Big 12 Spotlight: Title matchup may be easy, or all tied up

The most straightforward championship game scenario for the Big 12 would be No. 3 Oklahoma and No. 11 TCU both winning their last two games and meeting again Dec. 2.

Then again, nothing ever seems to come that easy for the Big 12.

Remember, the Big 12 brought back its championship game in hopes that it would bolster the conference’s chances to be in the College Football Playoff each year. Now there is the lingering possibility that the Sooners (9-1, 6-1 Big 12), who are fourth in the CFP rankings this week, could get there and lose a title game rematch against a league opponent with at least two losses.

And what if Oklahoma losses one, or both, of its last two regular season games? While they play at last-place Kansas (1-9, 0-7) this Saturday, No. 24 West Virginia (7-3, 5-2) could still be in the mix for a spot in the Big 12 title game when the Mountaineers finish the regular season in Norman.

“The only thing that we’ve really talked about is understanding that we are in that conversation, and everybody wants to be in that conversation,” West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen said. “I think it’s in the back of everybody’s mind, but there’s no reason for us to talk about it.”

Before the CFP selection committee reveals the four playoff teams Dec. 3, the Big 12 has its first championship game since 2010. And with only two weekends left in the regular season, no team is locked into that game.

Even if they are just lucky, Big 12 schedule makers might avoid what was the biggest concern with a round-robin schedule and having an immediate rematch in the championship game. A rematch was guaranteed, but there were adjustments to the schedule, such as Oklahoma and No. 10 Oklahoma State (8-2, 5-2) playing Bedlam the first weekend in November instead of for the regularfinale.

There still is the possibility of Oklahoma and West Virginia playing back-to-back weeks. But the remaining schedule, except for the Mountaineers’ games against Texas and Oklahoma, is made up of matchups of teams still with a chance to be in the title game playing teams already eliminated from contention for one of those two spots .

“Look, there’s never a perfect answer. We’ve always said that, and everybody knows that,” Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley said. “The best thing is you’re going to have the best two teams in the league playing again there on the last week. … That’s on down the line for us. We’re trying to stay locked in to playing well this week, and hopefully putting us in position to have a chance to be in that game.”