Big 12 scheduling idea:
Tom Holmoe should approach the Big 12 and offer to have an annual 3-game affiliation with the Big 12 with all games in October and November, as follows:
- One game in Provo in November.
- One game at a Big 12 home stadium in October or November
- One "neutral" site game in Arlington, Houston, or San Antonio in October or November
This would essentially be a 2-for-1, but it would get BYU into Texas each year and would help to fill the late season schedule with better games.
Now, to help the BYU bowl situation, in exchange for the (nearly) 2-for-1, BYU would ask to be included in PART of the Big 12's bowl selection process, as follws:
- BYU eligible for selection to the Big 12's non-CFP bowl games (ie, no Sugar Bowl access), based on BYU's ranking.
For instance:
- Top-10 BYU (that isn't involved in the CFP) would be eligible for selection in the Alamo bowl (v. PAC 12 in San Antonio). Once every four years.
- Top-20 BYU would be eligible for Russell Athletic (v. ACC in Orlando) or Texas Bowl (v. SEC in Houston) or Liberty Bowl (v. SEC in Memphis). Twice every four years.
- Top-25 BYU would be eligible for Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl (v. PAC 12 in Arizona). Once every four years.
- Heart of Dallas/Armed Forces (v. C-USA or American)
Note that the ranking wouldn't guarantee BYU the bowl bid, it would make BYU eligible for selection. And, BYU could only be selected once or twice in a four year period (or something like that).
For now, I really think BYU could bring the 2016 and 2018 Poinsettia Bowls into the pot. Eventually, BYU's presence could bring the Las Vegas Bowl into the Big 12/BYU bowl affiliation, if they want it.
The risk to the Big 12 is that BYU could potentially displace Big 12 teams down the chain of bowls. For instance, a top-25 BYU that plays in the BWW Bowl might bump a 7-5 Big 12 team to the Armed Forces Bowl and a 6-6 Big 12 team into the Poinsettia Bowl. But, the BWW would get a top-25 team.
If none of the Big 12 bowls select BYU, even though eligible, BYU just slides into the Poinsettia Bowl - which is no worse than what BYU has in place now. However, I have a hard time seeing some of these Bowls passing on a top-25 BYU (let alone top-10).
The benefits to the Big 12:
- more games in NFL stadiums in Texas (the Oklahoma and Kansas schools would definitely go for this. I even think the Texas-based schools could get excited about it - it's not a conference game that counts in the standings, so true home field isn't as important, but the recruiting exposure is)
- additional game inventory for the Big 12's TV deal
- games in Provo on ESPN.
- vary the schedule occasionally.
With a renewed series against Utah and the upcoming PAC 12 series with the Arizona and California schools, BYU would get 5-6 P5 games on the schedule each year - guaranteed. BYU would also still have 2 or 3 weeks in September to get the Big Ten matchups and occasional ACC/SEC matchup, to get to 7-8 P5 games each year. Then, fill in the gaps with Utah St., Boise St. and other MWC and American opponents and BYU has a legitimate P5 schedule and something to play for during the regular season (bowl destinations).
Here's what the 2016 and 2017 schedules could turn into:
2016
9/3 - v. Arizona, at Glendale, AZ
9/10 - at Utah
9/17 - *Purdue
9/24 - v. West Virginia, at Landover, MD (this could count as Big 12 road or neutral game)
10/1 - *Central Florida
10/8 - *Colorado St.
10/15 - at Boise St.
10/22 - *at Iowa St. (or Iowa St. in Houston, TX)
10/29 - BYE
11/5 - *Oklahoma St.
11/12 - at Cincinnati
11/19 - Southern Miss
11/26 - Utah St.
Home games: Purdue, Central Florida, Colorado St., Oklahoma St., Southern Miss, Utah St.
[Note - no ACC or SEC games needed to make a GREAT schedule].
2017
9/2 - *Nebraska
9/9 - Utah
9/16 - California
9/23 - *v. Baylor - at Arlington, TX
9/29 - at Utah St.
10/7 - Boise St.
10/14 - BYE
10/21 - at ECU
1028 - SJSU
11/4 - at Fresno St.
11/11 - *at Texas Tech
11/18 - *Kansas St.
11/25 - at Hawaii
Home games: Nebraska, Utah, California, Boise St., SJSU, Kansas St.
[Note - no ACC or SEC games needed to make a GREAT schedule].