The Big 12 has two war horses: Texas and OU. They need to be in different divisions with a chance to play each other for the title. They also need to keep their annual rivalry.

Voila! SEC style permanant cross division rivals. Turns out, virtually the entire league can be divided this way with ease.

Zipper A - Zipper B
Texas - OU
Tech - Okla St
Baylor - TCU
Kansas St - Kansas
Cincy - West Va
Iowa St - ???

??? could be BYU, UCF, Memphis, Houston etc.

If it was Houston, then OU and Ok St would not only have their permanent Texas rivals, but would play a game in Houston or DFW every year for recruiting purposes.

This divisional split results in a much better balance of power than trying to keep the old Big 12 South together (with TCU for A&M), and putting the two new schools with WVU, Kansas, K St and Iowa St in a rag tag "North" division.

?=Nebraska.
Maybe they will have a change of heart.

(06-24-2015 05:33 PM)XLance Wrote:  ?=Nebraska.
Maybe they will have a change of heart.

wow, that would be another interesting thread. what if Neb and Mizzou returned to the Big 12. what would the Big Ten and SEC do to replace them?

(06-24-2015 05:24 PM)CougarRed Wrote:  The Big 12 has two war horses: Texas and OU. They need to be in different divisions with a chance to play each other for the title. They also need to keep their annual rivalry.

Voila! SEC style permanant cross division rivals. Turns out, virtually the entire league can be divided this way with ease.

Zipper A - Zipper B
Texas - OU
Tech - Okla St
Baylor - TCU
Kansas St - Kansas
Cincy - West Va
Iowa St - ???

??? could be BYU, UCF, Memphis, Houston etc.

If it was Houston, then OU and Ok St would not only have their permanent Texas rivals, but would play a game in Houston or DFW every year for recruiting purposes.

This divisional split results in a much better balance of power than trying to keep the old Big 12 South together (with TCU for A&M), and putting the two new schools with WVU, Kansas, K St and Iowa St in a rag tag "North" division.

Quick-who is in the ACC divisions?

Zippers are stupid.

Besides, almost all zippers are made in China now and don't last two weeks.

Almost has to be a zipper to keep the North teams from being left out of the Texoma party. I'd be shocked if we see another North South divide. Probably end up like the PAC and California to have 2 texas teams in each division to keep everyone happy.

The Big "south" schools will not be separated. "IF" the Big 12 expands, new members will have to play in the North.

(06-24-2015 07:12 PM)RaiderRed Wrote:  The Big "south" schools will not be separated. "IF" the Big 12 expands, new members will have to play in the North.

Really?

If Tech played Texas, Baylor, Ok St and one of TCU or OU every year (as suggested in the OP), that's not good enough?

I highly doubt it.

Okielite is right. The divisions will be split in order to balance the power, and balance the access to the Texas recruiting market.

With deregulation why not have 3-4 annual "rivals" and rotate the rest.

For instance Texas plays OU, TTU, BU, TCU every year and rotates through the others with 5 spots for 8 teams.
OU would get UT, OSU, KU, KSU
TTU gets BU, TCU, UT, OSU
BU gets TCU, UT, TTU, and TBD
TCU gets BU, UT, TTU, and TBD
OSU gets OU, TTU, ISU, KSU

Some workable solution with this model can be found to preserve rivalries, mix up schedules, and ensure the best matchup is likely to reach the title game.

Take the two best records when all of it is over with without bothering on divisions.

The whole point of adding TCU was that each team would get 2 games in Texas every year for recruiting purposes.

(06-24-2015 11:07 PM)Groo Wrote:  The whole point of adding TCU was that each team would get 2 games in Texas every year for recruiting purposes.

I could see Texas and OU being split, but not in a zipper.
OU/OSU/KU/KSU/ISU
UT/TT/Baylor

Then where TCU & WVU go would depend on who 11 & 12 were.

(06-24-2015 11:07 PM)Groo Wrote:  The whole point of adding TCU was that each team would get 2 games in Texas every year for recruiting purposes.

Exactly--- IF anyone is added they will have to be in the North. IF you don't like it, don't ask.

OT--- During the OU/UT run in the 2000's, had Tech had been a "North" member, we might have a few more division championships.

Just sayin

No divisions, one permanent rival would be my guess (should the scenario of the Big 12 expansion and ccg deregulation come to fruition).

(06-24-2015 11:23 PM)RaiderRed Wrote:  

(06-24-2015 11:07 PM)Groo Wrote:  The whole point of adding TCU was that each team would get 2 games in Texas every year for recruiting purposes.

Exactly--- IF anyone is added they will have to be in the North. IF you don't like it, don't ask.

OT--- During the OU/UT run in the 2000's, had Tech had been a "North" member, we might have a few more division championships.

Just sayin

Agreed. I still remember the 3 way tie in the South with TT, OU, and UT. All 3 were great that year.

As far as divisions why bother? Let's just have 5 fixed opponents per team and rotate the other 6. Everyone plays 9 of the 11 opponents each year and misses two teams for one year but gets them back the next. Two best records reach the title game. Same record gives tiebreak to highest playoff ranking to ensure best "quality win" for the winner.
For instance each team would play each of the other 3 they get grouped with and two designated "rivals" so Texas and OU play each year.
Bu, UT, TCU, TT
OU, OSU, KU, KSU
ISU, WV, #11, #12
Example schedule for BU-
Year 1
TCU
Tech
Texas
KU
Team#11
OU
OSU
WV
KSU
Year Two
TCU
UT
Tech
KU
Team#11
WV
KSU
Team#12
ISU
Year 3:
TCU
Texas
Tech
KU
Team #11
Team #12
ISU
OU
OSU
Play a home and home with everyone every 3 years and go no more than one year without playing anyone.
We have 5 so ISU gets two fixed Big8 opponents as they otherwise could get pretty screwed in the whole deal.

Sample pairings:
In addition to the other Texas schools...
BU- KU & #11
TCU- KSU & #12
Texas- OU & WV
Tech- OSU & ISU

In addition to the other OK/KS teams-
OU- TX & ISU
OSU- TT & #11
KU- BU & WV
KSU- TCU & ISU

In addition to the other 3 "eastern" schools (ISU, WV, 2 new schools)

ISU- OU & KSU
WV- UT & KU
Team 11- BU & OSU
Team 12- TT & TCU

Other than KU-ISU or OSU/ISU being played only 2/3 years I can't think of a "significant" rivalry with any history that skips at all.

Or just add one school and go to a 10 game conference schedule, to maintain the round robin play.

(06-25-2015 05:34 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  Or just add one school and go to a 10 game conference schedule, to maintain the round robin play.

Expand to 14 and petition the NCAA to allow everyone to play a 13th game. #onetruechampion

(06-24-2015 05:24 PM)CougarRed Wrote:  The Big 12 has two war horses: Texas and OU. They need to be in different divisions with a chance to play each other for the title. They also need to keep their annual rivalry.

Voila! SEC style permanant cross division rivals. Turns out, virtually the entire league can be divided this way with ease.

Zipper A - Zipper B
Texas - OU
Tech - Okla St
Baylor - TCU
Kansas St - Kansas
Cincy - West Va
Iowa St - ???

??? could be BYU, UCF, Memphis, Houston etc.

If it was Houston, then OU and Ok St would not only have their permanent Texas rivals, but would play a game in Houston or DFW every year for recruiting purposes.

This divisional split results in a much better balance of power than trying to keep the old Big 12 South together (with TCU for A&M), and putting the two new schools with WVU, Kansas, K St and Iowa St in a rag tag "North" division.

Iowa st-northern iowa

(06-24-2015 11:20 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(06-24-2015 11:07 PM)Groo Wrote:  The whole point of adding TCU was that each team would get 2 games in Texas every year for recruiting purposes.

I could see Texas and OU being split, but not in a zipper.
OU/OSU/KU/KSU/ISU
UT/TT/Baylor

Then where TCU & WVU go would depend on who 11 & 12 were.

I can't. Did you see what happened when Nebraska and Oklahoma were split? Where did that rivalry go?

(06-25-2015 05:40 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  

(06-25-2015 05:34 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  Or just add one school and go to a 10 game conference schedule, to maintain the round robin play.

Expand to 14 and petition the NCAA to allow everyone to play a 13th game. #onetruechampion

expand to 64 schools. Have a bracket with a 1st and 2nd round, Sweet 16, elite 8 and final four leading to a championship game. Call it the big 12 tournament. The NCAA might allow it, although its pretty groundbreaking and would probably fail.