If the Big 12 goes back to 12 teams...

**spierceisu** · 09-21-2011, 01:27 PM

This is making a big assumption, if the Big 12 were to go back to 12 teams, would it be a good idea to switch up the divisions to more of a random format. To bring a bit more balance and stability, maybe split up Texas and Oklahoma for example. It would make it more difficult to win the "north", but this way maybe the "south" wouldn't have all the power. I was thinking something like this, assuming a scenario where BYU, Louisville, and TCU would come in:

Division 1:
Texas
Iowa State
Kansas
Texas Tech
Louisville
Oklahoma State

Division 2:
Oklahoma
TCU
BYU
Baylor
Kansas State
Missouri

There could still be some "protected rivalries" if that is something that teams want, like Texas vs Oklahoma or Iowa State vs Kansas State. I think this provides a nice balance of Basketball and Football and could make things a bit more interesting.

**TedKumsher** · 09-21-2011, 04:03 PM

Best idea that will never happen (in my opinion):

Base the next year's (or 2 years out) divisions on the order they finish.

Division ONE:
1st place team,
4th place team,
5th,
8th,
9th,
12th

Division 1:
2nd
3rd
6th
7th
10th
11th

Extend the pattern for however many schools we have. Each sport would be done separately. Ideally, you base next year's divisions on this year's standings. You can never complain about one division owning another division (like the north used to be somewhat ridiculed in football compared to the south).

Probably the biggest problem is trying to even out home/away per pair. Probably not too difficult in basketball, presuming the home/away for divisional foes and either home or away for non-division. However, for football it could really be hit-or-miss. You could miss playing a team for years and years. Maybe it could work like the NCAA tourney selection -- where you can go up or down 1 spot to accommodate regions.

OR -- perhaps you could do a 2, 3, or 4 year rotation. Combined standings over 4 years determines the divisions for the next 4 years with some wiggle room to avoid repetitive redundancy.

**Knownothing** · 09-21-2011, 04:04 PM

Wait I thought we were going after Notre Dame, Florida State, and USC?

**geburgess** · 09-21-2011, 04:10 PM

While I kinda like it, I don't like it more.

If we get back to 12 teams, thus back to divisions, we need to stay with a North - South division simply for travel purposes. For our non-revenue teams, having Kansas being our only remotely close away game is going to cost a lot more, would have to cut from more places to keep all our sports up and running.

**BenEClone** · 09-21-2011, 04:19 PM

By all means, avoid repetitive redundancy.

Interesting concept to flex by sport and over a period of time. The worm can turn and in basketball it can turn fairly quickly.

**LutherClone** · 09-21-2011, 04:33 PM

Originally Posted by spierceisu

This is making a big assumption, if the Big 12 were to go back to 12 teams, would it be a good idea to switch up the divisions to more of a random format. To bring a bit more balance and stability, maybe split up Texas and Oklahoma for example. It would make it more difficult to win the "north", but this way maybe the "south" wouldn't have all the power. I was thinking something like this, assuming a scenario where BYU, Louisville, and TCU would come in:

Division 1:
Texas
Iowa State
Kansas
Texas Tech
Louisville
Oklahoma State

Division 2:
Oklahoma
TCU
BYU
Baylor
Kansas State
Missouri

There could still be some "protected rivalries" if that is something that teams want, like Texas vs Oklahoma or Iowa State vs Kansas State. I think this provides a nice balance of Basketball and Football and could make things a bit more interesting.

The idea isn't terrible, but there are problems to your layout. For example:

Does OU pick OSU or UT as their protected rival?
Does KU pick KSU or MU as their protected rival?

Basically, KU will have to be with either MU or KSU.
OU with OSU or UT
UT with OU or TT

Since this seems to be the new "predict our conference" game, I'll play.

(Also, don't think we add TCU. They don't give anyone a damn thing. I think we snag Cincy as WVU would likely go SEC)

Hatfield Division
UT
TT
Cincy /WVU (if avaliable)
ISU
MU
BU

McCoy Division
OU
OSU
KU
KSU
UL
BYU

Protected Rivalries
UT and OU (Red River Shoot Out)
TT and OSU
Ciny/WVU and UL
ISU and KSU (Farmageddon)
MU and KU (Border War)
BU and BYU (Call it the Holy War and have an Arc of the Covenant replica as a trophy?!)

That way you preserve many of the natural rivalries and trophy games and cut down on travel as much as possible. Just my guess.

**Boxerdaddy** · 09-21-2011, 04:33 PM

I don't think TX and OU will be in separate divisions...cuz they figure they play each other no matter...and if they win their divisions they'd play each other again in only a few weeks.

**Cyballz** · 09-21-2011, 04:33 PM

You can bet your *** that Texas and Oklahoma are not going to be in the same division, Oklahoma St will have to be with OU because you can't have OU with 2 "protected" rivals on the other side of the conference.

**Clonedogg** · 09-21-2011, 04:34 PM

Do and east/west separation to keep travel down but to separate Texas and Oklahoma I think would be good for the league.

1. It separates the Texas teams so all teams have optimal road trips to Texas every year, which helps with recruiting.

2. The possibility to have UT vs OU in the championship game would be a coup for TV ratings.

**Harry** · 09-21-2011, 04:41 PM

Texas and OU will not give up the Red River Shootout and neither would want to play a second time in a championship game.

**Cyclonestate78** · 09-21-2011, 04:42 PM

Originally Posted by TedKumsher

Best idea that will never happen (in my opinion):

Base the next year's (or 2 years out) divisions on the order they finish.

Division ONE:
1st place team,
4th place team,
5th,
8th,
9th,
12th

Division 1:
2nd
3rd
6th
7th
10th
11th

Extend the pattern for however many schools we have. Each sport would be done separately. Ideally, you base next year's divisions on this year's standings. You can never complain about one division owning another division (like the north used to be somewhat ridiculed in football compared to the south).

Probably the biggest problem is trying to even out home/away per pair. Probably not too difficult in basketball, presuming the home/away for divisional foes and either home or away for non-division. However, for football it could really be hit-or-miss. You could miss playing a team for years and years. Maybe it could work like the NCAA tourney selection -- where you can go up or down 1 spot to accommodate regions.

OR -- perhaps you could do a 2, 3, or 4 year rotation. Combined standings over 4 years determines the divisions for the next 4 years with some wiggle room to avoid repetitive redundancy.

So... as an example last years standings would have made the divisions look like this (had Nebby and CU stayed)

Division 1
Oklahoma
Mizzou
Texas A&M
Kansas State
Texas Tech
Kansas

Division 2
Oklahoma State
Nebraska
Baylor
Iowa State
Colorado
Texas

Well that certainly would give the Big XII a completely different look.

**ajk4st8** · 09-21-2011, 04:43 PM

Have a draft.

Football winner and Basketball winner get to pick divisions.

**Clonedogg** · 09-21-2011, 04:47 PM

Originally Posted by ajk4st8

Have a draft.

Football winner and Basketball winner get to pick divisions.

so when we win both this yr how will that work

**Cyclonestate78** · 09-21-2011, 04:50 PM

Originally Posted by Clonedogg

so when we win both this yr how will that work

We would become the power whore that Texas has been for years?

**CyPack** · 09-21-2011, 04:51 PM

BYU is the obvious team to get back to 10 but also read that earlier when the Big 12 was looking at expansion, Louisville and WVU were two teams they were looking at. Thus with the Big East in trouble I could see them add those two teams to get back to 12. The conference could then split up in East and West divisions, maybe something like this...

East:
ISU
KU
Mizzu
OU
Louisville
WVU

West:
Texas
TTech
Baylor
OSU
KSU
BYU