Could Big 12 invite Temple football?
The Big 12 is hoping that legislation it is proposing will pass at the NCAA Convention on Wednesday that will allow the 10-team league to host a conference championship game in football.
The Big 12 is hoping that legislation it is proposing will pass at the NCAA Convention on Wednesday that will allow the 10-team league to host a conference championship game in football.
Could it affect Temple?
Currently, a conference can only stage a football championship game if it has 12 or more member schools.
In addition, an amendment to the proposal from the Big Ten Conference would allow the championship game to be played with fewer than 12 conference members but would also stipulate that there be two divisions and that those champions would play in the conference title game.
The Big 12 has been vocal in not wanting to be forced to expand to 12 teams to hold a championship or to play two divisions.
Doing the voting on the proposals are the Power Five Conferences and the other five conferences in the Football Bowl Subdivision. That includes the American Athletic Conference, of which Temple is a member.
The Power Five Conferences have two votes each, while the other FBS conferences have one each. That totals 15 votes, and a simple majority is needed.
If a proposal gets an 85 percent majority, the decision is final. If the proposal gets less than 85 percent but enough votes to pass, it will be subject to a 60-day trial period during which schools can request to rescind.
Where does Temple come in?
If the Big 12 is forced to expand to 12 teams in order to have a football title game, the conference will undoubtedly do that because there is too much money at stake. In addition, having a conference champion in most years would enhance a team's chances to earn a berth in the four-team College Football Playoff. This year, the Big 12's Oklahoma, without playing in a championship game, earned a berth to the national semifinals.
Also in the Big 12 are Texas Christian, Oklahoma State, Baylor, West Virginia, Texas Tech, Texas, Kansas State, Iowa State, and Kansas.
So if the Big 12 expands, which would be the teams?
The Owls are getting next to zero national play on this topic from pundits. AAC schools such as Connecticut and Cincinnati are being mentioned as possibilities (not together but one or the other). We've seen names such as Boise State, Brigham Young, and Memphis, to name a few, but Temple hasn't received a mention.
A proponent of Temple would point out the Owls' biggest strength - they reside in the No. 4 market in the country. College sports are all about TV and maximizing TV dollars. There are a lot of potential eyeballs in the Philadelphia area.
Temple is coming off a record-setting football season, in which the Owls tied a school record with 10 wins and drew ESPN's College GameDay here on Oct. 31. Of course, Temple's opponent that day, Notre Dame, had a little something to do in attracting GameDay and having the game televised by ABC.
Still, Temple did its part, entering the game with a 7-0 record and then performing well, albeit in a 24-20 loss.
Apparently, Temple isn't on the radar because there are skeptics who wonder whether the Owls can produce consistently both on the field and by attracting viewers.
Temple officials declined comment on this, and for good reason. No school wants to seem like it is looking to go out the door.
Temple is happy in the AAC. Yet any school from the AAC (or just about any other non-Power Five conference) that would be offered a seat at the Big 12 table would almost have to say yes.
@sjnard