Best of the rest preview: How many at-larges will small schools get in 76-team NCAAT? Top mid-majors, best players to know in ’26-27

Gary Parrish and Matt Norlander preview the Big 12 ahead of the 2026-27 college basketball season. Storylines, 1-16 rankings, predictions and more. (0:00) Intro + Let’s talk Big 12! (1:00) GP’s conversation with Tommy Lloyd at Big 12 Media Days (19:00) 5 Storylines from the Big 12 starting with Arizona at the top of the league (22:00) Will this be Bill Self’s last season? (30:00) Over/under 1.5 coaching changes after this season in the Big 12? (32:20) It’s the Monster Energy Big 12 (34:30) 1-16 predictions (52:45) Player of the Year & NCAA Tournament teams Theme song: “Timothy Leary,” written, performed and courtesy of Guster Eye on College Basketball is available for free on the Audacy app as well as Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever else you listen to podcasts. Follow our team: @EyeonCBBPodcast @GaryParrishCBS @MattNorlander @Boone @DavidWCobb @TheJMULL_ Visit the ⁠betting arena on CBSSports.com⁠ for all the latest in ⁠sportsbook reviews⁠ and ⁠sportsbook promos⁠ for ⁠betting on college basketball⁠. You can listen to us on your smart speakers! Simply say, “Alexa, play the latest episode of the Eye on College Basketball podcast,” or “Hey, Google, play the latest episode of the Eye on College Basketball podcast.” Email the show for any reason whatsoever: [email protected] Visit Eye on College Basketball’s YouTube channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeFb_xyBgOekQPZYC7Ijilw⁠ For more college hoops coverage, visit ⁠https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/

How much does it really cost to build a winning college basketball team in 2026-27? With roster values ranging from $5 million to more than $25 million, college basketball's NIL arms race is changing the sport. The Eye on College Basketball crew breaks down the financial landscape of college hoops, examining NIL spending tiers, the growing gap between programs, and what it takes to assemble a roster capable of competing for a national championship. Which programs have the resources to compete with the biggest spenders? Can teams with smaller budgets still make a deep NCAA Tournament run? And how much does money really matter when it comes to winning in March? From multimillion-dollar rosters to the changing economics of recruiting and the transfer portal, we're breaking down the cost of competing in college basketball in 2026-27.

Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark joins Gary Parrish at Big 12 Media Days for a wide-ranging conversation about the future of college athletics. Yormark discusses the challenges of leading the conference through a rapidly changing landscape, the professionalization of college sports, and the potential impact of the Protect College Sports Act. Plus, he shares how he balances the perspectives of coaches across the league, his vision for the Big 12's biggest events, and his experience working with Jay-Z at Roc Nation.

Gary Parrish catches up with Houston's Kelvin Sampson and Joseph "JoJo" Tugler at Big 12 Media Days. Sampson discusses how he rebuilt Houston into one of college basketball's premier programs, while Tugler reflects on his growth, defensive identity, and entering his fourth season with the Cougars.

Gary Parrish sits down with Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd at Big 12 Media Days to discuss his impressive first five years leading the Wildcats, what it was like being courted by North Carolina, and how he secured the resources needed to keep Arizona competing at the highest level. Lloyd opens up about the realities of fundraising in college basketball, his philosophy of “hold me accountable, but don’t hold me back,” and the future of the program. Plus, a look at Arizona's talented roster featuring five-star freshmen Caleb Holt and Cameron Holmes, the importance of marquee non-conference matchups, the Maui Invitational, and the current state of college basketball.