Even when the Big 12 expands their conference, they still are not going to be on the same level as the rest of the Power Five.
In the midst of a poor season, the Big 12 is looking to expansion to save their reputation as a “Power Five” conference. It’s looking like nobody from the Big 12 is going to make the playoff this year, and judging by how they’ve played, it’s better that they don’t have a championship game.
Every week at FanSided, we do conference power rankings. While it tends to change a lot, one thing that remains consistent is the Big 12 being at the bottom of the list. Just think about the teams that make up the conference.
Iowa State and Kansas are a combined 2-11 this year, but as long as they’re basketball powerhouses, they’re not going anywhere. Texas Tech and Texas, win or lose, give up an average of 50 points a game (and that’s only slightly exaggerating). Kansas State has wins over Florida Atlanta and Missouri State to prop up what would be a 1-3 record.
We’re only just approaching the teams with winning records. TCU almost lost to the Jayhawks, Oklahoma State’s signature moment was the way they lost to Central Michigan, and Oklahoma’s playoff dreams collapsed within the first three weeks. There are only two undefeated teams in the Big 12, but West Virginia hasn’t beaten anyone of note, and Baylor’s more well known for what they did off the field.
All in all, the conference is a mess, and even with expansion, they’re not going to get back to national prominence. The two leading contenders for expansion are Houston and Cincinnati, with UConn and BYU not far behind. Out of those four, the only team that’s even remotely relevant is Houston, and they’re going to be bad once Tom Herman leaves for a bigger school.
With conference expansion comes realignment. We might possibly see two divisions and a championship game next year, which will increase their chances of getting a playoff team. But when they are good enough to make the playoff, they either get blown out or passed up in favor of Jameis Winston.
More fansided.com: 50 Best Big 12 Players of All-Time
The reality is, the conference peaked in 2008 when Texas Tech beat Texas, and they haven’t had the same national relevance since then. The Big 12’s struggles are internal, and it’s going to take a lot more than just expansion to save them.