Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby Talks NIL, Playoff Expansion, and COVID Protocols
ARLINGTON, Tx – The Big 12 conference commissioner Bob Bowlsby kicked off the Big 12 Media Days Wednesday morning with a 40-minute introductory press conference covering a multitude of topics headlined by Name, Image, and Likeness, college football playoff extension, and COVID protocols moving forward.
With this being the first time the media has spoken in person with Bowlsby since the 2019 Big 12 Media Days, naturally, one of the first topics Bowlsby touched on was the COVID-19 pandemic and how much it affected the conference and it’s sports during the 2020 year.
Most of society, including many Big 12 schools and cities, have begun to return some normalcy in terms of regulations and restrictions. Bowlsby said that he is excited for these processes but is also not downplaying that COVID remains an issue. “With the Delta variant, there’s still good reasons to continue to be vigilant (when it comes to COVID protocols), and we will be.”
One the main takeaways from Bowlsby on the COVID protocols moving forward was that testing will continue, primarily for coaches and athletes that have not received the vaccine.
Another primary topic and one we knew would be discussed at length were the new Name, Image, and Likeness rules in place allowing collegiate athletes to be able to benefit financially through sponsorships and other avenues. These laws went into effect July 1.
The first quote Bowlsby gave was on the public perception and anticipation that when July 1 arrived, college sports would immediately be changed forever, in ways some feared would be detrimental.
“There was a commonly-held misperception that the sky was going to fall on July 1, and we would be in some sort of Armageddon scenario,” Bowlsby said. “That hasn’t happened. Some things have occurred that raised eyebrows. But by and large schools are managing it well.”
“We have to live with the confusion for a while,” Bowlsby said. “I couldn’t tell you what conduit we’ll have to follow to resolve it, whether it be state, federal or NCAA. We’ll get to something other than a 50-state patchwork eventually.”
In regard to his 50-state patchwork comment, this has been one of the primary concerns right now is that the legislation is different in each state, even if by a small amount. As he says though, it is possible that the NCAA eventually has an all-encompassing set of rules for all schools.
“In the near term, you’ll see some institutions comfortable doings that other institutions aren’t. Oklahoma and Texas have state laws in regard to NIL. In those states, those laws will prevail. The rest where there’s no state law, NCAA guidance will prevail.”
The third primary topic of Bowlsby’s introductory press conference was in regard to the proposed college football playoff extension that would set a 12-team playoff instead of the current 4-team model.
Bowlsby was a part of a four-man group that designed the new playoff model so his knowledge and opinion of it are far more advanced and in depth than most.
“The motivation for expansion is not the money. The motivation for expanding the playoffs is the realization participation can be stronger and the possibility that more teams could be closer to the flame.”
Of course, one of the first questions on the topic was to discuss a possible timeline of when the 12-team would go into effect if it were adopted.
“Can't answer that for you,” Bowlsby started. “I am hopeful we will have a decision at the December board meeting. If we are unable to come to some closure in December or sometime after that, it could be we wait until the 12-year contract expires and we implement it at that time.”
Bowlsby was also asked if the bigger playoff schedule would require that conference championships are done away with to make room for the extra games that would be needed to be played.
“I don't think it will go away, I think it will be a week or two weeks later [after the championship games]. One thing we looked at was moving the season one week earlier with championships on Thanksgiving weekend.”
While he said nothing is determined as of now, he hopes it is sooner than later that a plan is decided on and a timeline and schedule determined.
The Big 12 Media Days continue with hearing from the head football coaches and two players from each team on the upcoming 2021 season. To continue Wednesday, Iowa State, TCU, West Virginia, Kansas State, and Oklahoma are on the docket.