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

John Kurtz
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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. 9H AGO

    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

  2. 4D AGO

    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

  3. FEB 23

    Kansas Should Cut Ties w/ Darryn Peterson ESPN Star Says; Big 12 Cashing in BIG

    Kansas basketball just took a gut-punch at Allen Fieldhouse, and now Dick Vitale is publicly saying KU should cut ties with Darryn Peterson. In this live show, I break down why Vitale is going there, what it could mean for Bill Self and Kansas’ ceiling in March, and why we still haven’t heard Peterson’s side of the story. Then we pivot to the exact opposite storyline in Provo: AJ Dybantsa goes nuclear in BYU’s huge win over Iowa State, plays all 40 minutes, and delivers the most perfect quote possible in the postgame. If you’re wondering why BYU suddenly feels dangerous again, we’ll connect the dots. Finally, the selection committee’s Top 16 reveal quietly confirmed what Big 12 fans already know: this league is loaded at the top AND has real depth. Two Big 12 No. 1 seeds is a statement, and it’s another example of Big 12 hoops being what SEC football thinks it is. Plus: a quick K-State coaching search update and the latest on the names to watch. Topics covered: Dick Vitale calls out Darryn Peterson and Kansas Bill Self, KU’s March ceiling, and the “cut ties” debate Why we still haven’t heard Peterson’s full story (and why that matters) AJ Dybantsa’s monster game vs Iowa State and what it means for BYU BYU’s path forward after the Richie Saunders injury Selection committee Top 16 reveal: Big 12 power at the top + depth everywhere K-State coaching search update 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 Also check out my national college football channel: https://www.youtube.com/@OFBcollegefootball #KansasBasketball #DarrynPeterson #BillSelf #BYU #AJDybantsa #Big12Basketball #MarchMadness #Big12 🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/6321527093067776

    56 min

  4. FEB 20

    Legal Experts: K-State Has a Case vs Jerome Tang

    The Athletic spoke to legal experts who think K-State has a legitimate case against Jerome Tang. Big 12 basketball decimated by injuries. Self snaps about Darryn Peterson. Ranking Big 12 arenas.

    52 min

  5. FEB 13

    There Are No Winners in the Parker Kingston Story; BYU Star Facing First Degree Felony Charge

    CONTENT WARNING: This episode includes discussion of sexual assault allegations. In today’s Open For Business Big 12 show, we start with the latest on BYU football as receiver Parker Kingston has been charged with first-degree felony rape in Washington County, Utah. I walk through the limited, confirmed details that have been reported so far, including BYU’s public statement, what’s known about the investigation timeline, and what comes next in court. Then we pivot to the Big 12 basketball mess at Kansas State. Jerome Tang’s postgame comments after a 29-point home loss to Cincinnati went viral across college hoops media, including CBS Sports, The Field of 68, and even PTI. I break down what was said, why it resonated nationally, and what Tang did next on his coaches show as K-State heads toward another brutal matchup. Finally, we close with conference realignment chaos. Former Nebraska AD Bill Moos revealed he quietly explored a return to the Big 12 while Texas and Oklahoma were still in the league. I explain how close it really came, why it died, and why the story highlights everything that’s broken about modern college sports. Subscribe for Big 12-first coverage, realignment analysis, and the stories national media misses. 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 Check out my national college football channel: https://www.youtube.com/@OFBcollegefootball #Big12 #BYUFootball #CollegeFootball #KansasState #JeromeTang #ConferenceRealignment #NebraskaFootball #CollegeBasketball #OFB 🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/6321527093067776

    35 min

  6. FEB 6

    Big 12 Money Crisis: A Big 12 Power Says It's Broke; K-State is Bleeding Cash

    Big 12 basketball has a money problem, and Kelvin Sampson just said the quiet part out loud. After Houston’s win, the Hall of Fame coach admitted the Cougars are broke, raising a bigger question for the conference: if one of the Big 12’s best programs is struggling for resources, what does that mean for competing in the new era of college sports? In this live show, I break down Sampson’s comments, why Houston’s timing is so surprising (elite hoops, rising football, huge recruiting footprint), and whether a lack of donor support could ever put coaches like Kelvin Sampson or Willie Fritz at risk. Then we pivot to the other side of the Big 12 money story: K-State spending. Kansas State is pouring an eye-popping amount into basketball between Jerome Tang’s contract, assistant coach salaries, and roster spending, yet they’re sitting at the bottom of the league. I’ll walk through the numbers, the context, and what it says about how programs can waste money even when they have it. Plus: BYU’s three-game skid, what’s actually wrong defensively, and why the next stretch with Houston looming will tell us what BYU really is. We also get into the latest anti-Mormon chant controversy, what Oklahoma State fans claim was said, and what the Big 12 can realistically do to stop this from becoming a recurring distraction. Subscribe for Big 12 college football and Big 12 basketball coverage with the context the national shows miss. 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 Check out my national college football channel: https://www.youtube.com/@OFBcollegefootball #Big12 #Big12Basketball #HoustonCougars #KelvinSampson #KansasState #JeromeTang #BYU #CollegeBasketball 🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/6321527093067776

    1h 2m

  7. FEB 2

    Jerome Tang Makes K-State Crisis Even Messier; Is BYU in Trouble After KU Loss?

    Kansas hoops chaos, BYU’s reality check, and the Jerome Tang situation just got uglier. In this live show, I break down the Darryn Peterson conundrum after KU vs BYU. He looked like the best player in the country…then barely played in the second half again. Can Kansas actually win a national title if Peterson can’t gut out full games? Plus, Richie Saunders may have just changed his career in one night, and BYU’s back-to-back losses raise a real question: are the Cougars in trouble, or just settling into their real ceiling? Then we get into K-State’s free fall. After another brutal week, Jerome Tang’s press conferences are pouring gasoline on the fire. When you’re 10-12, 1-8 in the Big 12, and you’ve got a roster that cost what it cost, the margin for excuses is basically zero. Topics covered in this video: Kansas basketball: Darryn Peterson, Bill Self, and KU’s national title chances KU vs BYU: AJ Dybantsa vs Peterson, Richie Saunders eruption, Kevin Young’s comments BYU basketball: what the last two games say about Big 12 title hopes vs NCAA tournament upside K-State basketball: Jerome Tang backlash, West Virginia collapse, Iowa State blowout, what happens next Big 12 basketball context: where KU, BYU, and K-State actually fit right now Chapters: 0:00 Intro 1:05 Darryn Peterson vs AJ Dybantsa in Allen Fieldhouse 6:45 Can Kansas win a national title with Peterson’s minutes/health? 12:40 Richie Saunders was unreal (and what it means for BYU) 18:05 Is BYU in trouble after back-to-back losses? 24:30 Jerome Tang is making K-State worse 33:40 Where K-State goes from here Subscribe for Big 12 basketball and college sports analysis with the stories and angles you’re not getting nationally. Drop a comment with the biggest question you have about KU, BYU, or K-State right now. 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 Also check out my national college football channel: https://www.youtube.com/@OFBcollegefootball #KansasBasketball #BYUBasketball #KStateBasketball #Big12Basketball #DarrynPeterson #JeromeTang #BillSelf #AJDybantsa #RichieSaunders #CollegeBasketball 🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/6321527093067776

    59 min

  8. JAN 30

    ESPN Finally Puts BYU in the College Football Playoff; Big 12 Making a Huge Playoff Mistake?

    ESPN actually projected BYU and Texas Tech in the College Football Playoff, and Big 12 fans have every right to side-eye it. In this live show, I break down ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Top 25 (and what it really signals about BYU’s playoff path), why the Cougars are finally getting respect, and which SEC brands got left out. Then we pivot to the bigger fear: while everyone laughs at the SEC and Big Ten for fumbling CFP expansion, is the Big 12 making a massive playoff mistake behind the scenes? I dig into the 5+11 vs 24-team debate, the auto-bid politics, and what Brett Yormark should be pushing for if the goal is actual access, not vibes. Plus: who is the “next Indiana” in the Big 12 (ESPN picked one, and I’m with them), and the latest example of recruiting site logo bias that keeps dinging Big 12 perception. If you’re a BYU fan, a Tech fan, or just tired of college football being filtered through an SEC/Big Ten lens, this one’s for you. CHAPTERS 0:00 ESPN projects BYU in the CFP 3:10 Why ESPN kept BYU out before 7:05 ESPN’s 2026 Top 25 and Big 12 teams ranked 10:35 Texas Tech outlook: portal, offense, schedule, playoff path 16:40 BYU outlook: what ESPN got right and what they ignored 21:45 The Notre Dame game (Oct. 17) and BYU’s margin for error 26:10 The “next Indiana” is in the Big 12 29:40 Houston as a sleeper turnaround team 34:10 Oklahoma State as the next Indiana (and why) 39:30 Recruiting sites and Big 12 logo bias (stars magically rise) 45:55 Is the Big 12 making a massive CFP mistake? 52:10 5+11 vs 24 teams and why access matters 58:40 What Yormark should be pushing for next 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 Want my national college football channel too? Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/@OFBcollegefootball Subscribe for more Big 12 football and basketball, CFP analysis, realignment talk, and straight-up narrative policing. #BYU #TexasTech #Big12 #CollegeFootballPlayoff #CFP #NIL #Recruiting #OklahomaState #CollegeFootball #BrettYormark #ESPN 🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/6321527093067776

    1 hr
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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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