5 programs who can become new Big 12 superpower after Oklahoma, Texas leave
By John Buhler
Houston has long operated as a Power Five program at the Group of Five level
While all four new entrants into the Big 12 certainly have what it takes to make noise in their new league, the smart money has to be on Houston becoming the new superpower among them. It has everything to do with financial resources and recruiting capital. We have to give head coach Dana Holgorsen a ton of credit for seeing this sleeping giant long before most of us realized it was one.
Although Houston does not have the nationwide fanbase of BYU, or the very recent run of success at Cincinnati or UCF, the Cougars’ Power Five accreditation will give U of H a huge leg up on the competition for years. Harris County has more blue-chip prospects per capita than in any major metropolitan area in the country. Houston is the sixth Power Five team in-state, but who cares?
All it will take is one of Holgorsen’s teams to win 10 or more games and play for a Big 12 championship. As soon as they can prove they can hold their own vs. more established Big 12 brands, we are talking about reinvesting accrued dividends to achieve insurmountable college football wealth. Simply put, Houston has the ability to scale its war chest faster than anyone.
Of course, a slow start in the Big 12 will prevent U of H from procuring precious market share.