Numbers are important to us. They represent the reality and truth of our lives. I am a huge fan of the Big 12 Conference, and like many others, I’ve cheered for its athletes and traditions for years. But as you may know, the number of teams within the conference has grown well beyond twelve.

 

We now proudly host 16 teams—a collection of powerhouse universities and talented athletes from across the nation. It feels odd to still refer to our beloved conference as the “Big 12” when, in reality, we have grown into something bigger: The Really Big 16.

 

For me, this issue is more than just semantics. I grew up watching Saturday football with my family—circling Big 12 games on the calendar, memorizing schedules, and even collecting old conference memorabilia. I still remember my dad explaining why it was called the “Big 12,” and how proud he was that it truly represented 12 strong universities. Now, when my kids ask me why the Big 12 has 16 teams, I struggle to explain why the name no longer matches reality. College football should be about pride, tradition, and honesty—values that should extend to the name of the conference itself.

 

Renaming the conference would ensure accurate representation and meet fan expectations. According to the NCAA, the Big 12 Conference originally formed in 1996 with 12 schools. Since then, it has undergone multiple realignments and expansions—most recently in 2023 and 2024, when the league welcomed new members to bring the total to 16. Today, it is one of the strongest conferences in college athletics, with schools spanning from West Virginia to Arizona.

 

Keeping the name “Big 12” when there are 16 teams creates unnecessary confusion. Fans, students, and athletes deserve clarity and honesty in representation. Transparency matters. Other conferences have updated their names in the past to reflect growth. The Big Ten, for example, faced criticism when it had 14 schools but still clung to its name. Do we really want to repeat that mistake, when we have the chance to do better?

 

Renaming the conference to The Really Big 16 would:

 

Celebrate the growth and strength of the conference.
Provide fans with a name that actually matches reality.
Honor the athletes and schools by giving them a brand identity rooted in truth.
Create a fresh, exciting marketing opportunity that signals progress, not stagnation.

 

 

This is about more than football. It’s about truth in branding, respect for tradition, and pride in what the conference has become.

 

So let’s align the Big 12’s name with its current reality. Sign this petition to advocate for renaming the Big 12 Conference to The Really Big 16. Let’s take a step toward honesty, transparency, and a little humor in celebrating the greatness of our conference.