Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott: Big 12 should play a championship game
Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott thinks it is unfair that the Big 12 does not play a conference championship game and would like see to the conference add a title game in the future, reports Jon Solomon of CBSSports.com.
The Big 12, which currently fields 10 football teams, is the only power five conference that does not play a conference championship, failing to reach the NCAA’s 12-member, two-division requirement for hosting a game.
Scott feels that the lack of the opportunity for a top-ranked team to lose in the final week of the season gives the Big 12 an advantage.
“I don't like the idea that a champion can be in the clubhouse and not put it on the line when, in this case, there are strong teams in other conferences that if they lose can be out of the playoff,” he said.
The Big Ten has offered an amendment to NCAA legislation that would let the Big 12 stage a title game with just 10 teams.
Scott’s issue with the Big 12 doesn’t stem from his conference’s failure to get into the College Football Playoff. No. 5 Stanford was the top team in the Pac-12 and just missed the cut for the playoff, but suffered two losses.
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Still, Scott believes that the Power 5 conferences should be consistent in playing nine conference games and a championship.
“The question had no bearing this year with Stanford's candidacy," Scott said. "I think there's a deep level of conviction to play nine games. Our schools like playing each other as much as possible. We think that's doing things the right way and it's good for our fans and good for college football to play the highest caliber competition.”
