The Big 12’s decision to get rid of football preseason media poll is silly

College football loves traditions. One of the summertime rites of passage fans look forward to is media day(s), which include the official unveiling of the preseason all-conference teams, the Players of the Year, and, of course, the media poll.

A welcome kickoff serves as a reminder that the season is almost here. Exciting times. However, one conference wants to spoil the celebration. Last week, the Big 12 reportedly decided to end the preseason media poll, according to Brett McMurphy of Action Network. Why? Possibly because reigning champion Arizona State was ranked last in the 2024 media poll. Oops. If this is due to hurt feelings, then the Big 12 is run by snowflakes at best and killjoys at worst. Canceling the media poll is silly and unnecessary.

We’re not talking about an exact science or decrees carved in stone. Preseason polls don’t directly impact the College Football Playoff. Victories against quality opponents will determine whether a team is good enough to play for the national championship.

Preseason polls primarily exist as conversation starters before the games begin. It’s not an absolute nor a guarantee. It’s meant to spark debate. Preseason polls were designed to drum up publicity. While they may not be as necessary as they once were, they still serve a purpose. They help create narratives and drive coverage.

It’s always a great story when a school that was picked last finishes first. One of the reasons Arizona State earned so much national attention was because of that story. The Sun Devils won in their first year in a revamped 16-team conference after the implosion of the Pac-12. Undoubtedly, Coach Kenny Dillingham and his players interpreted the ranking as a sign of disrespect, fueling an unexpected rise for a program that had placed second-to-last in its conference in 2023.

Just because the media got it wrong in 2024 is not justification for ending the poll. College football is more unpredictable than ever due to conference realignment, the transfer portal, and NIL. That’s not a defense of the media completely misjudging a team that reached the CFP. But this is an overreaction by the Big 12.

It’s also important to note that the Big 12 will not be alone. The Big Ten famously doesn’t have an official preseason media poll. Instead, individual publications have their own media polls, most notably Cleveland.com. The Big 12 will likely cite that precedent, and possibly other leagues may follow in the future.

However, the Big 12 is not the Big Ten. It could use as much national media coverage as possible. Most of the college football talk focuses on the Big Ten, SEC, and Notre Dame. Everyone else is fighting for equal time.

Preseason polls are a convenient way for other conferences to stand out from the clutter. Plus, it’s harmless. Were fans of Arizona State not going to attend games early in the 2024 season because of the poll? Attendance is affected by on-the-field performance, not opinions. Here’s hoping that the Big 12 will reconsider and bring its poll back.

Give all of us something more to talk about before the games are played.