Big 12 Media Days 2023: What to watch as Texas and Oklahoma address expectations, league newcomers debut

With the 2023 college football season just around the corner, talking season officially begins this week as the Big 12 kicks off the conference media days slate with a two-day event on Wednesday and Thursday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Preseason favorite Texas highlights the first day of attendees on Wednesday, while reigning Big 12 champion Kansas State takes the stage on Thursday. 

A unique year is ahead for the Big 12 as the league oversees a membership transition. Four new schools joined the conference on July 1 from the Group of Five, while Texas and Oklahoma will be completing a one-year layover before moving on to the SEC in 2024. The grouping should make for a unique scene this week at the site of the Big 12 title game. 

Here are some of the top storylines to keep an eye on during the Big 12 Media Days event this week. 

Lofty expectations for Texas

The Longhorns grab a lot of attention and headlines on a yearly basis, but the fact is Texas has not been pegged No. 1 in the preseason Big 12 media poll since 2011. That changes this year after the Longhorns received 41 of 67 votes in the preseason poll to edge out reigning champion Kansas State for the top spot. 

Texas is 13-12 in two seasons under Steve Sarkisian, including a shocking 5-7 debut in his first season. However, the Longhorns are saddled with lofty expectations as the school enter its final season in the Big 12. They rank as betting favorite at even money, according to Caesars Sportsbook, trailing only Georgia as holding the best conference title odds in the nation. 

In 27 seasons as a Big 12 program, Texas has won just three conference titles. For comparison, that matches the same amount as Baylor and Kansas State, and ranks only one spot ahead of Nebraska,…

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