The Big 12 Conference distinguished itself as the strongest league in all of college basketball last season. When a BYU basketball team led by three All-Big 12 selections and the potential number-one overall pick, AJ Dybantsa, is the 10th seed in your league's postseason tournament, you know you've got a league stuffed with talent from end to end.
So with that in mind, the league would be wild to not lean on the strength of its members by building the season around them.
According to Jeff Goodman, Big 12 officials are currently in discussions that would nudge the Big 12's in-conference schedule back to 20 games -- two more than the current 18-game slate. Removing matchups against no-name buy-games in favor of a stronger strength of schedule and more high-profile matchups between the league's elites is a no-brainer for the conference currently at the peak of its basketball powers.
Big 12 meetings ongoing in Frisco, Texas.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) May 27, 2026
Told there was a discussion about returning to 20 league games starting in 2027-28.
Last season was first year back at 18.
League realizes how strong it is and that 2 more league games would favor teams rather than two more…
Especially while football doesn't seem the get the same level of respect for its chaotic in-conference gauntlet.
The Big 12 returned to 18 games last season after experimenting with a 20-game calendar the prior year. After a step back down to 18, it sounds like 20 is the preferred number, after all.
I'm a little dizzy, but I think I'm following here.
Elite recruits like Tyran Stokes, the number-one prospect in the 2026 class, Bruce Branch III, Dylan Mingo, and many more will make Big 12 basketball can't-miss action this season. As the current system means some members will only face specific conference peers once in a year, more conference clashes means more opportunity to display the best teams not only in the Big 12, but in the nation as a whole.
Any adjustments to the Big 12 schedule wouldn't take effect until the 2027-28 season.
BYU basketball proved that record isn't everything for NCAA Tournament consideration. I mentioned earlier that the Cougars were the 10th place team in the Big 12 ladder by the end of the season, but they still managed a 6-seed in the NCAA Tournament after winning two conference tournament games.
Star power, quality wins, and strength of schedule will be paramount for the postseason, even with the inflated 76-team format introduced for the next edition of March Madness. The best way to boost those numbers for your conference? Play more league games.
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