Big 12 Today

BYU Football Head Coach Kalani Sitake appeared on Big 12 Today to celebrate the Cougars' impressive victory over Arizona. He highlighted his team's strong defensive performance, especially in the second half. When asked about wide receiver Legend Glasker, Sitake praised his outstanding play and emphasized the quality of his receiver room, noting their excellent blocking. He also discussed quarterback Bear Bachmier's growth, highlighting how Bachmier has gained more control of the offense as a true freshman this season. Sitake credited his team's conditioning and physical style of play for their ability to wear down opponents. Looking ahead, he previewed this weekend's game against Colorado State, giving respect to head coach Jim Mora and the Rams as BYU continues its preparation. TUNE IN!

Scott Draper, Big 12 Chief Football & Competition Officer, joined Big 12 Today to review an exciting weekend in the conference. Draper highlighted Oklahoma State’s impressive upset over Oregon, praising the Cowboys for bouncing back after their Week 1 loss. He also discussed the opening conference game between BYU and Arizona, noting BYU’s jump into the AP Top 25 at No. 11 and emphasizing that the AP rankings provide a useful snapshot, with more detailed analysis coming in October. Draper praised both BYU and Arizona as strong teams. He commended Utah for their SEC victory over Arkansas and acknowledged Texas Tech’s win over Oregon State in the Pacific Northwest. Looking ahead, Draper previewed the Week 3 showdown between Houston and Texas Tech, emphasizing its significance. He also discussed the upcoming Union Jack Classic between Arizona State and Kansas, noting that London is still adjusting to the college game compared to the NFL. TUNE IN!

Oklahoma State Defensive Coordinator Skyler Cassity appeared on Big 12 Today to discuss the Cowboys' impressive upset victory over Oregon on Saturday. After a challenging Week 1 loss, Oklahoma State responded strongly in their home opener, securing a 39-31 win. Coach Cassity reflected on his coaching stints at Sam Houston and North Texas, highlighting the significant improvements at both programs and how he's applying a similar mentality and approach at Oklahoma State. He also shared personal insights about his family’s deep-rooted history with Oklahoma State, mentioning his brother, who played for Coach Gundy, and his father, who served as the DC at OSU. Coach Cassity emphasized the storied tradition of winning at Oklahoma State and discussed how Coach Mike Gundy is working to reestablish that winning culture in Stillwater. TUNE IN!

Colorado Athletic Director Fernando Lovo joined Big 12 Today following the Buffs' impressive road victory over Georgia Tech. Lovo described the win as very special and praised the Buffs fans who traveled to Atlanta, emphasizing how their support made the experience even more meaningful. He highlighted that securing a major win against a quality opponent on the road is a significant milestone for Colorado. As the rookie athletic director in the Big 12, Lovo shared insights into his career, which began at the University of Florida, and detailed the journey that led him to Colorado. He emphasized the Colorado brand's prominence not only within the state but also nationally and internationally. Lovo credited Commissioner Brett Yormark's support and Coach Deion Sanders' leadership for elevating Colorado's profile. He expressed his enthusiasm working with Coach Prime, describing it as a joyful experience. Lovo also discussed the challenging schedule ahead, upcoming non-conference matchups, and the broader youth movement in college athletics, highlighting his position as the youngest athletic director in the Big 12. TUNE IN!

Texas Tech Football Head Coach Joey McGuire joined Big 12 Today to discuss the Red Raiders' Week 1 victory over Abilene Christian. McGuire expressed his satisfaction with the win and was pleased for players making their first starts, highlighting the efforts of Will Hammond, who returned from a torn ACL injury less than a year ago. He was glad that Hammond's body felt good on Sunday and praised his offensive line for protecting him throughout the game. McGuire was critical of his team's red zone performance, emphasizing the need for improvement in that area. He also praised his young safeties, Peyton Morgan and Malik Esquerra, for their first starts, and admired their performances. Looking ahead, McGuire discussed preparations for Oregon State, noting that he is focusing on that game without dwelling on their Week 3 opponent, Houston. He shared insights on how other teams performed in Week 1, giving credit to Arizona State, BYU, and Utah, particularly highlighting the impressive debut of Utah's coach, Morgan Scalley, as well as the success of Kenny Dillingham and Kalani Sitake. McGuire also commented that Baylor likely would have defeated Auburn if DJ Lagway hadn't injured his ankle, praising Baylor's defense and predicting it will be strong this season.Regarding game strategy, McGuire mentioned that he wouldn't have gone for two in Saturday's game against Auburn if the situation had been different.  He concluded the interview by discussing "The Program: Texas Tech," which airs on Paramount+, sharing insights into the making of the documentary and the effort that went into it.