Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard is eager for Oklahoma and Texas to leave the Big 12 so they no longer have to play games that are shown on The Longhorn Network.
No one will be happier to see Oklahoma and Texas leave the Big 12 for the SEC than Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard, for reasons strictly related to the Longhorn Network.
Pollard appeared on 365 Sports to discuss Cyclones basketball and the status of the new Big 12. Iowa State has one of the best athletic departments in the league and Pollard is one of the most respected athletic directors in the league. of the Power Five. With Oklahoma and Texas leaving for the SEC in 2024, this will quickly end the Longhorn Network. Pollard must love this.
This Pollard comment might be a little ironic, but that’s why everyone loves Pollard.
“(They) can’t leave soon enough. Does this answer the question? … Finalizing (the early release) allows us to move forward and be much more productive. Quite frankly, having this situation hanging around made you do double everything. A 14-team calendar, then a 12-team calendar. You had to do this for all sports. This caused a lot of extra work. Now that it’s over, it’s good. We can put that behind us and have more streamlined meetings where you don’t feel like you have to leave the room for that part of the meeting.”
Here’s the entire conversation Pollard had while on 365 Sports to talk about Iowa State.
Iowa State, and the Big 12 as a whole, have a lot to gain from the changes being made.
Iowa State general manager Jamie Pollard can’t wait for Oklahoma and Texas to leave the Big 12.
Strange as it may sound, the Big 12 are in an incredible position. The league just added four new schools with BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF arriving in July. Oklahoma and Texas are pulling out of their Big 12 deals a year earlier than expected, in 2024. There may be an adjustment period for both schools joining the SEC, but they have the marks and stamp needed to get by.
Although Iowa State is not rich in talent on the field, the Cyclones have a fantastic head coach in the person of Matt Campbell. As long as he stays at Ames, Iowa State will be fighting for conference championships and possibly reuniting with the New Year’s Six. More importantly, a 12-team Big 12 could allow two teams to enter the College Football Playoff each year starting in 2024.
This league should be very competitive, both on the court and on the football field. League 12 basketball is operating at its peak, while League 12 football is operating from a position of strength under new league commissioner Brett Yormark. With a new media rights deal struck with ESPN and FOX, the Big 12 is poised to take off in the new college landscape.
Overall you have to agree with Pollard in the sense that you want people who want to be there. Life is about being where you are. Oklahoma and Texas aren’t happy in the Big 12 right now, but their favors could change in the new SEC. As for BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF, Big 12 programs like Iowa State are happy to have them. They should make the championship even more competitive.
Ultimately, you can’t deny the good vibes and energy the Big 12 gives off. The eight remaining schools seem to operate in unison and with a high level of cohesion. The league may not have the biggest of brands, but in the new landscape of college football, who really cares about the brand? Young people will want to play in schools where they can participate in the playoffs.
Don’t be shocked if the Big 12 were to expand beyond 12 teams in future years as well.
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