Big 12 will stand pat without football divisions in 2017
After a recent decision not to expand, the Big 12 conference is now standing pat in another way.
The Big 12’s decision not to expand is worthy of criticism, in part due to current the lack of a football conference championship game, which leaves it behind other Power 5 conferences. A Big 12 title game is coming back in 2017, but that will not bring something akin to realignment in the immediate future.
On Friday, the Big 12 announced it will keep its round-robin, nine-game football schedule and not go to divisions next season (h/t ESPN). Commissioner Bob Bowlsby offered his thoughts on the topic.
"“There are a number of advantages to matching our top two teams,” Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said in a statement. “Given our round-robin, nine-game scheduling model, it is expected the Big 12 champion will be uniquely positioned for College Football Playoff consideration.“I would argue there will be no path more difficult than our champion’s, where it will have played every team in the conference, faced at least one [Power 5] nonconference opponent, and then plays in our championship game. The guaranteed No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup will be a great game for our fans, and it’s hard to imagine a stronger position for a conference champion.”"
Bringing back a conference title game, after a few years without one upon contracting to 10 teams, is a big step in the right direction for the Big 12. It will help the conference champion’s case for a spot in the College Football playoff.
Related Story: 5 reasons the Big 12 should have expanded
It is worth noting that a vote among Big 12 football coaches came back 7-3 in favor of splitting into divisions, with a possible nod to TCU and Baylor being left out of the playoff a couple years ago.
Big 12’s decision not to have divisions is surprising. Coaches voted 7-3 in favor of splitting into divisions, sources told @ESPN
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) October 28, 2016
While there’s nothing wrong with matching the top two teams in the conference standings in the football championship game, even though the Big 12 continues to want to be different than other Power 5 conferences for no clear reason. But if the coaches’ vote is any indicator, football divisions are close to happening.