First guess at potential Clemson Big 12 schedules

David Hood - Senior Writer - Wednesday, May 30 2012

So much has been written about what future Clemson schedules could look like should Clemson switch from the Atlantic Coast Conference to the Big 12 that TigerNet decided to try its hand at looking at what potential schedules could look like.

In this instance, let’s assume that Clemson begins play in the Big 12 for the 2013 season. Another assumption we will make is that if Clemson leaves the ACC, then Florida St. leaves as well. I would have to believe, if that were the case that the Big 12 – in the interest of geographic considerations – would keep the Texas and Oklahoma schools together in one division.

That leaves Clemson in a division with the Noles, another new Big 12 team in West Virginia, Iowa St., Kansas and Kansas St.

Much like the ACC’s current format, you would play each team in your division one time per year, alternating on a home-and-home basis, for five conference games. You would then play three teams from the other division each season, with one team being your permanent cross-division rival, and playing two other teams on a home-and-home rotating basis.

Honestly, I have no idea who Clemson would be paired with on a permanent basis as a cross-division rival, but I spent a good part of my youth in Texas, so let’s just say the Texas Longhorns in this scenario.

So let’s take a look at the divisions first, and we will give them a decided TigerNet twist, and we will name them after two TigerNet mainstays, followed by the schedules.

The YorkTiger Division

Texas

Texas Tech

Baylor

Oklahoma

Oklahoma State

TCU

The StanleyTiger Division

Clemson

Florida State

West Virginia

Kansas

Kansas State

Iowa State

2013 – Georgia, Kent St., Florida State, Kansas, Iowa State, The Citadel and Baylor at home; West Virginia, Kansas State, Texas, TCU and South Carolina on the road.

2014 – Coastal Carolina, Central Michigan, West Virgnia, Kansas St., Texas, TCU and South Carolina at home; Georgia, Florida St., Kanas St., Iowa St., and Baylor on the road.

In 2015, TCU and Baylor drop off the schedule, and Oklahoma and Texas Tech are added. We already know that Ole Miss is on the schedule that season, along with South Carolina. The others are not known, but for the sake of fun let’s go with Wofford and Troy. For 2016, we will say Furman and Middle Tennessee.

2015 – Wofford, Troy, Ole Miss, Florida State, Kansas, Iowa State and Texas Tech at home; Texas, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Kansas State and South Carolina on the road.

2016- Furman, Middle Tennessee, West Virginia, Kansas St., Texas, Oklahoma and South Carolina at home; Florida St., Ole Miss, Kansas St., Iowa St. and Texas Tech on the road.

And finally, a comparison of a potential 2013 schedule and how it would compare to Clemson’s 2012 schedule. Would it be that much better? That is actually up to the individual to decide, but one of my friends sent me an email and shared his thoughts, and I thought I would post them here and we could let the debate begin.

Here is what he said: “Not much better than an ACC schedule, really. Kansas and Iowa State equal Wake Forest and Duke. Baylor equals Georgia Tech. Florida State equals Florida State. On the road West Virginia equals Virginia Tech, Kansas State equals NC State and TCU equals Miami. Texas is only big step up, although what are they the last two years? (.500)?”

It’s all in fun, and it’s a certainty I made some mistakes along the way. But it was interesting to see how the future schedules could play out.