FWST: As Big 12 expansion chances rise, we rank the top candidates

Another day, another round of empirical data showing how the Big 12 could benefit by adding two teams to its 10-member league to recapture its original configuration and enhance its pursuit of a regular spot in the College Football Playoff.

The latest information, per a CBSSports.com report, indicates that the league’s CFP hopes would be boosted by 10 to 15 percent in a given year if the league had 12 members, played eight nonconference games and staged an annual championship game in football. That is up significantly from a Monday report of a 4 to 5 percent benefit. But the earlier data, per CBS, included only the impact of staging a conference title game in football.

League officials are slated to discuss the findings today at a meeting in Phoenix. The real headline, of course, is that a double-digit improvement in CFP potential should green-light action on the expansion front in a league that is home to TCU, Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. Big 12 presidents will discuss that topic at the league’s spring meetings, May 31-June 3 in Irving. …