Saturday, May 16, 2026

Q&A: Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby

  • Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowslby believes life will fundamentally change.
  • “I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect that there will be disruptions during the season.”
Big 12 football
Photo Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

On the latest episode of Fundamentals with Ian Thomas, Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby joined guest host Emily Caron to conclude a three-part series on college athletics. 

Bowlsby talked at length about the effects COVID-19 will have on college athletics as well as his intimate involvement with the NIL rules change proposals.

Bowlsby on the potential disruptions to college sports: It’s hard to imagine that we’re going to get all the way through a fall and a winter sports season without institutions having flare ups. I just think college campuses are Petri dishes for infectious diseases. They always are. There’s lots of people and they’re living in close quarters and they’re partying and interfacing and there’s just lots going on. … And so I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect that there will be disruptions during the season.”

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