I’m gone for a bachelor party this weekend. The wife and beagle will be near the bat signal. I thought about a F Double this week, because we’ve been on a little roll — little. Then I realized most of it would have been about expansion, and I didn’t want to do that, not because the topic doesn’t interest me but because the comments impressed me. I feel like addressing and discussing them closes the door on the topic. If nothing else, the topic shouldn’t be closed. I’ve gone in six different directions on expansion/realignment, and some things I or you thought that didn’t make sense before seem relevant now.

But also I don’t want to talk too much about something that won’t happen for years.

As for next week, that’s when the fun begins. The Big 12 will unveil its preseason poll, all-conference teams and superlatives. We’ll push through the rest of the team previews, and when that ends the Tier 4 WVU preview begins. I’ll leave the morning of the 19th for Big 12 media days. That’s also the first day of the 15-part season preview that ends Aug. 3, the first day of camp. It’s a big commitment from the studio, so I ask that you watch them as they happen, share them on your platforms and get the word out to those around you in advance.

It’s going to be bold, too, not only in the length but also in the topics. We’re not doing position previews or player features, and anything that looks like that actually isn’t because it’ll have a T4 slant. The things we talk and think and wonder about are the things we’re covering. Instead of a look at quarterbacks, we’ll ask if the situation is in fact settled. Instead of a prediction, we’ll examine the mechanics of the schedule. That sort of stuff. Many of your ideas matched up with mine, but I’ll admit I made some changes, too. The studio execs are excited. I trust you are too.

As always, thanks. You’re all Nate Sowers in my mind.