First, there is pressure on the Big XII to play a 13th game to make things easier selecting the 4 teams for the Playoffs since the other power conferences are currently playing a 13th game. Second, the money that can be made off the CCG can help offset the loss in revenue and appease 9 members for not having a conference network.

As far as how they do the divisions, I am not sure I like proposal the author suggested. Although I guess it really doesn't matter since the conference is still playing a 9 game schedule. I do wonder if a zipper model would be a better way to go. The division could be based on these pairings with OU and Texas in opposite divisons.

Iowa St-WVU
OK St-OU
Texas-TX Tech
Baylor-TCU
Kansas-Kansas St

The Big XII could even place the 2 Texas public schools in 1 division and the 2 private schools in the other division. I do agree with that the Big XII should probably expand to 12 or 14 members before it plays its first CCG. However, the SWAC (with 10 members) created divisions over 10 years ago (I think) so it could play a CCG (in lieu of participating in the FCS Playoffs) and they still play a 9 game conference schedule.