2012 Big 12 Football Schedule: Who Got the Easiest Ride, Who Got Screwed?

We now know who will play who and when, as the Big 12 schedule has just been released. And every team in the conference will have a different journey they'll have to take to reach success next season.

Some, of course, will be difficult and some a lot easier than others. There are teams that weren't given any favors with their schedule, and then teams that will be cruising down easy street all season long. 

Here are a few teams that either have an extremely difficult schedule or a schedule full of breaks and cupcakes.

Easy: Oklahoma State

I guess the Big 12 realized the Cowboys were losing several of their key players and decided to give head coach Mike Gundy a break. Oklahoma State gets three of the top four teams in the conference at home. The only difficult task they have on the road comes at the end of the year with a matchup against the Oklahoma Sooners. Teams like TCU, Texas and West Virginia all have to make a trip to their house.

It may still not matter, considering this is a team that will have to rebuild, but it could always be a lot worse if you're a Cowboys fan.

Hard: Texas Tech

Texas Tech is already a team that doesn't matchup well talent-wise with the top teams in this conference; this schedule doesn't help. Sure, they get Oklahoma and West Virginia at home, but it's just not fair to have to play the Mountaineers, TCU and Oklahoma in a row.

Playing three of the four top teams in this conference three weeks in a row really doesn't help the progress of this team moving forward.

Easy: West Virginia

It really doesn't get much easier for the Mountaineers in their first season in the Big 12. Sure, they have to travel to Texas to play the Longhorns, but every other tough game is in Morgantown. Teams such as Baylor, Kansas State, TCU and Oklahoma all have to travel to West Virginia.

I could really see this team stepping it up and making a strong impact in this conference, especially with a schedule as easy as this one.

Hard: Kansas

Where do we start?

Kansas opens the season with a matchup against TCU. Then they have a four-game stretch including Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma and Texas. Did I mention they finish the year with a trip to Morgantown?

Charlie Weis may be able to work miracles in Kansas, but he'll need more than that to survive a schedule like that.

Randy Chambers is a B/R featured columnist that covers college football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or [e-mail].