ALERT: Pac-12 Future AT RISK, Protect College Sports Act Could FORCE Realignment Moves

[00:00:00]There are massive changes coming to the Protect College Sports Act and it could really hurt the Pack 12, at least the future of it that's in danger.

[00:00:13][music] You are Locked on Pack 12, your daily podcast on the Pack 12 Conference, part of the Locked On Network, your team every day.

[00:00:23]>> Yes, welcome on in Locked on Pack 12.

[00:00:26]I'm your host Christian Row and today's episode is brought to you by our friends at ODO. Great organizations win because operations matter and that's why you should get ODO. Try for free today at odo.com/lockdon.

[00:00:38]That's odo.comlockon.

[00:00:43]Well, welcome on into the show everybody. Thank you so much for joining on this Tuesday evening. Going to talk a little quarterback rankings. The Athletic dropped an interesting quarterback rankings tier list. Did they get it right across the Pack 12 quarterbacks, at least of the expected starters? Will a conference break away from the NCAA? We have a couple media days going on, a couple rumblings happening inside some of the power conferences. I want to discuss that on this show because I think it does have an impact with the Pack 12 and what definitely has an impact with the Pack 12 is what we're going to start with on today's episode. Make sure you hit that like and subscribe button. Leave a comment. Drop your thoughts right here on Locked on Pack 12. Bring you Pack 12 coverage like nobody else every single day. Ross Dinger reports from Yahoo Sports that the there's going to be some potential amendments, some changes happening with the Protect College Sports Act that might come into play as soon as this week if they can get the amendments added to the bill so they can try and get this to pass. and lawmakers obviously trying to get this going. Ted Cruz being one uh you know we've seen Canwell be another one in this with trying to make this happen. Well, one thing that has changed is that they are trying to limit said conferences to 19 teams. And also on top of that is if you decide to leave, they're trying to get this realignment thing fixed up.

[00:02:09]If you are already considered in that power four status, right, in this case, the pack 12 is not considered there.

[00:02:16]It's the SEC, the Big 10, the uh the ACC, and the Big 12. Remember that $700 million mark is where they consider that as the power conference status according to this process right here. So if anybody currently in those conferences decide to move to a different conference, they would then have to become an independent for five years before heading into the next conference. The idea behind it is to limit movement. Not to just go over here for a year, get a paycheck, move on to another. No, it's to potentially have a little bit of financial constraints for a few seasons. and the Pack two, Washington State and Oregon State know what that's like. So there's a good test case if you have to go back if you were a Florida State and wants to join the SEC and you put yourself in there for 5 years. Well, that's a perfect example of what could happen.

[00:03:13]But the idea is to limit it so maybe it doesn't sound so enticing to keep jumping back and forth from conference to conference.

[00:03:22]Why I think this is a bad thing for the pack 12 as a conference. If you're talking about it for certain member schools, I think it's a good thing. If you're trying to make that jump into the power conference ranks, if you're trying to move on from the pack 12, if said, you know, next step is to move on to a different conference. I'm not going to act like I'm a blind eye here and say that the Pack 12 is at the exact same level of the Big 10 or the SEC right now. Not going to do that. I'm going to bring authenticity to this to this podcast. There's a reason it's on my wall, folks.

[00:03:56]So, if there's like an Oregon State or a Washington state who already felt like they were left out of the last run of realignment, if there's a Boise State or a San Diego state that wants to get themselves in this mix, and I'm not trying to roll out the other ones, but those are just the four that come to mind. And we could say all nine schools, and I think you could make a case for all of them, but those are the four that really pop up to me. Fresno State probably a close fifth.

[00:04:22]But if they wanted to make the jump to one of those power conferences that already have that 700 million moniker next to them, it would probably be a lot easier because jumping from the group of six into the power conference will not require a 5-year hold according to this new amendment.

[00:04:40]So what really matters right now, if it really matters at all, is if this does happen and this becomes the new law, we're going to see certain schools not be a not jump, not move. We're going to see those Clemsons, those FSUs, those Dukes, those Miami potentially who might have moved in the first place not move, stay in the ACC because they're not going to want to be independent for a five-year period. Now, if you are already an independent, Yukon, Notre Dame, you're grandfathered into this rule. You don't have to wait an additional five years, which makes it really interesting why they decided to go on 19 teams, 19 schools for the decision of what is too much in a conference. They didn't go to an even 20, they went to 19, which sounds like a scheduling nightmare. But the interesting side behind that is, well, the Big 10 has 18 schools right now. And there's a lot of rumors that if Notre Dame was to join any conference, they would join the Big 10. So, it's pretty funny that they're capping it at 19 programs. So, for example, the Big 10 has 18. SEC currently has 16. Same with the Big 12.

[00:05:53]So right now, if you take out Notre Dame, it leaves the door open for a max of eight teams that could make that jump to the group of six. And I don't think it means eight pack 12 schools. I don't think you're going to get Washington State, Oregon State, all the way down to Utah State, and Texas State joining a power conference. But I think that there are plenty of teams inside this conference right now. That would be enticing to some of these other power conferences to go and potentially chase if they can't go and get others in realignment.

[00:06:30]And you're in the space race of college athletics.

[00:06:33]And the goal is to keep building and bringing new programs in so you can continue to build more and more money as we grow closer to what seems to be an inevitable super league, which we're going to talk about here in just a minute.

[00:06:45]I think when you look at schools like Washington State and Oregon State, it makes a lot of sense for them to potentially be seen this time around in the eyes of realignment. I personally hate it, not just from a Pack 12 perspective, but from a college athletic standpoint.

[00:07:03]I don't like the fact of one that you're capping anything or just the fact of realignment in general. I am so in in favor of the regional realignments. Um but that's just the way that my personal brain works on the traditionalism of college athletics if there's any of that even left in the world today. So I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Do you think it has a big deal to the Pack 12? Do you think it matters at all? And if you're Theresa Gold, how do you respond to this? Do you respond to this by taking it taking uh the head start, being an early adopter, and chasing and getting the Pack 12 up to a decent amount of teams so you can get close to that $700 million threshold and not let them go to other places.

[00:07:53]It's going to be hard to do. If you're the SEC and you want to move up to 20 teams, you're at 16 right now and you have to wait five years for Florida State. Would Tulain make more sense?

[00:08:06]It it sounds certain. It's something that you really have to pay attention to or something you really have to think about. And of course, that's going to be a big competition for the Pack 12 as well. It's fascinating. I don't know if it's important yet, but it's definitely interesting and it's something that we need to monitor. as we continue down this road of what seems like an inevitable realignment over and over again and really the answers aren't going to change until this protect college sports act is all said and done and then maybe even continues on through 2030 when the media deals start shifting face yet again on the other side we've heard from some of the power conferences commissioners at media days including Greg Seni the SEC commissioner and there are some rumblings about do the SEC wants to leave the NCAA. And if so, what does that mean for conferences like the Pack 12 and the rest of college football? Is it a good thing? I don't think so. And as much as you want to believe that it doesn't actually impact college athletics, I'm here to tell you it does. Let's do that next right here on Lockdown Pack 12.

[00:09:19]But first, this episode of Lockdown Pack 12 is brought to you by our friends at ODO. Running a business shouldn't feel like you're trying to connect a bunch of systems that were never designed to work together. One app for accounting, another for inventory, another for sales, and somehow none of them talk to each other. That's where ODO comes in.

[00:09:36]ODO is an all-in-one business management software that brings every part of your business together in one powerful platform. From sales to accounting to inventory and marketing, everything works in one place. Helping your team move faster, stay organized, and focus on growing the business instead of managing software. Focusing on growing.

[00:09:55]That's something that the Pack 12 needs to do right now in with this new Protect College Sport Act amendments. If they need to put themselves into a better position, they need to do it fast. And they need to make sure they stay organized, move fast, stay focused.

[00:10:09]That's what you need to do because great organizations win because operations matter. And that's why you should get ODO. Try for free today at odo.com/lockedon.

[00:10:20]That's odo.com/lockedon.

[00:10:26]All right, let's dive back right into this. Welcome back Lockdown Pack 12. I'm your host Christian Row. On this show, let's continue to talk about this realignment, this fun super league thing. I don't know if it's fun, but it's definitely something that is not going away anytime soon. Greg Seni spoke to the media on Monday as the SEC media days began in Tampa, Florida, and there was questions regarding realignment.

[00:10:50]There's been rumors circulating about the fact that the SEC is not happy with this said Protect College Sports Act to the point to where we're seeing member institutions such as Alabama and Auburn.

[00:11:01]We're seeing instate rivals make joint statements saying that they're against this type of rule. I don't know if you could make the same comparison saying that it would be like the same as Washington and Washington State or Oregon and Oregon State or Utah State, BYU and Utah making joint statements. I don't know if the hatred is that high when it comes to those compared to like an Iron Bowl, an Auburn and Alabama.

[00:11:28]Regardless, they're against it to the point to where we're starting to get these rumblings. We're hearing it from ESPN. We're hearing it from some of these other reporters. We're hearing it all across national media right now that the SEC is really thinking about exiting the NCAA and going and being on their own. Now, we don't know if this is just a football thing or an all athletics thing. I'd like to think that it'd probably be an all athletics thing because I think the NCAA would try and be bullies here and try and tough the SEC out saying if you're going to do it for one, you need to do it for all. I'm here to tell you, as much as you want to maybe be proud about, yeah, let the SEC go. Let them take off. I don't think that's a good idea for college athletics.

[00:12:13]I just don't think that's a good idea.

[00:12:16]Now, I cover many outlets inside college athletics all across the country. I have for almost a decade now in many different markets, many different regions. Had the I've had the honor to really almost cover almost anything inside almost every conference that there is, at least on the college football level, like almost all 10 of them.

[00:12:37]When you look at the SEC as a whole, I'm not saying that they're premier or their mecca or anything like that, but one thing that did was reported out during those SEC media days by Commissioner Seni, and I think it was a nudge and a jab to kind of point at the NCAA and all the rest of the people that are in favor of this Protect College Sports Act. The SEC averaged 80,000 fans in attendance for their football games last year. They were second in attendance and viewership in the country only behind the NFL. Not behind any other college football conference. No, no, behind professional sports, behind folks that play on Sundays. The SEC was only behind them.

[00:13:22]So, when some folks will go to social media or some folks will write articles or op-eds or anything like that and discuss college athletics doesn't need the SEC, I don't think that's correct.

[00:13:34]I'm here to tell you that I think that it's the complete opposite. I think that if any conference was to be able to live on their own, the SEC is the only one that is still regional and I think they would have a strong case and actually making it work. And I think that would really hurt the rest of college athletics. You would have then two quote unquote national champions because the SEC championship would turn into their national championship.

[00:14:05]And if a large amount of people who only really watch SEC football in the Southeast, which that's a pretty high volume, only care about that, then it changes the entire viewpoint of the rest of college football across the country.

[00:14:20]And when eyeballs mean dollar signs in the world of college athletics where you're already worried about travel, you're already worried about non-revenue sports, you're worried about cutting Olympic sports, you're worried about these things already in the world that we live in at this moment. What happens if one of the biggest pieces of the pie decide to not be in the party anymore?

[00:14:45]That's why I think it's a concern for the Pack 12, for the Big 12, the ACC, the Big 10. If they decide to not do it as well, I think it's a problem.

[00:14:55]And when you look at it from a Pack 12 standpoint, they're just finding their ground. They're just, you know, digging their boots back in the sand again. And if something like this so dramatic happens as early as the first few years of the Pack 12 trying to rebuild itself, folks, I don't know if it stays around.

[00:15:13]I don't know if it survives.

[00:15:16]As much as I want to think it does, that seems like a pretty drastic move that might cause a waterfall, a cascading waterfall effect across the rest of college athletics. Think about what happened when Texas and Oklahoma left the Big 12 for the SEC. That's when everything happened inside the old Pack 12 and things started to tumble across.

[00:15:38]If the SEC breaks away, what is the next step there?

[00:15:44]What does the NCAA do?

[00:15:47]What do they do to try and save the Big 10 from leaving? If the Big 10 leaves, what happens there?

[00:15:54]I think there's a lot of question marks.

[00:15:55]Again, I think it goes back to the same portion here that until we get more answers from this Protect College Sports Act. If these amendments pass, if any of this actually passes, as of right now, it's just interesting.

[00:16:08]It's not important.

[00:16:11]That's something that I want to kind of bring in as we're building this community here at Lockdown Pack 12. I want to ask these questions with you and then ask you the question and hope you can leave me a comment and respond and we'll engage. Let's have a discussion.

[00:16:27]Are these topics, are these discussions interesting or are they important?

[00:16:33]Because I do think there is a difference and I do think that's something that we should probably put one in each basket while we're discussing and then determine when it does come for interesting to important and then discuss why. I think that's a really good way to put ourselves in the situation that we're in.

[00:16:56]and decipher.

[00:16:58]Okay, this is a big story, but is it interesting or important to the Pack 12?

[00:17:03]In this case, right now, it's just interesting. I think it's on the cusp of being important, but I think we need more official word, more official action from Congress until we can put it in that bucket. Let me know if you agree or disagree in the comments. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. This is exactly what I'm trying to build right here at Lockdown Pack 12, engagement, discussion, all that stuff. on this show. All right, we heard some quarterback rankings. This is ranking season, right? We're in the middle of July. We're a few weeks out from fall camp and now we're starting to get tier list across the entire spectrum of college football. Where do they put Pack 12 quarterbacks? Let's see if you like it. Let's see if you think it's right.

[00:17:44]We'll discuss that to finish up this show right here on Lockdown Pack 12.

[00:17:52]All right, final few minutes here on Lockdown Pack 12. Thank you so much for joining. As always, if you haven't already, hit that subscribe button. We are very close to hitting our next milestone. Help us get and reach that point. If you're listening on audio, thank you so much. Since we have become locked on Pack 12 just about a month ago, since we have made that jump, our audio numbers have jumped over 500%.

[00:18:17]So, thank you so much. really appreciate you joining the community here at Lockdown Pack 12. We're building something very fun here and I'm excited to have every single one of you here for the journey. The athletic uh Antonio Morales dropped for his second straight year uh a ranking of all 138 starting quarterbacks inside the FBS. This is his 2026th edition where he surveyed dozens of college football coaches. Uh, apparently, uh, this is also Anthony Morales and Sam Khan Jr., excuse me. I want to make sure I give both of them credit. Uh, this is the second year that they've done that. Now, I want to focus just on the Pack 12. You can go and see who's number one, things like that. I'll drop the link for this article in the show notes. It is The Athletic. You do need a paid subscription, but I want to focus on the Pack 12 for today's episode. At number 27, at the top of the Pack 12, Brad Jackson from Texas State. I couldn't agree more.

[00:19:15]I've gone on I did a recent episode I think it was last week where I talked about Brad Jackson is actually getting the respect he deserves. He was listed as the top G6 quarterback heading into the season. It happens again on this list from the athletic. [clears throat] He is close to being seen as a top 25 quarterback in the country. This is the highest I have seen him in the eyes of respect and I absolutely love it.

[00:19:41]And I think this is more exciting than the past one we discussed because this is from college football coaches. This is a survey. This isn't just a a random ranking on the internet. This is a survey done from college football coaches he is seen in a top 30 status.

[00:20:00]And this is as him as a quarterback, not him with his surrounding cast. When you add the surrounding cast into it, that's when it gets really exciting. You know, Chris Don Jr. Bo Sparks, two 1000 yard receivers coming back. He's got a fun offensive line. The defense is obviously a question mark, but that's not where we get to play with Texas State. We're talking Brad Jackson, and he's a top 30 quarterback, 27th in the eyes of this survey done by The Athletic. I love that. I am very high on Brad Jackson. I have been since we've begun this show. I will continue to be high on Brad Jackson until he is no longer the quarterback at Texas State.

[00:20:36]And hopefully he shines enough to where we can see him maybe get an opportunity getting his name called in April and start playing on Sundays. And I'm not talking about the Apple Cup on that standalone Sunday. I'm talking about the NFL. Next up, there's a pretty big drop after that. There's a pretty decent sized drop. Go from 27th to 61st and they go with Boise State's Maddox Matson at 61 here. And we've had this discussion before. I think Maddox Matson as second as the group of six based on past experience is fair. I do have my concerns for Madson. I think his best season was when Genty was in the back field. I think there was a lot of mistakes covered up by him and last year I think they started to shine through a little bit. That's where Boise State had a pretty down year where expectations weren't met for the Broncos. And I think this is a really big prove it season for Madson. I'd love to see him shut up all the critics because myself is included in that critics right now. I'd like to see him change that perspective for me.

[00:21:39]I think he can do that. I think his wide receiver room is certainly interesting if they are healthy. And he has one of the best running back duos in the conference, no doubt. So, he has the supporting cast. Can he get it done? Can he make the right decisions? Can he not rely just on first reads? Can he limit his turnovers? I think all those are absolutely possible. I want to see his confidence. If he can make that confidence happen, then I think he finishes this season if a survey happened again at the end of the season much higher than 61st. 71st goes to Malik Murphy. Love this because Malik Murphy did not have a good season last year. In fact, it was a terrible season for Malik Murphy at Oregon State. The point to where he was benched a few times, but he's giving enough respect to be seen as the third highest quarterback in the Pack 12 because of what he has proven that he can be. We've seen what he done did at Duke.

[00:22:31]So, I think they're giving more credit for him as a player rather than it just didn't work out with the coaching staff and the roster that Oregon State possessed last year.

[00:22:39]Malik Murphy is going to get another opportunity to prove that this year under Jamarcus Shepard. Jammarcus Shepard coming over as the wide receiver coach from Alabama. That's huge praise being the opportunity to try and get into Oregon State and get them jumped up and rebounding from a terrible year last year. And I think there's a lot to prove, a big chip on Malik Murphy's shoulder. And I like that he's giving a little bit of respect here being third best in the Pack 12 at 71. I think the same goes as well for Jaden Denagle.

[00:23:08]82nd on this list here, fourth best quarterback in the Pack 12. Don't like that he's at 82, but I'm not mad that he's number four because unlike Malik Murphy, Dano played the entire season.

[00:23:21]He was subpar, but he was also injured almost the entire season.

[00:23:28]Now, I don't think he has the ceiling, at least as of yet, as what Malik Murphy has shown. So, if you're going off past experiences, I think that's where Malik Murphy takes the cake. And that's why I'm not mad that he's at three and Dennel's at four.

[00:23:42]I think Denagle has to prove it this year after being injured all year. And if he does it healthy, if he does it 100% healthy with the surrounding cast that he has, one of the deepest wide receiver rooms, and of course Lucky Sutton in the back field, then San Diego State is not only seen as a very good team this year, but they're probably contending for a Pack 12 championship when the season's over.

[00:24:04]Running out the rest of this list, this is where it gets interesting. There's no doubt about that because we're still in quarterback battles here. Hos Haney at 84th, just two behind Jaden Denagle.

[00:24:12]that I think that's a lot of credit and respect due to the fact that he won the starting job at Oklahoma State last year before his injury. Um, so I'm okay with that. I think that there is a reason why he was about to be a starting quarterback in the Big 12 last year. And when we saw him just slightly against UT Martin last year, he shined. He was impressive. So if he's doing that healthy this year for Colorado State, watch out. Colorado State also has some really good weapons surrounding him.

[00:24:38]Juice Ferin being one. We talked about that on yesterday's episode. Haven't even got a chance to talk Colorado State running backs yet. That's coming up on a future episode this week. Kaden Pitt coming in at 94th. Uh to me that might be seen a little bit low, but the numbers he put was at an FCS level. So, okay. But he's the Big Sky freshman quarterback of the year. We'll see what happens there for Washington State.

[00:25:00]McKay Hilstead at 134th.

[00:25:03]It's only 138 teams. Big jump. Hillstead at 134 for Utah State. seen as one of the worst quarterbacks inside college football right now.

[00:25:18]I think it's just one of those proof of concept things because he's not the lowest. Kristen Martin is at 136.

[00:25:27]And I don't know if I think that they're deserving to be this low, folks. I think especially Hilstad. I think Hillstead at least has shown a little bit in his freshman year before he did the BYU jump back to Utah State.

[00:25:41]Kristen Martin just doesn't have anything right now in the eyes of any type of proof.

[00:25:48]His physical traits are impressive. He came from a very impressive high school, but what does that do inside the Pack 12?

[00:25:58]The quarterback position for Fresno State is the most concerning position battle inside the entire conference.

[00:26:08]Whether you're talking quarterbacks anywhere else, whether you're talking receivers, offensive line, defensive trenches, you name it, the quarterback conversation for Fresno State is the most concerning one if you're just pinpointing one.

[00:26:25]Christian Martin has no nowhere to go but up.

[00:26:29]Has nowhere to go but up on these rankings.

[00:26:33]And if he can prove them wrong, and I think if Christian Martin can put himself as the fifth best quarterback in this conference in this case, if he can battle with Hos Haney, who is seen right now as the 84th in the country, the fifth best in the Pack 12.

[00:26:49]If he can put himself in that conversation, the way that Fresno State, the way that their defense has been, the way that Matt ends has got that defense and that culture, that identity built already in year one. Can't wait to see what year two looks like for the Bulldogs. If Christian Martin can be just a top half Pack 12, not even top half, fifth out of eighth, five out of eight, Fresno State is on the fringe of fighting for a conference championship.

[00:27:18]It's the most important spot on the roster. There's no doubt about that. You can't shake that. But he doesn't have to be Superman. Not with that defense.

[00:27:28]He's just got to be average.

[00:27:30]And if he can be average and not bad, because right now he's ranked to be bad.

[00:27:35]136 is bad. If he can be average, which 84th, that's a lot closer to average, I think you're in a really good spot.

[00:27:47]Let me know your thoughts about this conversation on today's show about the Protect College Sports Act, the amendments. Is it important? Is it interesting? Other conferences leaving the NCAA. Is it important or is it interesting? And these rankings right here, Brad Jackson being number one, Christian Martin all the way down towards the bottom of the country.

[00:28:05]What do you think about those rankings?

[00:28:06]Do you agree with the order? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment description. If you're listening on audio, thank you so much. We'll be back here with another episode tomorrow. Got a lot of stuff on the docket the rest of the week. Please like the video. Please subscribe. We'll see you back here next time right here on Locked on Pack 12.