Warning: Long, possibly stupid, post to follow. TLDR - I wonder if a 9 game conference only schedule would hurt the Big 12 in the eyes of the playoff committee (since the rest of the P5 would be playing 10 game schedules). If so, possible potential options are: 1. Allow for the first non-con game to still be played 2. Play a rival Big 12 school twice in the season 3. Add BYU to all Big 12 football teams' schedules since BYU's 2020 schedule seems to be dissolving. More detail/uninformed speculation below if you want to read.
If the Big 12 and other conferences follow the lead of the Big Ten and go to a conference teams only 2020 football season, is that going to be an issue for the Big 12 in the eyes of the playoff committee (if there is a playoff) ? The Big 12 only has nine conference games to offer each member without repeating, while the other P5 conferences could play ten games like the Big 10 is planning. Back when the Big 12 didn't have a championship game, that lack of an additional "data point" argument was used against the conference by the playoff committee. Some options that the Big 12 could consider:
1. Allow Big 12 teams to keep their first scheduled non-con game, then take several weeks off to flush any potential COVID out before starting the Big 12 conference season. I could see legal problems with this from several angles, and I'm not sure it will help the argument to the playoff committee as many Big 12 teams start out with cupcakes.
2. Play one conference "rival" team twice in a home-&-home matchup that bookends the season. Could be interesting or could be boring depending on your perspective. The problem is that some rivals are stronger than others and it might be unfair for Oklahoma to have to play Oklahoma St. twice while Texas gets Texas Tech twice. The rival matchups might look like below:
3. Have BYU as a quasi-member of the Big 12 for one season (football only). BYU would not count in the standings or be eligible for the conference championship game (if played). That would give every Big 12 team one additional quality opponent and get their schedule to 10 games. BYU should have the resources and facilities to COVID test at a level that the Big 12 conference demands.
BYU might be interested in this deal because they are already losing two conference games from the Big 10. If the rest of the P5 follows suit, they will lose 4 more games (now 6 total games lost). If the MWC and AAC decide to follow the 10 game conference-only protocol of the big boys for scheduling flexibility, then BYU is down to 2 games. Even without a chance to compete for the Big 12 championship, playing against the Big 12 would give BYU a tiny chance to compete for a playoff spot (if played) and a chance at a bowl berth (if played).
Of course it would be awkward if BYU ended up with the best record (or even second best record) out of the Big 12 schools, but cross that bridge if you get there. Seems unlikely.
If the Big 12 and other conferences follow the lead of the Big Ten and go to a conference teams only 2020 football season, is that going to be an issue for the Big 12 in the eyes of the playoff committee (if there is a playoff) ? The Big 12 only has nine conference games to offer each member without repeating, while the other P5 conferences could play ten games like the Big 10 is planning. Back when the Big 12 didn't have a championship game, that lack of an additional "data point" argument was used against the conference by the playoff committee. Some options that the Big 12 could consider:
1. Allow Big 12 teams to keep their first scheduled non-con game, then take several weeks off to flush any potential COVID out before starting the Big 12 conference season. I could see legal problems with this from several angles, and I'm not sure it will help the argument to the playoff committee as many Big 12 teams start out with cupcakes.
2. Play one conference "rival" team twice in a home-&-home matchup that bookends the season. Could be interesting or could be boring depending on your perspective. The problem is that some rivals are stronger than others and it might be unfair for Oklahoma to have to play Oklahoma St. twice while Texas gets Texas Tech twice. The rival matchups might look like below:
OSU - OU
KSU - KU
UT - TTU
BU - TCU
ISU - WVU (gonna have to fake a rivalry here)
KSU - KU
UT - TTU
BU - TCU
ISU - WVU (gonna have to fake a rivalry here)
3. Have BYU as a quasi-member of the Big 12 for one season (football only). BYU would not count in the standings or be eligible for the conference championship game (if played). That would give every Big 12 team one additional quality opponent and get their schedule to 10 games. BYU should have the resources and facilities to COVID test at a level that the Big 12 conference demands.
BYU might be interested in this deal because they are already losing two conference games from the Big 10. If the rest of the P5 follows suit, they will lose 4 more games (now 6 total games lost). If the MWC and AAC decide to follow the 10 game conference-only protocol of the big boys for scheduling flexibility, then BYU is down to 2 games. Even without a chance to compete for the Big 12 championship, playing against the Big 12 would give BYU a tiny chance to compete for a playoff spot (if played) and a chance at a bowl berth (if played).
Of course it would be awkward if BYU ended up with the best record (or even second best record) out of the Big 12 schools, but cross that bridge if you get there. Seems unlikely.
