The Big 12 just got a little bigger.
A year after the arrival of BYU and three other newcomers, Utah, Colorado, Arizona and Arizona State are now joining the force.
The Big 12 map is expanding and fans of these new schools must navigate the Big 12’s more traditional roots.
Here’s a guide to some of our favorite conference topics.
Best city to visit
I haven’t visited every Big 12 city yet, but I have a few favorites.
Morgantown is a particular highlight. You can fly into Pittsburgh and spend the morning looking at the bridges. You can walk along the Allegheny River and see PNC Park and the former Heinz Field. Stop by Primanti Bros. and have a sandwich.
Then drive an hour to Morgantown. A night game in West Virginia feels very Big 12. Isolated in the woods and hills of the backcountry, the stadium’s setting is beautiful. From the top of the stadium, you can look out and not see a single light for miles at night. It’s the only show in town and fans flock there every Saturday. The “Country Roads” tradition is also one of the more unique venues in the conference.
After Morgantown, Stillwater is my number 2. The paddles in the student section are a nice touch. Boone Pickens Stadium is famous for its giant video board in one end zone. The pregame walkout where the cowboy shoots his gun is cool too.
Another underrated city is Cincinnati. If you get the chance, I would say go.
— Kevin Reynolds
Favorite stadium
TCU is hard to beat when it comes to stadiums. It may be the best college football stadium I’ve ever been to. The concourse is a purple mausoleum and the grass field is a nice touch.
One stadium I would avoid is Kansas – although that will no longer be an issue. KU demolished its old stadium and is playing some home games at Arrowhead Stadium this year. Utah fans have gotten off quite well by visiting this stadium.
— Kevin Reynolds
Best Restaurant
My favorite Big 12 restaurant is Eskimo Joe’s in Stillwater, Oklahoma. It has its own ground floor store and is located right on the college town’s main bar strip.
— Kevin Reynolds
When Utah travels to Lawrence, Kansas in a few years, there’s this amazing pizza place called Papa Keno’s Pizzeria. They have some of the best cheese pizza I’ve had in Big 12 country.
— Jason Batacao
Most underrated venue
I have to say, the Big 12 has some of the best arenas in the country.
But I do have a few favorites. Even though it’s old, Gallagher-Iba Arena is by far one of the best complexes in the entire country. The orange seats and steep bleachers make it exciting for both the fans and the players.
When the stadium is full, Oklahoma State has one of the best home field advantages in the country.
It’s not as iconic as Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, but it’s still impressive.
— Jason Batacao
The best gas station food
Welcome to the Big 12, Utah fans. It’s the conference of rolling plains, humid weather and huge pickup trucks. That means the gas stations are elite, especially the OnCue and QuikTrip gas station chains in Oklahoma. I’ll say this: I personally am unbearably excited to stroll into a QuikTrip in Oklahoma City and grab something off the roll-out grill.
Don’t hate it before you try it.
— Jason Batacao
Big 12 after dark
To make a list of my favorite restaurants in the Big 12, I would have to say that Whataburger is my favorite late-night restaurant. Sorry, In-N-Out fans, but the Sweet and Spicy Burger with fries is killer (without the mustard, of course).
— Jason Batacao
Least popular Big 12 city
By far the worst place to be at the conference is Manhattan, Kansas. There is absolutely nothing to do in this city and the commute is absolutely awful.
I don’t have many concerns about the conference, but the drives to Kansas and Texas Tech are a pain. It’s just grass, hills, and the occasional tumbleweed. I don’t recommend it at all.
— Jason Batacao
