Big 12 Tiebreaker Possibilities

Big XII South Division to be Decided on Final Weekend

Nov 23, 2008 Kyle Schurman

Despite Oklahoma's blowout win over Texas Tech Nov. 22, the Big XII's South Division remains a three-team race heading into the final weekend of the regular season.

The Big 12 Championship Game will be played Dec. 6 in Kansas City, Mo., between the North and South Division champions.

Missouri (5-2) has clinched the Big XII North Division title, regardless of the outcome of Missouri's game against Kansas Nov. 29. Nebraska (5-3) could still tie Missouri for the North Division title after the Huskers defeated Colorado 40-31. If Missouri loses to Kansas, MU and NU would tie, but Missouri would win the head-to-head tiebreaker against Nebraska.

The Big XII's South Division tiebreaker isn't quite as simple. With three teams in contention on the final day of the regular season, there are numerous possibilities, including an outright winner or a two-way or three-way Big 12 South Division tiebreaker. UPDATE: After Texas defeated Texas A&M Thanksgiving night, Texas is 7-1 and guaranteed at least a tie for the South Division. Oklahoma and Texas Tech are tied at 6-1. Oklahoma State (5-2) cannot win the berth in the Big XII Championship Game, but the Cowboys could play spoiler.

The remaining games that will affect the South Division title are: Baylor at Texas Tech (Nov. 29), and Oklahoma at Oklahoma State (Nov. 29). Here are all of the UPDATED possibilities.

OKLAHOMA

  • If OU wins against Oklahoma State, the Sooners will win the Big 12 South Division if ... Texas Tech wins but Oklahoma is the highest ranked South Division team in the BCS Standings on Nov. 30.
  • If OU loses to Oklahoma State or if Texas Tech loses to Baylor, Oklahoma cannot win the South.

TEXAS

  • The Longhorns will win the Big 12 South Division if ... Texas Tech loses to Baylor ... or if Texas Tech and Oklahoma both win, but Texas is the highest ranked South Division team in the BCS Standings on Nov. 30.
  • If Texas Tech beats Baylor and Oklahoma loses to Oklahoma State, the Longhorns cannot win the South.

TEXAS TECH

  • If Tech wins against Baylor, the Red Raiders will win the Big 12 South Division if ... Oklahoma loses to Oklahoma State ... or if Oklahoma wins, but Texas Tech is the highest ranked South Division team in the BCS Standings on Nov. 30.
  • If Tech loses against Baylor, the Red Raiders cannot win the South.

OKLAHOMA STATE

  • Oklahoma State cannot win the Big 12 South Division and only can play spoiler by beating Oklahoma Nov. 29.

Keep in mind that in the race for a berth in the BCS Championship Game, a team does not have to win its conference -- or even its own division -- to qualify for the BCS Championship Game.

The copyright of the article Big 12 Tiebreaker Possibilities in Football is owned by Kyle Schurman. Permission to republish Big 12 Tiebreaker Possibilities in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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