FRISCO, Texas — Someone other than Deion Sanders tried to bring solutions to college football to Big 12 media days.

West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez pitched what he feels is inevitable in college football: a single, giant super league comprised of the current Power 4, where the teams all share the revenue from one media rights deal and return to regional conferences with an emphasis on historic rivalries.

“I’m not afraid to share my own opinions. I love the Big 12, but it would be nice to have us all come together,” Rodriguez said Wednesday. “There’s money for everybody. We all can get along, like 60 of us or so. I think that would be great.”

Rodriguez was happy to get on his soapbox after being asked about his Mountaineers not playing “Backyard Brawl” rival Pittsburgh this season. He was eager to point out that schools like Penn State, Virginia Tech and North Carolina should all be on WVU’s schedule in a reworked college football landscape.

Locally, it make sense Colorado would play Nebraska every season. The rivals don’t. 

Whether Rodriguez is seeing into the future or another longtime coach reminiscing about a bygone era, the next few years should tell us. 

“I’ve got all the (athletics directors) out there shaking their heads like I’m nuts,” Rodriguez said. “I’ve got a lot more time behind me than ahead of me. I want to see us get this thing right before I leave.”

Big 12 programs leaning into transfer QBs

This time last year, over half of the Big 12 brought a productive returning starter at quarterback to media days. This year, there were only six, including the Buffaloes’ Julian Lewis.

There were just as many incoming transfer quarterbacks in attendance this week with five of them making the jump from either the Group of Six or FCS levels. 

Whether it’s Cincinnati’s JC French IV (a Georgia Southern transfer) or TCU’s Jaden Craig (Harvard), all of them are coming off productive seasons at their former stops. All their programs are betting they can continue to have success in the Big 12.

“That’s one thing from my high school days that I really dreamed of was being a Power 4 quarterback,” French IV said. “It took a couple years to get here, but it’s brought me another level of thankfulness for my whole journey and obviously being at Cincinnati, it’s been absolutely everything and more. 

“I’m super excited for those guys who moved up, as well. I know a couple of those guys, like Jaylen Raynor (at Iowa State). I played him last year (at Arkansas State). I think he’s a great quarterback and I wish the best for him. I think the quarterbacks moving up to the Big 12 are gonna show out this year.”

Heisman campaign underway in Tucson

Arizona was handing out resumes on behalf of Noah Fifita on Wednesday in Frisco and not because the Wildcats are eager to get their star quarterback ready for life after football. 

It’s quite the opposite, actually. Arizona was getting a head start on a Heisman Trophy campaign for the senior quarterback with nearly two months left before the start of the season.

Heading into year four as the starter, Fifita is coming off a career-best season in which he was named first team All-Big 12. He is the nation’s active leader in passing touchdowns. He’s already Arizona’s all-time leader in passing touchdowns and has a chance to set the program record for passing yards while surpassing the 10,000-yard mark for his career.

“I think we’re incredibly blessed to have a quarterback like Noah Fifita that definitely has a Heisman résumé,” Wildcats coach Brent Brennan said. “Noah Fifita is the best story in college football. He’s an incredibly good football player, but he’s also this rare human being that chooses the right things every day.”