NCAA conference realignment is bringing about significant changes for football this fall, with several schools transitioning to new conferences. For instance, the Colorado Buffaloes are returning to the Big 12, alongside Utah, Arizona, and Arizona State, all former members of the Pac-12. Despite some historical ties, there’s a tendency among some commentators to overlook past events and make bold predictions about the implications of these moves.
One notable instance is a tweet from Bradon Deacon, where he claimed that the Big 12 has never witnessed a quarterback like Shedeur Sanders from Colorado. Sanders, the son of controversial Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders, was likened to Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs during practice sessions. However, this comparison raised eyebrows, as Mahomes himself played in the Big 12 at Texas Tech. Despite feedback highlighting Mahomes’ NFL success, there’s speculation about Sanders potentially being a top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Nonetheless, suggesting that the Big 12 hasn’t seen quarterbacks of Sanders’ caliber ignores the conference’s history.
- Mahomes stands out as one of the most successful quarterbacks to emerge from the Big 12, boasting numerous accolades in the NFL. However, the conference has produced other high draft picks like Vince Young, Baker Mayfield, and Kyler Murray. Additionally, the Big 12 has long been known for its high-scoring, pass-heavy style of play, thanks to coaches like Mike Leach and his Air Raid offense disciples. Thus, claiming Sanders as a completely unique quarterback in the conference is unfounded. The reactions to such assertions have been quite amusing, particularly given Mahomes’ prior tenure in the Big 12.