Despite three healthy bowl wins in the 2022 calendar year, the future of the Big 12 is clouded with a number of forks in the road.
Oklahoma and Texas are expected to exit for the SEC as early as 2024, while a handful of teams have been “called up” to join the Power Five.
Cincinnati, Houston, Central Florida and BYU are expected to join by next season, while the bombshell of USC and UCLA heading to the Big Ten may help the Big 12 grow even more.
There's also a transformation within the current programs, from head coaching changes in Norman and Fort Worth to an influx of portal moves in Austin. With the exception of Oklahoma, no team from the Big 12 has made the College Football Playoff.
There are a number of contenders to win their first-ever conference championship game. TCU, Iowa State and Oklahoma State have each played in a conference title game without a victory. Kansas State last appeared in the title game back in 2003, as head coach Chris Klieman looks to take the next step in his fourth season.