Big 12 Daily Fever: Conference Bowl Ties in Texas Work for Fans and Teams

Both Oklahoma and Oklahoma State did not quite reach their football goals this season. The Sooners were riddled with injuries to top players and were never a factor in the league race. The Cowboys looked like the second best team in the conference, but still could not get over the Texas and Oklahoma mountain. However, both teams and fan bases will get to enjoy the postseason in Texas, which is just what the league wants. More bowl tickets are purchased because the fans do not have to travel as far, and the coaches love being more visible to the many recruits of the Lone Star State .

One league official commented on the Big 12's  bowl agreement strategy: 

"Texas offers a lot of positives for us,” said Ed Stewart, the Big 12’s assistant commissioner who oversees football.

The Big 12 is no different than its BCS brethren. The ACC, the Pac-10 and the SEC have at least four agreements with bowls inside their conference’s footprint.

"It’s just kind of a natural and practical way of looking at the bowls,” Stewart said, "and aligning yourself with bowls that your fans have an opportunity to get to, that are accessible to the teams and that can make good financial sense to the institutions.

"It’s just a good business model to be able to do that.”

The league winner will always head to a BCS Bowl, and another top league squad has always gone to the Holiday Bowl in San Diego (also a good spot for fans and recruiting). But having the next tier of bowls in Texas just makes too much sense for the Big 12 fans and teams.

Honorable Mention Big 12 Headlines:

Texas ’ Newton will be RB starter for Title Game

OU All-American tackle Williams may start at center in Sun Bowl

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