WVU to the Big 12: Power Ranking the Mountaineers' 2012 Schedule

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Although taking a steep price of $20 million to seal the deal, the West Virginia University Mountaineers have received their wish to leave the Big East Conference to become a new member of the Big 12 Conference on July 1st, 2012.

With WVU joining a new conference for the first time in 21 years, the following slideshow will rank the easiest to the toughest game on the Mountaineers’ 2012 schedule as the program embarks on their first season in the Big 12.

No. 12: Vs. James Madison, September 15th

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

With the game taking place at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland, the Mountaineers will meet James Madison for only the second time in either program's history.

WVU will likely blow through the Bulldogs on September 15th.

No. 11: Kansas, December 1st

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

In the season finale in Morgantown, Kansas will make their second trip in program history to Touchdown City.

West Virginia will be taking the spot Missouri would have filled if the Tigers didn’t go to the SEC.

No. 10: At Iowa State, November 24th

Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

As the closest member distance wise in the Big 12, West Virginia will make their first trip to Ames to face off with the Cyclones of Iowa State in the final away game of the year on November 24th.

No. 9: Marshall, September 1st

Rob Carr/Getty Images

The final scheduled Friends of Coal Bowl will start off the Mountaineers’ football schedule for the 2012 season as West Virginia will attempt to win their 12th straight game against the Marshall Thundering Herd in Morgantown.

No. 8: Maryland, September 22nd

Rob Carr/Getty Images

After returning from their neutral site game with James Madison, West Virginia will welcome their border rival, Maryland, to Morgantown following their sixth straight win (37-31) over the Terrapins last season.

No. 7: Baylor, September 29th

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

As West Virginia and Baylor meet for the first time in either program’s history, the Mountaineers will have a much easier time against the Bears as playmaker Robert Griffin III has left the program after declaring for the 2012 NFL Draft earlier this year.

No. 6: At Texas Tech, October 13th

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

In the first and only meeting between the two teams since the 1937 Sun Bowl, the two offenses will score much more points in their meeting this year in Morgantown.

Their first meeting only combined for a total of 13 points in a 7-6 WVU win. 

No. 5: TCU, November 3rd

Otto Kitsinger III/Getty Images

After another tremor in the college landscape, one-time Big East members West Virginia and TCU will meet for the first time since the 1984 Bluebonnet Bowl in Morgantown, this time as members of the newly revamped Big 12 conference.

No. 4: At Texas, October 6th

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Just like the earlier slide on Texas Tech, WVU and Texas will surely surpass the 7-6 score from their first meeting this season in Austin, as the Mountaineers and the Longhorns will meet for the first time since 1956.

No. 3: At Oklahoma State, November 10th

Reese Strickland/Getty Images

The storylines will be aplenty in the November 10th matchup between Oklahoma State and West Virginia.

Mountaineers’ head coach Dana Holgorsen will return to Stillwater for the first time after serving as Cowboys’ offensive coordinator in 2010.

No. 2: Kansas State, October 20th

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Following back-to-back matchups in 1930 and 1931, the Mountaineers and Wildcats will meet on October 20th in Morgantown.

The offensive styles of Dana Holgorsen and Bill Snyder will clash in what is sure to be an interesting game to see.

No. 1: Oklahoma, November 17th

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

After the Mountaineers’ upset win over the Sooners in the 2008 Fiesta Bowl, West Virginia and Oklahoma will meet in the rubber match between the two programs in Morgantown.

WVU has won the past two meetings with OU.

 

Chris Humphrey is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. You can become a fan of him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter @_CBH_