Report: Houston expected to hire Kevin Barbay as offensive coordinator

Willie Fritz is working on putting his staff together ahead of his first season at Houston. Now, the Cougars’ new leader has made a significant hire for the role of offensive coordinator.

Per Chris Hummer and Matt Zenitz at 247, Houston is expected to hire Kevin Barbay, most recently the offensive coordinator at Mississippi State, for the same role under Fritz.

Before coming to Starkville for this past season, Barbay spent 2022 at Appalachian State and 2019 through 2021 at Central Michigan.

Barbay is a highly respected offensive staff member after his last few seasons with the headset. His last three offenses with the Chippewas, Mountaineers, and Bulldogs averaged 29.7 points and nearly 410 yards per game.

However, this last season, his first significant role at a major program, did not as planned on Zach Arnett’s staff. His offense with Central Michigan and Appalachian State averaged 33.6 points per game by posting 450.4 yards. As for this year with Mississippi State, there was a significant step back from that pace. They scored just 21.8 points a contest along with 328.6 yards per game.

Mississippi State replaced Arnett with Jeff Lebby, an offensive-minded coach in his own right, this offseason. That likely left Barbay on the outs and, as such, he has found a new role in the Big 12.

Barbay has work to do with Houston in order to rework from what happened with his offense in 2023. Even so, it was still more than good enough for Fritz to give him his fourth new gig in as many years for his debut season with the program.

Big 12 moving media days to Las Vegas for 2024, 2025

Big 12 Media Days are reportedly on the move with a new location being chosen for 2024 and 2025.

The league has zeroed in on Las Vegas as a new city to host the event according to Action Network’s Brett McMurphy. It has spent recent years in Arlington, Texas at AT&T Stadium.

A scheduling conflict at AT&T Stadium reportedly spurred the move. The league will also welcome four new members from states in that direction in 2024, which makes moving the preseason media gathering further west as a solid logistical choice.

A number of potential sites in Las Vegas are being considered according to McMurphy – Allegiant Stadium, The Sphere, or an MGM property of some kind. A move to Las Vegas also fits with the new mentality of Brett Yormark in modernizing and selling the league.

The four new members of the Big 12 are Arizona, Arizona State, Utah, and Colorado. They all join the league a year after BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF joined the league.