Big 12 Today

U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt joins Big 12 Today to discuss the future of college athletics and the bipartisan Protect College Sports Act.

Schmitt shares how his experience playing college football and baseball at Truman State shaped his perspective on college sports, why he believes Congress needs to establish new guardrails for the industry, and what the legislation is designed to address.

We also discuss NIL, transfers, eligibility and enforcement, the bipartisan coalition behind the bill, and what comes next as the Protect College Sports Act moves through the Senate.

Big 12 Chief Football & Competition Officer Scott Draper joins Big 12 Today to recap the Union Jack Classic at Wembley Stadium, from the atmosphere around London and Big Noon Kickoff to the once-in-a-lifetime experiences for the student-athletes. Draper also discusses what could be next for the Big 12 in London, the conference’s live look inside the replay center during Texas Tech-Houston, and whether Big 12 defenses deserve more attention.

Taylor McHargue joins Big 12 Today for Monday Morning QB to break down Week 3 across the conference, including the biggest quarterback performances, key offensive takeaways and what stood out from the weekend of Big 12 football.

Utah Football head coach Morgan Scalley appeared on Big 12 Today to discuss the team's strong start. He emphasized his dedication to his offense, highlighting his persistence in hiring Kevin McGiven as offensive coordinator.

Scalley explained how he has effectively utilized his offense by presenting different packages with players like Devon Dampier and Byrd Ficklin. He stressed the importance of establishing a strong team culture that is instilled from the top down to his coaches and players.

A keen reader on leadership, Scalley shared insights from studying figures like former President Abraham Lincoln, emphasizing the value of surrounding oneself with honest feedback rather than "yes men" to develop true leadership.

He reflected on Utah’s significant SEC victory over Arkansas, noting that his team entered the game determined to defend their culture, and expressed pride in their performance. Scalley praised his team’s physicality but also pointed out areas for improvement moving forward.

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BYU Football Head Coach Kalani Sitake appeared on Big 12 Today to celebrate the Cougars' impressive victory over Arizona.

He highlighted his team's strong defensive performance, especially in the second half. When asked about wide receiver Legend Glasker, Sitake praised his outstanding play and emphasized the quality of his receiver room, noting their excellent blocking.

He also discussed quarterback Bear Bachmier's growth, highlighting how Bachmier has gained more control of the offense as a true freshman this season.

Sitake credited his team's conditioning and physical style of play for their ability to wear down opponents.

Looking ahead, he previewed this weekend's game against Colorado State, giving respect to head coach Jim Mora and the Rams as BYU continues its preparation.

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Scott Draper, Big 12 Chief Football & Competition Officer, joined Big 12 Today to review an exciting weekend in the conference. Draper highlighted Oklahoma State’s impressive upset over Oregon, praising the Cowboys for bouncing back after their Week 1 loss.

He also discussed the opening conference game between BYU and Arizona, noting BYU’s jump into the AP Top 25 at No. 11 and emphasizing that the AP rankings provide a useful snapshot, with more detailed analysis coming in October. Draper praised both BYU and Arizona as strong teams.

He commended Utah for their SEC victory over Arkansas and acknowledged Texas Tech’s win over Oregon State in the Pacific Northwest. Looking ahead, Draper previewed the Week 3 showdown between Houston and Texas Tech, emphasizing its significance.

He also discussed the upcoming Union Jack Classic between Arizona State and Kansas, noting that London is still adjusting to the college game compared to the NFL.

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Oklahoma State Defensive Coordinator Skyler Cassity appeared on Big 12 Today to discuss the Cowboys' impressive upset victory over Oregon on Saturday. After a challenging Week 1 loss, Oklahoma State responded strongly in their home opener, securing a 39-31 win.

Coach Cassity reflected on his coaching stints at Sam Houston and North Texas, highlighting the significant improvements at both programs and how he's applying a similar mentality and approach at Oklahoma State.

He also shared personal insights about his family’s deep-rooted history with Oklahoma State, mentioning his brother, who played for Coach Gundy, and his father, who served as the DC at OSU. Coach Cassity emphasized the storied tradition of winning at Oklahoma State and discussed how Coach Mike Gundy is working to reestablish that winning culture in Stillwater.

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Colorado Athletic Director Fernando Lovo joined Big 12 Today following the Buffs' impressive road victory over Georgia Tech. Lovo described the win as very special and praised the Buffs fans who traveled to Atlanta, emphasizing how their support made the experience even more meaningful.

He highlighted that securing a major win against a quality opponent on the road is a significant milestone for Colorado. As the rookie athletic director in the Big 12, Lovo shared insights into his career, which began at the University of Florida, and detailed the journey that led him to Colorado. He emphasized the Colorado brand's prominence not only within the state but also nationally and internationally.

Lovo credited Commissioner Brett Yormark's support and Coach Deion Sanders' leadership for elevating Colorado's profile. He expressed his enthusiasm working with Coach Prime, describing it as a joyful experience. Lovo also discussed the challenging schedule ahead, upcoming non-conference matchups, and the broader youth movement in college athletics, highlighting his position as the youngest athletic director in the Big 12.

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Texas Tech Football Head Coach Joey McGuire joined Big 12 Today to discuss the Red Raiders' Week 1 victory over Abilene Christian. McGuire expressed his satisfaction with the win and was pleased for players making their first starts, highlighting the efforts of Will Hammond, who returned from a torn ACL injury less than a year ago. He was glad that Hammond's body felt good on Sunday and praised his offensive line for protecting him throughout the game.

McGuire was critical of his team's red zone performance, emphasizing the need for improvement in that area. He also praised his young safeties, Peyton Morgan and Malik Esquerra, for their first starts, and admired their performances. Looking ahead, McGuire discussed preparations for Oregon State, noting that he is focusing on that game without dwelling on their Week 3 opponent, Houston.

He shared insights on how other teams performed in Week 1, giving credit to Arizona State, BYU, and Utah, particularly highlighting the impressive debut of Utah's coach, Morgan Scalley, as well as the success of Kenny Dillingham and Kalani Sitake. McGuire also commented that Baylor likely would have defeated Auburn if DJ Lagway hadn't injured his ankle, praising Baylor's defense and predicting it will be strong this season.
Regarding game strategy, McGuire mentioned that he wouldn't have gone for two in Saturday's game against Auburn if the situation had been different. 

He concluded the interview by discussing "The Program: Texas Tech," which airs on Paramount+, sharing insights into the making of the documentary and the effort that went into it.

Scott Draper, Big 12 Chief Football & Competition Officer, joined Big 12 Today to review Week 1 of the college football season in the Big 12. He began by discussing the innovative 10-minute fourth-quarter rule observed in the Morgan State vs. Arizona State game. Draper explained that while this rule is rarely used, it has been implemented before when both head coaches agree to the terms.

Draper expressed excitement for Colorado following their impressive victory on Thursday night. He also previewed the first in-conference game of the season, scheduled for Week 2 between Arizona and BYU. Additionally, he highlighted the significance of the Arizona State versus Texas A&M matchup, which will air at 12 p.m. EST / 11 a.m. CST on ABC.

Reflecting on Saturday’s Western Michigan vs. Michigan game, Draper commented on the controversial finish and praised the Big Ten for their transparency in how they handled the ruling. He also discussed the TuneIn Game of the Week between Auburn and Baylor, commending Baylor for their resilience despite a tough loss. Draper praised Baylor head coach Dave Aranda for the foundation he is building and expressed confidence that Baylor will be just fine moving forward.

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