How to Save the Big 12 Conference

First the Southwest Conference goes. Then, the Big 8 folds. Now, over a decade later, the Big 12, the product of both conferences, is headed towards its own demise within another year.

I'm still not sure how this has happened or why? I've heard of strife between the Big 12 North or Big 12 South, but seriously, is it enough to cause something akin to the sporting world's version of the Civil War. Who knows. All I know is if I'm Dan Beebe, the Big 12 commissioner, I would do everything in my power to save this conference. The last decade has been very kind to this conference. On the gridiron, the Big 12 has appeared in seven national championships, winning two (2001 Oklahoma and 2005 Texas). On the basketball court, four different teams have gone to the Final Four six times in the past decade, with Kansas winning the conference's lone championship in 2008.

If I'm Beebe, I would've been looking for replacements for Colorado and Nebraska as soon as possible. I would do everything in my power to hold the conference together. Since Colorado and Nebraska have been mostly irrelevant the past decade (excluding Nebraka's runner-up finish for the 2001 National Championship), I would inquire about TCU and Boise State's interest in helping to save the league. Since the issue appears to be about money, what better way to make money than to have two of the biggest mid-majors joining the big dogs.

Lastly, to prevent any further strife with the remaining teams in conference, I'd realign the divisions to create parity. Colorado (2001) and Kansas State (2003) are the only teams to beat either Texas or Oklahoma in the conference championship. Don't get me wrong. Oklahoma and Texas are two talented great teams, but no one wants to see a four touchdown massacre in a conference championship game every year. The following shows the list of teams currently in the Big 12, and the list of teams in the proposed new Big 12.

Big 12 North (2010)
Oklahoma
Texas
Texas Tech
Texas A&M
Oklahoma State
Baylor

Big 12 South (2010)
Nebraska
Missouri
Kansas
Kansas State
Iowa State
Colorado

Big 12 North (2011)
Oklahoma
Texas Tech
Boise State
Oklahoma State
Kansas
Kansas State

Big 12 South (2011)
Texas
Texas A&M
TCU
Missouri
Baylor
Iowa State

This alignment allows the Big 12 to remain in its current geographic location. Another team from Texas will be added, and Boise State would replace Colorado in the Western time zone. The traditional rivalries will remain intact, while new rivalries should emerge. Also, the Big 12 South will have four Texas Schools. The Big 12 North will have the two Kansas and Oklahoma schools. If it's truly about the money, why not put Texas and Oklahoma in opposite divisions. Since each school would be allowed two natural rivals in opposite divisions, they could play in the regular season, and maybe meet in the conference championship. Imagine an 11-1 Texas team looking to avenge an early season loss to 12-0 Oklahoma. The winner goes to the national championship. The stakes for the Red River Shootout "Part Two" couldn't be scripted any better. Of course other games than the Red River Rivalry exist. However, the possible high stakes matchup for the two rivals would bring a serious payday to the conference.

As far as my proposed revamped Big 12 is concerned, each team will play every team in their division once, two teams from the opposite division every season, and will rotate the third team every two years. For example, Boise State would play Texas home and away for two years, and rotate to another Big 12 South school for another two year battle, and so on. Here are the possible divisional schedules for each school in conference.

* The rotating team on the team's schedule
** Neutral site game

Baylor
vs. Texas
at Texas A&M
at TCU
vs. Missouri
vs. Iowa State
vs. Oklahoma State
at Kansas State
at Kansas*

Boise State
at Oklahoma
vs. Texas*
vs. TCU
at Kansas
vs. Kansas State
vs. Oklahoma State
at Texas Tech
at Missouri


Iowa State
vs. Texas
vs. Texas A&M
vs. TCU
at Missouri
at Baylor
vs. Kansas State(in Kansas City, MO)**
at Kansas
vs. Oklahoma*

Kansas
at Oklahoma
vs. Texas Tech
vs. Boise State
at Oklahoma State
at Kansas State
at Missouri (in St. Louis, MO)**
vs. Iowa State
vs. Baylor*

Kansas State
at Oklahoma
vs. Texas Tech
at Boise State
at Oklahoma State
vs. Kansas
vs. Iowa State
vs. Baylor
at Texas A&M*

Missouri
at Texas
vs. Texas A&M
at TCU
at Baylor
vs. Iowa State
vs. Kansas (St.Louis, MO)**
at Texas Tech*
vs. Boise State

Oklahoma
at Texas (in Dallas)**
at Texas Tech
vs. Boise State*
at Oklahoma State
vs. Kansas
vs. Kansas State
vs. Texas A&M
at Iowa State

Oklahoma State
vs. Oklahoma
at Texas Tech
at Boise State
vs. Kansas
vs. Kansas State
at Baylor
vs. TCU
at Texas A&M*

TCU
at Oklahoma State
vs. Missouri
at Iowa State
at Boise State
vs. Missouri
at Texas A&M
at Texas*
vs. Baylor

Texas
vs. Oklahoma (in Dallas)**
at Texas A&M
vs. TCU
at Boise State*
vs. Missouri
at Baylor
at Iowa State
vs. Texas Tech

Texas A&M
vs. Texas
vs. TCU
at Missouri
vs. Baylor
at Iowa State
at Texas Tech
at. Oklahoma
vs. Oklahoma State*

Texas Tech
vs. Oklahoma
at Oklahoma State
vs. Boise State
at Kansas
at Kansas State
at Texas
vs. Texas A&M
vs. Missouri*