Big 12 Notebook: No Notre Dame, but does it matter?

The Big 12 lost out on a chance to add Notre Dame, as the Irish instead announced Wednesday that they will play all sports other than football -- and even add five football games per year -- in the ACC instead. But did the Big 12 truly lose out?

By Patrick Southern

Sep 13, 2012 at 4:12 pm ET • 3 min read

Joseph Randle has lost five fumbles in his last five games. (Getty Images)

Reports had long indicated the Big 12 had interest in striking a similar deal with the Irish. But did the conference truly lose out in the end?

Blair Kerkhoff of the Kansas City Star writes the Big 12 didn't truly need Notre Dame moving forward. Sure, an association with one of the biggest brands in college football would not have hurt. But the conference would have had to share its bowl ties. It could have disrupted popular scheduling arrangements in football and basketball. And the league's media rights deal is plenty rich without the Irish.

In short, according to Kerkhoff, the "loss" of Notre Dame really wasn't much of a loss at all.

From Harvard law to Morgantown, Roberts chases a dream: It's tough to imagine a more overqualified college football coach in the country than Daron Roberts, the man in charge of West Virginia's cornerbacks. Roberts, a graduate of Harvard's prestigious law school, turned to football just as he received his degree and worked his way up the food chain, from a lowly volunteer position with the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs to a full-time assistant at a top FBS program. Andy Staples of Sports Illustrated profiled Roberts and his meteoric (and unusual) rise for this week's SI issue and for the SI-branded television show on NBC Sports Network. "He's the overachiever of all overachievers," WVU coach Dana Holgorsen said.

Fumble woes suddenly an issue for RB Randle: Oklahoma State's Joseph Randle did not lose a single fumble in the first 22 games of his career, according to The Oklahoman's Gina Mizell. But in his last five games, he has lost five -- including one in the first quarter of last week's loss at Arizona. It's a serious problem, Mizell writes. Serious enough that Randle could lose his job if he doesn't do a better job of holding onto the football in the coming weeks. "It's not anything personal," Cowboys coach Mike Gundy said. "Joe needs to be in our offense. Joe's versatile -- he can block, he can catch, he can run. He makes plays. He’s experienced, he’s tough, he’s been a good leader. But if he puts the ball on the ground, he can’t play. It’s that simple.”

Jayhawks using underdog status as a rallying cry: Through two weeks, Kansas has done little to dissuade the notion that it will be the Big 12's doormat this season. It's loss to Rice last week is one of only two the entire conference has sustained, and one could easily understand if KU's morale has already tanked. But with No. 16 TCU coming to Lawrence for the first conference game of the Big 12 season, first-year coach Charlie Weis and company are playing up the underdog role. “It’s gonna be something that drives us in our games this year,” center Trevor Marrongelli told Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star. “It’s like, ‘What do we got to lose?’” added receiver Daymond Patterson. “Nobody thinks we’re gonna win.”

For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from Big 12 bloggers C.J. Moore and Patrick Southern, follow @CBSSportsBig12 on Twitter. You can also follow C.J. (@cjmoore4) and Patrick (@patricksouthern).