The Big 12 will reinstate their football championship game beginning with the 2017 season, the conference announced Friday at the conclusion of their annual spring meetings.
“The addition of a football championship game allows for a 13th data point for our teams under consideration for the College Football Playoff,” said Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby. “Work will begin on developing scheduling models and host site options.”
The last Big 12 Football Championship Game was played in 2010. Host sites for the game included Arlington, TX (2), Kansas City, MO (5), San Antonio, TX (3), Houston, TX (2), Dallas, TX (1), and St. Louis, MO (2).
Bowlsby said today that bids will be taken to host the game at neutral-site venues or possibly at campus sites.
In addition to the championship game being reinstated, Bowlsby also stated that the conference will split into two five-team divisions and will retain a full round-robin schedule.
According to Jimmy Burch of the Star-Telegram, the Big 12 Football Championship Game will be televised by FOX in 2017. ABC/ESPN will then televise the 2018 contest and ensuing games in even-numbered seasons through 2024, while FOX will televise in odd-numbered seasons.
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