The sentiment that ESPN and other major networks are biased against the Big 12 Conference is a recurring and strong feeling among many Big 12 fans, athletic directors, and even its commissioner, Brett Yormark. While networks would argue their coverage is driven by viewership and market demand, the perception of bias stems from several key areas: 1. Dominance of SEC and Big Ten Narratives: Media Rights Focus: ESPN has an incredibly deep and financially lucrative partnership with the SEC, essentially operating the SEC Network and heavily featuring SEC content across its main channels. Similarly, FOX has made the Big Ten a central pillar of its college football coverage, especially for prime viewing slots. This financial investment naturally leads to a disproportionate amount of airtime, analysis, and promotional efforts dedicated to these two conferences. For Big 12 fans, it often feels like their league is an afterthought or relegated to less prominent channels and time slots. "Super Conference" Framing: The media often propagates a narrative that the SEC and Big Ten are the two "superconferences," with everyone else effectively battling for third place. This framing, while perhaps reflecting current financial realities, can diminish the perceived competitiveness and quality of the Big 12, regardless of on-field results. 2. Perceived Disadvantage in Playoff Selection and Rankings: CFP Model Debates: The recent debates over the College Football Playoff (CFP) expansion and format have significantly fueled this perception. Proposals that favored the SEC and Big Ten with more automatic qualifiers (e.g., four each) while limiting the Big 12 to fewer, even if it performs well, are seen as direct evidence of a systemic bias. Fans feel that if a Big 12 team has a comparable record to an SEC or Big Ten team, the latter often gets the benefit of the doubt in rankings and playoff consideration due to "conference strength," which is partly built by media narrative. ESPN's FPI Rankings: As recent reports indicate, ESPN's own Football Power Index (FPI) rankings have drawn criticism for what many perceive as a strong bias towards the SEC. For instance, the 2025 FPI showing an "astonishing 13 SEC teams in the top 25" including the top three, with the Big 12 only having two, makes Big 12 fans question the methodology and whether it inherently undervalues their conference while overvaluing SEC schedules or historical performance. This suggests a potential "self-fulfilling prophecy" where the model's emphasis on predictive metrics might amplify existing biases. 3. Quality of Coverage and Commentary: Less In-Depth Analysis: Some Big 12 fans feel that national broadcasts offer less in-depth analysis of their conference's teams, players, and storylines compared to the dominant leagues. Outdated Narratives: There's a lingering frustration that some national commentators still rely on outdated narratives about the Big 12, such as the idea of it being an "all offense, no defense" conference, even as the league's defensive play has improved. Dismissive Tone: Occasionally, fans perceive a dismissive or condescending tone from national commentators when discussing Big 12 teams or results, reinforcing the feeling that the conference isn't taken as seriously. 4. Big 12's Response: Commissioner Brett Yormark's Advocacy: Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark has been notably aggressive in promoting the Big 12 and challenging what he sees as unfair treatment. His outspokenness, particularly in advocating for a "5+11" CFP model (where conference champions earn their way in, rather than being guaranteed spots based on conference affiliation), is a direct response to this perceived bias and a push for greater fairness for the Big 12. He wants the Big 12 to "earn it on the field" and not be penalized by predetermined biases. In essence, while networks operate on business principles of ratings and marketability, the significant investment in, and heavy promotion of, the SEC and Big Ten by major networks like ESPN leads to a strong and understandable feeling among Big 12 fans that their conference faces an inherent bias, affecting everything from game selection to national perception and playoff access. Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms… 🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOBig12?sid=YouTube Locked On College Conferences, HBCU, Basketball & More 🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnCollege Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/drakectoll Follow the show on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LOBig12