The Big 12 expansion groundswell

[jay santos]

Just look at last season; Alabama was not the SEC champ. They don't make the playoffs if it's limited to conference champs only. And upsets occur in CCGs. Just ask 1996 Nebraska or 2003 Oklahoma to name just a couple. So there is the possibility that a highly ranked team gets upset or that two highly ranked teams play in a CCG and the loser does not qualify for the playoffs while a Big 12 team makes it without playing a CCG. In college football, not losing is more important than winning.

So what happens if Big 12, says yeah good idea, but we don't know want to expand and a do a championship game?

[SoCalCoug]

It's humorous to me that so little real world biz activity happens in the Provo that any private jet activity between the Provo and Big D MUST be a sign of B12 activity!

Was that what the deleted CB post that got everyone riled up was about?

[Paperback Writer]

Yeah. I don't see round-robin as skating at all. I see playing a weak Big 12 North and lucking out with Baylor and Texas Tech for your cross divisional games while winning a conference championship game as more of a skate...

There always the chance of a repeat of 2007 Kansas (12-1) where the Jayhawks didn't have to play any of the best teams in the Big 12 South that year: Texas (10-3), Oklahoma (11-3), or Texas Tech (9-4). But KU didn't make the Big 12 CG in 2007 either. Missouri (12-2) couldn't skate by Oklahoma that year either, they lost to the Sooners twice in 2007. It all depends on cross-divisional scheduling and the better Big 12 North teams always had to get past either Oklahoma or Texas and then would have to face the Sooners or Longhorns in the Big 12 CG.

Nebraska and Colorado: OU/Tech/Baylor - UT/A&M/OK St.
Missouri and Kansas St.: OU/A&M/Tech - UT/OK St./Baylor

[Viking]

Was that what the deleted CB post that got everyone riled up was about?

I don't know. I don't go over there.

[Paperback Writer]

So what happens if Big 12, says yeah good idea, but we don't know want to expand and a do a championship game?

I don't know; it's up to the Big 12 Texas. I think the rules will end up being that a conference champ has to finish with a top 6 ranking to automatically qualify for the playoffs. Perhaps a #6 Michigan who wins a Big Ten CG and gets an invite over a #7 Texas who doesn't play a CCG might get the Longhorns' attention. It would be even better if the Wolverines leap-frog the Longhorns in the process (after a convincing win in the Big Ten CG).

Edit: I thought that the Big Ten, SEC, and PAC-12 might require the Big 12 to expand back to 12 teams in order to be part of the new 4-team playoff. But that is unlikely. Big 12 will just say: "Fine... SEC...give us back Mizzou and A&M and we'll be back at 12".

[YOhio]

Greg Swaim of Big Time Sports is very hot on the idea that Notre Dame will be moving all non-football sports in the Big 12. He says it is happening...fast!

https://twitter.com/#!/GSwaim

[USUC]

Greg Swaim of Big Time Sports is very hot on the idea that Notre Dame will be moving all non-football sports in the Big 12. He says it is happening...fast!

https://twitter.com/#!/GSwaim

Good News! Notre Dame is on our side so obviously BYU will be a football only member.. fast.

[Viking]

This one is not happening. ND is holding out for the big10

[Green Monstah]

This one is not happening. ND is holding out for the big10

Thus saith the Exmo Yiddish Viking.

[UtahJazzFan88]

Greg Swaim of Big Time Sports is very hot on the idea that Notre Dame will be moving all non-football sports in the Big 12. He says it is happening...fast!

https://twitter.com/#!/GSwaim

Swaim has been trying to throw darts (predictions) and see if they stick lately.

[Marvelous]

I haven't lived in Nebraska for 25 years and was a BYU student in 1984. Nebraska was never #2.

Are you originally from Nebraska? I have only lived in Nebraska for three years. I grew up in Salt Lake City and followed Nebraska from afar during the Frazier, Frost, Crouch years. They have always been #2. LOVE going to games in Lincoln!

[Flystripper]

There always the chance of a repeat of 2007 Kansas (12-1) where the Jayhawks didn't have to play any of the best teams in the Big 12 South that year: Texas (10-3), Oklahoma (11-3), or Texas Tech (9-4). But KU didn't make the Big 12 CG in 2007 either. Missouri (12-2) couldn't skate by Oklahoma that year either, they lost to the Sooners twice in 2007. It all depends on cross-divisional scheduling and the better Big 12 North teams always had to get past either Oklahoma or Texas and then would have to face the Sooners or Longhorns in the Big 12 CG.

Nebraska and Colorado: OU/Tech/Baylor - UT/A&M/OK St.
Missouri and Kansas St.: OU/A&M/Tech - UT/OK St./Baylor

There is not chance to avoid the best teams in a round robin schedule. A round-robin produces a true conference champion where there can be no argument. Hard to argue that a 10 team Big 12 with a conference champion decided by a regular season would not get a seat at the 4 team playoff. A round-robin schedule only provides 3 opportunities to schedule down in the OOC games. Twelve team leagues typically have 4 opportunities to get a cupcake on the schedule.

What I am saying is that the complaint you raised that a round-robin schedule provides an opportunity to skate is simply not true. By definition a round-robin schedule provides zero opportunity to skate since you are required to play everyone in your league.

The only way the Big 12 goes to 12 teams is if it makes them more money or if the NCAA steps in and requires uniformity between conferences.

[Jacob]

A round-robin produces a true conference champion where there can be no argument.

Your overall argument makes sense, but there is always room for argument. In a round robing with no championship game there will often be 2 or even 3 teams with the best record and the league has to resort to tie breakers. The old BIG 12 tiebreaker was the highest ranked team based on BCS rankings. IOW, plenty of argument.

[Flystripper]

Your overall argument makes sense, but there is always room for argument. In a round robing with no championship game there will often be 2 or even 3 teams with the best record and the league has to resort to tie breakers. The old BIG 12 tiebreaker was the highest ranked team based on BCS rankings. IOW, plenty of argument.

True. Tie breakers can suck, but at least every team had a chance to play each other and the tie breaker is known before the season.

[TripletDaddy]

Clemson AD sez: football is important

http://kansascity.sbnation.com/2012/...-out-about-acc