Open For Business: College Football w/ John Kurtz

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SEC and Big Ten Bully the Big 12 and ACC Into Submission Again Jul 17, 2026

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The SEC and Big Ten appear poised to get many of the changes they demanded in the Protect College Sports Act, raising even more questions about who really controls the future of college football.
John Kurtz breaks down the latest reporting on negotiations in Washington, including possible changes to conference expansion restrictions, media-rights pooling, NIL enforcement, transfer rules and eligibility limits. With Ted Cruz suggesting the bill could reach the Senate floor soon, the SEC and Big Ten may once again be positioned to shape the rules for everyone else.
Plus, Michigan football is facing another major scandal after an external investigation revealed new details about what athletic director Warde Manuel knew regarding former head coach Sherrone Moore’s relationship with a staff member. Why has Michigan avoided becoming the national villain of college football despite scandals involving Jim Harbaugh, Connor Stalions and now Moore?
Finally, new campaign finance records show Texas Tech booster Cody Campbell donated $274,000 to a committee supporting Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton one day before Paxton threatened legal action against the Big 12 over Brendan Sorsby. Was it simply political influence, or something more concerning? And what does it tell us about how far Campbell is willing to go to get what he wants?
Topics include:
SEC and Big Ten Protect College Sports Act demands
Big 12 and ACC conference expansion protections
College football NIL and revenue sharing rules
One-time transfer and five-year eligibility limits
Michigan football scandal and Warde Manuel
Sherrone Moore investigation
Connor Stalions and Jim Harbaugh
Cody Campbell donation to Ken Paxton
Texas Tech and Brendan Sorsby
Big 12 legal battle
College football politics and corruption
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Houston Is Built for a College Football Playoff Breakthrough | Willie Fritz 1 on 1 Jul 13, 2026

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Can Houston break through and become a College Football Playoff contender in 2026?
Willie Fritz believes the Cougars finally have the experience, depth and continuity needed to take a major step forward in the Big 12. Houston returns productive players on both sides of the ball, all three coordinators and a quarterback in Conner Weigman who is finally healthy and operating in the same offensive system for a second straight season.
John Kurtz sits down with Fritz to discuss why Houston could be one of the Big 12’s surprise teams, how the Cougars upgraded the offensive line through the transfer portal and why the offense now has quality depth at quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end.
Fritz also talks about Houston’s two former five-star quarterbacks, Keisean Henderson’s rapid development, Amari Thomas’ NFL potential and why this roster is starting to look like the team he envisioned when he took the job.
Could Houston make a run at the Big 12 Championship and crash the College Football Playoff?
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#HoustonFootball #HoustonCougars #WillieFritz #Big12 #CollegeFootballPlayoff #ConnerWeigman #CollegeFootball

The Rise of Arizona Football: One Change Made it Happen | 1 on 1 With Brent Brennan Jul 12, 2026

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**Plan your trip to Provo for a BYU game: https://www.utahvalley.com/
**Book your stay at Sundance Resort: https://www.sundanceresort.com/
**See what a Provo trip is really like: https://youtu.be/G9nzKwgbG_4
Arizona football is rising fast under Brent Brennan.
After a major breakthrough season, Brennan explains what changed inside the Wildcats’ program, why simplifying the message helped everything click and how Arizona created stronger alignment between its coaches and players.
John Kurtz sits down with Brennan to discuss the rise of Arizona football, Noah Fifita’s loyalty to the program and why the star quarterback chose legacy over chasing money in the transfer portal. Brennan also explains why he believes Fifita is one of the best stories in college football.
The conversation also covers Brennan’s lessons from Phil Jackson, Arizona’s approach to building through the transfer portal, replacing an NFL-caliber defensive backfield and the biggest factor that will determine whether the Wildcats can take another step in the Big 12.
Can Arizona football build on its breakthrough and become a consistent Big 12 contender?
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#ArizonaFootball #ArizonaWildcats #BrentBrennan #NoahFifita #Big12 #CollegeFootball #TransferPortal

Kalani Sitake Reveals the Real Reason He Stayed at BYU: 1 on 1 with Kalani Sitake Jul 12, 2026

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Kalani Sitake is opening up about why he chose to stay at BYU.
After drawing interest from other major programs, including Penn State, Sitake wanted to know whether BYU was truly committed to making football a priority in the Big 12. His answer came through increased resources, better support for players, more opportunities to retain his coaching staff and a long-term commitment from the university.
John Kurtz sits down with Sitake to discuss what BYU had to prove, why he did not want the Cougars to simply be “invited to the party” and how the program is now positioning itself to become a lasting Big 12 contender.
Sitake also talks about BYU’s roster retention, Bear Bachmeier’s development, the transition from Jay Hill to Kelly Poppinga, the importance of the Notre Dame game and why the Cougars believe they have the pieces to compete for a Big 12 championship.
Did BYU finally go all-in on football?
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#BYU #BYUFootball #KalaniSitake #Big12 #CollegeFootball #PennState #NotreDame

The Truth About Iowa State’s NIL Situation; Cyclones Insider Tells All Jul 12, 2026

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**Plan your trip to Provo for a BYU game: https://www.utahvalley.com/
**Book your stay at Sundance Resort: https://www.sundanceresort.com/
**See what a Provo trip is really like: https://youtu.be/G9nzKwgbG_4
How far behind is Iowa State in the NIL race, and can the Cyclones still compete near the top of the Big 12?
Chris Williams of Cyclone Fanatic and Iowa Everywhere gives an honest assessment of Iowa State’s financial position in modern college athletics. He explains why the Cyclones are in a much better place than they were one year ago, but still likely remain below the middle of the Big 12 in football resources.
The conversation also covers the optimism surrounding Iowa State’s new president, whether Jamie Pollard was slow to adjust to the NIL era and why the Cyclones’ passionate fan base gives the program a chance to close the financial gap.
John Kurtz and Chris also discuss Jimmy Rogers replacing Matt Campbell, the strategy behind Iowa State’s roster turnover, realistic expectations for the Cyclones and why Rogers inherited a much better situation than Campbell did.
Plus, they examine Jamie Pollard’s renewed energy, why T.J. Otzelberger continues to choose Iowa State, the financial decisions involving Milan Momcilovic and Audi Crooks, and whether Iowa State is actually better off competing in the Big 12 than becoming an afterthought in a richer conference.
CHAPTERS
00:00 The truth about Iowa State’s NIL situation
00:17 Has Iowa State stabilized under Jimmy Rogers?
01:21 The strategy behind Iowa State’s roster turnover
01:50 Can Iowa State make a bowl game?
02:18 Resetting expectations after Matt Campbell
02:47 What Iowa State could have been with Campbell
03:44 Did Iowa State announce Jimmy Rogers too quickly?
05:13 How Jamie Pollard found Iowa State’s next coach
05:42 Jimmy Rogers always wanted the Iowa State job
07:09 Iowa State’s trip to BYU and Provo
08:56 How far behind is Iowa State in NIL?
09:54 Why Iowa State’s fan base provides hope
10:23 Iowa State’s new president could change things
11:21 Jamie Pollard’s future and CyTown
12:20 Jamie Pollard has his edge back
13:46 Why T.J. Otzelberger stayed at Iowa State
15:15 Can Otzelberger take Iowa State to a Final Four?
16:45 Iowa State basketball’s NIL position
17:14 The Milan Momcilovic financial decision
18:12 Audi Crooks and the cost of retaining stars
18:41 Is Iowa State better off in the Big 12?
19:36 Why the Big 12 is not going away
20:26 Big 12 stability compared to the ACC
21:22 Can Jimmy Rogers maintain Campbell’s standard?
22:52 Why coaches may choose fit over bigger jobs
23:20 Jimmy Rogers inherited a better situation than Campbell
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#IowaState #Cyclones #IowaStateFootball #Big12 #NIL #JimmyRogers #JamiePollard

The Big 12 May Fix Its Farmageddon Mistake; 1 on 1 With Big 12 Chief Football Officer Scott Draper Jul 12, 2026

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Could Farmageddon be coming back as an annual Big 12 rivalry?
Big 12 chief football and competition officer Scott Draper says the conference has already started evaluating its next scheduling cycle, including which rivalry games need to be played every year. That could open the door for Kansas State and Iowa State to resume their historic annual series after Farmageddon is interrupted under the current Big 12 scheduling matrix.
John Kurtz asks Draper directly about the future of K-State–Iowa State, protected rivalries and whether the Big 12 could restore more traditional late-season matchups. They also discuss the possibility of moving the Holy War between BYU and Utah back to rivalry weekend.
The interview covers several other major Big 12 topics, including a potential 10-game conference schedule, the league’s push for a 14-team College Football Playoff, why BYU was undervalued by the playoff committee and how five Big 12 teams could have benefited from an expanded CFP field.
Draper also explains how the Big 12 helped make BYU–Notre Dame happen, why the conference values major nonconference games, the strategy behind Friday-night television windows and the possibility of more Big 12 games in London, Ireland and other international locations.
Could the Big 12 fix its Farmageddon scheduling mistake and restore Kansas State–Iowa State as an annual rivalry?
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#Big12 #Farmageddon #KansasState #IowaState #KStateFootball #IowaStateFootball #CollegeFootball

BYU AD Reveals What Happened Behind Closed Doors After Playoff Snub Jul 10, 2026

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BYU athletic director Brian Santiago joins John Kurtz to reveal the real story behind BYU’s College Football Playoff snub and what happened behind closed doors at Big 12 meetings.
Santiago says BYU “100%” deserved to be in the playoff conversation and explains how other Big 12 schools stood up for the Cougars, calling BYU’s treatment disrespectful to both the program and the conference.
He also discusses Kalani Sitake’s decision to stay at BYU after interest from Penn State, why he believes Sitake will be in Provo for a long time, and how that situation created even more momentum around BYU football.
Plus, Santiago shares the story behind BYU’s new series with Notre Dame, confirms both schools want the relationship to continue beyond 2027, and explains why BYU’s national rise is only beginning across football, basketball and the entire athletic department.
Topics include:
• The real story behind BYU’s College Football Playoff snub
• Big 12 schools defending BYU behind closed doors
• Why Brian Santiago says BYU unquestionably belonged
• Kalani Sitake choosing BYU over Penn State interest
• Sitake’s long-term future in Provo
• How the Notre Dame football series came together
• Interest in future BYU-Notre Dame games and other sports
• BYU’s growing national brand
• The future of BYU athletics in the Big 12
• The Protect College Sports Act and the future of college athletics
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#BYU #BYUFootball #BYUCougars #CollegeFootball #Big12 #CFBPlayoff #KalaniSitake #NotreDameFootball

Cody Campbell Tells Big 12 to Step it Up; Big 12 Monster Deal Taking Too Much Heat; Notre Dame-BYU Annual Series Coming? Jul 09, 2026

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**Plan your trip to Provo for a BYU game: https://www.utahvalley.com/
**Book your stay at Sundance Resort: https://www.sundanceresort.com/
**Check out what it's like to stay in Provo: https://youtu.be/G9nzKwgbG_4
Cody Campbell sent a strong message to the rest of the Big 12: Texas Tech is not the problem. The rest of the conference needs to level up.
After more tension between Texas Tech and the Big 12 following the Brendan Sorsby saga, Campbell made it clear that the path forward for the league is not complaining about Texas Tech’s money or trying to slow down ambitious schools. It’s about every Big 12 program finding ways to invest, compete and elevate the conference as a whole. John Kurtz reacts to Campbell’s comments, why he believes Campbell is right, and what schools like Kansas State, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Utah, BYU, Houston and others need to do in the modern era of college football.
Plus, BYU athletic director Brian Santiago says Notre Dame and BYU are working toward making their series a long-term fixture. John explains why that would be massive for BYU, Notre Dame and the Big 12, and why BYU continues to prove it may be the most valuable brand in the conference.
Then, John breaks down the Big 12’s new Monster Energy sponsorship deal and why the criticism may be missing the bigger picture. From jersey patches to national sponsorship value, proof of concept and the advertising challenges of selling an entire conference, the deal may make more sense than people realize.
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1 on 1 With Houston's Wille Fritz; What He Stole From Bill Snyder and Why His Team is Better in 2026 Jul 09, 2026

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Houston head coach Willie Fritz joins John Kurtz at Big 12 Media Days to talk about why the Cougars could be one of the most interesting teams in the Big 12 this season.
Fritz discusses the expectations around Houston football, the return of Connor Weigman, the Cougars’ improved offensive line, the addition of Makhi Hughes, the impact of the transfer portal, and why Houston’s offense could take a major step forward. He also explains what makes Keshawn Henderson such an exciting young quarterback and how the Cougars are navigating the modern college football world of NIL, the portal, roster limits and constant change.
But one of the best moments comes when Fritz reveals the coaching trick he stole from legendary Kansas State coach Bill Snyder. Fritz explains why he still uses that Bill Snyder practice habit every day, why Snyder’s K-State rebuild remains the greatest turnaround in college football history, and what coaches can still learn from him today.
Can Willie Fritz turn Houston into a real Big 12 problem? Is Connor Weigman ready for a breakout season? And does Houston have enough talent and continuity to surprise the league?
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#Big12 #HoustonFootball #WillieFritz #ConnorWeigman #BillSnyder #CollegeFootball #KansasState #HoustonCougars #Big12Football

REPORT: Cincinnati Now Facing NCAA Questions; Bearcats Accuse Texas Tech of Tampering Jul 09, 2026

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The Brendan Sorsby saga just keeps getting messier for the Big 12.
According to reporting from Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger, the NCAA has sent Cincinnati a letter of inquiry related to Brendan Sorsby’s time with the Bearcats. At the same time, Cincinnati head coach Scott Satterfield accused Texas Tech of reaching out to Sorsby before the season was over.
John Kurtz breaks down the latest from Big 12 Media Days, including what this means for Cincinnati, Texas Tech, Brendan Sorsby, Joey McGuire, Scott Satterfield, Cody Campbell, and Brett Yormark as the Big 12 tries to move forward after weeks of tension.
Plus, John discusses the reported meeting between Texas Tech and Big 12 officials, whether the league is actually ready to bury the hatchet, and why Cody Campbell’s comments about Big 12 schools needing to spend more money may be exactly what the conference needs to hear.
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