For the sake of the Big 12, Lincoln Riley and Tom Herman better live up to the hype.
Following a season in which Big 12 football bottomed out, and with speculation about the long-term viability of the conference a constant talking point, its flagship programs are now both in transition.
Herman took over at Texas late last year, replacing Charlie Strong after spending just two seasons as a major-college head coach. Then, on Wednesday at Oklahoma, there was an offseason shocker: Sooners coach Bob Stoops announced his retirement after 18 seasons and the 33-year-old Riley became the youngest head coach in the FBS.