Big 12 needs to improve nonconference schedule

By Joshua Lea | Sep 16, 2015

With Big 12 conference play just a week away, the Big 12 has a chance to capitalize on Oklahoma’s recent success over the SEC. This week, there is a nonconference game that could help the Big 12 in multiple ways.

Looking ahead to week 3 in the Big 12 conference, there may not be a lot to get hyped about. The Big 12 has a weak nonconference schedule. While the Oklahoma Tennessee game was a great victory for the Sooners and for the Big 12, the fact remains that Tennessee is in the SEC East, and they haven’t had a relevant program as of late.

However, Oklahoma’s success against the SEC is noted and something the Big 12 can promote as a positive. After the victory in Knoxville, you see Oklahoma headlines and Baker Mayfield making media rounds to talk about winning in a hostile environment.

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Does that mean we could be in for more Big 12 vs SEC match-ups? Could we possibly see a Oklahoma State vs LSU matchup in Week 1 or 2? The fan in all of us would hope so. This is no disrespect to Stephen F. Austin or Central Arkansas, but these teams have to know they are going to be outmatched. There is no way Central Arkansas thought they had a chance to beat Oklahoma State in Stillwater over the weekend.

All across the country college football fanatics tuned in to see Oregon vs. Michigan State and Oklahoma vs. Tennessee because these nonconference games were exciting and came with plenty of storylines. Nobody watched Oklahoma State vs. Central Arkansas or TCU destroy Stephen F. Austin. Why? Because they offer any value to the viewer.

I’m not going to pull a Bret Bielema on everyone and say the Big 12 has a weaker non-conference schedule or that other conferences are favored more than the Big 12. However, the Big 12 conference schedule far outweighs the nonconference. We should be able to see more games like Oklahoma vs. Tennessee because this type of game should help the Big 12 get back to relevancy.

The Big 12 can capitalize on these victories and continue to grow the brand through winning against more glorified opposition. This season Tennessee and Arkansas will be the toughest nonconference opponents for the Big 12. Next season we should see more games vs. top 25 nonconference opponents.

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