Big 12 Media Days: Deion Sanders, Brett Yormark among headliners for new-look conference

The Big 12 will conduct its media days Tuesday and Wednesday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas – and it will open a new chapter for a conference that was founded in 1994.

Media Days promises to focus on the new membership – which includes former Pac-12 schools in Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah. How much will the shadow of departed members Oklahoma and Texas – schools that left for the SEC in 2024 – hang over the event? Will Colorado coach Deion Sanders be front and center?

The Big 12 is part of the Power 4 along with the ACC, Big Ten and SEC – and there are several interesting storylines heading into the event. Here is a look at how to watch the event – and what to watch for the next two days.

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How to watch Big 12 Media Days

Big 12 Media Days will be televised on ESPNU from 1 p.m. ET to 5 p.m. ET on Tuesday and 1:30 p.m. ET to 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday. The event also can be streamed on ESPN+, Fubo and YouTubeTV.

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Big 12 Media Days schedule

Commissioner Brett Yormark will open Big 12 Media Days by addressing the media at 1 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Eight coaches will speak to the media on Tuesday and players will be available to the media over the next two days. A look at that schedule.

Tuesday, July 9

Wednesday, July 10

The following players also will be available at Big 12 Media Days:

Four things to watch at Big 12 Media Days

Brett Yormark's next move

Yormark enters his third season as the Big 12 commissioner – a tenure that has been marked with aggressive moves in realignment and marketing. The Big 12 reportedly was exploring the possibility of selling the naming rights of its conference – and Yormark likely will address that Tuesday. The conference also added BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF in 2023 and Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah in 2024. That has created the perception of parity within the conference. Will there be more realignment rumors in the near future? How will that be viewed in the 12-team College Football Playoff era? The Big 12 will have its championship game at AT&T Stadium – a contract that runs through 2030. Will there be any surprise news from Yormark ahead of his news conference?

Oklahoma State the new boss?

Oklahoma State compiled an 89-41 record in the four-team College Football Playoff era, which was the second best in the conference behind Oklahoma at 102-29. With the Sooners gone, the Cowboys and longtime coach Mike Gundy are an elder statesman of sorts in the conference. Oklahoma State also returns quarterback Alan Bowman and all five starting offensive lineman in front of Doak Walker Award winner Ollie Gordon, who was arrested on accusations of driving under the influence on July 1. Gundy likely will address that incident. It is a new opportunity for Oklahoma State with the Sooners and Longhorns gone. How do the Cowboys plan on taking advantage of it?

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Utah as the Big 12 favorite

The Utes were 86-40 the last 10 seasons in the Pac-12 and are the preseason favorites to win the Big 12 in their first season. Kyle Whittingham — who is entering his 20th season with Utah – named defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley as the program's "head coach in waiting." Utah has been a model of stability despite playing in the Mountain West Conference, Pac-12 and now Big 12 under Whittingham. Quarterback Cam Rising also is back for a seventh season, which adds intrigue for a team that flirted with a CFP berth on multiple occasions in the four-team era.

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Colorado, Deion Sanders in Year 2

Deion Sanders will open Day 2 of Big 12 Media Days, and Shedeur and Shilo Sanders are among the marquee players at the event. It’s not a stretch to say Deion will be the main attraction among reporters given the hype that will follow the Buffaloes into his second season. Shedeur Sanders is in the conversation to be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Colorado is coming off a highly-publicized 4-8 season, and now the school returns to the Big 12 – a conference it left after the 2010 season. Will the Buffaloes be better heading into Year 2?

Big 12 Preseason poll predictions

A look at the Big 12 football media preseason poll , which was conducted on July 2.