The Big 12 Conference has long endured a narrative of “CFP disrespect,” primarily because its hallmark—deep, competitive parity—was historically treated as a flaw by the selection committee. In the four-team playoff era, the conference often cannibalized itself, leading its champion to frequently carry an extra loss compared to the unbeaten or one-loss champions emerging from the SEC and Big Ten.

The most egregious example was the 2014 season, when both TCU and Baylor finished 11-1 but were leapfrogged in the final rankings by Ohio State, resulting in the Big 12 being the only Power Five league shut out of the inaugural field. This set a precedent: the committee demonstrated a preference for singular dominance and perceived brand strength over the Big 12's week-to-week grind. The message was clear: parity was a penalty, not a strength.

While the move to 16 teams and the expansion to a 12-team playoff guarantees the Big 12 champion a spot, the disrespect now manifests in seeding. The conference’s champion, potentially finishing 10-2 or 11-1, may find itself consistently ranked below two-loss at-large teams from the SEC or Big Ten in the final committee rankings.

This lower seeding is critical, as it determines access to the lucrative first-round byes. If the committee continues to inflate the resumes of teams from other leagues based on perceived power rankings rather than on-field metrics, the Big 12 champion risks having to play a burdensome extra game, fundamentally diminishing the value of winning the conference title. The battle has shifted from inclusion to equity, but the historical bias against the conference's chaotic success remains a factor.

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