Inside the Big 12's ideas for new divisions
In March Big 12 ADs had high-level discussions but, according to sources, reached no consensus on which divisional model is best.
theathletic.com
No real answers yet or solid speculation, just something to watch. A final decision sounds possible but not likely. The focus of this article is on whether Texas and Oklahoma should be in the same division or not, and the likelihood of them being in the conference when new divisions begin. Everyone wants to play in Texas and Florida for recruiting reasons, so north/south divisions seem less likely.
For starters, Oklahoma and Texas still have not given notice for an early SEC exit, so the Big 12 continues to operate under the assumption this will be a 14-team conference in 2023 and 2024. Their continued presence is perhaps the most interesting issue in devising these division models.
Can a divisional plan — or a decision on whether the Big 12 should even have divisions — get finalized during their May 2-4 meetings? Some sources view that as more of an optimistic aim, given the limited amount of discussion that has occurred so far and how many details need to be addressed. The Phoenix meetings will also be the first time all of the Big 12’s current and future football coaches will be in a room together, and surely they’ll have feedback to offer.
Those meetings will offer their first chance to really reckon with this unusual experience of moving forward as a hopefully tight-knit 12-member family living with two exes who still haven’t moved out. This 14-team league is happening, and it’s time to start making decisions about how this is actually going to work.
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