Missouri has been part of the SEC for over a decade, but could a return to the Big 12 be on the horizon? While there's no immediate indication of such a move, the idea is being floated as potentially beneficial for both the SEC and Missouri.
Blake Toppmeyer of USA Today has suggested that the Tigers could be removed from the SEC to slim down the conference and revive some classic rivalries.
"Texas stirred things up in the Big 12 for years, and they fit right into the SEC's landscape. So let them stay, along with Texas A&M.
Those schools belong together in the SEC. This would leave the SEC with 14 teams, which is more than enough."
Toppmeyer proposes moving Nebraska, Missouri, and Oklahoma back to the Big 12, rekindling annual rivalries like Oklahoma-Nebraska, Colorado-Nebraska, Kansas-Missouri, and the iconic Bedlam series.
Could Missouri consider a return to the Big 12? Toppmeyer acknowledges that financial and TV deals are major hurdles, and without those, these changes are unlikely.
However, the idea of Mizzou back in the Big 12 is intriguing. Despite some successful seasons and bowl appearances, the Tigers haven't consistently challenged the top SEC programs.
A move back could position them as a dominant force in a competitive conference.
An annual clash with the Jayhawks would be electric, rekindling a storied rivalry that's still fierce on the basketball court. While Missouri has settled into the SEC, it hasn't developed the same kind of rivalries.
Even though a switch back to the Big 12 seems improbable right now, it's fun to imagine the possibilities. Financial considerations aside, the chance to face Kansas regularly would be worth every bit of the excitement.