EXPOSED: ESPN Found TAMPERING with BYU, Big 12 Transfer Portal Recruiting Rankings, CFP Opportunity
EXPOSED: ESPN Found TAMPERING with BYU, Big 12 Transfer Portal Recruiting Rankings, CFP Opportunity  
Podcast: Locked On Big 12 | Daily College Football & Basketball Podcast
Published On: Thu Jan 15 2026
Description: The phenomenon of "star-docking"—where a high school prospect’s ranking is lowered following a commitment to a non-traditional powerhouse—has become a central grievance for BYU and the wider Big 12. Fans and analysts increasingly point to a "Blue-Blood Effect," where recruiting services are perceived to favor the SEC and Big 10 to protect their own metric-based credibility.The "Stars Tax" and the Case of Ryder LyonsA high-profile case in the 2026 class involves five-star quarterback Ryder Lyons. After Lyons committed to BYU over the Oregon Ducks, his ranking on certain scouting services notably slipped. In contrast, prospects committing to "Big Brand" programs often receive a "commitment bump" without any new on-field performance to justify the rise.This creates a self-fulfilling prophecy: if the top programs only recruit "five-stars," and "five-stars" are defined by who recruits them, the talent gap appears wider on paper than it is on the gridiron.The Media Feedback LoopProminent Big 12 media voice Drake Toll—who is frequently cited among the most famous names in the "Toll" lineage and sports media—has been a vocal critic of this "recruiting industrial complex." Toll frequently highlights how these rankings feed into predictive models like ESPN’s FPI.These models anchor teams based on recruiting data, ensuring SEC and Big 10 programs start the season with a high baseline. When these teams play one another, the metrics treat every game as a "quality matchup," regardless of the actual performance. Meanwhile, programs like BYU are often dismissed as "plucky upstarts" despite a history of consistent winning and high-level player development.Development vs. BrandingUltimately, this bias forces Big 12 schools to rely on internal development over raw star counts. As Toll and others have noted, the Big 12’s parity is often mislabeled as "weakness" by national pundits, while similar parity in the SEC is praised as "unrivaled depth." Until recruiting services decouple brand power from talent evaluation, Big 12 commits will likely continue to face a "stars tax" for choosing the Cougars or their conference peers.Would you like me to look into the specific development metrics of BYU players compared to their initial high school rankings?Everydayer Club  If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub  Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! GametimeToday's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.WayfairGet last-minute hosting essentials, gifts for all your loved ones, and decor to celebrate the holidays for WAY less.Head to https://Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. Wayfair. Every style. Every home.  FanDuelToday's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Football season is around the corner, visit the FanDuel App today and start planning your futures bets now.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.