Big 12 title game closer to reality as NCAA council receives deregulation proposal

The Big 12 may have their chance at "One True Champion" soon.

The NCAA Council received the proposal to deregulate conference championship games this week, and is expected to approve the proposal in January, Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby told ESPN's Heather Dinich.

Deregulation would allow the Big 12 conference to hold its first title game since 2010 as early as 2016.

Currently, NCAA rules prevent the conference from having a championship game. With only 10 members, the Big 12 does not have the 12 members it needs under organization rules to host a league title game.

If the legislation passes, the Big 12 could host a title game in the third year of the College Football Playoff without adding two new teams to their conference.

The title game talk was sparked by both Baylor and TCU, deemed Big 12 co-champions, failing to make it into the top four of the College Football Playoff. The Horned Frogs slid from No. 3 to No. 6, while Ohio State was thrust from No. 5 to No. 4 after being crowned the Big Ten Conference champions.

Members will comment on the proposed deregulation legislation over the next 60 days, according to Bowlsby, chairman of the Football Oversight Committee, with the final vote belonging to the NCAA Council FBS representatives.

"It's officially in the system," said Bowlsby. "We haven't encountered any resistance to it at all. It's really deregulation, is allowing conferences to do what they want to determine their champion. In the end, I expect that it will be approved."

Although Oklahoma president David Boren has stated that the conference "should strive for" league expansion to 12 members, Bowlsby does not see that idea getting votes at the moment.

"I certainly would never say never, but I don't think the votes are there at the present time to move from 10," explained Bowlsby. "The significant majority of our presidents and chancellors feel that 10 is the right number, but president Boren is an influential guy in our meetings. If he would advocate for it, I'm sure the other presidents and chancellors would listen."