The lack of a CCG, in and of itself, will not hurt the Big 12. Because the selection committee only looks at a conference championship and not how it was attained, the Big 12 champion will be considered on even footing with any other P5 champion. Where it will matter will be as a 13th game. If the choice came down to a Big 12 or PAC-12 school, where all the other metrics are fairly equal, the nod will go to the team that played an additional game against a quality opponent.

But it will have to be determined, conclusively, that the only reason the Big 12 team was left out was because it only played 12 games. Missing the playoffs because of another metric (common opponents etc) will not get the Big 12 thinking about a CCG. Many feel that it will take 4-5 years of selection to have a pattern emerge to points specifically to the lack of a CCG (13th game) as the reason for exclusion.

If the lack of a CCG is indeed keeping the Big 12 out and they decide to host a CCG, that does not mean that they will expand. The NCAA is expected to address the issue of CCG deregulation, at their October meeting. Most observers feel that, since none of the FBS conferences oppose the move, the proposal will pass. How far deregulation extends will determine the Big 12's course of action. If the NCAA completely deregulates the CCG and cedes control to the conferences (something that is possible), then the Big 12 can have a CCG without going to 12 members. If the NCAA only deregulates that portion that mandates two 6-team division, then the Big will expand.

But where. Most of the analysts and national writers, even those supporting a BYU inclusion, seem to feel that the conference will go eastward, with Cinci and UCF being targets. It extends the Big 12's footprint into BIG, ACC and SEC territories. More importantly, it opens up the Ohio and Florida recruiting fields.

No one knows how it will play out. Many feel that even with the NCAA voting to only partially deregulate the CCG provision, it will be the end of this decade before enough data is available to determine whether having a CCG would help the Big 12.

In the meantime, TH keep scheduling P5 match ups, we'll be independent for a while yet.