Column: The new Big 12 Conference
Published Sept. 28, 2010
With the Big 12 Conference formally reaching agreements with Nebraska and Colorado concerning their exit fees this past week, the conference is about to embark on a new era.
As the Missouri football team wrapped up its non-conference slate in convincing fashion over Miami of Ohio last Saturday, Tiger fans should note that the Big 12 portion of MU’s schedule will change significantly next year.
The conference will move to a round-robin format, with Missouri playing every other team in order to determine a true champion. Consequently, MU will play one more Big 12 game, making the total nine, at the expense of a non-conference game. While fans will get more excitement from another conference game, it will no doubt be a more difficult schedule.
It will be harder than ever to win the Big 12 starting next year, especially for teams from the North Division. But how will the conference be perceived around the country? Will its reputation slide with the loss of Nebraska, or rise with the Buffaloes’ departure?
In reality, losing Colorado has little effect on the conference, except for having one less mouth to feed. And since the Buffaloes were so eager to bolt to the Pac-10 Conference, the Big 12 will gladly withhold $6.863 million from Colorado’s revenue as penalty for leaving.
Nebraska’s exit from the Big 12 will weaken the conference’s image both on and off the field. The Huskers have been a traditional contender for the Big 12 title, and a mainstay in the top 25 polls nationally. Losing one of its best members on the field sets the conference back a few paces, especially in relation to the Big 10 Conference.
But the loss of Nebraska’s rabid fan base may have bigger ramifications. The Huskers are a staple of national television networks’ schedules, and usually bring a sizeable number of fans wherever they play. (This was probably the deciding factor in the Big Ten’s expansion decision.) For instance, watching the Huskers’ game against Washington a week ago, there seemed to be more red in the stadium than Husky blue, and that was in Seattle.
The Big 12 will keep $9.255 million from Nebraska, but that will feel like a mere consolation compared to the revenue leaving the conference with the Huskers.
From a fan’s perspective, the loss of two teams may be enough to knock the Big 12 down a peg in relation to the Big Ten and Pac-10 conferences, which both expanded. There will also undoubtedly be some confusion as the Big 12 will have 10 teams while the Big 10 will have 12 teams.
Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe claims to have been told his conference only loses 8 to 10 percent in value with the loss of Nebraska and Colorado, compared to the 16 percent loss in number of teams. The Big 12’s television contracts will remain in place next year, so the remaining teams will effectively be taking home a bigger slice of the revenue pie.
In the short run, the remaining schools will benefit both financially and competitively (with the loss of Nebraska and having balanced schedules). Eventually, however, the responsibility will fall on the second-tier teams like Missouri, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma State to not only provide the Big 12 with some depth, but keep it relevant and afloat.