Two summers in the past the Big 12 obtained probably damning news because the convention’s flagship applications, Oklahoma and Texas, introduced that they had been leaving for the SEC.
With that news the Big 12 shortly pivoted, including 4 new applications to its ranks with BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF set to hitch in July of this 12 months. At that time limit, the Big 12 will turn into a 14-team convention, quickly, because the Sooners and Longhorns hang around till 2024 (I’ll imagine the 2025 studies once I see it).
That instantly raised the query: Who’s going to run the convention going ahead?
The Contenders
With the “big brands” headed east, there shall be a void for this system seen because the “face of the Big 12” for soccer. At first, it was speculated that Oklahoma State would instantly fill that position, having been probably the most profitable staff within the convention over the previous 10 years outdoors of Oklahoma, that made sense. Now, Stillwater seems to be in flames and is coming off a 7-6 season.
Baylor, the 2021 Big 12 champion and preseason favourite to win the convention in 2022, went simply 6-7 after returing a number of key items this season.
Kansas State emerged and gained the rugged Big 12, actually staking its declare however appears extra a steward than the king of the convention for years to return after it was shellacked by Alabama within the Sugar Bowl.
Then, out of left subject, Sonny Dykes and the Horned Frogs emerged. TCU rode its approach to a 12-0 report earlier than dropping the Big 12 Championship recreation by a subject objective in time beyond regulation. Dykes rallied the his staff although, and in what’s seen as one of the most important upsets in College Football Playoff historical past, the Horned Frogs took down the second-ranked and undefeated Michigan Wolverines within the VRBO Fiesta Bowl, 51-45.
It was a monumental victory for the Horned Frogs, and its convention, because the win solidified the Big 12’s stance as one of the highest convention’s in school soccer. It additionally landed them within the College Football Playoff National Championship Game agaisnt Georgia.
It additionally solidified TCU’s standing because the staff with probably the most to achieve from Oklahoma and Texas exiting the Big 12. As it performs in its(*12*), TCU seems to be rising because the Big 12’s subsequent energy.
TCU’s “Fortuitous” Climb to the Driver’s Seat
On Saturday, TCU head coach Sonny Dykes was requested how “fortuitous” is the timing of TCU’s run, provided that the Big 12, and the College Football Playoff for that matter, stand to vary so dramatically within the close to future.
“Like I said, “fortuitous” is an efficient phrase,” Dykes says. “It’s important for the Big 12 and our credibility to have teams that perform well and can win. And you lose two of the more high-profile members of the conference, obviously, with Texas and Oklahoma moving on. But I think that was what was so good about the Big 12 this year, was you got to see, from top to bottom, just how good the league was.
“And it’s probably as good a league — it’s probably the best that the Big 12 has been in a long time. And the two brand name institutions really weren’t as good as they typically are.
“So I think it speaks to the strength of the league, the overall strength. I think it speaks to the momentum that the Big 12 has that two remaining teams were in the championship game with us and Kansas State. I think the future for the Big 12 is very bright. I think the four added institutions coming in all have tremendous potential and have had success obviously through the years.
“And so I think the league is going to be better, continue to be better than most people give it credit for being. The timing was really good. The timing was good. And like you said, you try not to worry about too much right now with the big picture stuff, but I do believe that it was an important year for the league. And I think it was important to get somebody into the College Football Playoff. Because it’s been a while since that happened, in particular a member institution that’s staying.”
Resilience Over Talent Got TCU Here
TCU has paved the best way for the remaining of the convention and its future members to make their approach to the game’s greatest recreation. They’ve created a blueprint for success, and its not all about having a roster full of five-star gamers. Sure, TCU has its share of blue-chip recruits. In reality, in 247Sports’ expertise rankings, TCU ranks third within the Big 12 behind Texas (sixth) and Oklahoma (ninth) and is taken into account the Thirty second-most gifted staff within the nation.
However, when Dykes was requested to explain his staff with one phrase throughout media availability, “talented” was the phrase he opted for.
“Resilient, I think resilience is probably the best way,” Dykes stated. “Either resilient or confident. These guys don’t quit.
“It’s been weird; they really believe in each other. There’s a quiet confidence associated with this group, and there has been. They don’t get too high. They don’t get too low.
“And really, when you find people or a team that does that, confidence is at the root of that. And the reason they don’t get too low is because they know they’re going to have an opportunity to fight back or they believe that things are going to equalize, or they believe that they’re going to figure out a way to get it done.
“And so this group just has that mentality and that belief in each other. It’s not only a belief in yourself, it’s probably, more importantly, a belief in the guy next to you and your teammates and really the system and the approach and everything, and believing that everything makes a difference. Everything matters.
“We talk to our guys all the time about when we get done with this, they’re going to go eat a meal. What they eat at that meal is going to matter. It’s going to have an impact on how well they play on Monday.
“So those guys, how much rest do they get? How much do they hydrate? All those things are inches and those inches add up. And all that matters.”
TCU is Locked In, Not Just Happy to Be Here
The Horned Frogs are pleased about being in Los Angeles with an opportunity to win a nationwide title on Monday evening, don’t be mistaken. However, TCU is right here to win the sport and hoist a trophy, not simply hope that Georgia doesn’t beat up on them too unhealthy.
Sure, this journey shall be enjoyable for Sonny Dykes’ squad however they’ve labored too onerous and are available too far simply to name it quits after the most important win of their season.
“Look, you don’t go through all the stuff we’ve gone through this season and work as hard as these
guys have worked and make all the sacrifices these guys have made to say we’re just happy to be here,” Dykes stated. “I think if anything, it gives you extra motivation to finish the job because we haven’t been here before. And if you haven’t been there before, then it’s hard to say, well, we’ll be back next year, you know what I mean?
“So it all just gives you extra motivation to go out and get it done. And it all begins with a belief and an attitude and a desire to make the most of your opportunity. And that’s what this team has done all year — and to focus on doing their job and closing it out, whether it’s ball games, whether it’s closing out winning the Big 12, the regular season Big 12, playing in a Big Ten Championship, closing out a semifinal game. Whatever it is, this team has been able to close things out this year.
“So we want to close out the season. And none of us will feel good about this year if we don’t win this game. I think we’ll feel like we’ve squandered an opportunity. And nobody wants to do that.”
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