How a 12-team College Football Playoff could save the Big 12 Conference

The sports news world has been rife with potential conference realignment updates as OU and Texas appear to be on the verge of announcing a planned move to the SEC. The departure of the Sooners and the Longhorns would leave the Big 12 with just eight teams remaining. OU and Texas did confirm that they won’t renew their media rights with the Big 12 following the 2025 season, but it appears that more developments are soon to follow.

It’s a difficult scenario for schools like OSU, whose home conference would lose its two top revenue-producing members to the SEC.

There might be benefits to the Big 12 Conference staying together following the expected departure of Oklahoma and Texas to the SEC.

Most of the speculation has revolved around OSU and other Big 12 schools scattering to the remaining power conferences, with perhaps a handful flocking to the west to join the Pac-12 while some Midwest-based schools getting added to the Big Ten.

There’s an argument to be made, though, that the Big 12 could continue to exist in a college football world with a 12-team playoff. A new media rights deal would bring in less overall revenue to schools without OU and Texas, but as far as football is concerned, the best mid-major conferences have proved that you don’t need to be in a Power Five league to a) send players to the NFL, b) finish in the nation’s Top 12, or c) beat Power Conference teams on the gridiron.

Even in large, 14-team conferences like the ACC and the SEC, schools barely seem like they’re in the same league — consider that some schools may not face each other in football more often than once every seven years in the regular season.

In each NFL Draft of the past two decades, a player from a non-Power Five program has been chosen in the first round. Players from Wyoming, Alabama State, Central Florida, Boise State, Western Michigan and Tulsa have gone in the NFL Draft’s first round in the last several years. Even guys from Louisville, Duke, Vanderbilt, and Northwestern are included among the first players chosen — a far cry from the college football’s elite programs like Alabama, Clemson, and Ohio State, even if the latter three produce a great deal more future NFL stars.

Seven different non-power conference teams (besides Notre Dame) have finished among the AP poll’s Top 12 in the last decade. Whether it’s been Cincinnati last year, Central Florida, Houston, or Boise State, schools have proven that belonging in a non-power conferences doesn’t keep you out of the Top 12. Of course, it’s limited membership in the four-team rendition of the College Football Playoff, but its expansion would help open the door to participation from a weaker Big 12 without OU and Texas.

Lastly, there are on-field results to consider, too. Boise State owns a winning record against ACC teams (3-2), all in games that have taken place since 2005. The Broncos also own a 10-4 record against the Pac-12 since 2008, including several wins each against Oregon and Washington.

Even Houston has beaten the last four ACC opponents that it’s faced since 2015. BYU owns an all-time 5-2 edge against the Big 12, and Central Florida has won three of its last five contests against ACC teams (all within the last decade).

OSU’s leadership (like the other Big 12 schools) would be wise to consider all of its options. It doesn’t have to automatically mean that the Cowboys will be forced to travel to the Pacific Time Zone or to the Upper Midwest several times a season, especially in some of the non-revenue sports aside from basketball and football.

With the possible expansion of the CFP to include 12 teams, thus encouraging greater playoff participation beyond the ACC and SEC, the remaining Big 12 schools should consider the benefits of staying together and of adding some top schools from the Mountain West or the American.