How the Big 12 can thrive without Oklahoma and Texas

The Big 12 Conference is in for a big hit to its brand once Oklahoma and Texas leave, but the league will survive the change from a competitive standpoint.

The news that both the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns would be leaving the Big 12 for the SEC was earth-shattering for two reasons: it made the SEC out as what would ruin college football for certain, and it made the future of the Big 12 painfully uncertain.

In response to the move, the latter made sure to scoop up the best of the smaller programs that were looking for a change of pace–UCF, Cincinnati, Houston, and BYU. And while those four teams have a fraction of the brand that OU and Texas have, they are all in good enough shape to provide the Big 12 with newfound success in the seasons to come.

In 2021, UCF had the worst record of the four to-be Power 5 squads, yet even they still managed to finish 9-4 on the season. Meanwhile, the Sooners and Longhorns are both coming off of performances that left some to be desired (especially the Longhorns, who couldn’t even make a bowl game).

The coaching situations for the two historically-dominant programs aren’t too spectacular, either. Oklahoma’s Brent Venables has never been a head coach before and will be expected to keep its colossal image afloat with virtually no prior exposure to the position.

As for Texas’s Steve Sarkisian, he will be entering what is only his second season with the Longhorns (and some are already saying that he doesn’t fit due to the aforementioned rockiness of his start).

The Big 12 isn’t that bad off

The future of the Big 12 will have several promising coaches, though. Combined with Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy and Iowa State’s Matt Campbell, they will gain national title game experience through Gus Malzahn and playoff experience through Luke Fickell. And adding on Dana Holgorsen and Kalani Sitake doesn’t hurt when considering how well they’ve done with all that they’ve had.

As for the conference’s recruiting, it will also suffer, yet survive. Even when located in a quiet town like Norman or following a 5-7 season, OU and Texas will always be attractive destinations to promising recruits. However, the teams that the Big 12 have on the horizon will look pretty good to talent as well, especially with Power 5 clout tied to them.

UCF is in Orlando, a huge city with a multitude of attractions and a nice climate. Cincinnati may not be as elite of a college city, but the Bearcats make up for it by officially being a playoff power until further notice.

Houston may not have the flashiness of Orlando, either, but it is still a big name with huge ties to sports (see: Astros, Rockets, Texans). Lastly, there are the BYU Cougars, who are almost guaranteed to do the worst of the four in Big 12 recruiting. But with college football rapidly growing as a brand in the state, they will certainly be sitting pretty enough.

It’s impossible for the departures of Oklahoma and Texas to not hurt the Big 12 Conference at first, but the combination of coaching and recruiting that the four new arrivals will be bringing in the near future should definitely revive the league’s voice in the college football discussion.