Whispers of seismic scheduling shifts have rippled through college football, with the SEC and Big Ten exploring bold new alliances.
But as speculation swirls, Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark stands firm, signaling a different path for his conference—one rooted in independence and strategic clarity.
Big 12 Commish Brett Yormark Remains Steadfast On Scheduling Stance
Throughout a week dominated by scheduling debates at SEC spring meetings, the idea of major conferences teaming up for regular-season showdowns has captivated the sport.
The SEC and Big Ten, in particular, are weighing a partnership that could see each team face an opponent from the other league every season, aiming to elevate competition and national intrigue. This has prompted questions about whether the Big 12 might follow suit. Yormark, however, left little room for ambiguity at the Big 12’s spring meetings in Orlando.
Yormark also told @FOS the Big 12 doesn’t need a scheduling partnership like the Big Ten and SEC are exploring.
“No. We’re fine. We love our out-of-conference schedule. We don’t necessarily have an alliance with any particular conference. We play them all.” https://t.co/wjeUXwc2RJ
— David Rumsey (@_DavidRumsey) May 30, 2025
“No. We’re fine. We love our out-of-conference schedule. We don’t necessarily have an alliance with any particular conference. We play them all,” he told the agency, effectively quashing any notion of a similar scheduling alliance for his league.
The commissioner’s clarity comes as the Big 12 prepares for its 30th football season. The 2025 schedule features 14 games against other Power Four opponents in non-conference play.
While SEC coaches like Brian Kelly have publicly lobbied for annual Big Ten matchups, Yormark is content letting the Big Ten and SEC chart their course and is confident in the Big 12’s existing structure and the diversity of its non-conference slate.
“We want to play Big Ten teams,” Kelly declared, “but you’ve got to get a partner who says we’re in for that, too.”
Yormark’s Vision: Big 12 Stability Amid Realignment
Yormark’s resolve is rooted in a profound change for the Big 12. Since taking the helm in 2022, he has steered the conference through the departures of Texas and Oklahoma, the addition of four new members, and a pivotal television deal that helped stabilize the league.
“We have made great progress over the last three years, and our best days are ahead,” Yormark said after signing a contract extension through 2030.
His leadership has been marked by calculated moves rather than reactive ones. Yormark’s Big 12 has prioritized competitive balance and broad exposure as other conferences chase potentially lucrative but logistically complex alliances.
The commissioner’s stance on scheduling reflects this philosophy.
“We want to earn it on the field. And I’m adamant about that,” he noted regarding playoff qualification models, emphasizing fairness and opportunity for all league members.
Yormark is doubling down on the Big 12’s unique value proposition by resisting the urge to mimic the SEC and Big Ten. The league’s willingness to face a wide range of opponents, without binding itself to a single partner, positions it as flexible and formidable in the evolving college football landscape.
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