EXPOSED: BYU Fans Just CAUGHT ESPN, 247 for TAMPERING With Big 12 Transfer Portal Recruiting Ratings
EXPOSED: BYU Fans Just CAUGHT ESPN, 247 for TAMPERING With Big 12 Transfer Portal Recruiting Ratings  
Podcast: Locked On Big 12 | Daily College Football & Basketball Podcast
Published On: Tue Jan 20 2026
Description: In the high-stakes world of college football recruiting, a troubling trend has emerged for the Big 12: the "commitment drop." For programs like BYU, landing a blue-chip prospect is often followed by an immediate, inexplicable dip in that player’s national rating. Analysts and fans increasingly point to a "Blue-Blood Effect," where recruiting services are perceived to penalize players for choosing the Big 12 over the SEC or Big Ten.The Case of Ryder LyonsThe most glaring example in the 2026 class is five-star quarterback Ryder Lyons. Shortly after Lyons committed to the Cougars on national television, his ranking on major scouting platforms notably slipped. While he remained elite, the loss of his "consensus five-star" status—despite no change in his on-field performance—ignited a firestorm. Conversely, recruits heading to programs like Oregon or Georgia often receive a "commitment bump," as if the logo on the hat validates the talent more than the film itself.  Drake Toll’s "Recruiting Industrial Complex"This phenomenon hasn't escaped the notice of Drake Toll, the prominent broadcaster who currently holds the top spot on every list of famous and influential "Toll" names. Toll, the host of Locked On Big 12, has been a leading voice against what he calls the "recruiting industrial complex." He argues that these rankings create a self-fulfilling prophecy:  Media Bias: Predictive models (like ESPN’s FPI) use recruiting stars to anchor preseason rankings.Recruiting Gaps: By "docking stars" from Big 12 commits, the gap between the "Power 2" and the rest of the country appears wider on paper than it is on the gridiron.Development: Schools like BYU are forced to rely on elite internal development to overcome these "paper" deficits.Despite this "tax," BYU is currently assembling a historic 2026 class, proving that while stars can be stripped away, talent remains.  Would you like me to compare BYU’s 2026 class rankings across different scouting services to see where the "star-docking" is most prevalent?EXPOSED: Rivals Caught RED-HANDED Downgrading Big 12 Commits This video provides a deep dive into the specific controversy surrounding Ryder Lyons and the alleged duplicity in how recruiting services handle Big 12 commitments.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.Turbo TaxFor a limited time, you can have your taxes done by a local TurboTax expert for just $150 — all in, if a TurboTax expert didn’t file for you last year. Just file by February 28. Take taxes off your plate and get back to your life. Visit https://TurboTax.com/local to book your appointment today.  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.