Big Eight Conference

Big Eight Conference was a collegiate athletic conference that existed from 1907 to 1996, comprising eight schools from the Midwestern United States. The conference was formed by the University of Kansas, University of Missouri, University of Nebraska, and Iowa State University, with the goal of promoting athletic competition and cooperation among its member institutions, including Kansas State University, University of Oklahoma, and University of Colorado. The Big Eight Conference was a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and competed at the NCAA Division I level, often facing teams from the Southwest Conference and Big Ten Conference.

● History

The Big Eight Conference was established in 1907, when the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MVIAA) was formed, with the University of Kansas, University of Missouri, University of Nebraska, and Iowa State University as its founding members. The conference underwent several name changes, becoming the Big Six Conference in 1928, and eventually the Big Eight Conference in 1958, with the addition of Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma. The conference played a significant role in the development of college athletics, with its member schools producing notable athletes, such as John Elway, Barry Sanders, and Danny Manning, who went on to compete in the National Football League (NFL) and National Basketball Association (NBA). The Big Eight Conference also had a strong rivalry with the Southwest Conference, with teams like the University of Texas and Texas A&M University frequently competing against Big Eight schools.

● Member Schools

The Big Eight Conference consisted of eight member schools, including the University of Kansas, University of Missouri, University of Nebraska, Iowa State University, Kansas State University, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, and the University of Colorado. These schools were located in the Midwestern United States and competed against each other in various sports, including football, basketball, and baseball. The member schools of the Big Eight Conference were also members of the Association of American Universities (AAU) and the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC), and were affiliated with the American Council on Education (ACE) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The conference also had a strong relationship with the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Minnesota Golden Gophers from the Big Ten Conference.

● Championships

The Big Eight Conference awarded championships in various sports, including football, basketball, and baseball. The conference champion was determined by the team's win-loss record, with the team having the best record being declared the champion. The Big Eight Conference also participated in bowl games, with its champion often competing in the Orange Bowl or the Fiesta Bowl. The conference also produced several NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship winners, including the Kansas Jayhawks and the Oklahoma Sooners. The Big Eight Conference also had a strong presence in the NCAA Men's Division I Baseball Championship, with teams like the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Texas Longhorns frequently competing in the College World Series.

● Football

The Big Eight Conference was known for its competitive football programs, with several of its member schools producing notable teams and players. The conference champion was often determined by the outcome of the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Oklahoma Sooners game, with the winner frequently going on to compete in a bowl game. The Big Eight Conference also produced several Heisman Trophy winners, including Billy Sims and Barry Sanders, who played for the Oklahoma Sooners and Oklahoma State Cowboys, respectively. The conference also had a strong rivalry with the Southwest Conference, with teams like the Texas Longhorns and Arkansas Razorbacks frequently competing against Big Eight schools.

● Basketball

The Big Eight Conference was also known for its competitive basketball programs, with several of its member schools producing notable teams and players. The conference champion was often determined by the outcome of the Kansas Jayhawks and Oklahoma Sooners game, with the winner frequently going on to compete in the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship. The Big Eight Conference produced several Naismith Trophy winners, including Danny Manning and Wayman Tisdale, who played for the Kansas Jayhawks and Oklahoma Sooners, respectively. The conference also had a strong presence in the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship, with teams like the Missouri Tigers and Iowa State Cyclones frequently competing in the Final Four.

● Dissolution and Legacy

The Big Eight Conference dissolved in 1996, when it merged with the Southwest Conference to form the Big 12 Conference. The merger was the result of a series of conference realignments that took place in the 1990s, with several conferences, including the Big East Conference and the Atlantic Coast Conference, also undergoing changes. The legacy of the Big Eight Conference continues to be felt, with its former member schools continuing to compete at the highest level in the NCAA Division I. The conference's impact on college athletics can also be seen in the success of its former member schools, including the University of Kansas, University of Oklahoma, and University of Nebraska, which have all won NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship and NCAA Division I Football Championship titles. The Big Eight Conference also played a significant role in the development of the College Football Playoff (CFP) and the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship selection process. Category:Defunct college athletic conferences