• Big 12 Conference lands at solid 10-team lineup with addition of WVU

    West Virginia University President Jim ClementsAt long last, it looks like the Big 12 Conference has landed on stable ground. With TCU replacing Texas A&M and West Virginia (officially admitted Friday) apparently replacing Missouri (reportedly on its way to the SEC), the Big 12 will land as a solid, 10-team league.

    For the first time in Big 12 history, every institution has agreed to both equal revenue sharing and a waiver of first- and second-tier TV rights to the conference for six years, assuring that we shouldn’t see any more movement for some time. And the league will continue to include a quartet of Texas schools (Baylor, TCU, Texas and Texas Tech), providing plenty of chances for Baylor to face in-state rivals.

    I’m excited that we can all return our focus to what’s happening on the field, and from Baylor’s point of view, enjoy rivalries both new and old. (The Bears have never played WVU in football, while TCU is BU’s second-most played football opponent ever.)

    Sic ’em, Big 12 Conference!