On Thursday afternoon the Southeastern Conference announced they would be going to a conference only schedule in 2020. This created a domino effect for the Big 12 as they cancelled their media day. It was also reported that an emergency meeting was called to determine how the conference would proceed with the 2020 football season.
Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports reported on Friday that the league was split with what the season would look like.
The Big 12’s athletic directors were split Friday while meeting to recommend which scheduling model the conference should use in a 2020 season that remains in flux amid the coronavirus pandemic. The conference is currently considering two primary options: a complete 12-game season or a 10-game schedule including one nonconference opponent, several league sources tell CBS Sports.
In the 12-game model, the Big 12 would play its nine league opponents in its traditional round-robin format along with three nonconference opponents. In the 10-game model, it is believed the Big 12 would play its conference schedule along with one nonconference game that would take place before the league slate begins, likely on Sept. 19 or Sept. 26.
The other Power Five conferences are set to begin on September 26th, so it would make sense for the Big 12 to follow suit. The question remains now if they will be the only conference to attempt to play a full 12-game schedule amid the pandemic.
Pac-12 releases 2020 football schedule pic.twitter.com/b4nGmpniLl
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) July 31, 2020
The Pac-12 Conference was the latest to announce their schedule starting on September 26th. If the Big 12 decides on a 12-game schedule it would likely start earlier. It remains to be seen what Monday’s meeting could bring for the conference. Oklahoma and Kansas have already moved up their opening game to week zero in an attempt to jumpstart the season.
If the Big 12 goes with a conference-only schedule, it would play the fewest games (nine) of any Power Five league. That could potentially leave the conference at a competitive disadvantage in regard to the College Football Playoff.