2023 Big 12 Media Days: Texas Longhorns enter as conference favorites in their Big 12 finale

The 2023 Big 12 Media Days are set for July 12-13 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The conference will operate as a 14-team league for at least one season with the addition of BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF. Meanwhile, the league’s two most storied programs, Oklahoma & Texas, enter their final season in the league before sailing off into the sunset for the SEC in 2024.

The Big 12 is the only Power 5 conference to crown three different champions over the last 3 seasons. During that stretch, 6 different teams have played in the Big 12 Championship game (Kansas, Texas, Texas Tech & West Virginia are the only four that have not).

In the Big 12, Texas is the big favorite

Entering the season, Texas is the unanimous favorite to take home the title whether you prefer computer models (FPI), betting markets (Caesars Sportsbook) or media opinions (2023 Big 12 Media Preseason Poll).

Texas’ last conference title was in 2009. Its 13-year title drought is the longest in school history dating back to when it joined a conference in 1915 (original members of the Southwest Conference).

ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) currently gives Texas a 54% chance to win the conference title, the best in the conference. The only FBS team with a higher chance to win its respective conference entering the season is Ohio State (71%).

According to FPI, there is a 33% chance that the two Big 12 defectors – Texas and Oklahoma – faceoff in the Big 12 title game and just an 8% chance that the two of them are both at home on December 2 getting an early jump on packing their bags for the SEC.

For the first time since winning their last Big 12 title in 2009, the Longhorns were selected to win the conference title by the Big 12 media.

Meanwhile, of the four incoming  teams, Cincinnati owns the best record over the last five seasons against other Power 5 programs.  One coach who is not happy however is Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy.

We will have lots more from all the coaches on Shemon and Sheppard today.  Below is a little preview of the entire  Conference complete with fun facts.  CFB is right around the corner kids!  LETS GO!