Big 12 Considering Football Title Game for 2016, Possible Membership Expansion

A football title game for the Big 12 Conference is still not out of the question for the near future, possibly as near as 2016.

Speaking with ESPN, Big 12 President Bob Bowlsby said the NCAA Council is considering such a proposal, which could then be approved by January. Also the chair of the Football Oversight Committee, Bowlsby said Big 12 members will be able to comment on the proposal over the next 60 days.

At their annual meetings, the Big 12 had the chance to vote in favor of a football title game for the upcoming season, but the membership voted against it. Though he praised the decision at the time, Bowlsby indicated the current proposal will likely be approved this winter.

"It's officially in the system," he told ESPN. "We haven't encountered any resistance to it at all. It's really deregulation, is allowing conferences to do what they want to determine their champion. In the end, I expect that it will be approved."

Also facing the Big 12 is the matter of expansion. Despite what its name might suggest, the conference only has 10 member schools and the NCAA requires a league to have at least 12 members and two divisions in order to have a title game, but the rule only applies to football.

Bowlsby indicated the Big 12 is fully willing to have a title game with its current 10 members if the NCAA allows for it. Still, University of Oklahoma President David Boren recently told the Oklahoman he would like to see the Big 12 add two more teams.

"I think it's something we should strive for while we have the time, stability, all of that to look and be choosy," Boren said. "(We) can be very selective about who we want to add. It would have to add value to the conference. I think we should."

Bowlsby would not rule that possibility out, but said it seems unlikely as of now.

"I certainly would never say never, but I don't think the votes are there at the present time to move from 10," he told ESPN. "The significant majority of our presidents and chancellors feel that 10 is the right number, but president Boren is an influential guy in our meetings. If he would advocate for it, I'm sure the other presidents and chancellors would listen."