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

The Houston Cougars enter the 2026 college football season with genuine momentum to capture the Big 12 championship, fueled by a potent blend of returning star power, elite transfer portal additions, and the proven leadership of head coach Willie Fritz. Following a stellar 10-win campaign a year ago, Houston’s trajectory points squarely toward the top tier of an wide-open conference. At the heart of this optimism is quarterback Conner Weigman. After a brilliant breakout season orchestrating the offense, Weigman’s dynamic dual-threat capability gives the Cougars a luxury most programs in the country covet. To make matters easier for him, Fritz dipped back into the transfer portal to reunite with star running back Makhi Hughes, who previously terrorized opponents under Fritz at Tulane. With a revamped, experienced offensive line anchored by portal standouts like guard Shadre Hurst and tackle Alvin Ebosele, the Cougar offense features all the infrastructure necessary to dictate terms week in and week out. Defensively, Houston returns a rock-solid core of veterans who know how to close out high-stakes games. Playmakers like linebacker Sione Fotu and standout safeties Kentrell Webb and Jordan Allen provide stability and hard-nosed physicality. While the team must navigate a challenging conference slate—including high-profile road tests against heavyweights like Texas Tech and Utah—Fritz's historical track record shows his programs make massive leaps forward in his third year. The Big 12 is expected to be a weekly gauntlet, but Houston boasts the quarterback play, scheme consistency, and roster depth required to survive the chaos. If the trenches hold up against the conference's elite, the Cougars won't just be in the conversation come December—they are built to finish the job and claim the crown. Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   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 LOCKEDONat 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 LOCKEDONfor $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.COMto 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.