Open For Business: College Football w/ John Kurtz

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ESPN Finally Puts BYU in the College Football Playoff; Big 12 Making a Huge Playoff Mistake? Jan 30, 2026

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ESPN actually projected BYU and Texas Tech in the College Football Playoff, and Big 12 fans have every right to side-eye it. In this live show, I break down ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Top 25 (and what it really signals about BYU’s playoff path), why the Cougars are finally getting respect, and which SEC brands got left out.
Then we pivot to the bigger fear: while everyone laughs at the SEC and Big Ten for fumbling CFP expansion, is the Big 12 making a massive playoff mistake behind the scenes? I dig into the 5+11 vs 24-team debate, the auto-bid politics, and what Brett Yormark should be pushing for if the goal is actual access, not vibes.
Plus: who is the “next Indiana” in the Big 12 (ESPN picked one, and I’m with them), and the latest example of recruiting site logo bias that keeps dinging Big 12 perception.
If you’re a BYU fan, a Tech fan, or just tired of college football being filtered through an SEC/Big Ten lens, this one’s for you.
CHAPTERS
0:00 ESPN projects BYU in the CFP
3:10 Why ESPN kept BYU out before
7:05 ESPN’s 2026 Top 25 and Big 12 teams ranked
10:35 Texas Tech outlook: portal, offense, schedule, playoff path
16:40 BYU outlook: what ESPN got right and what they ignored
21:45 The Notre Dame game (Oct. 17) and BYU’s margin for error
26:10 The “next Indiana” is in the Big 12
29:40 Houston as a sleeper turnaround team
34:10 Oklahoma State as the next Indiana (and why)
39:30 Recruiting sites and Big 12 logo bias (stars magically rise)
45:55 Is the Big 12 making a massive CFP mistake?
52:10 5+11 vs 24 teams and why access matters
58:40 What Yormark should be pushing for next
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#BYU #TexasTech #Big12 #CollegeFootballPlayoff #CFP #NIL #Recruiting #OklahomaState #CollegeFootball #BrettYormark #ESPN
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Big 12 Gets a HUGE Playoff Win; But it Comes With a Catch Jan 26, 2026

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College Football Playoff is staying at 12 teams… and the Big 12 just locked in a guaranteed spot for its champion. That sounds like a win, but is this really stability – or just a pause before the SEC and Big Ten try to reshape the sport on their terms?
In this show, I’ll break down what the CFP stalemate actually means for the Big 12, why the 4/4/2/2 model getting blocked matters, and how long the league can count on guaranteed access before the next fight. Then we’ll pivot to a wild weekend in Big 12 hoops and why Kansas State suddenly has a serious Jerome Tang problem with no easy way out.
On this episode:
What the 12-team CFP format really means for the Big 12’s playoff path
Why a 16-team playoff with more at-large bids could be dangerous for the league
How the SEC and Big Ten power struggle is quietly helping the Big 12 (for now)
Big 12 basketball going off: AJ Dybantsa’s 43, Tech–Houston, and the league’s title contenders
K-State’s Jerome Tang dilemma: bad results, big NIL spend, and a massive buyout
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Texas Tech Gets a Gift Big 12 Schedule; Finebaum Takes a SHOT at BYU; Top 5 Big 12 Games in 2026 Jan 22, 2026

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Texas Tech just got the friendliest playoff path in America, BYU is carrying the Big 12’s reputation into a massive showdown with Notre Dame, and Paul Finebaum somehow managed to take an unnecessary drive-by shot at BYU while disrespecting Indiana’s title run. We’re hitting all of it in this show.
I break down why the new Big 12 schedule quietly sets up perfectly for Texas Tech to make another playoff push, what it means that there’s no regular-season Tech–BYU matchup, and which teams (Houston, Arizona, Arizona State, Oklahoma State) are most likely to step up and give this league more heavyweight games. We’ll also look at the non-con slate and why BYU–Notre Dame in Vegas is the single most important game of the Big 12 season.
Then we pivot to Paul Finebaum: how his comments about Indiana exposed the SEC arrogance problem, why dragging 1984 BYU out of nowhere was so ridiculous, and what to make of his rare walk-back and semi-apology that somehow still left BYU out.
If you care about the Big 12, BYU, Tech, and where this sport is really headed, this one’s for you.
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Uncapped Spending is Coming to College Football; Will Tech and BYU Rule the Big 12 Forever? Jan 19, 2026

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Many powerful leaders in college football want no revenue sharing cap anymore. Does that mean Tech and BYU are bound to rule the Big 12 forever moving forward?
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 Owning the Transfer Portal; Cougars Closing the Gap on Texas Tech Jan 15, 2026

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BYU is stepping up in the transfer portal in a way we haven’t seen before, and it changes the Big 12 favorites conversation. In this live show, I break down how BYU’s retention wins (Bear Bachmeier, LJ Martin, Parker Kingston and more) paired with a top-tier portal haul has the Cougars legitimately closing the gap on Texas Tech.
We’ll dive into BYU’s headline additions like Cal linebacker Cade Uluave (one of the top portal LBs) and USC tight end Walker Lyons, plus the offensive line reinforcements that could be the real key if BYU wants to win at the line of scrimmage and actually chase down the Red Raiders. On3 has BYU’s transfer class ranked No. 14 nationally, and we’re talking about what that means for the Big 12 title race and the 2026 college football landscape.
Then we pivot to the rivalry soap opera: Kyle Whittingham finally “gets one back” on BYU in the portal as Michigan continues ripping key pieces out of Utah’s roster, including CB Smith Snowden. We’ll talk through why BYU losing that specific battle might not matter much, and why Utah could be the side taking the bigger long-term hit in year one under Morgan Scalley.
Subscribe for Big 12-first college football and basketball coverage (YouTube + podcast), and check out the Open For Business newsletter for the smartest Big 12 takes.
#BYU #Big12 #TransferPortal #CollegeFootball #Utah #Michigan #TexasTech #CFP
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The SEC Waves the White Flag: It Lost the War; Indiana Proves the Big 12 Can Win it All Jan 11, 2026

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The SEC narrative finally took a real hit, and it might actually stick this time.
In this live episode of Open For Business (Big 12 Podcast), we’re talking about why the “SEC deserves special treatment” era is fading fast, what Ole Miss’ loss to Miami says about the 12-team College Football Playoff era, and why national voices are suddenly waving the white flag on the SEC hype machine.
Then we pivot to the bigger takeaway for Big 12 fans: Indiana’s run should encourage every non-blue blood program. If Indiana can make a national title push in this era, the path is real for Big 12 schools too, including Texas Tech, BYU, and yes, even programs that aren’t built like traditional powers.
Topics in this stream:
Is the SEC’s “best league” argument officially changing?
Why this playoff cycle was a tipping point for the national narrative
What the CFP results say about SEC vs Big Ten vs Big 12 at the top
No more SEC benefit of the doubt: what the committee can do now
Indiana as proof the sport is more volatile than ever
The “doable blueprint” for Big 12 teams: coaching + scouting + resources
Why Arizona State’s recent rise matters more than people admit
Where BYU stands right now with roster retention and portal strategy
Who besides Texas Tech can realistically make the climb?
If you’re sick of SEC/Big Ten-first coverage and want Big 12-first analysis with real context, you’re in the right place.

Texas Tech Derangement Syndrome: Why College Football Hates the Red Raiders Jan 08, 2026

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Texas Tech has become a college football villain overnight, but is it fair? It's definitely not.
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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Get John Kurtz and Open For Business merch here: https://johnkurtzofb.myswaggymerch.com/#!/
Don’t miss college football and realignment breaking news! Subscribe to the channel
https://www.youtube.com/@JohnKurtzShow
Support Weekly Realignment and College Football Content
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Want up-to-the-minute conference realignment and college football content?
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Texas Tech Landing a Big 12 All-Star Team in the Portal; Sorsby to Tech; BYU Stealing Utah Players? Jan 04, 2026

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Texas Tech is putting together a Big 12 All-Star team in the portal and is likely to land Brendan Sorsby. The BYU-Utah-Michigan drama heats up.
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/OFBNews12YT
Get John Kurtz and Open For Business merch here: https://johnkurtzofb.myswaggymerch.com/#!/
Don’t miss college football and realignment breaking news! Subscribe to the channel
https://www.youtube.com/@JohnKurtzShow
Support Weekly Realignment and College Football Content
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/John-Kurtz-4
Want up-to-the-minute conference realignment and college football content?
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jlkurtz
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DISASTER for Texas Tech and the Big 12; Oregon Thumps Tech in Playoff Win Jan 01, 2026

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Texas Tech's offense plays its worst game of the season by far and Oregon thumps Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl.
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Will BYU and Utah Survive Having Staff and Players Raided by Kyle Whittingham? Dec 28, 2025

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Will BYU and Utah Survive Having Staff and Players Raided by Kyle Whittingham?
BYU and Utah are finally finding out what life is like as true national winners — and that means watching Kyle Whittingham and Michigan circle their staffs and rosters. In this episode, John explains why Jay Hill to Michigan is actually a sign of BYU’s rise, why both BYU and Utah are better positioned than ever to withstand staff raids, and what Whittingham really said about his Utah exit and his plans for building a “state of Utah super staff” in Ann Arbor. Plus, Notre Dame finally agrees to a home-and-home with BYU, Texas Tech gets set for the biggest game of the new Big 12 era against Oregon, and John lays out which Big 12 programs are most likely to turn into perennial playoff contenders.
Get the “Open For Business” Big 12 Newsletter:
https://bit.ly/OFBNews12YT
Big 12 Newsletter — Open For Business
Get Big 12 news, playoff analysis, realignment talk and private capital breakdowns delivered straight to your inbox.
Sign up here: https://bit.ly/OFBNews12YT
Merch Store
https://johnkurtzofb.myswaggymerch.co
Subscribe For More Big 12 Coverage
@JohnKurtzShow
Support The Show
Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/John-Kurtz-4
Follow John
Twitter: @jlkurtz
Instagram: johnkurtzshow
LinkedIn: /jlkurtz2/
#BYUFootball #UtahFootball #KyleWhittingham #MichiganFootball #TexasTech #Big12Football #NotreDame #CollegeFootball #CollegeFootballPlayoff #JohnKurtz #OpenForBusinessBig12
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