Bob Bowlsby Sets Timeline For Reveal Of BYU’s First Big 12 Football Schedule
Feb 18, 2022, 12:46 PM | Updated: 12:52 pm
ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 04: Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby looks on from the sideline during the Allstate Kickoff Classic college football game between the Stanford Cardinal and Kansas State Wildcats on September 4, 2021 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. (Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
PROVO, Utah – Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby is visiting BYU’s campus. The longstanding leader of the Big 12 is in Provo for the first time since BYU received an official invite into the conference.
Bowlsby made the trip with his senior team in the Big 12 Conference, including Deputy Commissioner and Executive Commissioners.
Signed, sealed, delivered!
🚨 Big 12 Conference Adds Four New Membershttps://t.co/BvuPMeRLbx
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) September 10, 2021
Eight or nine Big 12 Conference games?
During the visit, he made a stop at BYU broadcasting for an interview with BYUtv. Bowlsby was asked questions on various topics, including if he preferred a number of conference games.
“In football, I’m an advocate for nine games,” said Bowlsby to BYUtv. “Because I think our conference quality is good enough that that is a valuable thing for us. We’re going to be at 14 for a couple of years, and so playing a full round-robin is not in the cards. So I think you want to minimize the number of no plays you have if you possibly can. I think that’s one of the things that make great leagues is great rivalries.”
Divisions plus the reveal of the 2023 Big 12 football schedule
What about divisions in the Big 12 Conference?
“I wouldn’t be surprised if we played divisions in football. I’m guessing that we may or may not play divisions in basketball for different reasons. But those things are still taking shape and I honestly don’t have any preconceived notions that those are anyplace close to final,” Bowlsby said.
Big 12 Commissioner told BYUtv that that the 2023 Big 12 Football schedule will be released in October of this year.#BYU #BYUFootball
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) February 18, 2022
BYU will join the Big 12 Conference officially on July 1, 2023. But the first conference schedule that BYU will play on the gridiron will come much sooner than that. As a result, BYU will know their maiden voyage in the new Big 12 will look like this fall.
“We usually try and announce our football schedule in October,” said Bowlsby. “And of course, we don’t always have all the conference games done by then, but at least the league schedule will likely announce in October of ’22 for the fall of ’23. So you know, we’re really only six or seven months from having a schedule.”
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.
