Big 12 to require teams to play a non-conference Power Five opponent
The Big 12 will make its teams schedule Power Five non-conference games in the future.
The conference announced Wednesday it is implementing a non-conference scheduling requirement for its teams. Going forward, teams will have to play a team from either the ACC, Big Ten, Pac-12 or SEC for one of its three non-league games. There is no specific timeline for the requirement, however, as the release states that existing game contracts would not be affected by the requirement.
“Schedule strength is a key component in CFP Selection Committee deliberations,” commented Commissioner Bob Bowlsby. “This move will strengthen the resumes for all Big 12 teams. Coupled with the nine-game full round robin Conference schedule our teams play, it will not only benefit the teams at the top of our standings each season, but will impact the overall strength of the Conference.”
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Notre Dame also counts as a Power Five team. The provision is similar to other requirements other Power Five conferences have made for their teams' schedules.
Since existing contracts won't be affected by the mandate, a team like Baylor wouldn't be forced to schedule a Power Five opponent until 2019. However, Baylor fulfills the mandate starting in 2017 with a home-and-home series with Duke. The Bears play Northwestern State, SMU and Rice in 2016.
Kansas is the only other school who doesn't have a Power Five conference team on its schedule in 2016, though it plays Memphis next season. The Jayhawks next P5 non-conference opponent is Rutgers in 2018.
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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
