Big 12 to 'clarify' tiebreaker rules; path to title game now unclear for OU
The path to the Big 12 Championship is no longer clear for OU.
With two games remaining in the season, there are currently four teams tied for second place in the conference: Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Kansas State and Iowa State. That has left many wondering what the tiebreaker scenarios are for their respective teams to get into the title game. As of Tuesday, many believed they had it figured out.
But according to a report by Berry Tramel, the Big 12 is set to “clarify” the tiebreaker scenarios on Wednesday during an athletic directors meeting. Sources told SoonerScoop.com that OU was unaware there would be a clarification on Wednesday. The Big 12 athletic directors met Tuesday and there was no discussion of it. They meet every Wednesday as a standing (virtual) meeting in line with CFP rankings release.
This clarification, according to Tramel, could benefit a team like Oklahoma State in the scenario of a three-way tie between OSU, OU and K-State. According to the current tiebreaker rules, Kansas State would make the title game due to having a higher winning percentage against common opponents, despite OSU beating both OU and Kansas State. That is because OU and Kansas State did not play each other this season, which would nullify the head-to-head tiebreaker scenario. The new rule clarification would now put OSU into the championship game instead of Kansas State.
That specific scenario obviously wouldn’t affect OU’s chances at the Big 12 title game. But the clarification could become confusing for other similar tiebreaker situations that would benefit OU. For example, what is the tiebreaker situation if Texas, OU and Kansas State tie? But not all three have played each other? Those scenarios remain unclear now.
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This has sent OU fans into a spiral. Many fans already believe in the conspiracy theory that the Big 12 is against the Sooners because of their departure to the SEC. On Saturday against West Virginia, Oklahoma fans chanted “S-E-C” after controversial calls to express their displeasure with the conference.
Though, not everyone believes in the ruse.
“I say I don’t believe in conspiracies, that’s what I tell them,” coach Brent Venables said. “I’m not going to give them an excuse. I’m not going to let anybody else give us an excuse, either. The opportunity I have around them – my challenge is to not put it in anybody else’s hands. Play clean, do the little things right. Sometimes it’s going to go for you, sometimes it’s not. Keep playing, keep fighting, working, believing and don’t get distracted. We can’t live in that world and be our best.”
While Venables might not believe in the conspiracy, fans do. And that’s why Wednesday’s Big 12 meeting should be interesting. A clarification or changing of the tiebreaker rules as they are currently understood would surely cause a stir. And OU will likely be in the middle of it.
