Injuries DESTROYING the Big 12 + Why FCS Teams are Desperate to Join FBS

This week on 1st and 16, we break down why the conference is starting to crack under the weight of mounting injuries and what it means for the rest of the season. With key starters sidelined across multiple programs, depth charts are thinning, playoff hopes are shifting, and the competitive balance is hanging by a thread. We also zoom out to the bigger picture: why FCS programs are increasingly desperate to jump to the FBS. From media rights money and NIL opportunities to conference realignment chaos and long-term survival, the gap between subdivisions is becoming impossible to ignore. Is moving up a smart investment—or a financial gamble that could backfire? In this episode, we connect the dots between roster attrition, conference instability, and the evolving economics of college football.