Baylor, the Big 12's Bowl Placement is All Screwed Up
Baylor football finieshed 6-6 overall and 4-5 in the Big 12. Oklahoma football finished 6-6 and 3-6 in the Big 12. The Bears are going to the Armed Forces Bowl to play Air Force. The Sooners are going to the Cheez-It Bowl to play Florida State.
Something here is not adding up.
In a move that shocks absolutely no one, this postseason in college football is built to favor the big brands. Based on how the Big 12 bowl selection process is designed to go, the following slate was in order:
1. TCU (12-1, 9-0) — College Football Playoff
2. Kansas State (10-3, 7-2) — Sugar Bowl
3. Texas (8-4, 6-3) — Alamo Bowl
4. Texas Tech (7-5, 5-4) — Cheez-It Bowl
5. Oklahoma State (7-5, 4-5) — Texas Bowl
6. Baylor (6-6, 4-5) — Liberty Bowl
7. Oklahoma (6-6, 3-6) — Guaranteed Rate Bowl
8. Kansas (6-6, 3-6) — Armed Forces Bowl
Instead, Oklahoma jumped three spots and slid into Orlando against Florida State. Kansas, a Cinderella story that's sure to draw viewers, played into the Liberty Bowl against Arkansas. And that left Baylor, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech to suffer.
Namely, Baylor suffers the most. The Bears are the only Big 12 school to not face a Power Five opponent in a bowl game. Dave Aranda's squad is also the only team in the conference to play before Christmas.
Then comes the worst part: Baylor has to play the worst bowl in the Big 12, and it's on TCU's campus. Yep. In a cruel twist of fate, the Bears will suit up in Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth to play Air Force while TCU readies for a College Football Playoff appearance.
No matter how you slice it, this is the worst-case bowl scenario for Baylor in every direction.
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