Aug 16, 2026 · 50 min
Iowa State weighs Rainer’s role as Big 12 quarterback tiers take shape
Williams & Blum: Creating tiers for Big 12 quarterbacks
The discussion connects Iowa State’s quarterback expectations to a broader question of whether the Big 12 can build credible national momentum.
- 1Jalen Rainer’s leadership and experience make him central to Iowa State’s transfer-heavy roster and offensive plans.
- 2The hosts debate whether established Big 12 quarterbacks have separated from promising but uncertain alternatives.
- 3Their buy, sell, or hold exercise treats coaching and quarterback play as the conference’s clearest tests of strength.
Don't miss
The Cody Jackson feature recounts his survival of Lemierre syndrome while he works toward making an impact for Iowa State.
The brief
Chris Williams and Brent Blum open with Iowa State’s six captains, framing Jalen Rainer as a leadership figure on a roster rebuilt through transfers.
Rainer’s experience and production at Arkansas State become the test for Iowa State’s offense: can his leadership translate into dependable quarterback play?
A feature on Cody Jackson adds a human dimension, following an Iowa State receiver who survived Lemierre syndrome and is pursuing an impact on the field.
The Big 12 quarterback tiers pit established names such as Fafita, Dampier, Weigman, and Bachmeier against emerging or uncertain options including Avery Johnson and Baylor’s Lagway.
The buy, sell, or hold exercise broadens the case, weighing coaching, quarterback play, and investment across programs from Utah and BYU to Kansas and West Virginia.
The hosts argue that several contenders staying alive late would do more than decide the standings: it would strengthen the Big 12’s national standing.
Featuring
Avery Johnson
Central FloridaListen to the full episode and explore every guest, topic, and moment on PodLume.