12 hoops being what SEC football thinks it is.
Plus: a quick K-State coaching search update and the latest on the names to watch.
Topics covered:
Dick Vitale calls out Darryn Peterson and Kansas
Bill Self, KU’s March ceiling, and the “cut ties” debate
Why we still haven’t heard Peterson’s full story (and why that matters)
AJ Dybantsa’s monster game vs Iowa State and what it means for BYU
BYU’s path forward after the Richie Saunders injury
Selection committee Top 16 reveal: Big 12 power at the top + depth everywhere
K-State coaching search update
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!
www.ofbnews.com
Also check out my national college football channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@OFBcollegefootball
#KansasBasketball #DarrynPeterson #BillSelf #BYU #AJDybantsa #Big12Basketball #MarchMadness #Big12
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Legal Experts: K-State Has a Case vs Jerome Tang Feb 19, 2026

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The Athletic spoke to legal experts who think K-State has a legitimate case against Jerome Tang. Big 12 basketball decimated by injuries. Self snaps about Darryn Peterson. Ranking Big 12 arenas.

There Are No Winners in the Parker Kingston Story; BYU Star Facing First Degree Felony Charge Feb 13, 2026

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CONTENT WARNING: This episode includes discussion of sexual assault allegations.
In today’s Open For Business Big 12 show, we start with the latest on BYU football as receiver Parker Kingston has been charged with first-degree felony rape in Washington County, Utah. I walk through the limited, confirmed details that have been reported so far, including BYU’s public statement, what’s known about the investigation timeline, and what comes next in court.
Then we pivot to the Big 12 basketball mess at Kansas State. Jerome Tang’s postgame comments after a 29-point home loss to Cincinnati went viral across college hoops media, including CBS Sports, The Field of 68, and even PTI. I break down what was said, why it resonated nationally, and what Tang did next on his coaches show as K-State heads toward another brutal matchup.
Finally, we close with conference realignment chaos. Former Nebraska AD Bill Moos revealed he quietly explored a return to the Big 12 while Texas and Oklahoma were still in the league. I explain how close it really came, why it died, and why the story highlights everything that’s broken about modern college sports.
Subscribe for Big 12-first coverage, realignment analysis, and the stories national media misses.
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!
www.ofbnews.com
Check out my national college football channel: https://www.youtube.com/@OFBcollegefootball
#Big12 #BYUFootball #CollegeFootball #KansasState #JeromeTang #ConferenceRealignment #NebraskaFootball #CollegeBasketball #OFB
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Big 12 Money Crisis: A Big 12 Power Says It's Broke; K-State is Bleeding Cash Feb 05, 2026

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Big 12 basketball has a money problem, and Kelvin Sampson just said the quiet part out loud. After Houston’s win, the Hall of Fame coach admitted the Cougars are broke, raising a bigger question for the conference: if one of the Big 12’s best programs is struggling for resources, what does that mean for competing in the new era of college sports?
In this live show, I break down Sampson’s comments, why Houston’s timing is so surprising (elite hoops, rising football, huge recruiting footprint), and whether a lack of donor support could ever put coaches like Kelvin Sampson or Willie Fritz at risk.
Then we pivot to the other side of the Big 12 money story: K-State spending. Kansas State is pouring an eye-popping amount into basketball between Jerome Tang’s contract, assistant coach salaries, and roster spending, yet they’re sitting at the bottom of the league. I’ll walk through the numbers, the context, and what it says about how programs can waste money even when they have it.
Plus: BYU’s three-game skid, what’s actually wrong defensively, and why the next stretch with Houston looming will tell us what BYU really is. We also get into the latest anti-Mormon chant controversy, what Oklahoma State fans claim was said, and what the Big 12 can realistically do to stop this from becoming a recurring distraction.
Subscribe for Big 12 college football and Big 12 basketball coverage with the context the national shows miss.
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!
www.ofbnews.com
Check out my national college football channel: https://www.youtube.com/@OFBcollegefootball
#Big12 #Big12Basketball #HoustonCougars #KelvinSampson #KansasState #JeromeTang #BYU #CollegeBasketball
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Jerome Tang Makes K-State Crisis Even Messier; Is BYU in Trouble After KU Loss? Feb 01, 2026

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Kansas hoops chaos, BYU’s reality check, and the Jerome Tang situation just got uglier.
In this live show, I break down the Darryn Peterson conundrum after KU vs BYU. He looked like the best player in the country…then barely played in the second half again. Can Kansas actually win a national title if Peterson can’t gut out full games? Plus, Richie Saunders may have just changed his career in one night, and BYU’s back-to-back losses raise a real question: are the Cougars in trouble, or just settling into their real ceiling?
Then we get into K-State’s free fall. After another brutal week, Jerome Tang’s press conferences are pouring gasoline on the fire. When you’re 10-12, 1-8 in the Big 12, and you’ve got a roster that cost what it cost, the margin for excuses is basically zero.
Topics covered in this video:
Kansas basketball: Darryn Peterson, Bill Self, and KU’s national title chances
KU vs BYU: AJ Dybantsa vs Peterson, Richie Saunders eruption, Kevin Young’s comments
BYU basketball: what the last two games say about Big 12 title hopes vs NCAA tournament upside
K-State basketball: Jerome Tang backlash, West Virginia collapse, Iowa State blowout, what happens next
Big 12 basketball context: where KU, BYU, and K-State actually fit right now
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:05 Darryn Peterson vs AJ Dybantsa in Allen Fieldhouse
6:45 Can Kansas win a national title with Peterson’s minutes/health?
12:40 Richie Saunders was unreal (and what it means for BYU)
18:05 Is BYU in trouble after back-to-back losses?
24:30 Jerome Tang is making K-State worse
33:40 Where K-State goes from here
Subscribe for Big 12 basketball and college sports analysis with the stories and angles you’re not getting nationally. Drop a comment with the biggest question you have about KU, BYU, or K-State right now.
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! www.ofbnews.com
Also check out my national college football channel: https://www.youtube.com/@OFBcollegefootball
#KansasBasketball #BYUBasketball #KStateBasketball #Big12Basketball #DarrynPeterson #JeromeTang #BillSelf #AJDybantsa #RichieSaunders #CollegeBasketball
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