Big 12 Football Tie-Breakers
Missouri Waits for South Winner in Big XII Championship Game
Missouri has clinched the North Division title and its second straight berth in the Big XII Championship Game. However, the South Division title could come down to the fifth Big 12 football tie-breaker rule, which would give the berth in the Big XII Championship Game to the team ranked highest in the BCS standings on Nov. 30.
If Texas Tech, Texas, and Oklahoma all finish 7-1 in the Big 12 standings, all three teams would've compiled a 1-1 record against the other two, and all three teams would have 6-0 records against the rest of the conference. That type of three-way tie would leave the tie-breaker in the hands of the BCS standings. The latest standings have Texas Tech ranked #2, Texas #3, and Oklahoma #5. However, those standings are sure to change as the final two weeks of the season play out.
Obviously with three Big XII South Division teams ranked highly in the BCS standings, determining the winner of the South DIvision will also play a key role in determing which, if any, Big 12 teams qualify for the BCS Championship Game.
South Division
Texas Tech 6-0. Tech won't need the Big 12 football tie-breaker if it can win its final two games, as the Red Raiders will win the South Division title outright. Tech has never played in the Big XII Championship Game. Remaining games: at Oklahoma 11/22, vs Baylor 11/29.
Texas 6-1. The Longhorns need to win their final game and have Oklahoma defeat Texas Tech. At that point, if UT can move ahead of Tech and stay ahead of Oklahoma in the BCS standings, the Longhorns would qualify for the Big 12 Championship Game. If it ends up as a two-team tie between Texas and Texas Tech, Texas would lose the tie-breaker after losing head to head against Tech, 39-33, earlier this season. Remaining game: vs Texas A&M 11/27.
Oklahoma 5-1. OU must defeat Texas Tech to have any hope of winning the South Division. The Sooners lost earlier this season to Texas, 45-35, so OU would be helped if Texas lost its final game. Otherwise, Oklahoma must hope wins in its final two games against Top 10 teams would be enough to vault it over Texas and Texas Tech in the BCS standings. Remaining games: vs Texas Tech 11/22, at Oklahoma State 11/29.
North Division
Missouri (5-2) has clinched the North Division title already, regardless of the outcome of its game in Kansas City against Kansas Nov. 29. The only team that could tie Missouri for the North title is Nebraska (4-3), but even if the Huskers win their final game (vs Colorado 11/28) and Missouri were to lose to Kansas, Missouri would win the tie-breaker against Nebraska after defeating the Huskers head to head earlier this season.
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