Open For Business: College Football w/ John Kurtz

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Texas Tech just called Steve Sarkisian’s bluff.

After Sark took a shot at Texas Tech’s Big 12 schedule and claimed Texas could go undefeated against it with its “twos and threes,” Joey McGuire fired back with a real offer: Texas Tech vs. Texas in Week 1. McGuire says he talked to Abilene Christian and Texas State about moving their games, Cody Campbell has explored AT&T Stadium as a neutral-site option, and Texas Tech is even willing to help cover the buyouts to make it happen.

In this video, I break down why Texas Tech’s response is such a smart move, why Texas probably won’t accept the challenge, and how Joey McGuire, Kirby Hocutt and Cody Campbell turned Sark’s comments into a PR win for the Red Raiders and the Big 12.

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Chapters:
00:00 Texas Tech calls Texas’ bluff
01:40 Steve Sarkisian’s shot at Texas Tech
03:23 Texas Tech’s perfect response
05:45 Joey McGuire challenges Texas
07:29 Why this is a brilliant move
08:55 Texas Tech is willing to take the risk
09:45 The deeper reason Sark made the comment

#TexasTech #TexasLonghorns #Big12 #CollegeFootball #SteveSarkisian #JoeyMcGuire #TexasTechFootball #Longhorns #CFB #Big12Football

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Big 12 and ACC fans finally got a real piece of congressional movement that could reshape the future of college football. A new bipartisan Senate bill from Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell would take aim at a potential SEC/Big Ten super league, reopen the Sports Broadcasting Act conversation, create real enforcement power around revenue sharing, limit transfer chaos, cap agent fees, and even stop coaches from leaving before the season ends.

But is this bill actually enough to “save” the Big 12 and ACC? And could one part of it quietly hurt the very leagues it is supposed to protect? In this video, I break down what the bill does, why Cody Campbell and Big 12 supporters are celebrating, why SEC and Big Ten country may hate it, and whether Congress can actually get this done.

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#Big12 #ACC #CollegeFootball #SEC #BigTen #CollegeFootballPlayoff #BrettYormark #CodyCampbell #TexasTech #CollegeSports

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Steve Sarkisian came after Texas Tech — and accidentally made the strongest case that the Red Raiders are a legitimate national title threat. When the Texas head coach feels the need to talk about you, you've arrived.

In this video, we break down exactly what Sarkisian said, why it tells you everything about where Texas Tech football stands heading into 2025, and what it means for the Big 12 conference race.

- Why Sarkisian's comments are a massive compliment in disguise
- Texas Tech's spring numbers — and why they're being slept on nationally
- How the Red Raiders stack up against the rest of the Big 12 right now
- What a Texas Tech national title run would actually look like
- The Red Raiders don't need national media respect. They just got it from the one place that matters most — their biggest rival.

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Steve Sarkisian just took a massive shot at Texas Tech, and now the backlash is coming from all sides. Sark claimed there is a team in Texas, playing in another conference, that his “twos and threes” could go undefeated against, and it wasn’t hard to figure out who he meant.

In this video, I break down Sark’s comments, why Texas Tech fans are furious, why Texas beat writers are calling it a bad look, and how Cody Campbell jumped into the conversation with a simple message: “Schedule us then.” Texas won’t play Texas Tech, but Sark is still willing to talk trash about the Red Raiders’ schedule and playoff chances.

We’ll also get into Sark’s own Big 12 record at Texas, why the SEC move changed the way Texas talks about strength of schedule, and whether this could actually help revive the Texas vs. Texas Tech rivalry. Because if Sark really thinks Texas Tech is that easy to beat, there’s one obvious answer: go play them.

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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Is a Big 12 breakaway from the SEC and Big Ten actually on the table? Iowa State AD Jamie Pollard thinks it should be — and his comments are shaking up college football realignment conversations across the country.
In today's video, we break down exactly what Pollard said, why it matters for the Big 12 conference, and what a Big 12 breakaway would actually look like in a world where the SEC and Big Ten are pushing to consolidate power over college football.

The "go do it" argument — and why Pollard's calling the bluff
What the data actually says about Big 12 football's value without the SEC and Big Ten
How the 24-team playoff factors into the breakaway conversation
What Brett Yormark and Big 12 leadership should do next


🔔 Subscribe for Big 12-first coverage every week
👍 Like if you think the Big 12 should stand its ground
💬 Drop your take in the comments — would a breakaway actually work?

#Big12 #CollegeFootball #CollegeFootballRealignment #Big12Football #SECFootball #BigTen #JamiePollard #BrettYormark #CollegeFootballPlayoff

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https://bit.ly/OFBNewsletterTexas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby is suing the NCAA — and the argument his legal team is making could change everything. Sorsby's attorneys, led by high-profile attorney Jeff Kessler (the man who helped crush the NCAA in both the House and Alston cases), claim the NCAA is "weaponizing" his clinically diagnosed gambling disorder while simultaneously profiting from the very gambling ecosystem it polices.

Sorsby placed thousands of bets going back to 2022, including bets on Indiana games while he was redshirting for the Hoosiers. His own explanation? He was just trying to feel connected to his teammates. But under NCAA rules, betting on your own team can mean permanent ineligibility.

So what's the REAL goal of this lawsuit? It's not necessarily to win in court. It's to force the NCAA to rule on his eligibility before June 22nd — the NFL supplemental draft deadline — so Sorsby knows his future options.Jeff Kessler. A federal injunction. And a medical diagnosis at the center of it all. This story is just getting started.

Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby NCAA lawsuit
Jeff Kessler NCAA eligibility
NCAA gambling disorder ruling
College football betting scandal 2026
NFL supplemental draft 2026
Big 12 football news
NCAA vs student athletes
Brendan Sorsby Texas Tech
NCAA gambling hypocrisy
College football transfer portal eligibility

#Big12 #NCAA #BrendanSorsby #CollegeFootball #JeffKessler #NFLDraft #TexasTech #NCAAlawsuit #CollegeFootballNews #GamblingDisorder

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Is the 24-team college football playoff about to reshape the Big 12 conference forever — and could it send a Big 12 team straight to the SEC? Tonight we find out. Plus, Morgan Scalley finally speaks his truth about Kyle Whittingham.

In tonight's live stream, John Kurtz breaks down four major topics dominating the Big 12 conference conversation:

🏈 24-Team Playoff: Is It Actually Good for the Big 12?
Bud Elliott made the case — and it's changing minds. We dig into whether the expanded playoff format is a lifeline or a trap for Big 12 programs, and what it means for the conference's long-term standing.

🎯 Which Big 12 Team Benefits Most from a 24-Team Playoff?
It's not who you think. Arizona State may be the biggest winner in an expanded field — and the reasons why have massive implications for conference realignment and Big 12 SEC positioning going forward.

🎙️ Morgan Scalley Tells His Side of the Kyle Whittingham Story
The college football transfer portal and staff movement drama at Utah has a new chapter. Scalley opens up about Whittingham's departure, the financial negotiations, and what it all means for Utah's future in the Big 12 conference.

🏟️ Big 12 Stadium Rankings 2026 — Updated
BYU and Utah are rising. Others are slipping. We rank every Big 12 stadium on atmosphere, intimidation, and home record heading into the 2026 season.

Open For Business is your home for Big 12 conference coverage — realignment, NIL, the transfer portal, and everything in between, with longtime Big 12 insider John Kurtz.

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Houston might be the team standing between Texas Tech and a dream Big 12 season.

In this episode, Parker Ainsworth from Locked On Coogs joins the show to break down why Willie Fritz has Houston football positioned as one of the most dangerous teams in the Big 12. The Cougars won 10 games last season, return Conner Weigman at quarterback, added more talent through the portal, and may have one of the most interesting QB succession plans in the league with five-star freshman Keisean Henderson waiting behind him. 

We also dig into the huge early-season matchup between Houston and Texas Tech. With Tech’s quarterback situation uncertain after the Brendan Sorsby situation and Will Hammond potentially coming back quickly from knee surgery, Parker explains why Houston’s improved pass rush could make that Friday night game in Lubbock a major problem for the Red Raiders. 

Plus, we discuss Willie Fritz’s quiet rebuild, Houston’s Big 12 financial future, the impact of Tilman Fertitta, why the Cougars passed on the Big 12 private capital loan, and whether Houston can realistically get to Arlington for the Big 12 Championship Game. 

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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The Big 12 just means more.

#Big12 #HoustonFootball #TexasTechFootball #WillieFritz #ConnerWeigman #CollegeFootball #Big12Football #HoustonCougars #TexasTech #CFB

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The Big 12 may have found its best path to expanded College Football Playoff access: a 24-team playoff with three automatic bids for each Power Four conference. Brett Yormark says the Big 12 supports a 24-team CFP, and the ACC is publicly on board too. But is this actually a win for the Big 12, or is it a dangerous gamble that could make college football’s regular season matter even less?

In this live show, we break down why Yormark wants 24 teams, whether the Big 12 could really get three automatic playoff bids, why ESPN and the SEC may be fighting to stop this from growing beyond 16 teams, and why Fox, the Big Ten, Notre Dame, the Big 12 and ACC may now be lined up on the other side of the College Football Playoff battle. We’ll also get into Paul Finebaum losing his mind over the 24-team playoff debate and why Big 12 fans should be careful before celebrating who their new allies are.

The 24-team playoff could give the Big 12 more access, more money and a stronger seat at the college football table. But it could also mean more road playoff games against SEC and Big Ten teams, awkward conference matchups, lost conference championship revenue and another major step toward turning college football into a pro sports model.

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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Topics include: Big 12 football, Brett Yormark, 24-team College Football Playoff, CFP expansion, Big 12 playoff autobids, SEC, Big Ten, ACC, Notre Dame, ESPN, Fox, Paul Finebaum, Greg Sankey, Jim Phillips, college football playoff format, automatic bids and the future of college football.

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Follow Chris Level at Locked On Texas Tech: https://www.youtube.com/@UCPkBv_tzDQTqWM0rp5Ac7-g 

Chris Level of Locked On Texas Tech joins the show to break down how Joey McGuire and the Red Raiders are positioning themselves for long-term success in the new Big 12. We discuss the Brendan Sorsby uncertainty, Will Hammond’s injury timeline, how Texas Tech may have to adjust offensively, and why the Red Raiders still have the roster pieces to compete at the top of the conference.

Then we get into the bigger story: Texas Tech’s high school recruiting surge. The Red Raiders are landing elite talent in the state of Texas, beating out programs like Texas and Oregon, and entering recruiting battles they rarely won in the past. Is Texas Tech becoming the new power player in Texas recruiting? And is this the foundation for Big 12 dominance moving forward?

Chris explains why this class is uncharted territory for Texas Tech, how the Red Raiders have changed their roster-building strategy, and why the rest of the state may be taking notice.

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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