Oklahoma-based sportswriter covering Big 12 criticizes league's scheduling
By Joseph Smith
Big 12 veteran reporter Berry Tramel has witnessed the league evolve from previous iterations, and is looking forward to the future of the league with it’s new additions and continued growth.
However, heading into the 2024 season, there is one thing he finds a bit unfortunate about the league -- how they have decided to handle the initial scheduling of a conference that now stretches from Arizona in the west to West Virginia in the east, and from Florida in the south to Utah in the north.
"The travel is going to be problematic, and I'm in the middle of it (living in Oklahoma) so it's not a big deal, but if you are on the edges I can understand it,” he said.
He does also admit that if he were in charge of the league, he probably would have handled the upcoming schedule a bit differently, particularly with the current three programs east of the Mississippi River.
"I would schedule differently," he said. "For instance, I would make sure West Virginia and Cincinnati and Central Florida play each other every year. The schools out here play each other every year. There is no reason to take equitable scheduling off the plate when you are dealing with that much travel. My only quibble would be building more regional rivalries and regional scheduling.”
He also thinks that the league could take some guidance from the Big 10’s upcoming schedules and how they have managed to work their new west coast partners into the fold.
"I sort of like what the Big Ten is doing," he added. "They say, 'Well, this team has four big rivals so let them play. This team has zero so there is no reason to invent some.' OSU ought to be playing Iowa State every year. They've been playing every year for 60-some years."