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Big 12 Football: The good, bad and ugly of bringing back title game

By Andrew Hammond

NORMAN, OK - DECEMBER 3: Quarterback Baker Mayfield
NORMAN, OK - DECEMBER 3: Quarterback Baker Mayfield /
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01 Dec 2001: Quarterback Major Applewhite #11 of the Texas Longhorns points tauntingly at the Colorado Buffaloes bench after he threw a long pass for a touchdown late in the second quarter of the Big 12 Championship at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas. DIGITAL IMAGE Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr/ALLSPORT
01 Dec 2001: Quarterback Major Applewhite #11 of the Texas Longhorns points tauntingly at the Colorado Buffaloes bench after he threw a long pass for a touchdown late in the second quarter of the Big 12 Championship at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas. DIGITAL IMAGE Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr/ALLSPORT /

Why it’s bad to bring back the Big 12 title game

  • We will have seen the title game already

One thing that was supposed to come back along with the Big 12 title game were divisions and possible expansion. Neither of those happened so that means the conference will continue it’s non-divisional play. So yes, the conference title game that we will have will involve two teams that have already played each other.

It’s guaranteed that we will see a rematch of a previous game during the season, wether that involved an Oklahoma, TCU or Texas. That team will have to beat a squad that it has already beaten, or played, earlier in the year. It’s an unnecessary hurdle that the Big 12 has put in it’s way and without divisions, the conference’s end result has the chances of even being more comical.

Also, in 2015 the Big 12 didn’t need a title game to reach the playoff so of course it would add in a final hurdle for no reason. The Big 12, everybody.

  • It’s hurt the conference before

From 1996 to 2010, the Big 12 had several instances where having the conference title game and that “13th data point” cost it a shot at sending a team to the national title game. Don’t believe me? When you factor in the the current four-team playoff situation, the conference’s title game mishaps sting just a bit more. You think I’m wrong? Just look at the history.

More from Big 12

1996: No. 3 Nebraska loses in the inaugural Big 12 title game against Texas, 37-27. A win would’ve put the Huskers into a four-team playoff had the playoff era existed.

1998: No. 2 Kansas State coughs up a 27-12 fourth quarter lead as Texas A&M defeats the Wildcats in double overtime to win 36-33.

2001: No. 3 Texas loses a heartbreaker to No. 9 Colorado 39-37. However, if you look at the polls the following day, Colorado would’ve actually played its way into the playoff. So, basically the Big 12 should’ve begged for a four-team playoff a long time ago.

I would usually put 2003 Oklahoma here but the Sooners survived their 35-7 shellacking to Kansas State and only dropped to No.3 in both polls the next day. Amazing, I know.

2007: No.1 Missouri loses to Oklahoma 38-17, costing the Tigers a chance to be No. 1 in both polls heading into the national title game.

So yeah, you’d think that the Big 12 would learn its lesson by now. I mean there is no way that I’ve crafted a totally legit scenario where the Big 12 costs itself a chance at the Big 12 title, right? Well, about that. 

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