First and 16 Podcast - Big 12 College Football and College Basketball

The future of college football is at a crossroads—and the current playoff system isn't cutting it. In this episode of First and 16 , we break down exactly why the sport should expand to a 24-team playoff and how it would completely transform the postseason. From fairness and access to preserving the regular season's intensity, we dive into the biggest arguments for expansion. Plus, we design the i...

The college basketball landscape is changing fast—and not necessarily for the better. In this episode of First & 16 , we break down how the NCAA transfer portal is reshaping the sport, from constant roster turnover to the loss of team identity and long-term player development. Is the transfer portal ruining college basketball? Or is it simply exposing deeper issues within the NCAA system? We dive...

The Big 12 is at a crossroads. After Arizona's shocking Final Four loss, what's next for the conference? Could UConn be the perfect addition to shake up college basketball? And is the SEC losing its dominance in both football and basketball? Join Adam Gibby on First and 16 as we break down conference realignment, championship implications, and the future of Big 12 supremacy.

The madness as the NCAA Final Four takes center stage—with a heavy spotlight on the surging Arizona Wildcats . How did Arizona get here, and do they have what it takes to cut down the nets? Plus, we shift gears to the gridiron and dive into our early Spring Football Power Rankings for the Big 12 Conference . Who's rising, who's falling, and which teams are poised to dominate heading into the 2026...

The Sweet 16 is set, and the Big 12 still has three teams dancing. In this episode of First & 16, Adam Gibby breaks down which Big 12 team has the best path to the Final Four, why the Big Ten may be the real winner of March Madness, and how NIL and the transfer portal are changing the NCAA Tournament forever. We also dive into the growing debate around officiating, TV money, and whether big teams...

In this episode of First and 16 , we take a hard look at what happened to the magic of March. The Cinderella stories that once defined the Tournament feel fewer and farther between, replaced by a system that's starting to look a lot like Black Friday—fast, transactional, and dominated by the biggest brands. We dive into how NIL, the transfer portal, and shifting power structures have reshaped the...

Today we dive deep into the Big 12 teams in the NCAA Tournament , breaking down every bracket draw and predicting how far each team can go. We grade each Big 12 team's path , analyze potential March Madness matchups , and explain what it will take for each squad to survive and advance. Which Big 12 teams have the easiest path? Who got the toughest draw ? And which teams have a realistic shot at th...

The Big 12 basketball regular season is complete, and it's time for final grades for all 16 teams. In this episode of First & 16, we break down every Big 12 team's performance, hand out season report cards, and project where each NCAA Tournament team will land on the bracket seed line. From championship contenders to bubble teams, we take a deep dive into the toughest conference in college basketb...

The Big 12 Tournament is here, and we break down the full bracket, make our predictions, and talk about who will cut down the nets in Kansas City. With the 16-team format and a loaded conference featuring national contenders, this year's tournament could have huge implications for March Madness seeding. We also dive into the national story shaking college athletics right now, as the President meet...

On this episode of First and 16, we wrap up the Big 12 regular season, talk about the conference fixing the court situation, and preview the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City. We go through the bracket, biggest matchups, dark horse teams, and who could make a run heading into March Madness. The Big 12 might be the best conference in college basketball again, and the tournament should be loaded.

On this episode of First and 16 , we dive into the Big 12's much-hyped LED basketball court—and why the reality ended up being incredibly underwhelming. After all the buildup, did the conference miss an opportunity to create something truly special for college basketball fans? Then we turn our attention to the biggest storylines heading into Selection Sunday. Which Big 12 teams are firmly in the N...

Is Senior Night losing its meaning in modern college basketball? In this episode of First & 16, we break down how the transfer portal, NIL deals, and early NBA Draft declarations are reshaping Senior Night traditions across college hoops. Plus, with March Madness around the corner, we analyze which teams are built for a deep NCAA Tournament run. From veteran leadership and guard play to defensive...

On this episode of First and 16, we break down which college basketball teams look truly ready to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament —from dominant No. 1 seeds to dangerous mid-major sleepers that could bust your bracket. We analyze roster experience, guard play, coaching, and momentum heading into March. Then we shift to the football world and ask a big question: Is the NFL Combine losing its...

On this episode of First and 16 , we break down the controversy surrounding officiating in the Big 12 Conference and why fans, players, and coaches are frustrated. Are inconsistent calls impacting outcomes? Is the physical style of the Big 12 creating confusion for officials? And what does this mean heading into March? We also recap the biggest moments from the Big 12 weekend — statement wins, bub...

On this episode of First and 16 , we break down why expanding the NCAA Tournament would be a mistake. With March Madness already delivering the best postseason in sports, would adding more teams actually dilute what makes it special? We dive into the history of the 68-team format, the impact of the First Four, the Cinderella factor, TV money pressures, and whether expansion would hurt the regular...

Last night delivered high-level drama across the Big 12 Conference , with statement wins, bubble implications, and tournament seeding ripple effects that could shape March. We break down the biggest performances, key turning points, and what it all means for the conference race and NCAA Tournament positioning. Then we dive headfirst into the chaos of Joe Lunardi 's latest bracketology update. Is t...

Is the sky falling in the Big 12? Not even close. In this episode, we break down why the so-called "tough losses" talk around the Big 12 Conference is way overblown. A few early losses don't suddenly erase one of the deepest, most competitive leagues in college basketball. We dive into the metrics, strength of schedule realities, and why fan bases across the conference need to take a breath. The s...

This episode of First & 16 breaks down a massive weekend in the Big 12 that reshaped the conference race and the NCAA Tournament picture. From statement wins at the top to bubble-shifting results in the middle of the pack, we unpack what it all means heading into the final stretch. Plus, I issue a formal apology to Cincinnati Bearcats and head coach Wes Miller . After looking left for dead just we...

This week could define the Big 12 basketball season. With conference standings tightening, tournament seeding on the line, and résumé-shaping matchups across the league, the next few days may determine who earns a protected seed, who lands on the bubble, and who plays their way out of March entirely. In a conference as deep and unforgiving as the Big 12, one week can swing everything. At the same...

This week on 1st and 16 , we break down why the conference is starting to crack under the weight of mounting injuries and what it means for the rest of the season. With key starters sidelined across multiple programs, depth charts are thinning, playoff hopes are shifting, and the competitive balance is hanging by a thread. We also zoom out to the bigger picture: why FCS programs are increasingly d...

Description: The Big 12 is running college athletics. With three No. 1 seeds in March Madness, the conference has officially planted its flag as a basketball powerhouse. We break down what this means for the national landscape and how the Big 12 separated itself from the pack. Plus, the rise of TCU — how the Horned Frogs built a legit NCAA Tourney team, what's fueling their momentum, and whether t...

This weekend in the Big 12 was absolute madness. On this episode of First & 16 , we break down the most shocking upsets, buzzer-beaters, blown leads, and statement wins that completely reshaped the Big 12 basketball race. From ranked teams going down to unexpected breakout performances, the conference proved once again why it's the toughest league in college basketball. We dive into: The biggest u...

College football is on the brink of another massive change — and not necessarily for the better. With the Big Ten Conference pushing momentum toward an expanded 24-team postseason format following the shift to the 12-team College Football Playoff model, we ask the hard question: is bigger really better? In this episode, we break down what a 24-team playoff could look like, how automatic bids might...

In this episode of First and 16 , we break down one of the biggest upsets of the college basketball season — No. 9 Kansas stunning No. 1 Arizona 82-78 in Lawrence to snap the Wildcats' undefeated run and leave the AP Top 25 landscape shaking. We'll talk about how this game reshapes the national picture in the poll, what it means for March hopes, and the wider implications for teams jockeying in a...

This week's show breaks down the latest college football expansion news — including the Pac-12's rebuild with Texas State and the wider realignment landscape that could impact future playoff structures — followed by a Big 12 hoops roundup . We highlight key weekend games such as Arizona's historic 84-47 win and Iowa State's narrow excape at home,  then analyze how those results are shaping the NCA...