Big 12 Shake-Up
I have a plan that kills two birds with one stone. The Big 12 should borrow two great ideas from their sister conferences of the SEC and Pac-10. When the SEC split into two divisions they did not want to break up some of the traditional rivalry games, so they paired up teams from the east and west that play year in and year out (Tenn/Bama, Auburn/Georgia, Florida/LSU, ect.) I haven't really seen anything lately, but I remember reading an article a while back about the lack of rivalries in the Big 12. Well, I guess I wouldn't call it a lack of rivalries because the conference does have some great rivals, but the formation of the Big 12 has not created any new rivalries. If fact it has severely decreased the rivalry between Oklahoma and Nebraska in my opinion. So I suggest that these teams play each other every year.
Nebraska-Oklahoma
Colorado-Texas
Kansas State-Texas A&M
Missouri-Texas Tech
Iowa State-Oklahoma State
Kansas-Baylor
This would reestablish the NU/OU series as one of the nations premier games. And with Colorado and Kansas State improving those series would be very interesting.
The idea taken from the Pac-10 is that the new annual series takes the place of a non-conference game, so the Big 12 would play a nine game conference schedule. With the addition of the 12th game the Pac-10 chose to play a nine game conference schedule so that each team would play every other team. This would drastically improve the strength of schedule for most teams. For example, Texas would basically replace Arkansas State with Colorado. Also, with the addition of an extra conference game teams from the north and south would play each other more often possible creating other rivalries. Here is a comparison of the teams from the north that Texas is scheduled to play.
Actual Schedule:
2006 - Iowa State, @Nebraska, @Kansas State
2007 - @Iowa State, Nebraska, Kansas State
2008 - @Colorado, Missouri, @Kansas
2009 - Colorado, @Missouri, Kansas
2010 - Same as 2006
2011 - Same as 2007
2012 - Same as 2008
2013 - Same as 2009
If 9th Game is Added:
2006 - Colorado, Iowa State, @Nebraska, @Kansas State
2007 - @Colorado, @Iowa State, Nebraska, Kansas State
2008 - Colorado, Missouri, @Kansas, @Nebraska
2009 - @Colorado, @Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska
2010 - Colorado, Iowa State, @Nebraska, @K-State
2011 - @Colorado, @Iowa State, Nebraska, K-State
2012 - Colorado, Missouri, @Kansas, @K-State
2013 - @Colorado, @Missouri, Kansas, K-State
So by adding the 9th game Texas would play Nebraska 6 times in 8 years as opposed to 4 times under the current schedule. I think that would be great for college football, the Big12, and most importantly the fans.
I came up with two cons to this suggestion. First, this would probably produce more re-matches in the conference championship game. They could get rid of the game but that won't happen because the game makes too much money. And the second problem that this system could cause is it would make it harder for Kansas, Iowa State, and Baylor to become bowl eligible. Those teams need that 4th non-conference game to become bowl bound.
As always, thanks for wasting your time reading this. Give me your suggestions.
I have a plan that kills two birds with one stone. The Big 12 should borrow two great ideas from their sister conferences of the SEC and Pac-10. When the SEC split into two divisions they did not want to break up some of the traditional rivalry games, so they paired up teams from the east and west that play year in and year out (Tenn/Bama, Auburn/Georgia, Florida/LSU, ect.) I haven't really seen anything lately, but I remember reading an article a while back about the lack of rivalries in the Big 12. Well, I guess I wouldn't call it a lack of rivalries because the conference does have some great rivals, but the formation of the Big 12 has not created any new rivalries. If fact it has severely decreased the rivalry between Oklahoma and Nebraska in my opinion. So I suggest that these teams play each other every year.
Nebraska-Oklahoma
Colorado-Texas
Kansas State-Texas A&M
Missouri-Texas Tech
Iowa State-Oklahoma State
Kansas-Baylor
This would reestablish the NU/OU series as one of the nations premier games. And with Colorado and Kansas State improving those series would be very interesting.
The idea taken from the Pac-10 is that the new annual series takes the place of a non-conference game, so the Big 12 would play a nine game conference schedule. With the addition of the 12th game the Pac-10 chose to play a nine game conference schedule so that each team would play every other team. This would drastically improve the strength of schedule for most teams. For example, Texas would basically replace Arkansas State with Colorado. Also, with the addition of an extra conference game teams from the north and south would play each other more often possible creating other rivalries. Here is a comparison of the teams from the north that Texas is scheduled to play.
Actual Schedule:
2006 - Iowa State, @Nebraska, @Kansas State
2007 - @Iowa State, Nebraska, Kansas State
2008 - @Colorado, Missouri, @Kansas
2009 - Colorado, @Missouri, Kansas
2010 - Same as 2006
2011 - Same as 2007
2012 - Same as 2008
2013 - Same as 2009
If 9th Game is Added:
2006 - Colorado, Iowa State, @Nebraska, @Kansas State
2007 - @Colorado, @Iowa State, Nebraska, Kansas State
2008 - Colorado, Missouri, @Kansas, @Nebraska
2009 - @Colorado, @Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska
2010 - Colorado, Iowa State, @Nebraska, @K-State
2011 - @Colorado, @Iowa State, Nebraska, K-State
2012 - Colorado, Missouri, @Kansas, @K-State
2013 - @Colorado, @Missouri, Kansas, K-State
So by adding the 9th game Texas would play Nebraska 6 times in 8 years as opposed to 4 times under the current schedule. I think that would be great for college football, the Big12, and most importantly the fans.
I came up with two cons to this suggestion. First, this would probably produce more re-matches in the conference championship game. They could get rid of the game but that won't happen because the game makes too much money. And the second problem that this system could cause is it would make it harder for Kansas, Iowa State, and Baylor to become bowl eligible. Those teams need that 4th non-conference game to become bowl bound.
As always, thanks for wasting your time reading this. Give me your suggestions.
Labels: College Football, Scheduling, Texas Football
posted by Matt at 9:29 PM
2 Comments:
As much as A&M fans HATE to admit it, I think the formation of the Big XII has created a great rivalry between the aggies and Texas Tech. Also, if the North hadn't completely fallen out of competitive running since 2000, the Colorado/Nebraska rivalry of the 90's might be something great today.
That being said, I think it's a great idea- especially for bringing back the OU and Nebraska rivalry. A&M and KState is very interesting along with Texas/CU. I did think of a few other problems though: It not only makes it hard for the Baylor's of the world to make it to bowls; it makes it harder for the better teams to make it to a BCS bowl. For example, in 2009 OU would play @Miami, Texas, Nebraska, @A&M, @KState, Tech, and possibly Nebraska again. The chance of OU and Texas consistently making it through that type of season without a slip would be slim. As a result, it would create another reason to not sign contracts with big non-conference schools. (Although the SEC seems just fine and stronger than ever) Plus, we're too spoiled not having a tough schedule every year. Si I'm all for it.
Good points. I think most schools know they must schedule one good non-conference game. So my assumption is that they will keep the one good game and exchange a cupcake with another big 12 game. If Neb/Col/K-state return to form then hopefully the Big 12 will be viewed like the SEC where one loss doesn't kill you.
Sorry we missed out on Bourne this weekend. My body would have rather gone to the movies than play softball. I'm getting to old for those tournments!!
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