In this Locked On Kansas State x Locked On Big 12 crossover, we break down why Washington State and Oregon State might be better expansion targets for the Big 12 than ACC schools like NC State or Louisville. Christian Rauh and Drake Toll dive deep into media markets, fan bases, and realignment strategy—plus a fiery debate on why Avery Johnson is the best QB in the Big 12 (and why the SEC's QB situation is overrated). We also talk potential Big 12 Championship matchups, K-State’s chances of returning to Arlington, and whether BYU or Arizona State will rise as a surprise contender. Segments Include: Why Wazzu and Oregon State make more sense than Wake Forest or Pitt Seattle and Portland better than Raleigh and Pittsburgh? Avery Johnson vs Sam Leavitt vs Sawyer Robertson How the Big 12 has deeper QB talent than the SEC Can K-State survive the brutal back half of its 2025 schedule? 📅 Week 0 is coming fast. Subscribe for daily Kansas State football coverage. The Case for Adding Washington State and Oregon State The argument for adding the "Pac-2" is built on strategic expansion, new media markets, and a valuable time slot for television partners. Geographic Expansion and New Media Markets: The most compelling reason is that adding WSU and OSU gives the Big 12 a true presence in the Pacific Northwest. The conference would gain a foothold in the Seattle-Tacoma market (12th largest in the nation) and the Portland market (22nd). This is a new, untapped region for the Big 12, expanding its brand from coast to coast and providing a crucial bargaining chip in future media rights negotiations. Late-Night TV Window: A massive benefit for television partners like ESPN and FOX is the late-night viewing window. Games on the West Coast allow the Big 12 to fill a programming slot that is highly valuable, attracting a national audience after other games have concluded. "Cultural" Fit with K-State: From a Kansas State perspective, there's a strong cultural parallel. As noted in a fan discussion, K-State and WSU/OSU are all land-grant universities in smaller, rural towns with passionate fan bases. This creates a similar identity and a potential sense of camaraderie that may not exist with schools from the Eastern seaboard. Competitive Depth: Both Washington State and Oregon State have proven they can be competitive at the highest level of college football. Oregon State, in particular, has seen recent success. Their addition would add to the conference's competitive balance without necessarily diluting the overall strength. The Case Against Adding WSU/OSU (and for adding ACC schools) The counter-argument against the Pacific Northwest schools is primarily about media valuation and the current instability of the "Pac-2" brand. Media Market Value vs. Footprint: While WSU/OSU provide a new geographic footprint, there's debate over whether their specific media market reach is more valuable than that of potential ACC targets. Raleigh-Durham (NC State) and Pittsburgh (Pitt) are also significant markets, ranking 24th and 26th, respectively. Some analysts argue that a school like Louisville or NC State might have a more passionate and regionally concentrated fan base that translates more directly to television viewership. ACC is a "Power Conference": Bringing in a school like NC State or Louisville, which are still part of a "Power Four" conference, could be seen as a more stable move than bringing in schools that are currently in a rebuilding Pac-12 with a new media deal and a lower revenue base. Proximity and Travel: Adding schools from the Pacific Northwest would create a significant travel burden for the rest of the conference, including K-State. This could be a logistical and financial challenge, particularly for Olympic sports. ACC schools, while not close, are still in a more manageable travel corridor for the central and eastern Big 12 schools. Locked On College Conferences, HBCU, Basketball & More 🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnCollege Follow on Twitter: https://x.com/lockedonKState Follow the show on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3HhcfyjaoLGxYjsL1KmSZM #KansasState #KansasStateFootball #KansasStateWildcats #NCAA #CollegeFootball Big 12 Conference: Arizona Wildcats, Arizona State Sun Devils, Baylor Bears, BYU Cougars, UCF Knights, Cincinnati Bearcats, Colorado Buffaloes, Houston Cougars, Iowa State Cyclones, Kansas Jayhawks, Kansas State Wildcats, Oklahoma State Cowboys, TCU Horned Frogs, Texas Tech Red Raiders, Utah Utes, West Virginia Mountaineers Locked on Kansas State
In this Locked On Kansas State x Locked On Big 12 crossover, we break down why Washington State and Oregon State might be better expansion targets for the Big 12 than ACC schools like NC State or Louisville. Christian Rauh and Drake Toll dive deep into media markets, fan bases, and realignment strategy—plus a fiery debate on why Avery Johnson is the best QB in the Big 12 (and why the SEC's QB situation is overrated). We also talk potential Big 12 Championship matchups, K-State’s chances of returning to Arlington, and whether BYU or Arizona State will rise as a surprise contender. Segments Include: Why Wazzu and Oregon State make more sense than Wake Forest or Pitt Seattle and Portland better than Raleigh and Pittsburgh? Avery Johnson vs Sam Leavitt vs Sawyer Robertson How the Big 12 has deeper QB talent than the SEC Can K-State survive the brutal back half of its 2025 schedule? 📅 Week 0 is coming fast. Subscribe for daily Kansas State football coverage. The Case for Adding Washington State and Oregon State The argument for adding the "Pac-2" is built on strategic expansion, new media markets, and a valuable time slot for television partners. Geographic Expansion and New Media Markets: The most compelling reason is that adding WSU and OSU gives the Big 12 a true presence in the Pacific Northwest. The conference would gain a foothold in the Seattle-Tacoma market (12th largest in the nation) and the Portland market (22nd). This is a new, untapped region for the Big 12, expanding its brand from coast to coast and providing a crucial bargaining chip in future media rights negotiations. Late-Night TV Window: A massive benefit for television partners like ESPN and FOX is the late-night viewing window. Games on the West Coast allow the Big 12 to fill a programming slot that is highly valuable, attracting a national audience after other games have concluded. "Cultural" Fit with K-State: From a Kansas State perspective, there's a strong cultural parallel. As noted in a fan discussion, K-State and WSU/OSU are all land-grant universities in smaller, rural towns with passionate fan bases. This creates a similar identity and a potential sense of camaraderie that may not exist with schools from the Eastern seaboard. Competitive Depth: Both Washington State and Oregon State have proven they can be competitive at the highest level of college football. Oregon State, in particular, has seen recent success. Their addition would add to the conference's competitive balance without necessarily diluting the overall strength. The Case Against Adding WSU/OSU (and for adding ACC schools) The counter-argument against the Pacific Northwest schools is primarily about media valuation and the current instability of the "Pac-2" brand. Media Market Value vs. Footprint: While WSU/OSU provide a new geographic footprint, there's debate over whether their specific media market reach is more valuable than that of potential ACC targets. Raleigh-Durham (NC State) and Pittsburgh (Pitt) are also significant markets, ranking 24th and 26th, respectively. Some analysts argue that a school like Louisville or NC State might have a more passionate and regionally concentrated fan base that translates more directly to television viewership. ACC is a "Power Conference": Bringing in a school like NC State or Louisville, which are still part of a "Power Four" conference, could be seen as a more stable move than bringing in schools that are currently in a rebuilding Pac-12 with a new media deal and a lower revenue base. Proximity and Travel: Adding schools from the Pacific Northwest would create a significant travel burden for the rest of the conference, including K-State. This could be a logistical and financial challenge, particularly for Olympic sports. ACC schools, while not close, are still in a more manageable travel corridor for the central and eastern Big 12 schools. Locked On College Conferences, HBCU, Basketball & More 🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnCollege Follow on Twitter: https://x.com/lockedonKState Follow the show on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3HhcfyjaoLGxYjsL1KmSZM #KansasState #KansasStateFootball #KansasStateWildcats #NCAA #CollegeFootball Big 12 Conference:Arizona Wildcats, Arizona State Sun Devils, Baylor Bears, BYU Cougars, UCF Knights, Cincinnati Bearcats, Colorado Buffaloes, Houston Cougars, Iowa State Cyclones, Kansas Jayhawks, Kansas State Wildcats, Oklahoma State Cowboys, TCU Horned Frogs, Texas Tech Red Raiders, Utah Utes, West Virginia Mountaineers Locked on Kansas State