Welcome to the Heartland College Sports Big 12 Football mailbag. This mailbag is for all you football junkies out there who root for a Big 12 school and not only have questions about your team but other teams in the conference as well.
So, join me, grab a can, bottle, or glass of your favorite beverage, and relax as I answer all your Big 12 questions. I want to thank each one of you who submitted a question this week on Twitter and our message boards! As for tonight’s drink of choice, take a look for yourself. Cheers!
@llano-estacado-red-raider asks: How would you grade the Big 12 non-conference performance so far?
Duke: I would give it a B-/C+. The good news is that the top contenders are still undefeated (unlike the ACC) but there have been a couple of bruises along the way. Kansas has been a total disaster losing to Illinois and UNLV. Meanwhile, West Virginia wet the bed against Penn State and crapped themselves against Pitt last weekend. Sure, we had Iowa State beat Iowa on the road but other than that was there a Big 12 team that had an incredible win? I don’t think so.
@tracks182 asks: Does Deion leave at the end of the season when they don’t make a bowl, and his kids/Travis Hunter are gone?
Duke: This is the million-dollar question in Boulder. Let’s face it, this Colorado team isn’t competing for a Big 12 title because they would be lucky to make a bowl game. But after seeing Colorado struggle for two seasons, is there any school out there that would be willing to go get Deion Sanders? The sample size isn’t big enough and the sample itself isn’t that great. I understand his name value but that doesn’t always equal wins. Before he leaves Colorado, he has to actually do something there, which is why I think he will stay for at least another year.
@sun_devil_chris asks: A quarter of the way into the season (for most teams), what has team has surprised you the most?
Duke: Well Chris, your Arizona State Sun Devils come to mind. They were picked to finish dead last in the conference and with all the stuff they had to deal with this offseason, how can someone not be impressed with them getting off to a 3-0 start? It’s been five years since that happened and they are doing it by running the football and playing defense. If Arizona State ends up making a bowl game, then Kenny Dillingham should get some votes for Big 12 coach of the year.
@iowastate265 asks: Who has been the most disappointing team in the Big 12 so far?
Duke: It’s either Kansas or Arizona, but I am going to go with Kansas here. They were supposed to be a Big 12 title contender and Jalon Daniels was getting some Heisman hype. Well through three weeks of the season, it doesn’t look like either one of those things will happen. Jalon Daniels looks like a shell of himself and has thrown for twice as many interceptions as touchdowns. Forget about getting to Arlington, this team may not even make a bowl game if they keep playing like they have been.
@CMack0507 asks: would Lance Leipold actually consider leaving for Florida? Is it even an attractive job anymore?
Duke: Florida may be down but that is still a top ten job in all of college football when you look at the resources in Gainesville. Money is no issue, and you can recruit in a 100-mile radius in any direction and find plenty of top talent. While Lance Leipold doesn’t have ties to Florida, I think he could turn things around there like he has done at Kansas. Would he leave? I could see it happening after this season or at the very least he would listen to what they have to offer.
@tonycfl asks: Do you think the perception of the Big 12 is as weird as the poll voters think?
Duke: I hate to break it to some of you that are fans of the newer teams in the conference but there is one thing you should know when it comes to the national media and the Big 12. The national media doesn’t give a crap about this conference and good luck getting their attention without beating one of the bluebloods. This isn’t my first rodeo here and I have seen time and time again the lack of respect this conference gets from the national media. Whether it’s people who cover the SEC or Big Ten or the talking heads on ESPN, people would rather talk about the bottom tier teams in those conferences than the upper echelon of the Big 12. That is why this website exists, to give this conference a voice.
