The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of twelve schools located mostly in the central United States. It is a member of the NCAA's Division I for all sports; its football teams compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS; formerly Division I-A), the higher of two levels of NCAA Division I football competition. Member schools are located in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas. The conference was officially formed on February 25, 1994, when the former Big Eight Conference joined with four Texas schools that had been members of the Southwest Conference, which had just disbanded. Athletic competition in the conference commenced on August 31, 1996. Big 12 headquarters is located in Irving, Texas, which is a suburb of Dallas. According to the Big 12 Conference's website, the use of the alternate names "Big Twelve" and "Big XII" are incorrect; the trademarked name of the conference is "Big 12 Conference" (notwithstanding the Roman numeral XII featured on the conference logo).[1] The conference is split into two divisions for most major sports—a South Division consisting of the Oklahoma and Texas schools, and a North Division consisting of the other six former Big Eight schools. Although the Big 12 is essentially the old Big Eight plus the four Texas schools, the Big 12 considers itself a separate conference and does not claim the Big Eight's history. [edit] Membership | Institution | Location (Population) | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Mascot | Varsity Sports | National Titles[2][3]* | | North Division | | Iowa State University | Ames, Iowa (51,557) | 1858 | Public | 27,945 | Cyclones | Cy the Cardinal | 18 | 19 | | Kansas State University | Manhattan, Kansas (51,707) | 1863 | Public | 23,581[4] | Wildcats | Willie the Wildcat | 16 | 0 | | University of Colorado | Boulder, Colorado (94,673) | 1876 | Public | 30,128 | Buffaloes | Ralphie / Chip | 16 | 23 | | University of Kansas | Lawrence, Kansas (90,520) | 1865 | Public | 30,004[5] | Jayhawks | Big Jay / Baby Jay | 18 | 12 | | University of Missouri | Columbia, Missouri (100,733) | 1839 | Public | 30,831[6] | Tigers | Truman the Tiger | 20 | 2 | | University of Nebraska | Lincoln, Nebraska (225,581) | 1869 | Public | 23,573 | Cornhuskers | Herbie Husker / Lil' Red | 21 | 23 | | South Division | | Baylor University | Waco, Texas (122,222) | 1845 | Private / Baptist | 13,886 | Bears | Judge and Bruiser | 18 | 2 | | Oklahoma State University | Stillwater, Oklahoma (46,976) | 1890 | Public | 23,307 | Cowboys | Pistol Pete / Bullet | 16 | 48 | | Texas A&M University | College Station, Texas (74,125) | 1876 | Public | 48,039 | Aggies | Reveille | 20 | 8 | | Texas Tech University | Lubbock, Texas (212,169) | 1923 | Public | 30,049 | Red Raiders | Masked Rider / Raider Red | 17 | 1 | | University of Oklahoma | Norman, Oklahoma (102,827) | 1890 | Public | 29,721 | Sooners | Sooner Schooner / Boomer and Sooner | 16 | 25 | | University of Texas | Austin, Texas (743,074) | 1883 | Public | 49,696 | Longhorns | Bevo / Hook 'em | 18 | 47 | | *See section on National championships below. | [edit] Conference facilities | School | Football stadium | Capacity | Basketball arena | Capacity | Baseball stadium | Capacity | | North Division | | Colorado | Folsom Field | 53,750 | Coors Events Center | 11,064 | N/A | N/A | | Iowa State | Jack Trice Stadium | 55,000 | Hilton Coliseum | 14,356 | Cap Timm Field (Club Baseball) | 3,000 | | Kansas | Memorial Stadium | 50,071 | Allen Fieldhouse | 16,300 | Hoglund Ballpark | 2,500 | | Kansas State | Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium | 52,200 | Bramlage Coliseum | 12,528 | Tointon Family Stadium | 2,000 | | Missouri | Faurot Field | 71,004* | Mizzou Arena | 15,061 | Taylor Stadium | 3,000 | | Nebraska | Memorial Stadium | 85,831 | Bob Devaney Sports Center | 13,595 | Haymarket Park | 8,500** | | South Division | | Baylor | Floyd Casey Stadium | 50,000 | Ferrell Center | 10,284 | Baylor Ballpark | 5,000 | | Oklahoma | Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium | 82,112* | Lloyd Noble Center | 12,000 | L. Dale Mitchell Baseball Park | 2,700 | | Oklahoma State | Boone Pickens Stadium | 60,218 | Gallagher-Iba Arena | 13,611 | Allie P. Reynolds Stadium | 3,821 | | Texas | Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium | 100,119* | Frank Erwin Center | 16,755 | UFCU Disch-Falk Field | 6,649 | | Texas A&M | Kyle Field | 83,002* | Reed Arena | 12,989 | Olsen Field | 7,053 | | Texas Tech | Jones AT&T Stadium | 59,011 | United Spirit Arena | 15,091 | Dan Law Field | 6,000 | | *Note the official capacities are listed on the respective schools' websites. Due to temporary seating, the attendance records are often more than the official capacity. The record attendance for Faurot Field is 75,298, The record attendance at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium is 85,313, the record for Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium is 101,297, the record attendance at Kyle Field is 88,253. **Haymarket Park has 4,500 seats. Its total capacity is listed as 8,500 because an additional 4,000 people can sit on berms along the outfield walls. | Locations of Big 12 conference member institutions. [edit] Commissioners Commissioners of the Big 12 Conference[7] - 1995–1997 Steve Hatchell
- 1998 Dave Martin (Interim)
- 1998–2007 Kevin Weiberg
- 2007–present Dan Beebe
[edit] Sports The conference sponsors championships in the following sports: baseball (m), basketball (m,w), cross-country (m,w), football (m), golf (m,w), gymnastics (w), soccer (w), softball (w), swimming and diving (m,w), tennis (m,w), track and field (m,w), volleyball (w), wrestling (m) Among the sponsored sports, all twelve universities participate in 12 sports, while the following sports do not have full participation: - 11 schools participate in volleyball (Oklahoma State does not)
- 11 schools participate in women's soccer (Kansas State does not)
- 10 schools participate in baseball (Colorado and Iowa State do not)
- 10 schools participate in softball (Colorado and Kansas State do not)
- 7 schools participate in men's tennis (Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, and Missouri do not)
- 6 schools participate in women's swimming and diving (Kansas, Iowa State, Missouri, Nebraska, Texas, and Texas A&M)
- 5 schools participate in wrestling (Iowa State, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State)
- 4 schools participate in gymnastics (Iowa State, Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma)
- 3 schools participate in men's swimming and diving (Missouri, Texas, and Texas A&M)
Additionally, member schools participate in the following varsity sports, not organized by the conference: - Kansas State, Baylor, Oklahoma State, and Texas A&M participate in equestrian.[8]
- Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, and Texas participate in rowing.
- Nebraska participates in women's bowling and women's rifle.
- Colorado participates in skiing.
- Nebraska, Kansas State, Iowa State, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech participate in rodeo. (Rodeo is not sanctioned by the NCAA, but instead by the NIRA.)
There are many national football powerhouses in the Big 12 Conference, and when the league was formed, it was decided that the top team from the South Division would play the top team from the North Division at the end of the season to determine the conference champion. Teams play eight conference games a season, facing all five opponents within its own division and three teams from the opposite division. Inter-divisional play is a "three-on, three-off" system, where teams will play three teams from the other division on a home-and-home basis for two seasons, and then play the other three foes from the opposite side for a two-year home-and-home. This format has come under considerable criticism, especially from fans at Nebraska and Oklahoma, who are denied a yearly matchup between two of college football's most storied programs. The Oklahoma–Nebraska rivalry was one of the most intense rivalries in college football history. (Until 2006, the teams had never met in the Big 12 Championship.) There has been talk of modifying the current format to allow each team to have one permanent opponent from the opposite division (as is the case in the Southeastern Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference), or for Nebraska and Oklahoma to play a non-conference game when the two teams are not scheduled to meet in conference play. [edit] Championship Game The Big 12 Championship Game is held by the Big 12 Conference each year. The championship game pits the Big 12 North Division champion against the Big 12 South Division champion in a game held after the regular season has been completed. The first championship game was held during the 1996 season. Since the 1996 season, the most football championships have been held at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The 2008 Big 12 Championship Game was held at Arrowhead, while the 2009 game will be played at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. [edit] Bowl affiliates Although the Big 12 is currently partnered with nine postseason bowls, only eight slots are guaranteed each season. The Gator Bowl selects a Big 12 team twice every four years, and in the two years that it does not, the Sun Bowl does.[9] Starting with the 2010-11 season, the 7th Big 12 selection will play in the newly created Yankee Bowl in the new Yankee Stadium.[10] Also, the Gator, Sun, and Independence bowls will no longer be affiliated with the Big 12[11] The following is the current bowl selection order and the teams involved in each bowl: | *Selects a Big 12 team twice every four years **Selects a Big 12 team when the Gator Bowl does not | The following is the bowl selection order starting in 2010 and the teams involved in each bowl: [edit] Rivalries The Big 12 Conference has many rivalries among its member schools, primarily in football. Most of the rivalries existed before the Big 12 was established, but the Texas–Oklahoma rivalry is unique, as it was a major rivalry decades before the two schools were in the same conference. Kansas-Missouri is the longest running rivalry in the Big 12, being played for 118 years. Some of the longstanding football rivalries between Big 12 schools include: † Through 2008 [edit] Other notable series - Kansas v. Nebraska - The series began in 1892 and has been played 116 times, making it the second most-played series in the Big 12 and tied for second oldest. The series is also the longest uninterrupted series in college football, having been played each year since 1906.[15] While longstanding, the series is not known as a rivalry due to Nebraska's dominance. Nebraska once won 36 games in a row (the second most consecutive wins over a team in college football history) and currently leads the series 89-23-3.[16]
- Baylor v. Texas - The series began in 1901 and has been played 98 times, including annually since 1946. Although Texas maintains a dominating 72–22–4 lead in the series and holds the series' longest winning streaks of 16, 11, and 11 games, Baylor has at times been very competitive, such as from 1913 to 1942, 1951 to 1957, and 1974 to 1992.[17]
[edit] Men's basketball Although standings in the conference are combined and not split among divisions, the schedule is structured as if the schools were split into two divisions. Teams play a home-and-home against teams within its division and a single game against teams from the opposite division for a total of 16 conference games. This denies Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, formerly in the Big Eight, two games a season against their opponents from that former conference, but does allow most of the other traditional rivalries to be played home-and-home. [edit] Big 12 men's basketball champions | Season | Regular-Season Champion | Tournament Champion | | 1997 | Kansas 15-1 | Kansas | | 1998 | Kansas 15-1 | Kansas | | 1999 | Texas 13-3 | Kansas | | 2000 | Iowa State 14-2 | Iowa State | | 2001 | Iowa State 13-3 | Oklahoma | | 2002 | Kansas 16-0 | Oklahoma | | 2003 | Kansas 14-2 | Oklahoma | | 2004 | Oklahoma State 14-2 | Oklahoma State | | 2005 | Oklahoma Kansas 12-4 | Oklahoma State | | 2006 | Texas Kansas 13-3 | Kansas | | 2007 | Kansas 14-2 | Kansas | | 2008 | Texas Kansas 13-3 | Kansas | | 2009 | Kansas 14-2 | Missouri | In 2005, Oklahoma won the post-season tournament seeding tiebreaker over Kansas based on their 71-63 home victory over the Jayhawks.[18] In 2006, Texas won the post-season tournament seeding tiebreaker over Kansas based on their 80-55 home victory over the Jayhawks.[19] In 2008, Texas won the post-season tournament seeding tiebreaker over Kansas based on their 72-69 home victory over the Jayhawks.[20] [edit] Big 12 in the NCAA tournament *Includes Missouri's 1994 NCAA tournament Elite 8 run that was later vacated by the NCAA. [edit] Baseball The top 8 teams compete in the Big 12 Baseball Tournament at the conclusion of each season. Colorado and Iowa State do not sponsor baseball. In the 2008 Big 12 Baseball Tournament, The Texas Longhorns edged The Kansas State Wildcats, 15-7. [edit] Tournament champions by year | Year | School | Site | MOP | | 1997 | Oklahoma | All Sports Stadium, Oklahoma City | Brian Shackelford (Oklahoma) | | 1998 | Texas Tech | AT&T Bricktown Ballpark, Oklahoma City | Josh Bard (Texas Tech) | | 1999 | Nebraska | AT&T Bricktown Ballpark, Oklahoma City | Jason Jennings (Baylor) | | 2000 | Nebraska | AT&T Bricktown Ballpark, Oklahoma City | Adam Shabala (Nebraska) | | 2001 | Nebraska | AT&T Bricktown Ballpark, Oklahoma City | Dan Johnson (Nebraska) | | 2002 | Texas | The Ballpark in Arlington, Arlington | Dustin Majewski (Texas) | | 2003 | Texas | AT&T Bricktown Ballpark, Oklahoma City | Dustin Majewski (Texas) | | 2004 | Oklahoma State | Ameriquest Field in Arlington, Arlington | Cody Ehlers (Missouri) | | 2005 | Nebraska | AT&T Bricktown Ballpark, Oklahoma City | Curtis Ledbetter (Nebraska) | | 2006 | Kansas | AT&T Bricktown Ballpark, Oklahoma City | Matt Baty (Kansas) | | 2007 | Texas A&M | AT&T Bricktown Ballpark, Oklahoma City | Craig Stinson (Texas A&M) | | 2008 | Texas | AT&T Bricktown Ballpark, Oklahoma City | Brandon Belt (Texas) | | 2009 | Texas | AT&T Bricktown Ballpark, Oklahoma City | Brandon Loy (Texas) | [edit] By School [edit] National championships The following is a list of all national championships won by member schools in NCAA-recognized sports.[2][3] Only championships 1996 and later should be counted towards the Big 12 total itself (48). | Football (18):[21] 1939 - Texas A&M 1950 - Oklahoma 1955 - Oklahoma 1956 - Oklahoma 1963 - Texas 1969 - Texas 1970 - Nebraska / Texas 1971 - Nebraska 1974 - Oklahoma 1975 - Oklahoma 1985 - Oklahoma 1990 - Colorado 1994 - Nebraska 1995 - Nebraska 1997 - Nebraska 2000 - Oklahoma 2005 - Texas Baseball (10): 1949 - Texas 1950 - Texas 1951 - Oklahoma 1954 - Missouri 1959 - Oklahoma State 1975 - Texas 1983 - Texas 1994 - Oklahoma 2002 - Texas 2005 - Texas Men's Basketball (7): 1922 - Kansas* 1923 - Kansas* 1945 - Oklahoma State 1946 - Oklahoma State 1952 - Kansas 1988 - Kansas 2008 - Kansas Women's Basketball (3): 1986 - Texas 1993 - Texas Tech 2005 - Baylor Women's Bowling (5): 1999 - Nebraska 2001 - Nebraska 2004 - Nebraska 2005 - Nebraska 2009 - Nebraska Men's Cross Country (7): 1953 - Kansas 1954 - Oklahoma State 1989 - Iowa State 1994 - Iowa State 2001 - Colorado 2004 - Colorado 2006 - Colorado Women's Cross Country (8): 1975 - Iowa State^ 1976 - Iowa State^ 1977 - Iowa State^ 1978 - Iowa State^ 1981 - Iowa State^ 1986 - Texas 2000 - Colorado 2004 - Colorado
| Men's Golf (14): 1963 - Oklahoma State 1971 - Texas 1972 - Texas 1976 - Oklahoma State 1978 - Oklahoma State 1980 - Oklahoma State 1983 - Oklahoma State 1987 - Oklahoma State 1989 - Oklahoma 1991 - Oklahoma State 1995 - Oklahoma State 2000 - Oklahoma State 2006 - Oklahoma State 2009 - Texas A&M Men's Gymnastics (18): 1971 - Iowa State 1973 - Iowa State 1974 - Iowa State 1977 - Oklahoma 1978 - Oklahoma 1979 - Nebraska 1980 - Nebraska 1981 - Nebraska 1982 - Nebraska 1983 - Nebraska 1988 - Nebraska 1990 - Nebraska 1991 - Oklahoma 1994 - Nebraska 2002 - Oklahoma 2003 - Oklahoma 2005 - Oklahoma 2006 - Oklahoma 2008 - Oklahoma Men's Indoor Track (4): 1965 - Missouri 1966 - Kansas 1969 - Kansas 1970 - Kansas Women's Indoor Track (8): 1983 - Nebraska 1984 - Nebraska 1986 - Texas 1988 - Texas 1989 - Texas 1998 - Texas 1999 - Texas 2006 - Texas Men's Outdoor Track (4): 1959 - Kansas 1960 - Kansas 1970 - Kansas 2009 - Texas A&M | Women's Outdoor Track (6): 1982 - Texas^ 1986 - Texas 1998 - Texas 1999 - Texas 2005 - Texas 2009 - Texas A&M Men's/Women's Skiing (17): 1959 - Colorado 1960 - Colorado 1972 - Colorado 1973 - Colorado 1974 - Colorado 1975 - Colorado 1976 - Colorado 1977 - Colorado 1978 - Colorado 1979 - Colorado 1982 - Colorado (men's) 1982 - Colorado (women's)^ 1991 - Colorado 1995 - Colorado 1998 - Colorado 1999 - Colorado 2006 - Colorado Softball (4): 1982 - Texas A&M^ 1983 - Texas A&M 1987 - Texas A&M 2000 - Oklahoma Men's Swimming (9): 1981 - Texas 1988 - Texas 1989 - Texas 1990 - Texas 1991 - Texas 1996 - Texas 2000 - Texas 2001 - Texas 2002 - Texas Women's Swimming (9): 1981 - Texas^ 1982 - Texas^ 1984 - Texas 1985 - Texas 1986 - Texas 1987 - Texas 1988 - Texas 1990 - Texas 1991 - Texas Men's Tennis (1): 2004 - Baylor Women's Tennis (2): 1992 - Texas 1995 - Texas Women's Volleyball (5): 1981 - Texas^ 1988 - Texas 1995 - Nebraska 2000 - Nebraska 2006 - Nebraska
| Wrestling (49): 1928 - Oklahoma State 1929 - Oklahoma State 1930 - Oklahoma State 1931 - Oklahoma State 1933 - Iowa State/Oklahoma State 1934 - Oklahoma State 1935 - Oklahoma State 1936 - Oklahoma 1937 - Oklahoma State 1938 - Oklahoma State 1939 - Oklahoma State 1940 - Oklahoma State 1941 - Oklahoma State 1942 - Oklahoma State 1946 - Oklahoma State 1948 - Oklahoma State 1949 - Oklahoma State 1951 - Oklahoma 1952 - Oklahoma 1954 - Oklahoma State 1955 - Oklahoma State 1956 - Oklahoma State 1957 - Oklahoma 1958 - Oklahoma State 1959 - Oklahoma State 1960 - Oklahoma 1961 - Oklahoma State 1962 - Oklahoma State 1963 - Oklahoma 1964 - Oklahoma State 1965 - Iowa State 1966 - Oklahoma State 1968 - Oklahoma State 1969 - Iowa State 1970 - Iowa State 1971 - Oklahoma State 1972 - Iowa State 1973 - Iowa State 1974 - Oklahoma 1977 - Iowa State 1987 - Iowa State 1989 - Oklahoma State 1990 - Oklahoma State 1994 - Oklahoma State 2003 - Oklahoma State 2004 - Oklahoma State 2005 - Oklahoma State 2006 - Oklahoma State
| * Champion selected retroactively by the Helms Athletic Foundation ^ AIAW Championship, prior to NCAA sponsorship of women's athletics in 1982 [edit] National team titles by institution School - Number - NCAA Championships - Oklahoma State - 48 - NCAA(48)
- Texas - 47 - NCAA(39)
- Oklahoma - 25 - NCAA(18)
- Colorado - 23 - NCAA(21)
- Nebraska - 23 - NCAA(18)
- Iowa State - 19 - NCAA(14)
- Kansas - 12 - NCAA(10)
- Texas A&M - 7 - NCAA(6)
- Baylor - 2 - NCAA(2)
- Missouri - 2 - NCAA(2)
- Texas Tech - 1 - NCAA(1)
- Kansas State - 0 - NCAA(0)
NCAA Championships as of May 2009 Football, Helms and AIAW titles are not included in the NCAA Championship count. | [edit] National team titles since 1996 - Texas - 13
- Colorado - 8
- Nebraska - 8
- Oklahoma - 7
- Oklahoma State - 6
- Texas A&M - 3
- Baylor - 2
- Kansas - 1
- Iowa State - 0
- Kansas State - 0
- Missouri - 0
- Texas Tech - 0
| [edit] Conference champions The Big 12 Conference sponsors 21 sports, 10 men's and 11 women's. In football, divisional titles are awarded based on regular-season conference results, with the teams with the best conference records from the North and South playing the in the Big 12 Championship Game for the Big 12 title. Baseball, basketball, soccer, softball, and tennis titles are awarded in both regular-season and tournament play. Cross country, golf, gymnastics, swimming and diving, track and field, and wrestling titles are awarded during an annual meet of participating teams. The volleyball title is awarded based on regular-season play. [edit] Big 12 Conference titles by school As of 27 Oct. 2009. List includes both regular-season and tournament titles. North Division - Nebraska - 66
- Colorado - 27
- Kansas - 20
- Iowa State - 11
- Kansas State - 7
- Missouri - 6
South Division - Texas - 99
- Texas A&M - 38
- Baylor - 34
- Oklahoma - 34
- Oklahoma State - 33
- Texas Tech - 11
[edit] References [edit] External links | Big 12 Conference | | | North Division | | | | South Division | | | | Big 12 Conference - Stadiums | | | Football stadiums of the Big 12 Conference | | | North Division | | | | South Division | | | | Basketball arenas of the Big 12 Conference | | | North Division | | | | South Division | | | | Baseball parks of the Big 12 Conference | | | | | | | | Big 12 Conference - People and Teams | | | Big 12 Conference football teams | | | North Division | | | | South Division | | | | Big 12 Conference head football coaches | | | North Division | | | | South Division | | | | Big 12 Conference men's basketball teams | | | North Division | | | | South Division | | | | Big 12 Conference head men's basketball coaches | | | North Division | | | | South Division | | | | Big 12 Conference women's basketball teams | | | North Division | | | | South Division | | | | Big 12 Conference head women's basketball coaches | | | North Division | | | | South Division | | | | Big 12 Conference Baseball | | | Teams | | | | Tournament | | | | Discontinued | | | | Marching bands of the Big 12 Conference | | | North Division | | | | South Division | | | | Official fight songs of the Big 12 Conference | | | North Division | | | | South Division | | | | Mascots of the Big 12 Conference | | | North Division | | | | South Division | | | | | | Big 12 Conference - Championships | | | | | | National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) | | | NCAA | | | Division I sports and championships | Baseball (Championship, CWS) · Basketball (Men, Women) · Women's Bowling · Cross Country (Men, Women) · Women's Field Hockey · Fencing (Championship) · Football (BCS, Championship, Championship Subdivision) · Golf (Men, Women) · Gymnastics (Men, Women) · Ice Hockey (Men, Women) · Lacrosse (Men, Women) · Rifle · Rowing (Women's Championship) · Skiing · Soccer (Men, Women) · Softball (Championship, CWS) · Swimming & Diving (Men, Women) · Tennis (Men, Women) · Track & Field (Men's Indoor & Outdoor, Women's Indoor & Outdoor) · Volleyball (Men, Women) · Water Polo (Men, Women) · Wrestling (Men's Championship) · Institutions · Athletic Directors | | | Division II | | | | Division III | | | | |