Big 12’s split into divisions on hold as NCAA proposal aims to remove conference title game restrictions

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – As the Big 12 was considering a temporary split into divisions for football, sources tell CBS Sports an NCAA proposal to relax conference championship game rules has complicated matters. That proposal that would no longer require FBS conferences to have divisions in order to hold league title games, effectively giving such conferences better access the College Football Playoff by allowing them to match their two best teams.

A special Big 12 subcommittee formed to determine how to best incorporate up to 14 teams in conference realignment from 2023-24 had been expected to finalize league composition and schedules this week. However, the Big 12 is awaiting resolution on a proposal from the NCAA Football Oversight Committee that would allow all leagues to play without divisions but still hold conference championship games without a waiver from the association.

That would give conferences an opportunity to match their two best (usually highest-ranked) teams in league title games. The legislation would be an option, not a mandate. Currently, the only FBS conferences that play without divisions are the 10-team Big 12 and 11-team American. The Big 12 plays a round-robin schedule, granting it the ability to play a conference championship game, while the AAC has an NCAA waiver to match its two best teams for the league title.

With divisions becoming less of a consideration, the Big 12 has to retrench with its largest membership ever, albeit temporarily.

“You’re basically starting [the scheduling process] from scratch,” a source familiar with the Big 12 process told CBS Sports.

For months that five-person subcommittee has been discussing what is anticipated to be 14 teams for the 2023-24 seasons. That is assuming BYU,…

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