BOMBSHELL? National Expert Picks BYU and... WHO In Big 12 Championship?!?! ANY CHANCE?

Houston Cougars and BYU emerge as unexpected Big 12 title contenders for 2026—can Willie Fritz’s revamped Houston roster go the distance while flying under the national radar? Drake Toll and Parker Ainsworth break down Stewart Mandel's bold championship prediction, spotlighting Conner Weigman's return at quarterback, portal standouts like Ashton Porter, and defensive anchors Will James and Sione Fotu. Houston’s top 10 transfer portal class and coaching continuity fuel optimism, but is brand power enough to sway the College Football Playoff committee if the Big 12 delivers another chaotic season? Key matchups—including a Friday night showdown at Texas Tech and pivotal games against Oklahoma State, Utah, and West Virginia—could define Houston’s trajectory. Plus, an unfiltered look at the controversial Monster patch plaguing Big 12 jerseys and Brett Yormark’s high-stakes marketing missteps. Can the Cougars overcome conference parity and inconsistent national perception to crack the CFP conversation? 00:00 – Big 12 Championship Predictions Discussion of Stuart Mandel's prediction that Houston and BYU could meet in the 2026 Big 12 Championship, including a breakdown of Houston's roster, schedule, pathways to Arlington, and playoff implications. 10:05 – Houston Game-by-Game Breakdown Game-by-game analysis of Houston's 2026 schedule, including key matchups, upset potential, strengths/weaknesses, and projected wins/losses. Conversation covers challenges on the road and specific trap games. 20:50 – Big 12 Monster Patch Controversy Debate over the Big 12’s Monster Energy jersey patch deal, including marketing criticism, rollout issues, fan and media reaction, and broader commentary on recent Big 12 marketing moves versus financial impact. Become an everydayer! Subscribe to the Everydayer or All-Access tier of Locked On Coogs for even MORE Coogs! https://lockedoncoogs.supercast.com/ Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! KALSHI For a limited time, Download the Kalshi app and use code [LOCKEDON] to get $10 when you trade $10. . The Game Don't miss this chance to celebrate 40 years of The Game with 40% off your entire order. Visit https://TheGameCaps.com and use promo code LOCKEDON at checkout. 5-Hour ENERGY Bring on the sweetness with Cotton Candy 5-hour ENERGY®️ shots—available online now at https:/5hourENERGY.com or on Amazon. Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM to play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.