Welcome to our newest feature, which we’re calling “What-If Wednesday.” In this column, I’ll propose a handful of questions that, at this point, have not come to fruition. But IF they do, what will come out of it? What’s the end game?
Join us for this one, and let’s have some fun.
What If… The Big 12 Loses an FCS Game in Week 1?
Then the college football media will gladly use it to beat up the Big 12 as a conference that will never be able to hang with the Power 2.
That’s why it’s so imperative the Big 12 not slip up next weekend. Also, the Big 12 doesn’t have enough premier non-conference games to make up for it, if they have a bad showing in Week 1. That means all the FCS games, like Colorado vs. North Dakota State, Oklahoma State vs. South Dakota State, Iowa State vs. North Dakota, Baylor vs. Tarleton State and others need to go flawlessly.
There can’t be that “oops” game for the league this year. Everyone needs to come out firing on all cylinders in Week 1, and then if the Big 12 can pull off that big upset in Morgantown (West Virginia vs. Penn State), it would be an absolutely perfect Week 1 for the Big 12 Conference.
What If… the Big 12 Has Two Multi-Loss Teams in the Conference Championship Game?
Then the Big 12 will only get one team into the College Football Playoff.
I don’t see a scenario in Year 1 where the Big 12 could get a three-loss team into the College Football Playoff. It would take multiple three-loss teams out of the SEC and Big Ten being under consideration for a Big 12 team to get that same love in Year 1.
However, here’s the best-case scenario where a Big 12 team with three losses gets in.
West Virginia beats Penn State for a great out-of-conference win, but then loses to, let’s say Oklahoma State and Kansas State. They reach the Big 12 Championship Game thanks to OSU and KSU stumbling down the stretch, where they lose to Utah 21-20 as the Utes kick a last-second field goal to win.
Utah gets the auto bid, while WVU is battling for the last at-large spot, ironically with Penn State, where the Mountaineers’ head-to-head victory plays a factor.
What If… Kansas is Impacted by Not Playing True Home Games?
Then the Jayhawks will not be the Cinderella Story that some are predicting, like Rece Davis.
I believe that Kansas playing some of its biggest games at Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs, could actually hurt them. First off, it’s never the same as playing in your home stadium. And secondly, with over 75,000 seats, there will be plenty of seats for opposing fans to visit an iconic NFL Stadium and watch their favorite team play.
TCU, Houston, Iowa State and Colorado fans might show up en mass to catch a game in the home of Patrick Mahomes. This may help prevent a true home atmosphere for the Kansas Jayhawks this season.
No doubt it will be more of a home game than a road game, but in a sport where home field advantage matters, the Jayhawks will be giving up some of that this year. And in a wide-open Big 12, that could end up playing a role.
