Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby yesterday cited data compiled by Navigate Research as showing that the "best model for placing a team in the College Football Playoff is a 12-team conference playing eight league games plus a championship game," according to George Schroeder of USA TODAY. Bowlsby will "brief the league’s athletic directors and football coaches during their annual meetings this week" at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix. Bowlsby "anticipates some sort of decision" later in the summer. Bowlsby believes the data “will probably persuade some people one way or another” on whether or not to add a conference championship game or pursue expansion. But he said that he "wasn’t sure what his recommendation would be." Bowlsby "reiterated something he’s said before, too." For its "financial stability, the Big 12 needs to act." The Big Ten’s recent reported $250M deal for a portion of its media rights "only highlighted the issue." Bowlsby: "If we do nothing, we’ll fall behind with the SEC and Big Ten. We may still be just as competitive as we are today, but we’ll fall behind financially" (USATODAY.com, 5/2). Oklahoma President and Big 12 BOD Chair David Boren has said that he would like to see the conference "take action this summer to expand, add a championship game and form a conference network." Boren has said that "until the Big 12 does all three, it will be 'psychologically disadvantaged'" (ESPN.com, 5/2). Bowlsby said that those issues are "'almost inseparable' which complicates the discussion." He said, "That's why this has been a long and careful process. It's impossible to think about one (issue) without thinking about the others. ... It has a lot of moving parts" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 5/3).
