Big 12 Sends a Message—But to the Wrong People

The Big 12 decided to drop the hammer on Iowa State and Kansas State, issuing each a $500,000 fine for declining their bowl invitations. The conference called it a "breach of commitment," but let's be honest here—whose commitment is actually in question?

From my perspective, the Big 12 completely ignored the real context behind these decisions.

Where Was the Big 12's Concern When Matt Campbell Walked?

Iowa State's situation is the perfect example of how incomplete the Big 12's logic is. The Cyclones' former head coach, Matt Campbell, bolted for Penn State immediately after the regular season. Players were suddenly left without leadership, without direction, and without a coaching staff fully intact. They voted not to participate in the bowl game for understandable reasons: injuries, depleted roster, and now a massive transition period.

But the conference still pretends this is simply about "honoring obligations."

If the Big 12 is so committed to its tradition, where was Campbell's commitment to Iowa State? How does the conference justify punishing the players and the school when the coach—the figurehead responsible for building and preparing the program—walked away before the job was finished?

The Big 12 wants student-athletes to uphold standards that their own coaches don't follow. That's the real inconsistency.

The Big 12 Could Have Made the Right Example

Instead of fining Iowa State and Kansas State, the Big 12 had a golden opportunity to make a real statement:

If coaching hires continue happening before bowl season, then conferences and universities must protect student-athletes first, and adjust postseason policies accordingly.

But instead, the Big 12 chose to protect bowl contracts and send a warning shot at the schools—ignoring the structural issue behind early coaching moves.

They punished the symptom, not the problem.

Student-Athletes Are Expected to Follow Rules Coaches Don't Follow

This is my biggest issue: The conference is telling players that they must honor commitments, even when the adults in the room—head coaches—treat those commitments as optional.

Why should student-athletes blindly follow rules when coaches are allowed to chase bigger contracts before the season even finishes? The message is contradictory. And this isn't a one-time scenario.

Have We Not Learned Anything From the Lane Kiffin LSU–Ole Miss Debacle?

College football keeps repeating the same cycle. Coaches leave early, locker rooms are thrown into chaos, and the players are expected to hold everything together. It happened in the Lane Kiffin situation with LSU and Ole Miss, and we're seeing yet another chapter this year.

Yet no real lessons are being applied.

Instead of recognizing that early coaching departures disrupt entire programs, the conferences punish the very athletes left to deal with the fallout.

Final Thoughts

The Big 12's fines weren't about "commitment." They were about control, contracts, and conference image.

Iowa State and Kansas State didn't walk out on their obligations. They responded to broken leadership, health concerns, and circumstances completely outside their control.

If the Big 12 wants to lecture schools about commitment, maybe they should start by addressing the constant coaching carousel that leaves athletes stranded every December.

Until then, the message is loud and clear:

• Coaches can leave early.

• Players must deal with the consequences.

• Conferences will blame the schools instead of fixing the real issue.

And no—apparently no one learned anything from Lane Kiffin's history.