So, it looks like Missouii will stick around, at least for now.
So here is what the Big XII-3 looks like now:
Texas
Texas Tech
Baylor
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
Kansas
Kansas State
Iowa State
Missouri
I say, the new Big XII commish should bring in three schools to get back to 12. With 12 schools, they have a couple of options:
1. Pods.
3 pods of 4 teams. Each team in the pod would play each of the other members every year. (3 games) Then based on where you finished the previous year, you get those similar teams in the other 2 pods. I.E. if you finished 1st, you get three games against the 2 teams that finished first (kinda like the NFL). (2 games). The remaining 3 conference games would be a random team from the other 2 pods. 4 conference games would be played. 2 best records go to the Big XII championship game.
Divisions
If the above is too cumbersome, there can be 2 six team divisions. Each time plays 5 games against every team in their division and then gets three random games. Best two records go to the Big XII Championship game.
So who would I invite to get back to 12?
First thing I would say, is each team needs a "buddy team." A buddy team would serve to be a school nearby that they could form a rivalry with.
So here is how it would currently look:
Oklahoma-Oklahoma State
Texas Tech-Baylor
Kansas-Kansas State
Iowa State-Missouri
In a perfect world Notre Dame. But we know Notre Dame isn't coming. SO here are realistic options:
10. BYU. Gives the Big XII Salt Lake City and more expansion. A solid program that brings money and quality of play into the Big XII.
11. Colorado State. I know a lot of people have talked about Air Force, but CSU is a better option. It has quality academics and a reasonable football program. It brings in the Denver/Colorado market plus gives BYU its buddy.
12. TCU. It just makes too much sense. Texas can build up a great rivalry with TCU and it brings a cachet of being a relevant power in the last decade.
So how would the pods look?
Pod 1:Texas, TCU, Texas Tech, Baylor
Pod 2:Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, BYU, Colorado State
Pod 3: Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State, Missouri.
How about the two division?
Division 1:Texas, TCU, Texas Tech, Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State
Division 2: Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, BYU, Colorado State, Iowa State, Missouri