By: Ryan Moreland (@ryanmoreland)
The conference champion is decided, but the rest of the conference is up for grabs. Let’s look at the tiebreakers and then get into the action!
| Order | Tiebreaker |
| 1 | Conference Record |
| 2 | Head-to-Head |
| 3 | Record vs common conference opponents |
| 4 | Point differential vs common conference opponents |
| 5 | Record vs common overall opponents |
| 6 | Point differential vs common overall opponents |
| 7 | Overall record |
| 8 | Overall point differential |
Since every conference team will eventually play each other, most ties will end with a head-to-head. However, there can be scenarios that take us much deeper (just look at the Big XII last season).
Now, for how the playoffs work. The top three teams in each conference will get an automatic bid to the playoffs. After that has been settled, the last 4 teams will be voted in by a league-wide vote. After the field is set, seeding will begin. This season, the top 8 teams will be seeded, and then they will get to draft their opening-round opponents (which I cannot wait to write content about).
I cannot predict which way the vote will go, so for these articles, I will be focusing on the automatic bids.
Also, keep in mind that three-way tiebreakers are broken for the top team, and then the two remaining games go back to head-to-head.
Current Standings
| Team | Overall Record | Conference Record | Tiebreaker Reason (if applicable) |
| Oklahoma | 7-0 | 4-0 | |
| Colorado | 4-3 | 2-2 | Head to Head Victories |
| Texas A&M | 4-3 | 2-2 | Point differential vs common conference opponents (+42) |
| Texas | 3-4 | 2-2 | Point differential vs common conference opponents (+19) |
| West Virginia | 1-6 | 1-3 | Head-to-Head Win |
| Nebraska | 3-4 | 1-3 | Head-to-Head Loss |
The three-way tie between Colorado, Texas, and Texas A&M is broken by the fact that Colorado beat both teams. After that, the Aggies pass their rivals in points within the conference.
West Virginia stands over Nebraska thanks to a head-to-head win.
Conference Title Race
There is no conference title race. It is over. Oklahoma is the first team in Season 23 to claim their conference title. This is their second conference title in school history. Congrats to the Sooners.
Playoff Race
Oklahoma has punched its ticket, so the focus goes to the final two teams that will earn automatic byes. All five teams remaining have a chance, but the route is harder for some.
Colorado, Texas A&M, and Texas are all in win-and-in scenarios. If Colorado wins, they will be locked into 2nd place in the conference thanks to head-to-head wins over both Texas schools. If Colorado loses, then whoever wins the Lone Star Showdown will take 2nd place in the conference.
For West Virginia or Nebraska to make it, they need Colorado to lose. This is an easier route for West Virginia since they play Colorado this week. If they beat Colorado, they would enter a three-way tie with Colorado and the loser of the Lone Star Showdown. This would have to be determined by points against common conference opponents.
Nebraska needs to beat Oklahoma, and they need WVU to beat Colorado to create a four-way tie with Colorado, West Virginia, and the loser of the Lone Star Showdown. This would have to be determined by points against common conference opponents.
Here is a breakdown of where these teams stand in conference point differential:
| Team | Point Differential |
| Texas A&M | +42 |
| Texas | +19 |
| Colorado | -7 |
| Nebraksa | -25 |
| West Virginia | -78 |
As for vote-in spots, Texas A&M and Colorado feel like locks for vote-in spots, should they need them.
Texas and Nebraska are both on the bubble of the postseason and could greatly improve their odds with a win. Both do have a big win (Oregon and Colorado, respectively), but depending on who is in the running for a vote-in, that might not be enough.
West Virginia isn’t getting a vote-in spot. If they want to get into the postseason, they need to beat Colorado this week, and they need Texas A&M to beat Texas by a lot.
Best of luck to all the Big XII in the final week of play!
