Breaking down Arizona’s home game vs. Texas Tech, other happenings in Big 12 | Michael Lev

“Lev it on the Field” is back for Game 5. It’s the Star’s unique look at Arizona’s upcoming football matchup and other happenings around the Big 12 through the eyes of UA beat reporter-turned-columnist Michael Lev. Away we go ...

Admit it: You didn’t think Brent Brennan had it in him.

You thought Mr. Nice Guy couldn’t, or at least wouldn’t, make a move like this. You doubted he would rock the boat, or even jiggle it a little bit.

Perception was not reality in this case. The first-year Arizona football coach recognized that he needed to make a change for the betterment of the program, and he made it.

Despite assertions that it was the plan all along, it could not have been easy for Brennan to relieve Dino Babers of his play-calling responsibilities. Babers was an ascending coordinator when Brennan became a graduate assistant at Arizona in 2000. Babers has been a college head coach. He’s 12 years older than Brennan.

But when you’re the CEO, you have to make hard decisions. Just three games into the season, with the offense stagnating, Brennan handed the game-day play-calling duties to pass-game coordinator/tight ends coach Matt Adkins, who’s in his mid-30s and didn’t have any previous FBS coordinator experience.

It was a bold stroke. But a necessary one. And another example of Brennan’s actions carrying more meaning than whatever false narrative certain skeptical fans have conjured about him.

Take that for data!

It’s been five years since Arizona played former Border Conference rival Texas Tech. The game took place on Sept. 14, 2019, at Arizona Stadium. A reciprocal matchup in Lubbock the following season was canceled because of the pandemic.

Arizona prevailed 28-14 after trailing 14-13 entering the fourth quarter. The offensive heroes for the Wildcats were Khalil Tate and Gary Brightwell. Texas Tech’s leading tackler was Jordyn Brooks. Its starting quarterback was Alan Bowman.

Here’s what’s funny about all that: Tate hasn’t appeared in a real football game since later that year. Brightwell played in two games for the Cleveland Browns this season, his fourth in the NFL. Brooks is a fifth-year NFL vet. And Bowman is still in college.

Bowman was a true sophomore when he passed for 307 yards against the Wildcats that night. He spent one more season at Texas Tech, 2020, a year that didn’t count toward anyone’s eligibility.

Bowman then transferred to Michigan, where he spent two seasons and appeared in six games. He spent his sixth year of college at Oklahoma State, where, in Year 7, he’s still the Cowboys’ starting quarterback.

The NCAA approved a waiver for that seventh year because Bowman suffered a season-ending injury in ’19 (he played in only three games) and redshirted one year at Michigan. He turned 24 on March 6.

(Rincon) Market report

Going up: Close games

Entering Friday night, 14 games had been played that count toward the Big 12 standings. Half of them were decided by one score or less. We knew it would be like this. And we fully expect it to continue — especially with some teams that were predicted to finish near the bottom of the standings currently on top (BYU, Colorado) and vice versa (Oklahoma State, Kansas). Three of Texas Tech’s games have been decided by one score or less, including a 52-51 overtime win over Abilene Christian in Week 1. Saturday night has major #Big12AfterDark potential.

Going down: Rock Chalk, Jayhawk

Kansas has been the Big 12’s most disappointing team so far. Ranked 22nd in the preseason AP Top 25 after a 9-4 campaign, the Jayhawks are 1-4. They’ve lost four straight, and their lone win came against FCS Lindenwood. The Jayhawks are 0-3 in games decided by six or fewer points. They’ve turned the ball over 11 times, most in the Big 12 and seventh most in the nation. ASU (3-1) doesn’t seem like the place to get right, although Vegas seems to think KU has a shot; the Sun Devils are favored by just 2.5 points.

A question from my X

“What’s the long-term plan at punter? It’s fairly obvious that our non-Loop solutions are block risks.” — @chrishalligan via X/Twitter

Punter controversy, anyone? Arizona has used a different punter each week, in this order: Michael Salgado-Medina, Jordan Forbes, Tyler Loop, Salgado-Medina.

The issue with Salgado-Medina and Forbes has been operational time; neither has had a punt blocked, but opponents have come awfully close.

The issue with Loop is that he’s an elite placekicker and kickoff specialist. He said he could do all three jobs, but is that in his or the team’s best interest?

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If by “long-term” you mean the rest of this season, it could be a week-to-week proposition. If you’re talking about the next few seasons, the punter might not be on the roster. Salgado-Medina, a true freshman, is expected to succeed Loop as the kicker next year.

Threads

In a vacuum, I have no issue with Iowa State’s icy whites, ISU’s uniform of choice for the Baylor game Saturday. They’re clean, and the scripted, curved “Cyclones” on the helmets is a nice touch. However, best I can tell, the uniforms don’t feature any cardinal or gold — ISU’s primary colors. All the lettering and striping is black. That’s a uniform violation in my book. The only exception is a special theme such as FIU’s “Vice U” kit, revealed this week, debuting Oct. 22 and Crocket-and-Tubbs-approved.

What he said ...

“Utah is a very difficult opponent. Getting a win up there is really a big deal. ... Now we've just got to see where we're going to go (with) it. Are we going to just be a flash in the pan? Or are we going to really turn this into something big? Everybody's working hard to see if we can do that.” — Babers

What he meant ...

“This sport, more than any other, is a week-to-week deal. It can flip on you at any point, in either direction. I’ve seen it. I’ve lived it. The win at Utah won’t mean squat if we don’t follow up with another W. Anything less is unacceptable.”

The other side

Don Williams, via the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal:

Six months ago, in his first session with Lubbock media, A.J. McCarty inevitably was asked about the interception he returned for a touchdown against the Texas Tech football team when he was playing for Baylor. That came during a 45-17 Bears victory in 2022 at Jones AT&T Stadium, before McCarty traded green and gold for scarlet and black.

"I hope I can do it here in the next couple of years for this fan base," McCarty said in March, "and not the other one."

The Red Raiders' new safety delivered on Saturday night, on the same field. McCarty had another pick-six, this one from 51 yards in the fourth quarter of a 44-41 victory against Cincinnati. ...

The Brownwood graduate's heroics gave Tech a 41-27 lead, its first breathing room all night, and appeared to be a knockout blow. Maybe the Red Raiders, down 14-3 early, were going to finish with authority.

Alas, that's not how the Red Raiders have been operating this season. In the last 12-plus minutes, the Bearcats scored two touchdowns and missed a field goal as time ran out that would have sent the game to overtime.

The Red Raiders, 4-1 and 2-0 in the Big 12, are being put in pressure situations a lot so far, and they're coming through.

Pick to click (aka #fadelev)

Oklahoma State can’t be this bad, right? Last in the Big 12 in total defense entering Friday night? No. 14 in rushing offense? Mike Gundy is too good a coach to allow this to continue. The once-ranked Cowboys aren’t starting conference play 0-3. I’m taking them at home vs. West Virginia and laying the three points. (season record: 4-0)

One last thing

Leaders from Big Ten and SEC schools are scheduled to meet sometime this month to discuss multiple topics, including the future structure of the College Football Playoff, Yahoo Sports reported.

It’s the next step in their ongoing, obnoxious power grab.

Somehow, per Yahoo Sports, “as part of the new CFP agreement, the Big Ten and SEC hold decision-making powers over a future format.” Ugh.

Those leagues want at least three guaranteed berths apiece, even though they’ll get that many or more on merit almost every year. They don’t care about what’s best for the sport as a whole. They only care about what’s best for themselves.

If you’re wondering why Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark continues to pursue growth opportunities, such as adding UConn, this is why. Everyone’s waging a never-ending battle for territory.

The Big Ten and SEC are the Galactic Empire. ESPN is the Death Star. The Big 12 and the others are the Rebel Alliance.

I worry the good guys won’t win this one.