Big 12 faces a crossroads as the Pac-12 eyes expansion and a possible league merger. Could a Big 12–Pac-12 alliance reshape college football’s power balance and revive the Conference of Champions’ iconic legacy? Drake Toll and Cam Stuart break down realignment rumors, debate the branding impact of a merger, and challenge the value of adding programs like Oregon State, Washington State, and Boise State versus basketball-centric schools such as UConn or Gonzaga. The discussion takes a sharp turn into finances, with private equity deals rejected by Baylor, BYU, and Cincinnati, exposing deep concerns about predatory interest rates and outside corporate control of athletic departments. Plus, Texas Tech’s dominance on the recruiting trail—landing five of Texas’s top 11 prospects—raises the stakes for rivals Baylor, TCU, and Texas A&M. Can Joey McGuire’s bold NIL strategy put Texas Tech at the forefront of the Big 12’s new era?

00:00 — Pac-12 & Big 12 Merger Discussion about Pac-12 expansion, potential Big 12 merger, and conference branding value. 08:55 — Private Equity Rejected Big 12 schools turn down private equity deal, analysis of financial risks and implications. 18:05 — Texas Tech Recruiting Surge Texas Tech dominates Texas recruiting, NIL strategies, and impact on state rivals. Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms… 🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOBaylor?sid=YouTube Locked On College Conferences, HBCU, Basketball & More 🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnCollege

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