This week could define the Big 12 basketball season.

With conference standings tightening, tournament seeding on the line, and résumé-shaping matchups across the league, the next few days may determine who earns a protected seed, who lands on the bubble, and who plays their way out of March entirely. In a conference as deep and unforgiving as the Big 12, one week can swing everything.

At the same time, momentum is building behind the idea of expanding the NCAA Tournament. But is that really good for the sport?

In this episode, we break down why this week is a turning point for the Big 12 — and why expanding the NCAA Tournament would water down the regular season, reward mediocrity, and damage what makes March special in the first place.

High stakes. Real consequences. And a debate that could reshape college basketball.

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.

The Big 12 is running college athletics. With three No. 1 seeds in March Madness, the conference has officially planted its flag as a basketball powerhouse. We break down what this means for the national landscape and how the Big 12 separated itself from the pack.

Plus, the rise of TCU — how the Horned Frogs built a legit NCAA Tourney team, what's fueling their momentum, and whether they're here to stay among the top half of the conference.

And in college football, FCS programs are desperately pushing for the jump to FBS. Why now? We dive into the financial stakes, conference realignment pressures, playoff access, and the risks that come with chasing the big stage.

All that and more on this episode of First and 16.