IRVING, Texas -- The Big 12 Conference will not split into divisions for football and instead will match its first- and second-place teams when its championship game returns next season.Athletic directors decided on the 1 vs. 2 format after input from the leagues football coaches, the conference announced Friday.Given our round-robin, nine-game scheduling model, it is expected the Big 12 champion will be uniquely positioned for College Football Playoff consideration, Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said in a statement. I would argue there will be no path more difficult than our champions, where it will have played every team in the conference, faced at least one autonomy conference non-conference opponent and then plays in our championship game. The guaranteed No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup will be a great game for our fans, and its hard to imagine a stronger position for a conference champion.The league is expected to announce the site of the 2017 championship game in the coming weeks.The Big 12 announced earlier this year it planned to bring back the championship game it discontinued in 2011 after Nebraska and Colorado departed the conference, leaving only 10 members.It has been the smallest Power Five conference and only one without a conference championship game since. After Big 12 co-champions TCU and Baylor were left out of the first four-team playoff in 2014, conference leaders considered resuming the championship game. The conference felt it could be at a disadvantage if its top teams were playing 12 games, while the other Power Five champions were playing 13, including a high-profile championship game to end the season.In 2015, not having a championship game was not a problem for the Big 12. Oklahoma won the conference and was selected for the playoff.Earlier this year, the NCAA passed legislation that was co-sponsored by the Big 12, allowing conferences with less than 12 members to stage a championship game.A championship game is not a natural fit for a 10-team conference. Hired consultants provided data to the Big 12 that showed the conferences chances to place a team in the playoff would improve by having 12 members split into two divisions, with a championship game. The Big 12 spent three months analyzing expansion and vetting schools to potentially add. Last week, the conference announced it was sticking with 10 members and its round-robin schedule, guaranteeing the championship game will be a rematch.The Big 12 considered different ways of splitting into two five-team divisions . Divisions could have made it possible to avoid having the championship game participants playing twice during a short period of time. Cross-division games could have been scheduled for earlier in the season.Now it is possible the conferences two best teams could meet in consecutive weeks, which happened in the Pac-12 in 2012 with UCLA and Stanford. Stephon Gilmore Youth Jersey . Any real chance at payback wont come until the playoff. Still, Pittsburgh knows its taut 3-2 win over the Bruins on Wednesday night is a pretty good place to start laying the groundwork. "They are a very good defensive team," Penguins forward Brandon Sutter said. Drew Bledsoe Womens Jersey . -- The plastic that was taped across the lockers in Oaklands clubhouse came down and the champagne that was on ice went back into the cooler. http://www.shoptheofficialpatriots.com/Elite-Julian-Edelman-Patriots-Jersey/ . Hamelin, who triumphed in the 500 on Saturday, edged out Victor An of Russia by 0.021 seconds to maintain his lead in the World Cup standings. Russias Vladimir Grigorev was third. In the relay, Canada took control six laps from the finish line to beat Russia and the Netherlands. John Hannah Womens Jersey . LOUIS -- Roman Polak was celebrating even before Alexander Steen scored the winning goal in Saturdays 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Rob Gronkowski Jersey . Thats about all he can do right now, so hes trying not to think about when he might be able to play again for the Los Angeles Lakers. Heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury has once again tested positive for cocaine, according to documentation of the failed test obtained by ESPN.com on Wednesday.It should come as little surprise, however, because Fury admitted in a lengthy interview with Rolling Stone this week that over the past four months,?he has done lots of cocaine. Lots of it.Fury, who also said he has a drinking problem, is suffering from depression and has been having suicidal thoughts. He was scheduled to face former champion Wladimir Klitschko on Oct. 29 at Manchester Arena in Manchester, England, Furys hometown, in a rematch of his huge upset 11 months ago to win the title.However, Fury pulled out of the fight on Sept. 23, one day after he submitted to a Voluntary Anti-Doping Association random urine test, which came back on Sept. 29 positive for benzoylecgonine, the central compound found in cocaine and the marker for a positive test for the banned substance and illegal drug.But Fury had also been tested by VADA on Sept. 21, and on Wednesday, he was notified that his A sample from that test was also positive for benzoylecgonine.VADA president Dr. Margaret Goodman sent Fury and others associated with the rematch a letter confirming the test results, a copy of which was obtained by ESPN.com.This letter is to advise you that the A sample urine specimen number 4006217 collected from Tyson Fury on September 21, 2016, through his participation in the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) program has been analyzed for anabolic agents, diuretics, beeta-2 agonists, stimulants and drugs of abuse, the letter said.dddddddddddd The results of the analyses are as follows: Adverse. Urine specimen contains benzoylecgonine.The reason that the results of the Sept. 21 urine test came to light after the results for the Sept. 22 test are because of variations in the shipping time it took for the samples to be sent from England, where they were collected, to a laboratory for analysis at UCLA in Los Angeles followed by the time needed to conduct the tests.VADA, which Fury (25-0, 18 KOs) and Klitschko (64-4, 54 KOs) hired to oversee the drug testing in the lead up to the rematch, explained that in the letter.Please also note that -- due to varying shipping times -- laboratory results for earlier specimen collections may not be available until after the results of subsequent collections in some instances, the letter said. Mr. Fury has the right to promptly request analysis of the B sample at his expense. Please be aware that VADA does not adjudicate results nor determine whether sanctions are appropriate. As with all results, adverse findings are reported to the relevant commission(s) who may make such determinations. Please do not hesitate to let us know if you have any questions regarding this matter.Fury could be stripped of his heavyweight title belts for the failed tests and could have his boxing license revoked by the British Boxing Board of Control. ' ' '