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.
