FRISCO, Texas – Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark has a reputation for manifesting his visions during his leadership of the league. In his annual address at Big 12 Media Days, he boldly outlined ambitious goals concerning the conference’s performance this season.

Last year, the Big 12 was unique among power conferences by sending only one representative to the expanded College Football Playoff (CFP). Yormark insists that this outcome will not repeat.

“I believe we will be the deepest football conference in America. No league offers the competitive balance that we do… I fully expect the Big 12 to earn multiple College Football Playoff bids this year and to show once again that we can compete.”

Yormark expressed his confidence even though last season’s conference champion, Arizona State, was the sole team to qualify for the playoffs, positioned at No. 12 in the rankings. Other notable teams like BYU, Iowa State, and Colorado also finished the season ranked but were ultimately left out of the playoffs.

The CFP committee has historically overlooked the Big 12, especially following the first playoff bracket’s release in 2014, where Baylor and TCU narrowly missed out on spots. Since then, only TCU and Cincinnati have participated in the four-team playoffs, while Arizona State recently secured an auto-bid with the new 12-team setup.

Negotiations regarding the format for the CFP’s future loom over the conference. Currently proposed plans seek to ensure more automatic bids for major conferences like the SEC and Big Ten, leaving the Big 12 with two guaranteed spots.

“We want to earn it on the field,” Yormark maintained. “It might not be the best solution today for the Big 12, but in the long run – considering our current investments and progress – it’s the right format for us.”

Looking back at past seasons, the Big 12 has produced multiple ranked teams, particularly from 2019 to 2022, where various teams consistently occupied the top 12. The 2021 season highlighted four members in the top 11. If the playoffs expand to 16 teams, the conference may see a return to its competitive stature from 2016.

Hanging in the balance is Yormark’s confidence in the Big 12’s performance. As the teams prepare for the upcoming season, many hope to fulfill his ambitious prediction.