Big 12 Schedule Expected By End of January - WVU Football, WVU Basketball, News - Mountaineer Sports

This is not only the time of year for college football coaches to change jobs, but it is also the time of year that conferences release football schedules for the upcoming season.

WVU Athletic Director Oliver Luck insists the Mountaineers will be playing in the Big 12 in 2012, "There is no question that we will be playing a Big 12 schedule in all of our sports for the '12-'13 academic year," Luck stated. "We are telling our coaches to begin their non-conference scheduling based on the Big 12. We are committed to the Big 12 and I have no doubt that we are going to be in the Big 12 for the '12-'13 academic year."

That statement was made despite the ongoing legal battles between West Virginia University and the Big East.

The SEC, Pac-12, Big Ten and ACC have already released their 2012 schedules. The Big 12 and Big East have not.

Per its television contract, the Big 12 must have its schedule released by February 1.

When asked if West Virginia is on the 2012 schedule, Big 12 Associate Commissioner of Communications Bob Burda replied, "I am not at liberty to discuss that at this point." Burda also refused to indicate if the Big 12 is piecing together two schedules, one with WVU on the schedule and one without it.

Missouri and Texas A&M are leaving the Big 12 for the SEC. Both of those schools appear on the 2012 SEC football schedule as conference opponents. The addition of TCU leaves the Big 12 at nine schools for the 2012 season. Its television contract requires it to provide a league schedule for ten teams.

Burda confirmed Missouri and Texas A&M are not on the 2012 Big 12 schedule.

Simple math and deduction reveals that without Missouri being held in the Big 12 until West Virginia's arrival, either the Big 12 is going to issue a schedule with only nine teams on it and not fulfill its television contract, or WVU is on the 2012 Big 12 schedule as a conference member.

Big East Associate Commissioner John Paquette confirmed the Big East is continuing to work on its schedule. "Typically our football schedule is released in February," Paquette said. "But, we are not commenting on a timeline for the release of this year's schedule."

Legally speaking, the Big East would hurt its ongoing court case by not putting West Virginia on its 2012 conference schedule.

As a result, West Virginia University will likely find itself in the unique situation of appearing on two different schedules.

If you believe Oliver Luck, pay more attention to the one issued by the Big 12 than the Big East.