Conference realignment is nothing new to the Big 12. It all began in 2010 when Nebraska and Colorado up and left for the Big Ten and Pac 12. Conference realignment reared it's ugly head again in 2011 as both Missouri and Texas A&M left for the SEC, officially ripping the Big 12 asunder and leaving them scrambling for new members. Luckily TCU and West Virginia joined in 2012 to stop the impending doom of the Big 12. After they joined it seemed as if the Big 12 was going to survive. Content with 10 teams the Big 12 resisted expanding any further and instead decided to capitalize on their round robin schedule. With a new look and new slogan "One True Champion" headlining the Big 12, the future looked bright for the conference. Then, on the morning of December 7th the CFB Playoffs seeding were announced. No.1 Alabama......No.2 Oregon......No.3 Florida State......and No.4 Ohio State. The Big 12 got shut out of the inaugural CFB Playoffs. This news left Big 12 country (specifically central Texas) in a rage and the rest of the country scratching their heads and asking the obvious question, "why did the Big 12 get left out of the playoffs". The answer may be relatively simple; the lack of a post season championship game. Even Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said "It's clear that we were penalized for not having a postseason championship game." In the eyes of the fans their is one true champion of the Big 12, Baylor, unfortunately the playoff committee did not share the same view. It is now obvious that the Big 12 must add a conference championship by either appealing to the NCAA to allow for a conference championship, or more realistically expand. In a perfect world we could touch a button to reset all conference moves dating back to 2010, but unfortunately that is not an option. Below i have provided 4 candidates to possibly join the Big 12 to make the league a 14 team conference and finally destroy any possibility of a full on collapse of the Big 12.
BYU
BYU has been brought up before, but never as a serious candidate, and the window of opportunity for BYU to join the Big 12 has never been more open. The school has a well known athletic department and are competitive in both football and basketball. Geographically Utah isn't quite Big 12 country, but then again neither is West Virgina. Although if the Big 12 decided to pick up Colorado State, then Utah would be a great geographical fit. Provo, UT is only 45 miles away from Salt Lake City, the 33rd largest tv market.
Colorado State
To be honest I don't think that Colorado State is a realistic candidate for the Big 12, but given the current events Bowlsby may be desperate enough to offer CSU membership. Colorado State isn't widely known for their prestigious athletics and is often overshadowed by Colorado's flagship university UC Boulder. But recently the Rams have been gaining public notoriety because of their basketball and football teams. The biggest appeal to this school is the location. Colorado State could fill the geographical footprint left by Colorado and would help ease in BYU in a geographical sense. I doubt the Big 12 jumps for CSU, but hey in today's state of conference realignment anything can happen. I mean, Rutgers in the Big 10? I mean, c'mon?
Memphis
I know, sounds crazy right? Memphis is the last school I think the Big 12 would pick, but after looking at what Memphis has to offer, it actually sounds plausible they join. Memphis, like KU, is known for being a basketball school and has never been considered a football school. Recently though the Tigers posted a 9-3 regular season record and are on the rise as a program. If Memphis is placed in the Big 12, I believe their fans will get behind their football team. Memphis sits in the 48th largest T.V. market that has no strong conference affiliation (except for maybe SEC or American) and is just asking to being taken advantage of. Expanding eastward would help West Virginia from being completely alienated in a geographical sense and it helps open the door for more eastward expansion, like in Cincinnati.
Cincinnati
Cincinnati has been thrown around before, and like BYU, their chance to join the Big 12 has never been bigger. Cincinnati has fielded great football and basketball teams lately and would thrive even more being a member of the Big 12. Cincinnati is extremely similar to Memphis in the sense that their city doesn't have a strong conference following. The Big 12 could take full control of the nation's 34th largest tv market. Adding the Bearcats could help complete a northern or eastern division.
While i'm at it, i've made a list of conference realignment moves that would create 8, 14 team conferences and one 12 team conference in order to help eliminate any CFB Playoff drama and most importantly put an end to realignment. (please forgive me for the Big 12 divisions)
Big 12
Division A:
Memphis
West Virginia
Cincinnati
Iowa State
Kansas
Kansas State
TCU
Division B:
Texas
Texas Tech
Baylor
Oklahoma State
Oklahoma
Colorado State
BYU
ACC (Partial members Notre Dame and UConn)
Atlantic:
Florida State
Clemson
Louisville
Boston College
NC State
Wake Forest
Syracuse
Coastal:
Georgia Tech
Duke
North Carolina
Pittsburgh
Miami
Virginia Tech
Virginia
Big Ten
East:
Ohio State
Michigan State
Maryland
Rutgers
Michigan
Penn State
Indiana
West:
Wisconsin
Minnesota
Nebraska
Iowa
Illinois
Northwestern
Purdue
SEC
East:
Missouri
Georgia
Florida
South Carolina
Tennessee
Kentucky
Vanderbilt
West:
Alabama
Mississippi State
Ole Miss
Auburn
LSU
Texas A&M
Arkansas
Pac 12
North:
Washington
Washington State
Oregon
Oregon State
Boise State
Utah
Colorado
South:
California
Stanford
Arizona
Arizona State
USC
UCLA
San Diego State
American
East:
UMass
Temple
Navy
ECU
Marshall
UCF
West:
South Florida
Tulsa
Tulane
SMU
Houston
Rice
Mountain West Conference
East:
Air Force
New Mexico
New Mexico State
North Texas
Texas State
UTEP
Wyoming
West:
Hawaii
Fresno State
San Jose State
Nevada
UNLV
Idaho
Utah State
MAC
East:
Buffalo
Toledo
Kent State
Bowling Green
Miami
Akron
Ohio
West:
Eastern Michigan
Western Michigan
Central Michigan
Northern Illinois
Middle Tennessee State
Western Kentucky
Ball State
Conference USA/Sun Belt
West:
UT San Antonio
Arkansas State
Louisiana Lafayette
Louisiana Monroe
Louisiana Tech
Southern Miss
Troy
East:
South Alabama
Georgia State
Georgia Southern
FIU
FAU
Appalachian State
Old Dominion