[Rick]

I do not and have never really thought the Big 12 was a conference with strong defenses. Even when they had Oklahoma and Texas those teams traditionally tried to outscore everyone. I do think the Pac 12 has traditionally had better QBs but I think the overall offenses of the Big 12 in the past were largely a little better and more explosive. The only team last year that really beat our defense was Colorado. I do not believe ASU beat our defense as much as our offense just disintegrated into thin air with the Cam issues in that game.

Our defense was ranked #2 overall in the conference last season with BYU being ranked #1. If you consider some of the defenses that USC, Oregon, Washington, Oregon State, Stanford, and UCLA put together over our years in the Pac 12, I just cannot say the Big 12 was a better defensive conference at all. It is even more glaring when you look at the amount of top pro defenders from the Pac 12 are still playin in the league compared to the Big 12.

As for the truck stop conference, I really hated it when some fans used that term. Yes, the Pac 12 has way more attractive markets to travel to, but the passion for football is much stronger in the Big 12. I think many Utah fans were taken back a bit by this passion because we all noticed the lack of it in most Pac 12 cities and campuses. We were way more passionate than most of the Pac 12 fans and in the Big 12 we are just one of many passionate fan bases.

[SteelUte]

Again the whole disrespect thing- it’s a fine conference! Possibly better than the pac 12 was – It just doesn’t have the locations that people want to travel to- Berkeley, Palo Alto, Pasadena, L.a, Seattle. All are more appealing than Big 12 campus locations. Thus the truck stop conference.
It feels like a super sensitive issue for the people of the big12.

[Charlie]

Myself, I noticed most the Big 12 was similar to the middle of the Pac. Only a few teams you expect to become easy wins. What I did not see is the tall mountains of very difficult wins, the Oregon, Washington, USC type. Only ASU and Colo, from the Pac, seemed to have individual players that required specific game planning around. I think national rankings and the NFL draft may show the same, but it is only 1 year. The Big 12 needs a couple of big programs that are often around the top 10, they need to replace Texas and Oklahoma. The Pac would have been in the same spot trying to replace Oregon, Washington and USC. That is just where we are now, can’t complain, we simply need a few programs that can run with and win our share of games with top 10 teams. For our part, we need that to happen with Utah being one of those teams. We were knocking at that door 2 years ago so we have to believe it can be done again. Lud was good but become predictable, hopefully Beck can be a step forward. This year is important to go well to allow Beck to build his QB pipeline. We already know the defense is good. Just gota get use to looking east if you want a road trip other than Az.

[Tony (admin)]

Better than the pac-12 was? How?

[CityCreekUte]

I voted 8-4 mostly as an emotional hedge. If this program can’t win 8 games a year in the Big12 I don’t want to follow the team anymore. The last 2 years have been misery beyond anything and with the current state of NCAAFB portal+nil+realignment I’m almost ready to be done anyway.

[UteThunder]

Is the Big XII really known for defense first and smashmouth offensive football?

[Jim Vanderhoof]

I’ve watched Utah football many years Ute Thunder and the only two teams that hurt us last year CU passing and ASU running
( both pac 12). I didn’t see any other offenses that looked that great to me. Pac12 had way better QBs and spread the field with playmakers.

I think we match up better in the Big12. The Qb rooms look stronger this year so it may be a different story line. Historically the Big12 has had some NFL running backs. Texas and Oklahoma had the dynamic offenses because of the many playmakers and they are gone.

[UteThunder]

Yeah, but I’ve never thought of the Big XII as a tough defensive league. Quite the opposite. Good offenses, mostly passing, and weak defenses.

[Central Coast Ute]

About 10 years ago it was the better service in the industry. Companies were bought and sold and for some reason they fell behind.

[DataUte]

Yeah, fall quarter doesn’t start until Sep 22, so few students will attend (which isn’t great even when school is in session with the off campus stadium even as revered as the Rose Bowl, esp. if their team isn’t great). I think they’ve closed some sections, but maybe I’m thinking of the Coliseum, to at least manage some of the emptiness of not filling the 100k.

[Author]

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