The Big 12 announced Friday that its championship game, which returns next season, will match the top two teams in the conference standings.
The conference considered going to divisions out of its round-robin format, but opted against it in the end -- despite a 7-3 vote Wednesday in favor of splitting into divisions by Big 12 football coaches, sources told ESPN's Brett McMurphy.
"There are a number of advantages to matching our top two teams," Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said in a statement. "Given our round-robin, nine-game scheduling model, it is expected the Big 12 champion will be uniquely positioned for College Football Playoff consideration.