New King of the Big 12? A case for each Texas-based program

Oklahoma and Texas dominated the perception of the Big 12 since the creation of the league. Even when the on-field results didn’t match, especially for the team in Austin, the conversations about the Big 12 always featured a burnt orange or crimson tint. That changes after the 2023 season thanks to news that the Longhorns and Sooners agreed with the conference on an exit plan after the season that will benefit the eight legacy programs in the Big 12 with a combined $100 million dollars. 

The loss of the two figure heads creates a power vacuum in the Big 12. The conference was the third-best in college football with Texas and Oklahoma, and it remains that without those two programs. The expanded playoff means the champion, and maybe a second team, gets a yearly invite to the College Football Playoff. But who steps into the light as the perennial favorite? The state of Texas provides four options.