Open For Business: a Big 12 Podcast w/ John Kurtz

John Kurtz

Open for Business with John Kurtz delivers college football and college basketball news from a Big 12 perspective. We cover every Big 12 school—Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, BYU, Cincinnati, Colorado, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas Tech, UCF, Utah, and West Virginia. From Saturdays in the fall to March Madness, no program gets left out. You’ll hear in-depth discussion on Big 12 football, basketball, and recruiting—along with how the league stacks up against the SEC and Big Ten. We cover conference realignment, NIL, TV deals, playoff battles, and national storylines like Deion Sanders and Colorado that impact the Big 12. If you want college football and college basketball news from a Big 12 perspective, this is your podcast.

  1. 6H AGO

    ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith SLAMS BYU; Here's Why He's Wrong

    ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith took a major cheap shot at BYU and AJ Dybantsa, and it deserves a real response. In this video, I break down exactly what Stephen A. said about BYU, why the take was misguided, and how it ignored key context around Kevin Young, Richie Saunders, Dawson Baker, and the injuries that wrecked BYU’s depth all season. I also explain why the criticism of AJ Dybantsa going to BYU falls apart when you look at the results. Dybantsa carried a huge load, elevated his draft stock, and now looks more like a possible No. 1 NBA Draft pick than he did at the start of the year. Even Stephen A. Smith’s own comments undercut his argument. This video covers BYU basketball, Stephen A. Smith, AJ Dybantsa, Kevin Young, the NCAA Tournament loss to Texas, BYU’s injuries, and why lazy national narratives still miss the reality of what’s happening in Provo. 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! https://bit.ly/OFBNewsletter Check out my national college football channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@OFBcollegefootball #BYU #BYUBasketball #AJDybantsa #StephenASmith #KevinYoung #CollegeBasketball #Big12 #MarchMadness

    10 min

  2. 6H AGO

    Iowa State BLASTS Kentucky Without Its Best Player; UK Can't Handle the Big 12

    Iowa State crushes Kentucky in the second half without Josh Jefferson.

    14 min

  3. 6H AGO

    Is Bill Self Done at Kansas? St. John's Loss Could be the End

    Kansas suffered another brutal NCAA Tournament exit, and now the biggest question in college basketball is impossible to ignore: is Bill Self done at Kansas? In this video, I break down KU’s heartbreaking loss to St. John’s, what went wrong offensively, why the Jayhawks still never fully clicked this season, and whether Kansas fans are justified in wondering if the Bill Self era could be nearing its end. The conversation also includes Self’s recent health issues, Kansas’ struggles to adapt in the NIL and transfer portal era, and what the future could look like if KU ever has to make a change. Bill Self has still delivered incredible consistency at Kansas, but KU has now gone four straight seasons without reaching the second weekend, and the frustration is building. I get into why this year’s team felt off from the start, how roster construction has changed in modern college basketball, and why replacing a legend is never as simple as fans think it is. If you’re a Kansas fan, Big 12 fan, or college basketball fan trying to make sense of what comes next for one of the sport’s biggest brands, this video is for you. 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! https://bit.ly/OFBNewsletter National college football channel: https://www.youtube.com/@OFBcollegefootball #BillSelf #KansasBasketball #KansasJayhawks #KUbasketball #CollegeBasketball #MarchMadness #NCAATournament #Big12 #BillSelfKansas #StJohnsBasketball

    11 min

  4. 3D AGO

    BYU’s Season Ends…Was it a Failure?; TCU CAN Shock Duke

    Texas controls BYU wire-to-wire as the Cougars season ends in disappointment in the first round. TCU channels March Madness to hold off Ohio State. Can they stun Duke? BYU’s season came to a painful end after getting pushed around by Texas, which raises the big question: was this season a failure or just a disappointment? In this video, I break down why BYU had too much on AJ Dybantsa’s shoulders, how injuries to Richie Saunders, Dawson Baker, Nate Pickens and others changed the ceiling of this team, and why the Cougars still gained something huge from this season despite the ugly ending. Plus, TCU may have a much better shot against Duke than most people realize. I explain what the Horned Frogs showed in their win over Ohio State, why Duke looked vulnerable, and the one key factor that could make this a real NCAA Tournament shocker. If you care about BYU basketball, TCU basketball, Duke basketball, AJ Dybantsa, March Madness, and Big 12 basketball, this is the place to be. 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! https://bit.ly/OFBNewsletter Also check out my national college football channel: https://www.youtube.com/@OFBcollegefootball #BYU #BYUBasketball #TCU #TCUBasketball #DukeBasketball #MarchMadness #NCAATournament #Big12 #AJDybantsa #CollegeBasketball

    31 min

  5. MAR 16

    Big 12 DOMINATES NCAA Tournament Field; One Big 12 Team Got Screwed

    The Big 12 sent a loud message on Selection Sunday. In this video, I break down why the NCAA Tournament committee made it clear the Big 12 is the best basketball league in the country right now, from Houston, Arizona, Iowa State, BYU, and Texas Tech earning major respect to Kansas getting the toughest draw of any Big 12 team in the bracket. I also get into why the conference is about to make serious money off its basketball product, why Brett Yormark may have played this week exactly right, and why the Big 12 Tournament belongs in Kansas City, not Las Vegas. If you care about the Big 12, March Madness, Kansas basketball, Houston basketball, Arizona basketball, Iowa State basketball, BYU basketball, Texas Tech basketball, Brett Yormark, and the future of college sports, this is for you. 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!  https://bit.ly/OFBNewsletter Also check out my national college football channel here:  https://www.youtube.com/@OFBcollegefootball Subscribe for more Big 12 football and basketball coverage, NCAA Tournament analysis, college sports business talk, conference realignment, and the stories the national media gets wrong. #Big12 #MarchMadness #CollegeBasketball #KansasJayhawks #HoustonCougars #ArizonaWildcats #IowaState #BYU #TexasTech #BrettYormark #NCAATournament

    52 min

  6. MAR 9

    Big 12 Scores a Major Win in D.C.; SEC Bias Screwing Big 12 Basketball

    The Big 12 may have finally scored a real win in Washington, D.C. after the White House college sports meeting featuring Brett Yormark, Cody Campbell, Greg Sankey, and President Donald Trump. In this episode, John Kurtz breaks down what the Saving College Sports roundtable actually accomplished, why Greg Sankey got mocked for one of the worst comments of the event, and why new momentum in Congress could matter for the Big 12 and ACC as they try to close the gap on the SEC and Big Ten. Plus, SEC bias may have officially invaded college basketball. John explains why ESPN bracketology and bubble talk have been giving the SEC far too much benefit of the doubt while the Big 12 keeps getting punished, even though the Big 12 has been the best league in the country by RPI. From Cincinnati’s bubble case to Alabama, Auburn, Kansas, BYU, Texas Tech, and the rest of the chaotic Big 12 race, this episode dives into why the league is being undervalued and why it can still prove itself in March Madness. Also in the show: the latest on the Kansas State coaching search, including Jerrod Calhoun, Josh Schertz, Alan Huss, Casey Alexander, and the mystery-candidate rumors surrounding the K-State basketball opening. John breaks down who has interviewed, when a decision could come, and how the Wildcats job stacks up nationally. And finally, John reacts to wild Big 12 quarterback rankings from CBS Sports’ Shehan Jeyarajah, including debates over Bear Bachmeier, Brendan Sorsby, Noah Fifita, Drew Mestemaker, Devon Dampier, Avery Johnson, and Conner Weigman. Who is being overrated? Who is being disrespected? And which Big 12 QB could rise all the way to No. 1 by the end of the season? If you love Big 12 football, Big 12 basketball, college football realignment, playoff politics, coaching search drama, bracketology, and strong takes on SEC and Big Ten favoritism, this is the show for you. Topics in this video include:  Big 12 news  Big 12 basketball  Big 12 football  Brett Yormark  Greg Sankey  Cody Campbell  Saving College Sports  White House college sports meeting  Donald Trump college sports  SEC bias  ESPN bracketology  NCAA Tournament bubble  Kansas State coaching search  Jerrod Calhoun  Alan Huss  Josh Schertz  Bear Bachmeier  Brendan Sorsby  Noah Fifita  Conner Weigman  Shehan Jeyarajah  Kansas basketball  BYU basketball  Texas Tech basketball  Cincinnati basketball  College football playoff politics 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!  https://bit.ly/OFBNewsletter For national college football coverage, subscribe here:  https://www.youtube.com/@OFBcollegefootball #Big12 #CollegeFootball #CollegeBasketball #KansasState #KansasJayhawks #BYU #TexasTech #Cincinnati #BrettYormark #GregSankey #MarchMadness #CFB

    54 min

  7. MAR 2

    Cody Campbell Has the SEC & Big Ten Shook; Big 12 Invited to the White House

    Cody Campbell has the SEC and Big Ten worried, and now we have proof. In this video, I break down the backlash to Campbell’s Saving College Sports initiative after the SEC and Big Ten commissioned a white paper from FTI Consulting to counter his ideas. Campbell’s proposal includes major changes to college athletics, including a new voluntary governing organization with enforcement power, a single national NIL standard, spending and cost controls, and changes to the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 that would allow schools to pool college football media rights and sell them together. I explain what Campbell is pushing, why SEC and Big Ten leaders are fighting it, and why the arguments in the commissioned paper are misleading—especially when it comes to the history of TV rights, the College Football Association model from the 1980s, and how the modern streaming landscape (Amazon, Netflix, and more) could change the value of packaged college football inventory. We also get into the central issue behind this battle: whether the current fragmented system is protecting SEC and Big Ten revenue at the expense of everyone else, including the future of Olympic sports and women’s sports at smaller schools. Topics covered: Cody Campbell and Saving College Sports explained Why the SEC and Big Ten are responding with a commissioned white paper FTI Consulting’s arguments against pooling media rights Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 and proposed changes in Congress Supreme Court TV rights ruling and the College Football Association example NIL reform, national standards, and enforcement debates Why this fight could end up in Washington and at the White House What this means for the Big 12 and the future of college football Do you think Campbell’s plan would help college sports, or is it federal overreach? Should the SEC and Big Ten keep control of the current system? Drop your take in the comments. Keywords: Cody Campbell, Saving College Sports, SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, college football media rights, Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961, NIL reform, national NIL standard, college sports commission, FTI Consulting, college football playoff power, NCAA governance, conference realignment, Olympic sports funding, women’s sports funding, Trump roundtable college sports

    52 min

  8. FEB 26

    Cincy Suing Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby for $1 Million; Sorsby Fires Back on Twitter

    Cincinnati is suing Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby for $1 million in liquidated damages tied to an alleged two-year NIL agreement, and the timing could not be spicier. The lawsuit hits one day after Sorsby took a shot at Cincinnati on social media, turning an already tense in-conference transfer into a full-blown Big 12 feud. In this live stream, I break down what Cincinnati’s lawsuit says, why the school believes it’s entitled to $1 million within 30 days of Sorsby transferring, and how this kind of “NIL buyout” fight could change the way players move inside the Big 12. I’ll also show the post that set Bearcat fans off, explain why this feels different when the player lands at a conference rival, and tell you who I think is actually in the right here. Then we pivot to BYU: what the Cougars look like without Richie Saunders, why their floor is lower without his leadership and production, and what it means for BYU’s depth and week-to-week consistency. Finally, we get into one of the wildest early-season Big 12 takes you’ll see: On3 projecting huge things for Utah and, by extension, first-year head coach Morgan Scalley. I react to Brett McMurphy’s early College Football Playoff/bowl projections, why the Utah pick is a massive vote of confidence, and the one scenario where it actually makes sense (spoiler: it probably requires a star quarterback and an immediate defensive carry-over). Topics include: Cincinnati Bearcats vs Brendan Sorsby lawsuit, Texas Tech football NIL, Big 12 NIL contracts and buyouts, in-conference transfers, Big 12 football 2026 storylines, BYU football outlook without Richie Saunders, Kalani Sitake respect, Morgan Scalley Utah head coach era, Kyle Whittingham exit fallout, Holy War implications, and early College Football Playoff projections. Drop your take in the comments: is Cincinnati right to enforce the $1M clause, or is this crossing a line for the NIL era? 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! www.ofbnews.com https://www.youtube.com/@OFBcollegefootball 🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/6321527093067776

    41 min
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5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Open for Business with John Kurtz delivers college football and college basketball news from a Big 12 perspective. We cover every Big 12 school—Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, BYU, Cincinnati, Colorado, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas Tech, UCF, Utah, and West Virginia. From Saturdays in the fall to March Madness, no program gets left out. You’ll hear in-depth discussion on Big 12 football, basketball, and recruiting—along with how the league stacks up against the SEC and Big Ten. We cover conference realignment, NIL, TV deals, playoff battles, and national storylines like Deion Sanders and Colorado that impact the Big 12. If you want college football and college basketball news from a Big 12 perspective, this is your podcast.

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