# BIG 12 SQUAD - The Big 12's NIL ARMS RACE | How it's impacting BYU

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/locked-on-cougars-daily-podcast-on-byu-cougars-football-basketball-935433/big-12-squad-the-big-12-s-nil-arms-race-how-it-s-impacting-byu
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/locked-on-cougars-daily-podcast-on-byu-cougars-football-basketball-935433/big-12-squad-the-big-12-s-nil-arms-race-how-it-s-impacting-byu.md
Podcast: [Locked On Cougars - Daily Podcast On BYU Cougars Football & Basketball](https://stenobird.com/podcast/locked-on-cougars-daily-podcast-on-byu-cougars-football-basketball-935433)
Published: 2026-04-23T23:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-cougars/
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/pdrl.fm/63a296/lockedon.simplecastaudio.com/df3adc55-2f40-437c-852e-1d8b8122e2c6/episodes/c5b49dc1-1ece-4cb5-8bf9-8b18e032d24c/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=df3adc55-2f40-437c-852e-1d8b8122e2c6&awEpisodeId=c5b49dc1-1ece-4cb5-8bf9-8b18e032d24c&feed=DzohBBeS
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Duration seconds: 1616

## Resource

The Big 12 is experiencing a massive NIL arms race as Oklahoma State and West Virginia leverage aggressive transfer portal moves to challenge established powers. The discussion explores how BYU and Texas Tech must adapt to this new era of high-spending competition.

## Highlights
- Main idea: Oklahoma State and West Virginia are currently leading a high-spending NIL arms race in the Big 12
- Failure mode: BYU faces significant roster gaps, particularly at center, due to missed opportunities in the transfer portal
- Practical takeaway: Strategic recruiting and networking, such as the connections in Lubbock, provide a competitive edge in the portal era
- Main idea: Houston's baseball program faces significant coaching instability and financial burdens from buyouts
- Trend: The Big 12 landscape is shifting from traditional power hierarchies to a more volatile, spending-driven competition

## Topics

Big 12 Conference, NIL, Transfer Portal, College Basketball, College Baseball, Oklahoma State, BYU, West Virginia, Recruiting, College Athletics

## Chapters
- 1:00 — The Big 12 Arms Race: An introduction to the intensifying NIL competition between Oklahoma State, West Virginia, and the rest of the conference.
- 3:10 — BYU's Portal Challenges: An analysis of BYU's transfer portal success and the critical need for reinforcements at the center position.
- 5:30 — The Rise of the Cowpogs: Examining Oklahoma State and West Virginia's momentum in basketball and their ability to outspend rivals.
- 7:30 — Championship Standards: A look at how top-tier programs are leveraging resources to maintain dominance in the conference.
- 9:30 — Houston's Program Outlook: Evaluating the high expectations and recent performance of the Houston baseball program.
- 11:40 — Recruiting and Networking: Discussing the influence of coaching connections and family ties in modern player recruitment.
- 19:50 — Pitching and Bullpen Depth: A breakdown of recent pitching performances and the strength of the bullpen in recent series.

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## Transcript

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