Will they or won’t they? Should they or shouldn’t they? The only thing that generates more questions than the possibility of the Big 12 Conference expanding is whether or not Hillary will be indicted for the email scandals!
Last week the Big 12 presidents voted unanimously to hold a Big 12 Conference Championship Game starting next year. The conference would split into two 5-team divisions and then have a Championship game. They stated they WILL maintain their round-robin format meaning every team will meet every other team during the regular season. Thus, the Championship game is guaranteed to be a rematch.
Doesn’t make much sense does it? That is UNLESS you consider that a championship game generates $25-$30 million dollars! That is reason enough to do it but the other reason may be the strongest. Expansion to 12 teams. Soon. Truly, both reasons are probably in play here. Expansion to 12 teams AND a championship game makes the most sense and the most financial sense.
Expansion would mean more probable bowl eligible teams. Each bowl eligible team for the conference is an additional $180,000 for each school. Now you’re talkin’ turkey! More money is what drives conference expansion and the Big 12 was the bride that got left at the altar several years ago when all of the conferences shifted and realigned. Hesitancy cost the Big 12 Louisville and jealousy cost the conference to lose Nebraska and the Big 12 has been playing catchup ever since.
A lot of schools have been suggested. BYU, Memphis, Cincinnati, Houston, Colorado State, Central Florida and Boise State among others. This choice will hinge on two factors. The size of the television market in the geographic area of the school and, at least one of the schools will need to be a closer travel partner for West Virginia. I know, I know, West Virginia IS NOT a good fit for the Big 12 but what’s done is done and that isn’t going to change anytime soon. Perhaps someday when an asteroid hits the earth and causes another huge shakeup in conference realignment, West Virginia will get back east where they belong!
So, pencil in Cincinnati (36th largest television market) and BYU who brings a national name to the table. BYU is somewhat unique. Not unlike Notre Dame, they have a strong fan base that is scattered throughout the country. They also have a great television network at BYU that actually works and makes money, something that Texas’ Longhorn Network doesn’t do. Many in the Big 12 would like to have a Big 12 Television Network. BYU could show them how to do it and do it well.
Athletically speaking, Houston would be a good fit for the Big 12 but I don’t think it is going to happen even though they have the 10th largest television market in the country. The Texas schools in the Big 12 don’t want the competition for athletes in recruiting and the non-Texas schools in the Big 12 ( Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State) have had all they can take from Texas trying to run the conference. It is, after all, the main reason Nebraska is now in the Big 10 instead of the Big 12.
There is an old adage that goes, “You should dance with the one who brung ya”. BYU and Cincinnati sure didn’t bring us to this dance but, hey, they are looking cuter by the day! Start the music and let’s party. Put your dancing shoes on!

Charles Tabler is a contributing writer from Larned. You can contact him at budtabler@gmail.com.