IRVING, Texas — The Big 12 Conference will not split into divisions for football and instead will match its first- and second-place teams when its championship game returns next season.
Athletic directors decided on the 1 vs. 2 format after input from the league’s football coaches, the conference announced Friday.
“Given our round-robin, nine-game scheduling model, it is expected the Big 12 champion will be uniquely positioned for College Football Playoff consideration,” Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said in a statement. “I would argue there will be no path more difficult than our champion’s, where it will have played every team in the conference, faced at least one autonomy conference nonconference opponent and then plays in our championship game.