Big 12 Conference

Big 12 Conference is a collegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA Division I. The conference consists of 10 member schools, including University of Texas at Austin, Texas Christian University, Texas Tech University, Baylor University, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, University of Kansas, Kansas State University, Iowa State University, and West Virginia University. The conference was formed in 1996 when the Big Eight Conference merged with four schools from the Southwest Conference, including University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, Baylor University, and Texas Tech University, under the leadership of University of Nebraska–Lincoln's Tom Osborne and University of Oklahoma's Donnie Duncan.

● History

The Big 12 Conference was established on February 25, 1994, when the Big Eight Conference and the Southwest Conference announced their merger. The conference began competing in the 1996-1997 academic year, with the first football championship game held on December 7, 1996, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, featuring the University of Texas at Austin and the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, coached by Tom Osborne. The conference has undergone several changes, including the departure of University of Colorado Boulder and University of Missouri in 2011, and the addition of West Virginia University and Texas Christian University in 2012, with the support of NCAA and College Football Playoff.

● Member Schools

The Big 12 Conference consists of 10 member schools, including University of Texas at Austin, Texas Christian University, Texas Tech University, Baylor University, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, University of Kansas, Kansas State University, Iowa State University, and West Virginia University. These schools are located in the South Central United States and compete in 23 sports, including football, basketball, baseball, and volleyball, with notable coaches such as Lincoln Riley of University of Oklahoma and Chris Beard of Texas Tech University. The conference is headquartered in Irving, Texas, and is led by Bob Bowlsby, who has previously worked with the University of Northern Iowa and the Stanford University.

● Conference Championships

The Big 12 Conference determines its champions through a combination of regular-season play and conference tournaments. The conference crowns champions in 23 sports, including football, basketball, baseball, and volleyball, with notable championships such as the football championship game and the Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament, which have featured teams such as the Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team, coached by Bill Self, and the Baylor Bears basketball team, coached by Scott Drew. The conference also recognizes individual champions, including the Big 12 Player of the Year and the Big 12 Coach of the Year, which have been awarded to notable athletes such as Buddy Hield of University of Oklahoma and Frank Mason III of University of Kansas.

● Media Rights

The Big 12 Conference has a significant media rights deal with ESPN and Fox Sports, which provides extensive coverage of conference events, including football and basketball games, as well as other sports such as baseball and softball, featuring teams such as the University of Texas at Austin Longhorns baseball team and the Oklahoma Sooners softball team. The conference also has a deal with CBS Sports to broadcast select basketball games, including the Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament, which has featured teams such as the West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team, coached by Bob Huggins, and the Iowa State Cyclones men's basketball team, coached by Steve Prohm. The media rights deal provides significant revenue for the conference and its member schools, with support from NCAA and College Football Playoff.

● Rivalries

The Big 12 Conference has several notable rivalries, including the Red River Showdown between University of Texas at Austin and University of Oklahoma, the Bedlam Series between University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University, and the Sunflower Showdown between University of Kansas and Kansas State University, which have featured notable games such as the 2008 Big 12 Championship Game and the 2019 Big 12 Championship Game. These rivalries often feature intense competition and significant implications for conference standings, with notable coaches such as Lincoln Riley of University of Oklahoma and Chris Klieman of Kansas State University.

● Facilities

The Big 12 Conference member schools have a range of facilities, including Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium at University of Texas at Austin, Amon G. Carter Stadium at Texas Christian University, and Bill Snyder Family Stadium at Kansas State University, which have hosted notable events such as the football championship game and the Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament. The conference also features several notable basketball arenas, including Allen Fieldhouse at University of Kansas and Hilton Coliseum at Iowa State University, which have hosted teams such as the Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team, coached by Bill Self, and the Iowa State Cyclones men's basketball team, coached by Steve Prohm. The facilities provide a high-level competitive environment for conference athletes, with support from NCAA and College Football Playoff. Category:Big 12 Conference