Utah senior defensive end Lance Holtzclaw joined representatives from across the Big 12 Conference at The Star in Frisco, Texas, for the 2026 Monster Energy Big 12 Football Media Days held July 7 and July 8. The event brought together head coaches and student-athletes to preview the upcoming season and discuss conference developments.
Utah Student-Athlete Representation
The Big 12 Conference announced the attendee list for the media days prior to the event, confirming that Utah was represented by a group of four student-athletes. Alongside Holtzclaw, the Utes roster included quarterback Devon Dampier, linebacker Johnathan Hall, and running back Wayshawn Parker.
During his appearance at the 2026 media days on July 8, Holtzclaw participated in a live broadcast with 97.5 KSL Sports Zone. The Dorchester, Boston native, who is one of only three players in Utah football history from Massachusetts, discussed various topics ranging from his personal background to the program'rypts tradition of pass-rushing defensive ends.
National Advocacy and Team Culture
In addition to discussing football, Holtzclaw addressed his recent involvement in national legislative matters. KSL Sports Zone reported that the defensive end spoke about his experience testifying before the U.S. Senate just weeks prior to the media days, where he testified on behalf of student-athletes from across the nation.
The conversation also touched upon the evolving culture within the Utah program under coach Morgan Scalley, specifically regarding the implementation of RSNB culture throughout the team.
Conference Event Details
The 2026 media days, which were officially rebranded as the Monster Energy Big 12 Football Media Days following a naming rights partnership announcement by the conference, took place at The Star, the headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys.
The event featured daily highlights from eight different programs. On Tuesday, July 7, the conference showcased athletes from Arizona State, Baylor, BYU, UCF, Colorado, Houston, Oklahoma State, and Texas Tech. On Wednesday, July 8, the spotlight moved to Arizona, Cincinnati, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, TCU, Utah, and West Virginia.
Media Coverage and Broadcasting
Broadcast coverage for the two-day event was produced by BYUtv and aired live on ESPNU from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. CT, with portions of the first day also carried on ESPN2. The conference provided a simulcast via Big 12 Studios.
The broadcast featured ESPN's Kevin Connors as host, supported by analysts Dusty Dvoracek and Louis Riddick, along with reporters Jen Lada and Sydney Jones.
League-Wide Participation
The conference's announcement of the attendees highlighted a wide array of talent from across the league. For example, the Tuesday session included players such as BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier and Colorado quarterback Julian Lewis, while the Wednesday session featured Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita and Iowa State quarterback Jaylen Raynor.
The media days served as a primary platform for coaches and players to address the upcoming season's challenges and the conference's continued presence in the collegiate football landscape.
Looking Ahead
As the Big 12 continues its recent era of expansion and rebranding, the media days in Frisco provided a centralized location for the conference to engage with national media. The presence of players like Holtzclaw underscores the intersection of collegiate athletics and broader national student-athlete advocacy.
