2011 recap: Big 12

The Big 12 began 2011 wondering if they were going to survive until 2012.  They will begin 2012 looking as a very different conference.

8 days until kickoff....

The Big 12 began their 10 team era in 2011, and was one of the main catalysts for the Mega Conference Realignment of 2010-2015.  Nebraska jumped to the now 12 team Big Ten, and Colorado moved to the Pac-12.  During the season, Texas A&M and Missouri announced their intent to join the SEC in 2012.  Finally, in several rather controversial moves, West Virginia and TCU were invited to join for 2012.

But this post is about last season.  With 10 teams, the Big 12 lost its championship game and divisions, and changed to play a round robin, 9 game conference schedule.

Much of the major drama and news about the Big 12 came from off the field, due to the above mentioned realignment.  However, the Big 12 managed to keep things interesting on the field.  Even though they beat TCU in the first week, Baylor became a sleeper team that shot up on fans' radar during the final month of the season.  While their 3 losses in October kept them out of national title contention, and even conference title contention, their superb November performance kept them in the spotlight.  While they were not able to capture the titles, Baylor made it harder for other teams to get there.  The team was also elevated by eventual Heisman winner Robert Griffin III.

Probably Baylor's biggest win came against Oklahoma the weekend before Thanksgiving.  It was the first time Baylor had ever defeated Oklahoma in school history.  It was a close game, and the only way to truly describe it is with this SportsCenter highlight.

With previously undefeated Oklahoma State losing the night before, this set up the annual Bedlam game to be a de facto Big 12 Championship Game.  Ironically, the game was scheduled for the exact same time and network that the championship game would have aired if it still existed (primetime on ABC on the first Saturday of December).

The biggest disappointment of the season was Oklahoma State missing out on a chance at a national title because ESPN wanted to see two SEC teams in the game.  Instead, they went to play Stanford in a very close and exciting Fiesta Bowl, winning in overtime.

Overall, the Big 12 had 8 of its 10 members in bowls, going 6-2 in the process.  Oklahoma State, Baylor, Texas A&M, Texas, Missouri, and Oklahoma won their bowls, while Kansas State and Iowa State did not.  Kansas and Texas Tech did not make bowls.