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.

This weekend in the Big 12 was absolute madness.

On this episode of First & 16, we break down the most shocking upsets, buzzer-beaters, blown leads, and statement wins that completely reshaped the Big 12 basketball race. From ranked teams going down to unexpected breakout performances, the conference proved once again why it's the toughest league in college basketball.

We dive into:

• The biggest upset of the weekend

• How the conference standings were shaken up

• Which contenders are legit — and which ones are on upset alert

• Key players who took over when it mattered most

• What this means heading toward March

If you thought Big 12 basketball couldn't get any crazier… think again.