Locked On College Football DISRESPECTED: Behren Morton/Texas Tech FIGHT for Big 12 Respect vs Oregon in Orange Bowl Matchup
Dec 25, 2025
Zach Blackerby, Host of Locked On Auburn and college football analyst, dives into the crucial Orange Bowl matchup for Texas Tech and its implications for the Big 12. He discusses the significance of a win for conference respect and the challenges Auburn faces under new coach Alex Golesh, notably the need to shift the current losing culture. The conversation also touches on transfer portal dynamics at Auburn and Colorado, with insights into Auburn's quarterback prospects and how rebuilding efforts may shape future success.
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Texas Tech Carries Big 12's Reputation
- Texas Tech's Orange Bowl game vs Oregon carries outsized importance for Big 12 perception beyond the program itself.
- A Texas Tech win would materially improve respect for the conference, while a loss would be more punitive to Big 12 credibility than to Texas Tech's trajectory.
Dominance Raises Expectations And Risk
- Texas Tech has dominated the Big 12 this season and looks like a complete team, giving the conference its best playoff representative since realignment.
- Because they were so dominant, expectations are high and a loss would reinforce perceptions that the Big 12 is weaker than other Power Five conferences.
Judge Program By Long-Term Investment
- View Texas Tech's long-term outlook separately from one playoff result and avoid declaring the season a failure after a single loss.
- Fans should temper immediate panic and consider institutional investment and progress when judging the program.