Big 12’s Scheduling Dilemma

The Big 12’s Scheduling Dilemma

The Big 12 stands alone among the Power Five conferences in that it has never received an at‑large berth to the College Football Playoff, a streak that has persisted since the league expanded to twelve teams. The absence of a guaranteed spot has forced its members to chase nonconference matchups that can boost their résumés, but recent realignment has made those opportunities scarcer.

Scheduling shifts by the SEC and ACC have tightened their own calendars, leaving fewer open slots for Big 12 programs. Texas Tech’s next Power Five opponent is not slated until 2030, and Arizona State will have only two future games against such opponents beyond 2032. Meanwhile, BYU’s long‑running series with Notre Dame replaced a canceled date with Cal after the ACC’s scheduling changes, and Utah will host Arkansas in 2031 before meeting LSU in a home‑and‑home series by 2032.

The ripple effect is evident across the league. Baylor, Houston and Kansas State each manage only two future nonconference games against Power Five foes, and Texas A&M and USC have withdrawn from negotiations to schedule a 2027 series with Texas Tech. The nine‑game conference schedules adopted by the SEC and ACC have further compressed the nonconference window, pushing many Big 12 teams to look far ahead for viable opponents.

In response, Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark has voiced support for expanding the playoff to twenty‑four teams, arguing that a larger field would create more pathways for Big 12 schools to qualify and reduce the pressure on nonconference scheduling. While the proposal awaits approval, the conversation underscores how the conference’s traditional strengths are being reshaped by the evolving landscape of college football.