Report: Big 12 considering conference-only schedule that would provide lots of flexibility

As we continue to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic in this country, it seems a safe bet that the college football season will be affected.

The Big Ten and Pac-12 have already announced conference-only schedules, and according to a report on Tuesday, the Big 12 is considering a similar plan.

Per reporter Laine Higgins, Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said the league is considering a 10-11 game schedule that would start in Week 0 in late-August and end on December 12:

Bowlsby and others in the conference worry about having athletes around the larger student body: "Having worked in higher education for my entire career, now going on 40 years, we don’t want to put too much stock in the consistent good judgement of 18-22 year-olds."

— Laine Higgins (@lainehiggins17) July 28, 2020

As noted, the preferred plan is still to play the season as scheduled, but a 16-week schedule with only 10 or 11 games would provide a lot of flexibility in case of a COVID-19 outbreak.

A decision isn’t likely until next Monday, so we’ll see what the Big 12 Board of Directors opts to do at that point.